In the flourishing kingdom of Idoma, the forty-year year old King Apama II reigned. He was celebrated as “the Lion of the Hill regions, and ruled with unmatched wisdom and super military intelligence through which he had unified the rain‑forest, the savannah, and the delta provinces. Yet the mightiest monarch on the continent lives with one secret vulnerability—if discovered, could topple his empire and reshape the fate of all who dwell along the Hill regions.
King Apama was born with a hereditary defect, Moon‑blindness, a reduced eyesight in faint light or at nights. It was a disease which plagued his mother, the Queen Mother and which he inherited from her. Only his “Moon guard” who was sworn to an oath and the Royal family's chief physician knew the secret, which he had hidden all his life.
That explained the elaborate torch choreography in the palace which was aimed at hiding it from the public. By day he sees every copper‑roofed market and waving child, and the city sees its Lion. At sunset he retreats behind thick veils, servants douse torches near his chambers so no one notices the sudden clumsiness, the searching hands, and the tripping feet.
It hadn't been easy for the young King who had ascended the throne ten years ago—to manoeuvre his army through night raids and regional warfares, to continue consolidating his rulership over the region. He had trusted aides for which he was very grateful.
Yanga was his sweetheart of many years, a princess from the "Desert region" whom he had fallen for, at first sight. She loved him so much too but he couldn't bring himself to unite with her, for fear that his secret would be let out in a ceremony. So they loved and pined for each other — from a distance
Until...coalition of chiefs threatened secession if King Apama did not get married to the princess. He was forty and long overdue for a marriage union that would produce an heir. He did not have any problem marrying his dear princess anytime—the only problem was that wedding in Idoma was carried out on a moonless night, called "the eclipsed rites."
The eclipsed rites (vital to marriage legitimacy) happened in darkness.
Against his will, the wedding rites were set for the next "eclipse" and machineries were set in motion for the one week-long royal celebration.
It was during the eclipsed rite, that an assassination attempt was carried out on the life of King Apama, darkness as a cover. The King survived, thanks to a young man, Quito, a chart reader who led him away from danger and stumbled upon the king’s affliction in the process.
In the Grand Royal Terrace, there was total eclipse, everywhere shrouded in thick darkness, torches have been ritually doused, thousands celebrate below, this was the wedding rite of their great King.
The King sat alone in his chambers, disoriented, he could almost see nothing, just blurry shadows, but then his very sharp ears picked up the sound of light footsteps hurriedly approaching and then quickened heartbeats. His hand reached out instinctively for his sword, his sixth sense alerting him to an obvious danger.
He then struck deftly into the dark.
Whoever it was......wounded by the king's blow, quickly crawled into the dark, gasping.
"Where....where....where are the pillars? The King whispered as he frantically searched.
Quito heard the King’s whisper as he approached carefully, his chart had alerted him of the danger in the Royal chamber. He had silently entered the chamber fully armed but he had heard footsteps hurrying into the night and the King's desperate whisper.
"Your Majesty.….. are you hurt?
Is that Quito? Someone just made an attempt on my life... but I'm okay...Just point me to the east stair.
"East is on the other side, Your Majesty." Quito said following the king's gaze.
"Of course, I was…er..er.....collecting myself." The King answered tensely.
Quito comes close and gently turns the King by the elbow. He flinches, fingers searching the air like a man underwater.
There was a traitor in the house, his assailant had known his "kryptonite" and had attacked him under the cover of the night. He felt so vulnerable.
"You… you can’t see, can you? Not in the dark." Quito speaks as realization dawned on him.
"Speak of this and the kingdom fractures."
"Of course Your Majesty! You can trust me!"
"Thank you." The King replied.
"My Grandma....she had the same sickness..... The midnight Lily, she discovered its cure......"
With a sharp intake of breath, the King whispered;
"Meet me at the observatory after sunrise."
Quito bowed, not to the daylight king, but to the man who ruled half a world, half‑blind.
On that solemn night, torches were doused, plunging the garden into darkness. Traditionally the king would have stylishly relied on aides but today he stands, tall, proud, unassisted.
"Lion of the Hill Regions, do you come of your own heart, to bind paths with this caramel daughter of dawn? The priest's voice reverberated through the the Royal Dome.
"Yes I do!"
"I can see the night." He excitedly whispered to Quito, his right hand man.
He then gently lifts Yanga's veil, moonlight silver edging her beauty, her smile. They clasp their right hands tightly, ancient Idoma symbol of confluence.
Quito relaxes, watching "The Lion" with so much pride in his heart. Just then King Apama glances his way with uttermost gratitude.
"Long live the Lion and his Caramel Dawn!" The crowd chanted happily as the couple took their first kiss beneath the rain of firefly sparks.
All images generated are AI generated.
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