A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

The conversation moved to the main seating area. Naeku sat rigidly on a plush couch, her narrowed eyes never leaving Kudzai, who nervously shifted under her penetrating gaze.

Beside him, Nobuntu gracefully arranged herself on an armchair, her expression firm yet tinged with regret. Erik silently positioned himself near the window, appearing casual but sharply observant. With Naeku's arrival there, his work was essentially done.

The awkward silence hung thickly for a moment. Kudzai tried to speak several times, but no sound ever left his lips. Finally, Nobuntu took a deep breath, visibly steeling herself.

"Naeku," she began softly, sincerity saturating her tone. "I wish you to understand that our departure wasn't what you believe it to be. We never intended to abandon you or your people."

Naeku's jaw tightened visibly, and her eyes hardened. "Yet you did."

Kudzai flinched at her curt response but swallowed hard, forcing himself to speak. "Sipho and Thandeka summoned mother back… they said it was an emergency, you know thi—"

"Yes, conveniently just before the attack," Naeku snapped sharply, her voice thick with bitterness. "You left, Azania abandoned us, and then a large part of my country burned. Countless people died!" Her voice rose in intensity with every word, her eyes spitting fire. "You don't know the horrors I saw in Djibouti!"

For a moment, her mind travelled back tot he day they rescued Runa, and the things she saw in that city.

Kudzai looked miserable. He could see the shadow left behind by whatever she saw that day, but knew there was no way for him to comfort her. Not only did Erik's presence caution him against touching her, but she wouldn't appreciate it, anyway.

Nobuntu, however, stayed sterner. She regretted what happened, but she wouldn't simply take whatever Naeku wanted to dish out. "You know we didn't commit those atrocities, Naeku," she told her firmly, but gently. "Don't attribute the—"

"You allowed them!" Naeku snarled furiously, jumping up from her seat. She pointed at them accusingly. "You won't fool me into thinking Azania had no idea what was happening! Your help could have stalled them, but you sat on your hands and watched! As did everyone else!"

Venom and viciousness sparked in her eyes. Her voice lowered into a threatening growl. "When the time comes for me to lead Enkarian armies all over Africa to unite the continent under my husband's banner, I'll spit in the faces of every ruler I find, and if they don't grovel for mercy at our feet, I'll wet my spear with their blood!"

Panting from fury, she fell back down on her seat and crossed her arms. Stunned silence fell. Even Erik had no idea what to say. He'd known anger simmered below the surface, but he hadn't realised the extend of it.

A shadow crossed Nobuntu's eyes. She glanced quickly at Erik, who subtly nodded, encouraging her to continue. Kudzai looked about ready to break down. He'd practised what to say to her so many times, but when actually faced with her fury, he didn't know how to handle it.

Nobuntu was looking down at her hands thoughtfully. "Would it help?" she suddenly asked, and looked up at Naeku with deep grief. "If I grovelled and you spat in my face… would that help? You have but to ask…"

Fury flashed across Naeku's eyes, but seeing Nobuntu's expression, it instantly faded again. She could see Nobuntu sincerely wanted her to vent some of this fury, hoping it would make her feel better. This realisation was a heavy blow to her conviction.

Despite their current relationship, there was a time when she loved Nobuntu. With her late mother's family situation the way it was, Nobuntu had always been the closest connection she had to her mother.

Unwilling to face her for a moment, she snarled and looked away, refusing to look at her. "You're just taking all the satisfaction away…"

Almost disappointed, Nobuntu slowly nodded.

"We didn't know, Naeku," the Nubian beauty continued, her voice heavy with emotion. "There was no warning. We heard nothing until we returned to Azania, and by then it was too late…"

Naeku clenched her fists, trembling slightly. Her anger was undeniable, but beneath it was an ache of betrayal so profound it left her breathless.

"You dare say it was too late?!" she whispered hoarsely, "The war waged for months! You had plenty of time to send help!"

Nobuntu sighed. "That's… not what I meant, Naeku. If I'd still been here when they attacked, that would have essentially forced Azania into action, knowing I wouldn't simply leave. The political landscape in Azania is… complicated."

She shrugged and explained softly. "Sipho would find it hard to trouble my people without first issuing a public warning and threat, but he wouldn't be able to do that if I were here. On the other hand, leaving one of Azania's third rankers in a war zone without backup would also be unacceptable to them. Despite our tensions, neither Sipho nor Thandeka wants to reduce Azania's third rank power."

Finally finding his voice, Kudzai tacked onto his mother's explanation. "B— But because we returned to Azania and didn't hear about the attack until we arrived, that old bastard Sipho was able to turn public opinion against interfering. At that point, it became impossible for us to send anything."

Frowning sadly, Nobuntu nodded. "No matter who or what I'd send, I'd leave my people in Azania in a bad position. Going myself or sending my portion of Azania's troop count would leave my people vulnerable to retaliation. I had to choose between my duty to them and my love for you."

Slowly, she got off the couch and kneeled on the ground in front of Naeku. "I won't apologise for my choice, Naeku… But if there's anything I can do to ease your pain and anger, I won't hesitate."

Kudzai scrambled to join his mother, nodding fiercely, tears streaming down his face. "I watched her agonise, Naeku!" he cried out. "She never slept! When she thought I wasn't looking, she cried! You wouldn't have recognised her, with the amount of pain she went through!"

If Nobuntu was surprised by her son's admission, she didn't show it. "Please," she begged, firm but sincere, "Kudzai wanted to leave on his own so many times, but I stopped him. If you can't forgive me, at least forgive him. He would have joined you if he could have. Only I made the conscious decision not to."

With her last words, silence fell again. Naeku was still looking away from them, but her body had begun to tremble softly. She was staring miserably at Erik. Tears threatened to stream from her eyes.

She wanted to forgive them. She wanted it so badly… But could she?