Tsatsuba Book 3 Complete Hausa Novel

The Bond Between Shardas and Shadila
 
After saying those words, King Shardas stood up and walked out of the chamber. She watched him leave, her eyes filled with deep worry and distress. Just as the king requested, that was exactly how the matter continued — from that day onward, the two of them kept raising the child together. It reached a point where King Shardas spent more than half of every day with Shadila. He cared for her greatly — whenever he noticed anything troubling her, he would immediately send for doctors to examine her. Slowly, she stopped refusing to go for checkups, though sometimes it took long before she was attended to. Days passed until Shadila became old and unable to do anything by herself without help.
 
When the pregnancy reached nine months and nine days, her labor began. As soon as it started, the weather suddenly changed without clouds or wind. Thunder and lightning erupted in the sky — an event that terrified the people, making everyone run in panic.
 
At that time it was broad daylight and people were busy with their daily activities. The market scattered immediately; everyone ran home to lock their doors, while others ran to the palace to inform the king, fearing that perhaps the gods they worshipped were angry and wanted to destroy the people of the land.
 
The Prophecy of the Child’s Birth
 
When the people reached the palace, they found the sorcerer Marwas standing alone at the center of the courtyard, his face stern. Everyone immediately fell to the ground before him, silent as though death had passed by. An elderly man lifted his head and asked, “O great spiritual leader of the kingdom of Romania, what kind of calamity has befallen us? How can terrifying thunder and lightning occur in a clear sky without any sign of rain?”
 
Hearing the question, Sorcerer Barwas burst into laughter — shocking everyone. He cleared his throat and said: “The king’s wife is about to give birth. She will deliver a baby boy, a gifted child whose name will become known throughout the world. From today, this kingdom will experience prosperity, peace, and stability like never before — until the day this child leaves on a destined journey away from our city.”
 
Upon hearing this, the people became confused between joy and sorrow — happy that blessings had arrived, yet fearful that once the child eventually leaves the city, all happiness will disappear. Some even thought it would be better for the child not to be born at all than to enjoy happiness temporarily and later fall into hardship.
 
As people argued, a thunderous strike shook the entire kingdom. The ground trembled, trees caught fire, animals fled into hiding, and people panicked like madmen. Right at that moment, the cry of Shadila’s newborn echoed across the entire city and into the forests.
 
Suddenly, heavy rain poured down like a waterfall, accompanied by a cool breeze as if the rainy season had begun, even though it was a hot, dry season. This miraculous shift made people rejoice and marvel. They crowded around the palace gates, hoping to see the newborn or receive blessings from him, believing he was truly a gifted child.
 
Even though the rain was not from God — but from evil spirits meant to deceive the people — the crowd refused to leave. Suddenly, King Shardas emerged holding the newborn in his palms. The child was naked, freshly cut umbilical cord still visible, rain hitting him, yet he only laughed joyfully like a healthy baby.
 
The king lifted the child up three times, each time the crowd answering with loud cheers that filled the kingdom. Then he handed the baby to Sorcerer Barwas, who accepted him. Turning to the people, Shardas declared that the gods had finally granted him a child after many years of waiting. The people vowed to love the child as their own.
 
Barwas’ Warning and the Rise of Hulkas
 
In great joy, Shardas turned to take the child back, but he noticed Barwas’ face had become dark and serious. He took the child and dismissed the crowd. Later, as they walked back inside, the king asked Barwas why he looked displeased when he ordered the people to love the newborn.
 
Barwas sighed deeply and said, “My king, this is your first great mistake concerning this child. Have you forgotten that in this entire world, no enemy is greater to you than this boy? Right now he is considered your son. The people will love him and expect him to inherit your throne. When the time comes for us to leave in search of the Lamsara Crown, he will sit on your throne. If we return with the crown, removing him from power will not be easy — though we could kill him instantly, the people will rebel because they love him more than you. Therefore, we must ensure his death happens secretly when the time comes so that no one suspects us.”
 
Barwas continued, “Never let this child know you are not his true father — at least until after seven years. And there are two more mistakes you must avoid, or else destroying him will become extremely difficult. First: never allow love for this child to enter your heart, for he will grow with a powerful charm and irresistible presence. I have a potion for you — drink it every thirty days. As long as you take it, you will not love him. The third mistake I will reveal only when the right time comes.”
 
The king was shaken and silent until they disappeared into the palace chambers.
 
When the naming ceremony arrived, a grand celebration was held, inviting nobles, wealthy men, warriors, and prominent people from across the continent. Sorcerer Barwas named the child Prince Hulkas. The celebrations lasted twenty-one days, with endless feasting and wasteful spending. Even the poor hosted feasts. King Shardas was overjoyed — one would think Hulkas was his true blood.
 
From that day, something extraordinary happened in the kingdom. Traders from across the world flooded the city, establishing businesses. Wealth spread, poverty disappeared, and goods of all kinds poured into the land. Even long-forgotten trades from ancient centuries reappeared.
 
As for Shadila, she also lived in happiness, though she secretly cried whenever she remembered Hulkas’ real father, Hailur. She hid her grief from the king. Shardas continued drinking Barwas’ potion to suppress affection for Hulkas, yet he still loved the boy deeply — except on the specific day he took the potion. Only then did hatred fill him, and he remembered that Hulkas would one day kill him unless he secured the Lamsara Crown first.
 
On those days, Shardas avoided Shadila entirely to prevent seeing Hulkas, because he feared he might kill the innocent child on sight. His heart burned with hatred, his body trembled violently, and he believed that if he didn’t kill Hulkas, he himself would die.