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Then Sadirat suddenly hugged Hatyan in indescribable joy, saying, "That's it, we have escaped from the evil of our enemies! Oh, my brother, in a short while we will completely leave this continent."
Upon hearing this, Hatyan let out a long sigh with a defeated air and said, "There is a problem, my sister. Know that right inside this ship we are on, there are many of King Shamsal’s spies. I realized this right at the beginning of our boarding. If we hadn’t changed our appearances so suddenly, they would have recognized us. Despite that, we must be extremely cautious. Truly, Queen Badi'atul Nauwra gave us a great help that we will never forget. If not for her, we wouldn't have arrived here by now. Sardila also helped us immensely. I am amazed at this luck of ours, meeting lovers who help us while neither they nor we know each other. Know this: we cannot even get enough sleep on this ship, because enemies could use that opportunity to figure out who we are and harm us. Don't forget that King Shamsal wants to see us dead or alive."
Hearing this, Sadirat’s mind raced anxiously, and she said, "So now, since we didn't get any proper sleep last night, what are we going to do? My head is actually aching from lack of sleep."
Hatyan said, "Now you lie down and sleep, and I will keep watch over you. When you wake up on your own, then I will sleep and you can watch over me. But as soon as you feel any movement, no matter how small, wake me up from sleep, because anything can happen at any time. And do not trust anyone on this ship, not even the crew members."
Hearing this, joy seized Sadirat; she lay down and went to sleep as if she weren't in the middle of a terrifying situation. As for the warrior Hatyan, he stared at the portrait of a queen drawn on the wall of the room. Instantly, he remembered Queen Badi'atul Nauwra; he remembered the fierce battle they fought against each other up to the moment she unveiled her face and they locked eyes. Then he recalled the things she said to him and how she ultimately helped them escape from her city until they arrived at this place.
As warrior Hatyan reached this point in his thoughts, for the first time he felt a desire to see a person he had once met and parted ways with—meaning there was nothing he desired more in life than to meet Queen Badi'atul Nauwra again. "Why on earth did I feel this desire to see her again?" That was the question Hatyan could not answer himself.
Little did he know, Queen Badi'atul Nauwra found herself in a similar state that very night upon returning to her royal palace. She entered her chamber and lay down on the bed after putting on her nightgown, but sleep eluded her because she immediately began recalling everything that had happened between her and warrior Hatyan. The first thing that impressed her about him was his extreme bravery and battle endurance, which matched her own. The second thing that impressed her was when she revealed her face and body to him; she saw none of the foolish dazed behavior men usually display when they see her, nor did she see a look of romantic infatuation in his eyes. Instead, he simply looked at her with astonishment at the beauty God had given her.
"Could Hatyan be the kind of man I have been searching for for so long? The one I feel is most suited to be my life partner? But wait, Hatyan is not my age grade; I am older than him by a margin of eight to nine years. Though love cares nothing for age, wealth, or status—if Hatyan is indeed the kind of lover I am seeking, I will certainly test him further to prove it as soon as we meet again." Thus Queen Badi'atul Nauwra continued these reflections until sleep finally overtook her without her realizing it.
Back in the city of Bindal, when King Shamsal saw that all four hundred thousand troops sent to hunt down warrior Hatyan in every corner of the country had returned without any success, his anger flared and his mind was deeply troubled, leaving him unable to find any joy in the world.
Immediately, King Shamsal summoned Sorcerer Daizur, looked at him, and said, "Oh pillar of Bindal, know that an escaped debt collects another's share. Even though we have deployed our troops and spies to all countries on this continent and distributed the pictures of these youths everywhere, my heart beats strongly over this matter, and I feel in my bones that this boy might slip past all our traps. I cannot continue living through the day we receive news that he has been captured in another land. Know that if he succeeds in leaving this continent of ours, it will be very difficult for us to capture him, and sooner or later, he will return to this country fully prepared to take revenge and reclaim my throne. What I want you to do is go make your preparations today; we will hunt down this boy today and will not return home until we catch up with him and sever his head. Only then will I find peace and tranquility of mind."
When King Shamsal reached this point, Sorcerer Daizur’s mind was deeply troubled more than ever before. He lowered his head and remained silent in thought for a few moments. Then he raised his head, looked at King Shamsal with a worried expression, and said, "Oh my leader, my only cause for anxiety is this: now, if you leave, to whom will you entrust the regency of your throne?"
Hearing this question, King Shamsal laughed and said, "Put your mind at ease; I am not going to give the regency to the Prince, because I know he is a fool who knows nothing except playing tricks on women—tricks he can enact. Look at him, for the past nine years I have trained him in warfare, and he inherited my combat skills. Yet, foolishly, a twenty-one-year-old boy chopped off his hand when they clashed! Zainur is not fit to succeed me, despite my deep love for him as my only son in the world. I will leave the regency in the hands of the Waziri. I believe that if you guide me on this journey we are about to undertake, we will surely find where these youths are and catch up with them in just a few days."
When King Shamsal finished speaking, Sorcerer Daizur let out a sigh and said, "There is only one way we can find out where these youths are in a short time. That way is: we must find the King of Hunters wherever he is. If we join forces, you and I, we can capture him and force him to guide us to where Hatyan and the others are within a few days. But alas, he has also disappeared, and we don't know where he is now. According to my investigations, he is hiding in one of the forests outside this city of ours, having resigned himself to spending the rest of his life there since he has no one in the world except his sorceries and accumulated wealth—no son, no grandchild, and no relatives."
When Sorcerer Daizur reached this point, King Shamsal was overcome with intense joy; he burst into laughter, laughing uncontrollably as if he would never stop. Then he sealed his lips, scowled his face as if delivered a message of death, looked at Sorcerer Daizur, and said, "He who seeks shall find. Hurry and complete your preparations; tonight we shall leave this city and hunt down the King of Hunters in the forests of our land. We will not stop hunting him until we find him and achieve our goal concerning him."
Without any argument, Sorcerer Daizur bowed and said, "It is done, my leader."
Instantly, Sorcerer Daizur departed to his house. As for King Shamsal, he sent for Prince Zainur and all his council members, informing them of his decision to go hunting for the King of Hunters along with Hatyan, and announcing that he had left the regency of the throne in the hands of the Waziri.
Hearing this, Prince Zainur’s mind was severely troubled, and he felt deeply angered to learn that the regency of the throne was not given to him. Did this mean the king would not pass the royal crown to him? What reason could he have to deny him when he was his only son in the world? Another voice whispered to him: "It is because you have become a disabled man with one hand; it is a shame for the heir to this throne to be disabled. If the king does to me like this, I will plant grief in his heart that will follow him to his grave."
Just as King Shamsal planned, so things transpired. That night, Sorcerer Daizur completed all his preparations and came to him, finding that he had finished everything and the regency had already been handed over.
Instantly, King Shamsal pulled his wife—Prince Zainur’s mother—aside to a place where no one could overhear their discussion. He looked at her calmly and said, "My wife, know that your son is unhappy with the decision I made; I read it in his eyes. What I want you to do is try to counsel him on the reason for this action, soften his heart so he doesn't attempt to betray me or do anything wrong. You know my character better than anyone. I am a viper; I know no family ties. If he crosses my boundary, I will show him no mercy despite my deep love for him. I can lose a son and find another, but if I lose my throne, dignity, or honor, I have lost them forever. I am not a coward, nor did I inherit cowardice. My grandfather and my father left this world without a single drop of blood shed from their bodies on the battlefield, and so am I. Therefore, I see no reason why I should father a coward who cannot protect that dignity. Whatever befalls the Prince in life is brought upon him by his own cowardice. With these words, I bid you farewell until I return."
Upon finishing these words, King Shamsal hugged his wife, holding each other tightly for a few moments, then pulled his body away from hers and kissed her forehead. At that moment, Prince Zainur stood watching them. Instead of King Shamsal going over to Prince Zainur to hug him and say goodbye, he simply waved his hand at him, turned his back, and walked to where his horse stood, mounting it. Without wasting any time, he and Sorcerer Daizur set off, departing from the royal compound while everyone watched them until they vanished from sight.
At that exact moment, tears slipped from Prince Zainur's eyes, and he knew for sure that the king's love for him had faded. Ever since the day Prince Zainur's hand was chopped off, the king had distanced himself from him, stopping the love, affection, and care he used to show him.
King Shamsal and Sorcerer Daizur rode into one hundred and twenty-one forests searching for the King of Hunters without finding him. By that time, they felt exhausted and had given up hope of ever finding him. On the night of the twenty-first day, they entered the final forest; if they didn't find him there, there was no place left, knowing he had slipped out of the country's region entirely.
By then, they were bone-tired, and night was beginning to split, so they pitched a tent to make camp. After pitching the tent, they realized their drinking water had run out. Sorcerer Daizur looked at King Shamsal and said, "My leader, our drinking water has run out, so I will go look to see if I can find a nearby stream."
Hearing this, King Shamsal smiled and said, "That is not a bad idea."
Instantly, Sorcerer Daizur took their two water flasks and headed east. As Sorcerer Daizur walked, he spotted signs of a fire in the distance. Seeing this, Sorcerer Daizur began walking stealthily while silently reciting some magical incantations in his mind.
PART B
Instantly, he vanished, disappearing from sight, and began walking through the air instead of on the ground along a path where footsteps could be heard. He headed straight toward where he had spotted the firelight. As he cautiously approached the spot, he saw a small hut, and in front of the hut, a fire was lit roasting a deer, but no one was around.
When Sorcerer Daizur reached right up to the deer, which was roasted to perfection and dripping with fat with no one in sight, he swallowed hard at the sight of the roasted meat. Ever since he and King Shamsal set out twenty-one days ago, not even once had they eaten meat; they had only been eating their travel rations and had not gone hunting even once.
Just as Sorcerer Daizur reached out his hand to cut off a piece of the meat and eat it, he suddenly heard a stern shout. Startled, he whirled around to see who had shouted at him. Instantly, he came face to face with none other than the King of Hunters.
A staring contest immediately began. Sorcerer Daizur felt like opening his mouth to call out to King Shamsal, but he couldn't. For a few moments, they stared each other down in a test of nerves, until the King of Hunters burst into a malicious laugh and said, "Welcome to the forest of Hajarul Ausad. Today marks my seventh day here, waiting for you. Here is where it all ends between me and you—either I destroy you, or you destroy me. For I know you didn't come just to destroy me, but to capture me with your hands and force me to guide you to where Hatyan and his companions are. Now, do you think that would be an easy task for me? I know that if you combine your powers—you and the King—you might succeed against me. But how do you suppose I would give you that chance? I have already taken all measures to prevent that from happening."
Before the King of Hunters finished speaking, Sorcerer Daizur cast a spell at him, gesturing with his hand toward him. Instantly, a massive, extremely powerful wind snatched the King of Hunters, lifting him into the sky and spinning him around violently in mid-air. He immediately felt like losing consciousness.
Realizing this, the King of Hunters also gestured with his hand toward Sorcerer Daizur. Instantly, a similar wind snatched him up into the sky and spun him around as well. Both of them lost their senses. Without warning, each pulled back their hands and plummeted straight down to the ground with a heavy thud, utterly exhausted and gasping for breath as if their souls were about to leave their bodies.
Instead of giving up, they continued attacking each other, hurling wicked things at one another such as snakes, scorpions, and other venomous insects that bit and stung them. Instantly, everywhere on their bodies swelled up, and they fell to the ground screaming and rolling around, vomiting blood from their mouths. Anyone seeing them in that state would have sworn they were both going to die.
Suddenly, they rose up into the air like winged birds, crashing headfirst into one another and punching each other. Once again, they grew utterly exhausted, blood streaming from various parts of their bodies.
While in this state, Sorcerer Daizur glanced sideways and spotted a blue talisman with a knotted stone hanging around the neck of the King of Hunters. He grabbed his own arm firmly and they continued beating each other thus.
At that moment, they were hovering above a cliff, beneath which was an extremely deep ravine, and at the bottom of the ravine rushed a fast-flowing river. Suddenly and unexpectedly, the King of Hunters saw King Shamsal leap up toward him like an arrow shot from a bow. Before the King of Hunters could make a move, King Shamsal struck him with a vicious punch to the face. That was the opening Sorcerer Daizur needed: he lunged and ripped the blue talisman off the hunter's neck.
Instantly, the King of Hunters plummeted straight down into the depths of the deep ravine. Because of the extreme depth, even King Shamsal and Sorcerer Daizur peered down but could no longer see the King of Hunters.
Filled with intense joy, Sorcerer Daizur lifted the talisman and stared into it. Instantly, the image of Hatyan and his companions on a ship sailing across the ocean appeared inside it.
Seeing this image, King Shamsal was also overcome with intense joy. He looked at Sorcerer Daizur and asked, "Now, from here to where Hatyan and his companions are, how many days' journey is it?"
Sorcerer Daizur sighed and said, "If we travel on horseback, it is a nineteen-day journey. By the time we reach them, their ship would have already reached the city of Istanbul. That means we won't catch them on the sea. But if they arrive in the city of Istanbul, in just three days they will leave this continent entirely. Once they leave, all our plans are ruined."
When Sorcerer Daizur reached this point, King Shamsal panicked and said, "What is to be done now, my pillar?"
Sorcerer Daizur remained silent, thinking for a few moments, then said, "I can conjure a magical bird that will carry us and take us right to the edge of this ocean in one day and a day's time. Upon arrival, we will hire a high-speed small boat that will allow us to intercept Hatyan's ship before they reach the city of Istanbul."
Hearing this, joy washed over King Shamsal, who said, "Quickly, create this magical bird so we can leave right now without wasting any time."
Without hesitation, Sorcerer Daizur sat down flat on the edge of the cliff, scooped four cowrie shells out of his pocket, and tossed them to the ground.
Summary
"Tarkon Mutuwa Book 3" by Abdul'Aziz Sani Madakin Gini continues the high-stakes fantasy adventure following Hatyan and Sadirat as they evade King Shamsal's forces aboard a ship, aided indirectly by Queen Badi'atul Nauwra. Meanwhile, back in Bindal, a furious King Shamsal prepares for an ultimate manhunt, bypassing his disabled son Prince Zainur in favor of the Waziri and enlisting Sorcerer Daizur. The duo tracks down the elusive King of Hunters in the distant Hajarul Ausad forest, engaging in a brutal supernatural duel. After defeating the hunter and seizing his scrying talisman, they locate Hatyan's position at sea and plot a magical flight to intercept him before he escapes the continent via Istanbul.
Description
The narrative is a gripping piece of classic Hausa pulp fantasy literature (littattafan so da yaki style), rich in supernatural combat, political succession angst, secret romantic tension, and relentless pursuit. It shifts smoothly between the emotional interiority of the fleeing heroes (Hatyan and Sadirat) and their pursuers (King Shamsal and Sorcerer Daizur), while weaving subplots involving royal family betrayal and mystical artifacts.
Analytics
- Setting: Fanciful realms including the continent of Bindal, the forests of Hajarul Ausad, deep sea routes, and the approach to Istanbul.
- Core Conflict: King Shamsal and Sorcerer Daizur's relentless hunt to capture Hatyan and Sadirat before they permanently escape the continent.
- Tone: Suspenseful, dark, action-packed, and mystical.
- Key Character Dynamics:
- Hatyan & Sadirat: Fugitives relying on cunning, disguise, and unexpected allies.
- King Shamsal & Sorcerer Daizur: A ruthless monarch and a powerful sorcerer locked in a desperate alliance.
- Prince Zainur: Bitter and sidelined due to his disability, harboring dangerous resentment against his father.
- Queen Badi'atul Nauwra: A powerful queen harboring unexpected romantic intrigue toward Hatyan.
Comments
- The author expertly maintains high tension by alternating between the hunters and the hunted, creating a dual race against time.
- The internal reflections of both Hatyan and Queen Badi'atul Nauwra add an interesting romantic layer to an otherwise action-heavy plot.
- The battle between the King of Shin/Hunters and the dark duo (Shamsal and Daizur) is vividly cinematic, showcasing high-fantasy magical combat typical of popular Hausa adventure novels.
Conclusions
This excerpt sets up a critical turning point in the saga. With the King of Hunters defeated and the scrying talisman revealing Hatyan's exact oceanic coordinates, King Shamsal and Sorcerer Daizur are now armed with a fast magical transit. The stage is set for a dramatic, high-speed confrontation as the pursuers close in on the fleeing heroes just as they approach the edge of the continent.
