Onochie's mother and her grandchild got to the market earlier than other market sellers. She displayed her goods as usual. One of the market officials who was nicknamed Odum because his body was hard and muscular as a result of much training, walked up to her. "Woman, the head of the market wants to see you now. Please do not come with the girl." Odum announced. "Onum, please wait here, I'm coming." Uzo left with the market official. She was not surprised when she saw the woman who warned her not to come to the market with her grandchild sitting impatiently in the market court. When Odum told her that she had been summoned by the head of the market, she knew it had something to do with the exchange of words she and the woman had yesterday. "Sit down." The head of the market, who was known as Mazi Ibe ordered. Onochie's mother sat beside the woman. "This woman here said you and your daughter insulted her yesterday, is it true?" "It is not true..." "You are such a liar!" The woman
"Onum, please go and meet Dee Anine, I want to be left alone," Uzo told her grandchild. "No mother, I want to stay with my husband." "That's enough, he is your father and not your husband. You don't have a husband yet." "Who were they referring to as my husband then?" Ije asked. "A wicked deity said he would marry you when you grow up, but we won't allow that to happen." Onochie's mother explained. "I don't want to marry anybody except my husband," Ije said with a sad face. "Stop calling him your husband, will you?" Onochie's mother yelled at her grandchild. "No!" Ije yelled back at her. "Please do not make things difficult for me. He is not your husband, he is your father. He wants you to call him father..." "Just like I want you to call me Ije!" Ije interrupted. "Your name is not Ije. Ije is not a good name. Your father named you Onum. "Father calls me Ije, or is he also not my father?" "He is your father." Onochie's mother said with a sad tone. Ije reminds her so much of
“Mazi Ileka turned; he could not believe his ears. He was happy and curious about the new development. Since his wife told Ije that he was her husband, he could not remember the last time Ije called him father. He smiled, hoping to get a smile back. Ije sighed as if to say that smiling was the least of her problem. “What is it, my daughter?” Mazi Ileka asked. “Father I want to see you” There was a seriousness in her voice. It was as if he was looking at a totally different person. “What happened?” Mazi Ileka asked with a surprised tone. Ije lowered her gaze. She was really sad. “Did anyone say anything to you?” “No” “Then why do you wear a sad look?” “I want to leave this community.” “Why?” “Nothing…. I…I… woke up this morning and I felt like going to another community, where I won’t be treated as an outcast.” Ije said with few drops of tears in her eyes. Her grandfather took her to his hut. “Please sit down,” Mazi Ileka said after wiping off her tears. “Were you thinking ab
“The mission is yours,” Mazi Ileka answered after gaping at his wife. “This is my personal destiny. It is mine and mine alone. No one goes with me, except those chosen by the gods. “ Ije explained. The explanation shocked Mazi Ileka and his wife. Uzo swallowed a hard drool. “Ije, who told you all these things you are saying?” Uzo asked. “A voice speaks to me always.” “Since when did you start hearing voices?” Mazi Ileka asked. “I can’t remember, but it has been long.“ “Did the voice tell you to leave this community?” Uzo asked. “Yes” The woman glanced at her husband in perplexity. “This is unbelievable!” Mazi Ileka shook his shoulder. “When did you hear the voice?” Uzo asked. “Last night, I saw something that looks like a stick with burning flame coming towards me, and I heard a voice; leave this kingdom now!” Ije explained. Uzo and her husband exchanged glances again. “Ajonwa’s enchanted staff,” Uzo muttered and her husband nodded. “It came out again last night and destro
Annie got on fours as she cried profusely. The secret revealed by her daughter came as shock to her. She had been wishing to join her husband since he died. She felt she had no reason to continue living. Her only daughter, which would have been her motivation, was also chosen by the wicked deity. Uzo had compassion for her and ran to her rescue. She helped her up to her feet, wiped her tears with her sackcloth, and led her to her house. Mazi Ileka and his grandchild watched as they walked towards Anine's compartment. He stooped beside his grandchild. "Lesson number one..." "Number two," Ije intruded. "A seer does not say everything he or she sees. Some revelations trigger emotion. When you see such revelations, use parables to pass your message. Soon the gods would teach you how to say some things in parables and withhold some things you see. When your father died, I traveled to Ndikwe community to meet a seer. The seer told me that your father had found peace, and he was restin
"Ikenga!" Ezeudo's third wife called. Ikenga was the crown prince of Ohanta. He was very handsome, arrogant, and full of himself. Ezeudo was one of the best kings that had ever ruled Ohanta. People wondered if Ikenga was truly his flesh and blood because he was nothing like his father. At the age of fifteen, Ikenga hardly paid attention to anything that was happening in the Kingdom. His younger brother Ubaka was more conventional. "Mother!" Ikenga answered when he stepped out of the chamber he shared with Ubaka. "Come to my chamber now!" Ugo said loudly. Ikenga followed her immediately. He walked majestically to his mother's chamber. "What is it, mother?" Ikenga asked curiously. "I overheard your father telling your stepmother that you must get married to that little witch if you must rule this kingdom." "What?" "You heard me, Ikenga!" "Who is the little witch you are talking about?" Ikenga asked. "Who doesn't know Ije, the little witch in this kingdom? The only girl that inh
Ugo and her royal maid set out to Mazi Ileka's house. She was astounded by the sizeableness of the compound. She stood still and admired the trees that made the compound quite cozy. "Greetings, My Queen," Anine who just came out of the latrine greeted. She was taken aback by the presence of the Queen. The elegant and proud Ugo had never visited Mazi Ileka since she got married to the king. Anine wondered why she visited them. "You are?" The Queen asked sarcastically. "Anine, My Queen." "Oh you are the mother of the messenger I have heard so much about, I see. Where is your daughter?" "I don't know, my Queen, but she is somewhere around the neighborhood," Anine responded looking at the entrance of the compound. "Where is your father-in-law?" Ugo asked. "He has been out since morning, but he would be home soon." Ugo walked closer to Anine. "Draw two seats, I want to ask you a few questions," Ugo said after looking around the compound. She wanted to make sure no one was at home w
Ije, who could not explain how she defeated the prince and his guard lowered her gaze when her grandfather threw the question at her. She did not know what came over her. There were so many things Ije was yet to discover about herself. This frightened her. Mazi Ileka was touched by her sudden countenance. He had never talked to her in such a manner. He knew Ije was holding up great responsibility. The least he could do for her was provide a sufficient backup for her. "Come to me, Ije," Mazi Ileka said softly. Ije went to him as she wiped her tears with the back of her palm. Her grandfather embraced her warmly. "Do not cry, my child. The gods are with you. Their strength succeeds when yours fails. This is your destiny." Mazi Ileka kneeled beside Ije and stroked her soft hair. "I'm sorry I did not inform you about your strength. I felt you are too young to understand. I feel so ashamed right now that you discovered it by yourself." "You knew?" Ije asked. "Yes, the old woman o
Ije took the enchanted sword and the wizard cloak around the whole communities. They all accepted to lift the ban. The traditional rulers had to search for a powerful sorcerer who would lift the ban. Ije stayed behind to make sure the people were extricated before going back to her community. The people organized a small ceremony for her and Nwife. They led them down to Ikpa land before bidding farewell to them. The youths of Ikpa insisted she must go with the four-wheeled donkey she won when she was on her way to Umuora. It was a straight journey back to Ohanta as they were already familiar with the paths. *********** "Where is the sword?" Ezeudo of Ohanta asked Ije when she had finished her story. "It has been taken down to the shrine," Ije responded. "By who?" The people chorused. "The only man I trusted with my life." The people looked around and saw Nwife standing at the entrance of the Obi with the Princess. Ezeudo could not believe he was looking at her daughter after so
It had been four years already since Ije and Nwife came to Umuora, but the star had refused to show up. Oja had tried everything possible to make sure he separated both of them, but all his efforts proved abortive. He realized they were so in love the day he caught Nwife giving Ije a sponge bathe. It took him one full moon to be himself again. Since the solution to the problem of the two communities lay in the wizard's cave, Ije had decided to stay as long as the star appeared. Nwife also tried to convince her to go and return when the start would likely appear, but he gave up on her insistence. Soon they began to explore the community and were quite happy with the people. The people treated Ije with so much kindness. She found it difficult to leave without liberating them. The long-awaited day had come and Nwife and Ije were on their bed. Since he had been the one bathing and cooking for her, Ije got so comfortable around him. She could tell him everything and do everything while
The morning dawned with low-hanging clouds. There was a calmness in the Palace as a result of the heavy downpour of rain. Oja who got his father's permission to speak with her in the early hours paused at Ije's door when he heard her talking to Nwife. He tried to eavesdrop but he could not hear what they were saying. He leaned against a wall and was lost in thought, trying to find a way of separating the two of them. A maid can with her breakfast and brought him back to reality. He took the food from her and knocked. Nwife let him in and tried to leave after greeting him. Oja waved at him to stop. Nwife knew he was jealous and would probably ask if he slept with her. "Thank you," Oja shook hands with him. Nwife accepted his handshake and stared surprisingly at him. "For what?" He asked. "For saving my brother last night." "She did; she is the healer," Nwife pointed at Ije. "You called her attention....em...one more thing...never mind, you can go now." Oja kept the food on a smal
Oja took Ije took home after exploring the community for some hours. Ozo loitered at the entrance of the Palace. He could not wait to see the chosen one who transformed his brother. Some villagers who heard what happened huddled at the Palace and were waiting patiently for her. Their joy knew no bounds. The women ran to her and hauled her up the moment she was spotted. Ozo stared appreciatively at her. He knew the end of their suffering had come. He had wished to explore other communities and bring in new knowledge. The people sang and danced for more than two hours. Food was served to them and they ate together and went back home. The king was surprised Ije ate comfortably with them. Soon she began to feel sleepy and needed to bathe before going to bed. Oja led her to the backyard, and Nwife followed them. He engaged Oja in a conversation just to make sure he was not stealing glances at her. They walked her back to her cottage when she was through. Nwife left them and joined Offia
"What did they need from the chosen one?" Nwife asked. Offia stood up and looked outside again to see if anyone was coming. He returned and took off the plantation leaves he used to cover his genitals and tried to put the wrapper on his waist just like Nwife tied his. Nwife stood, helped him and they sat down again. "The neighboring communities want to be sure the wizard is dead, secondly they want his enchanted sword and everything that belongs to him out of this community before they would accept our peace offer. This is where the chosen one comes in." "Your people should do what they asked of them. It is a very simple task, I thought they were demanding a hundred heads in retaliation for what the wizard did. "They said the wizard has a cloak. Anyone who touches it dies instantly. Besides; all the magicians who have gone to the cave to check if the wizard is alive or dead did not come out till today. No one knows what is happening inside the cave." "Wait....wait....wait....were y
"Nice wrapper," Offia, the third son of the king said as he touch Nwife's wrapper. Nwife opened his eyes, he could not believe he has been sleeping for the past three hours. The sun had gone down and the weather looked as though it was going to rain heavily. Nwife rubbed his hand on his eyes. He was very very tired. He looked at the figure that stood before him and quickly came down from the chair. "I'm sorry for trespassing, I have nowhere to go." Nwife said. "No problem. You are the stranger that came with the Queen this morning right?" Offia asked. Nwife nodded. Offia brought his hand forward for a handshake Nwife shook hands with him. "You are indeed a gentleman. I can't perform such a task," Offia said as he took a seat beside him. "What task?" Nwife asked. Offia turned and looked at him. "You are so naive. Are you castrated?" "Hmm...no...I'm not," Nwife responded. "Leading such a beautiful woman down to this community without defiling her is one of the greatest tasks ever
Ije turned was filled with empathy for Nwife. She stood still and held his gaze for some seconds. "Ife, I'm sorry, if....only they knew who you are.." Ije said slowly with a faint voice. Nwife drew her closer and hugged her tightly. He held her head on his chest. Her lips began to wander to his neck, sending his heartbeat into a frenzy. Nwife gently released himself from her arms. "The timing is wrong Ije," Nwife said as he walk her to the bed. He sat down and urged her to sit beside him. Ije sat down gently. "Each time I see you, I have a strong urge to do crazy things with you, I don't know why," Ije said as she held his gaze."I know, Ije, but it is not the reason for this move," Nwife grinned. "What is it?" "I'm scared; I don't know where we are and the plans they have for me. I don't know what to believe anymore. They know me as well as I know myself, but whatever happens, I want you to be my first." Nwife took her hand and rested her head on his shoulder. Nothing will happe
Ije and Nwife stood before Dike the traditional ruler of Umuora. The king stared at Nwife from head to toe. He took his eyes off him and stared admiringly at Ije. "Greetings your Highness," Ije greeted. "The chosen one! the great seer! And the healer of our time, you are welcome to my palace." Dike grinned at her. Ije and Nwife exchanged glances. Ije was confused already, but the presence of Nwife kept strengthening her. "Okemuo, the presiding deity of Umuora announced your coming five seasons ago. Since then we have been waiting for you. He described you very well," he grinned. "Welcome and please feel at home. There would be no ritual since you were sent by the gods. Oja, the first son of Umuora is your destined husband. Together you shall rule this Kingdom and break the barriers that stopped our people from stepping out of this community!" The people cheered and danced for joy. "Welcome, the chosen one! Oja!" Dike called. Oja bowed before the king."Do not provoke her. Remember
"I'll advise you to do whatever that brought you to this community and leave at once before Oja sees her." "Who is Oja?" Nwife asked. "Ojadike is the first son of king Dike," Ene said. Nwife made eye contact with Ije. He noticed she was worried about him. "Father, would you mind if we stay with you? Please." Nwife said. "The villagers have seen you already they would probably be on their way to the Palace. Oja will be here in no time." Ije stood up from the boulder and went to Nwife. He held her hand. "What do you seek in our community?" "It is a long story, father," Nwife said. "Make it short, I want to see if I can help so you will leave at once." "There is a deity that is terrorizing our community. We traced the origin down here. We need help, please." Nwife said. "Oh very simple. Does it have a speaker?" "What is a speaker?" Nwife asked. "A mouthpiece...a...I don't know what you call it." "Oh okay, we call them Chief Priest," Nwife said. "Good, ask the mouthpiece what