Ure walked coldly to Nwife's room. She sat down beside him. Since Nwife told her that he had no intention of becoming her husband, she had become free around him and her parents wondered what was happening. Two people who detested the sight of each other suddenly became friends. This was why the Queen sent Ije to spy on them and find out what they were up to.Nwife stared at Ure who sat behind him. He was too weak to talk. He had not been eating like he used to lately and it had begun to tell on his appearance. People noticed that he was troubled and had been treating everyone nicely. No one really knew what was wrong with him. Ure wanted to tell him about Ije's departure but she wouldn't want the Queen to know what was going on. She thought of the best way to tip him, she could not think out anything. Ure ascended the bed and laid beside him. They both supported their head with their arm as they stared up at the top of the room. The Queen who could not find her daughter in her bedro
It was morning and Ije had finished packing her things. Ure was still in bed because she went to bed late last night. Eze Ife was in his palace offering his morning incantations when Ije walked in without her things. She had left it in the room in case the king turn her request down. Ije, turned when she saw the king murmuring. Eze Ife waved at her and she halted. "What do you seek in my throne room this early hour of the day." Eze Ife asked. "Long live your Highness," Ije prostrated before the king. Eze Ife patted her back gently and she stood up. "The new moon appeared yesterday," Ije began. "Yes, my daughter; I saw it when I came out in the early hours." Eze Ife affirmed. "The new month ushered me into a new phase of my life." "A new age?" Eze Ife asked. Ije nodded. "Oh...this is the first time you are telling me about your birthday and we are going to celebrate it. Tell me how would want it to be celebrated?" Eze Ife asked. "I will like to make a request," Ije responded.
Nwife woke up and caressed his eyes gently. He could not believe he slept in the early hours as he was awake all night. He knew when the early morning cockcrow filled the compound. He could not tell when sleep stole him away. He rolled out of the bed, washed his face, and headed to the bathroom. He likes to greet the king after washing himself up. He looked at the food that was carefully placed on his table, it was as though they kept bitter leaf juice for him. He frown and took his face away. Nwife washed properly and applied his oil which had a nice fragrance. One of the visitors who visited the community gave it to the Queen as a gift and she gave the oil to Nwife and Ure. He put on his royal apparel and walked toward the throne room. He had planned to go and see Ije in her room after greeting the king. Since Ure had told him to be a man, that man was what he was ready to be. The king brought forth his hand to accept his greetings. Nwife took his hand with his two hands and bowed
Ije stood up and began to take some steps backward as Nwife took some steps forward. Mba kept quiet and was short of words. He kept looking at them simultaneously. It was as if a whistle was blown. Ije took off and Nwife ran after her. Since Nwife came in through the entrance, Ije had to use the back door. Nwife used the back door too. The back door led to a narrow farm path. Ije was not familiar with the path, but Nwife knew every nook and cranny. Ije diverted to the path that led to the dry stream bed. Nwife began to scream her name. He knew she might fall into it since she did not know a gully was there. Ije did not look back to know why he was screaming her name. She could not control her speed when she saw the gully. She fell inside and hit her head on one of the stones in the gully and she passed out. Nwife jumped into the gully and squatted beside her. He lifted her slightly up and discovered she was bleeding. He knew some herbs that controlled bleeding, Nwife ran out of the
Nwife held her gaze longer than she could withstand, Ije quickly lowered her eyes. She wanted to be mad at him, for stopping her, but she couldn't. She wondered why she was so weak before him. He should just go. Nwife took her hand and expected her to raise her eyes again. Ije did not move nor say any word. "You pass out...and..." "Who brought me back?" Ije asked weakly interrupting him. Nwife waited for some seconds before speaking. He knew she would be mad at him for laying his hands on her, so he wanted to lie. His father's words replayed on his mind. He made up his mind to say the truth. Who knows things might turn out the way he never expected. "I did, and I'm sorry. I could not..." "Thank you," Ije interrupted again still looking away. Nwife was surprised. He was not expecting her to say thank you. "I want to be left alone, would you mind?" "No...I mean yes...because your head still bleeds and I need to stop it from bleeding completely." Nwife stammered. Ije kept quiet. S
Mba stood up the moment his son entered the room with a plate of food. Nwife pulled a small wooden table that was under the bed out and carefully placed the food on it. "Father, are you going outside?" Nwife asked. "Yes," Mba responded. "No, you need to stay here and make her eat, please." "Oh, I have said my own. No, story for her if she fails to eat." Mba left the room. Ije stared at the two wooden spoons Nwife kept behind the food and stared up at him. Nwife understood what she was trying to communicate. "We are eating together. I have not been able to eat for the past two days, and I don't want you to think I poisoned your food," Nwife said gently. Ije became nervous when Nwife began to walk close to the bed. She was breathless and was almost gasping for breath. "Ije, you need to sit up. You can't eat in that position. Would you mind if I help you up?" Nwife asked. "No," she replied. "I can help myself." Ije adjusted to a more comfortable position, Nwife sat in front of he
"Some seasons ago," Mba started up. Nwife and Ije adjusted to a more comfortable position. Mba looked at them and grinned. "Some seasons, ago, I told you a story about the dry stream bed," Mba said. Nwife and Ije exchanged glances, but none of them seemed to understand what he was talking about."Father, you did not," Nwife said to his father. "Ije, I'm talking to you." "No father, you didn't," Ije smirked. "I told you about Iyi, the crystal-clear water that almost annihilated our women." "Yes...yes....it has been long, father, but you never finished off the story," Ije said. "Why?" Nwife asked. "You! You interrupted us," Ije said. Nwife was happy she had eventually talked to him with smiles. "Me...no way...I did not!" Nwife grinned at her."You did Nwife," Mba backed Ije. "What did I do," Nwife asked. "She visited and I was telling her the story. You just showed up from nowhere and chased her out of the compound. I tried to stop, but you almost pushed me down." Mba said and
"Wait, are those goosebumps I see all over your body?" Nwife asked as he lifted Ije's left hand. "Father, you need to end the story, she is obviously scared," Nwife said. "I'm not scared but I never knew how difficult my mission is until now," Nwife asked. "Which mission are you talking about, Ije?" Nwife asked. "I have been chosen by the gods to destroy the deity," Ije said staring into space. Nwife and his father exchanged glances. "What did she say?" Mba asked his son. Nwife opened his mouth but could not say a word. "The gods chose me to destroy the deity," Ije repeated. "How? Nwife and his father said in unison."Who told you that?" Mba asked. Nwife looked at her with curiosity, waiting for her answer. "The old woman of the cave, the great seer of Ohanta who was banished from the community told my father before I was born." "Did you believe the prophecy?" Mba asked. "I am a seer and I hear the voice of the gods. But since I came into this community, I haven't heard nor s
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