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
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
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
Anine sat on a log of teak tree that fell at the back of Ajonwa's shrine. The tree had been her source of solitude each time she remembers how unfair life had been to her. The falling of the tree reminded her of the day her husband passed on to the great beyond. The unfairness of life began when Anine's husband died three years after they got married. She lost her mother when she was just three years old. She was raised by a father who made sure she never lacked anything, so her mother's absence was not felt. However, her father died after giving her hand in marriage. He sold everything he had just to make sure Anine never had anything to do with Ajonwa deity. This led to depression and consequent upon that, he died. Anine continued with her life after the death of her father. Her loving husband filled every vacuum her father left. When he died, Anine's world collapsed. Sitting on the log of the fallen tree, Anine began to recall how she got to Ajonwa's shrine - the same shrine h
"After much deliberation, the king and the people of Ohanta community agreed to send four men to Ndikwe community to trace the origin of the traveler. The villagers waited for so many seasons, but none of them returned. Nothing was ever heard about the men. Their disappearance remained a mystery in Ohanta community till today." "But Father...." "Ani nne stop interrupting me," Mazi Ugwu said. "Just one question Father" Anine said with index finger up. "Go ahead" " How many days will it take a man from Ohanta to get to Ndikwe?" Anine sorted to know. "I have not embarked on the journey my entire life, but my father told me it is a three-day journey" Mazi Ugwu responded. "So since then, no one tried to trace the origin of Ajonwa?" Anine asked. "After some seasons, when Ajonwa began to release what he had in store for the people of Ohanta, three men embarked on a secret mission. They told no one where they were going - not even their parents could explain where they went to.
"Greetings Mother" Anine turned and saw an attractive young girl standing at the entrance of the chamber. She had a large bosom and was quite too curvaceous for her age. In a nutshell, she was highly endowed. "What is your name ?" Anine inquired "Aku" "How old are you?" She further inquired. "Eighteen seasons and few full moons," Aku responded. Anine snapped her fingers in bewilderment. "You have been here for quite some time now, why are you doing this to me?" Aku asked with pains clearly written all over her face. "Doing what to you Aku?" "Please what are you talking about?" Anine shook Aku gently, demanding an answer. Ajonwa, the dreaded beast entered the chamber. "Woman!" He thundered. " Watch, learn from her, and stop complaining. " His voice echoed in the temple. Anine stood still and watched while Ajonwa devoured Aku like a hungry lion devouring its prey. The thrusting lasted for what seemed like ages. Aku kept quiet as her body responded to the rhythm of
"After I turned down my mother's offer, she reported me to our kinsmen. None of them could convince me to accept the offer. I don't know what came over me. It was as if Ajonwa's story is mere folklore. I made up my mind to come here after hearing their stories and all the pains Ajonwa has caused my community. No one has ever made an attempt to kill him. Mazi Idika invited me to his house and shared his painful story with me. According to him, his four daughters were kidnapped at once. The girls rejected all the men that were found for them. One day, their father returned from the farm and met an empty house, his beautiful daughters were nowhere to be found. He said the people of Ohanta were thrown into mourning when the news of disappearance circulated the whole village. The three sisters were known for their kindness. They help those who had no help in farming activities. After two market days, Mazi Idika received news that one of his daughters died after she was sexually abused
Anine could not explain how she felt the day her father told her that he has found a suitor for her. At the age of nineteen, she was young for marriage and was also running out of time. Since the villagers now give their daughters out for marriage at a very tender age, Ajonwa also danced according to the tune of the music played by the people of Ohanta. The disappearance of the Princess of Ohanta, who was just fifteen years old made the people know that Ajonwa understood the music steps. It took Mazi Ugwu three years to gather all the things that were demanded by her daughter's potential husband. He also sold all his lands to raise the amount of cowries Onochie's family requested. Mazi Ugwu was sad that he sold everything he had, however, he was happy that he kept Anine's mother's last wish. "She is my only daughter, please give her out to a man she loves. Do not allow Ajonwa to lay his filthy hands on my daughter." Mazi Ugwu recalled his wife's voice. Tears began to roll down