THE GODDESS disappeared

             ATINUKE ORIGIN

Some times ago, when men were few, a king ruled a small kingdom, this king was not a good one, he was just not human at all, but then a man decided to live away from his land and the only place he could live was on the Iceland of Mogoro, beside a mountain called crush.

Many would never would never rist to live at the place, for the water was a troubled one, many thought or agreed that the water was possessed, yes he also thought so, but one like him preferred to be troubled by a possessed water than a possessed king like king Ademowi.

Who took delight in killing people like he to do to mosquito, he was without any woman that loved him and though he had many wives, he knew he had not found a love, for all his wives would have never got married to him if they had any choice, they were taken by force from their parents or husbands, he was always looking for one woman who he would not need to be forced into marriage with him, 

There was another kingdom, where the king gave birth to two children a boy and a girl, they were referred to as Prince and princess, these kids were Good looking and loved by citizens of the land,they were already respected as if they had grew up, for the boy who was the second born was going to be made a king and the girl was supposed to be a princess for life.

though she would be a princess but there was another task for her as she was highly gifted with special powers.and those gifts would earn her more respect than any other person in the kingdom.

BOOK 1: THE WATERY CRADLE

Chapter One:

Queen Morolake woke up next  to her husband, the king, panting and sweating. She had a terrifying dream...

In the dream, she saw the most beautiful girl she had ever seen, the girl was petite with dark bright eyes, her skin was a shining black like diamantine ebony, she was well formed like a golden hourglass crafted by sokoti—the blacksmith of the gods, her breasts were like two perfect clusters of palm fruits, she had long hairs like a water goddess and she sang with a voice so sonorous and lovely the whole world stopped to listen and the trees in the forest swayed as if they were in a deep trance. Her beauty was so profound that everyone focused on her and chanted her name while Morolake gradually faded into obscurity as a ghost.

"Never!!!"She screamed, jolting the king from his sleep.

"What's wrong with my love? What happened?", the king asked with a look of genuine concern on his face.

"I had a bad dream kabiyesi. It's so scary", she said sobbing as the king hugged her close. 

"Tell me about it my darlingi, it will help you feel better".

"I saw a cat, and the cat was chasing after me! A black cat for that matter", she lied… 

Oba Ademowi held her close and rubbed his hands on her back and head, comforting and assuring her that she would always be safe in his kingdom. 

Queen Morolake was the favourite of King Ademowi’s wives and this was not surprising because she was acclaimed as the most beautiful woman in the whole kingdom. Her astonishing beauty, coupled with her gentle character, with her beautiful voice and her many acts of philanthropy made her the apple of the king's eye and the darling of the kingdom. 

She was a role model to many people, she seemed to be a goddess in flesh but just as every other human she had a flaw and this her flaw made her something far from the goddess everyone perceived her to be;

She was obsessed with herself and she cannot bear the thought of competition or a rival. As such, she gradually took out everyone who could stand as a rival to her and she succeeded in taking them all out or so she thought.

Chapter Two

Queen Morolake had just returned from a trip to Orita Eleye-- one of the poorest parts of the kingdom but instead of feeling proud and satisfied as she usually felt, she felt insecure, vulnerable and weak despite the way the people literally worshipped her. 

She went with fifty slaves bearing food and clothing which she shared to the people, she played with the children, told them stories and sang to them. When she was leaving the village with her entourage, the people ran after her horse screaming “may you live long for us”.

Her maidens observed her countenance and they concluded that she must have been tired so they brought her a cup of wine and prepared a bath for her. She drank the water and went to the bath prepared by her maidens. After taking the bath, her maidens applied adin agbon and osun all over her body making her fair skin sparkle like the surface of the Olatere river under a full moon. They dressed her up in a fine iro and buba made with purple and red ofi cloth then they placed her coral beads on her neck, hands and feet . 

Her maidens asked her if she needed anything else and if her food should be brought in but she dismissed them. Telling them she wanted to sleep and she would call them when they are needed. So they all left .

As soon as her maidens left, she stood up, closed her windows, made sure her doors were locked and she went to the western corner of her room.

On getting there, she knocked on the wall thrice and she proceeded to recite the Yoruba incantations that opened her secret portal to the coven of the dark witches: 

"iba o iba! iba o iba! iba o iba! iba kutukutu awo owuro, iba ganrin ganrin awo osan, iba eyin iya mi osoronga olokiki oru, at’ori ja’pa at’apa j’ori at’edo j’oronro, bi okete ba juba ile ile a la enu fun, bi ekolo juba ile ile a lanu fun, mo juba eyin agba loni o! e si ilekun agbede meji orun ati aye fun mi, eyi ti n se ela akoko."

As soon as she finished the incantation, the wall opened to reveal a door made of fire and pitch dark smoke and she stepped through.

She stepped out in the coven. There, she met a group of witches—all female except for a warlock who served as their drummer and executioner, the wielder of the witches’ blade.

The coven was headed by three old witches who had been leading the coven for three hundred and sixty years, all the witches were dressed in red and black wrappers gruesomely decorated with bones, feathers, wooden combs, needles and skins.

The coven was lit by oil lamps reeking of death, evil and hatred with mean-looking idols placed all over the place and cages that contained human beings.

In a raspy voice, one of the three elder witches-- holding a staff that looked like the thigh and knee bone of humans twisted together with red and black feathers-- spoke,

 “What brings you to our abode Morolake?” 

She replied in a reverential tone, 

“O great mothers, were you not the ones that said if a child knows how to wash her hands she will dine with elders?, I have washed my hands in the ways of the elders therefore I am able to dine with you .You great terrible ones of the night, you enlightened me, empowered me, made me your child and assured me that no harm shall come to me just as no harm can come to tiger cubs in the presence of their mother. you promised me comfort, wealth, fame and eternal youth as long as I keep appeasing you and I keep making you happy. So, why have you chosen to neglect me at this moment when the worst calamity looms over me like the heavy clouds of disgrace?” 

Another of the elder witche-- who held a staff which looked like the figure of a grown up man reduced to the size of a walking stick and decorated with red and black feather-- replied her in an even raspier voice,

“You have spoken the truth, you have been shown the secret ways of the cosmic elders therefore you are no longer a mere mortal. Truly, you have been a good child; you have initiated more people into this coven with your ‘gifts of mercy’ than anybody else has ever done, we now hold sway over the length and breadth of the kingdom, spreading diseases wherever we dim fit and we feast on souls as much as we want. We know what you are worried about and we have made adequate preparations for you, the name of the girl you beheld is Atinuke, the daughter of Ifatunde the hunter and Abejide the mat weaver who lives in Idi Oro Village. She is a protégé of the marine goddess of the ocean and we are going to feast on her pretty soul tonight.”

The coven bursted into a frenzy of eager, maniacal, blood-cuddling laughter at the mention of a feast. Only to be abruptly stopped in their tracks by the croaky voice of the third of the elder witches.

She looked just as old and haggard as the other witches but she is very fair unlike them and she had a long dark beard that reached to her feet, her scanty hair was completely white, her eyes were without pupils and she wielded a staff made of human bones with a large, revolving skull of a python mounted on it, all the witches avoided the gaze of the dead snake with some hurriedly falling face-first to the ground just to avoid it. 

She called one of the witches,”Tamotiye! Come!” 

One of the witches ran quickly to the front of the coven, taking care not to meet the gaze of the bearded elder witch or her staff.

The bearded witch commanded, “Bring in the sheep for the feast”

Tamotiye replies with a slight tremble in her voice, “At once mother”

She motioned with her left hand and a large cauldron placed over fire with strange markings on it appeared before her.

She proceeded with the spell to summon the soul of Atinuke so they could feast on it: 

“Atinuke! When the dead is called on the highway the living respond, Atinuke! A mother cannot hear the wailing of her child and fail to respond, Atinuke! Hasten to me with earnest zeal like a bird swooping down a tree! Hearken to my voice as a command not a plea!!!”

Their coven fell awfully silent as she said the final words of the spell, they waited expectantly for the beautiful form of a damsel to appear but nothing happened. 

Then, a furious member of the coven started to vent her anger, “What is the meaning of this? This spell has never…..”

Boom!!! The cauldron exploded into a big bright fireball, vaporizing Tamotiye and three other witches closest to the cauldron—including the furious witch—instantly.

One of the witches shouted fearfully,

”This is definitely the doing of Seniola!, she will kill us all! We have to……aargh….…aargh” she clutched her neck as she fell down on her knees. Her face contorted in extreme agony, as she stared straight at the python-headed staff pointed at her.

Instantly, she started to decay with fat dark maggots crawling all over her, soon nothing was left of her but her dark, still-beating heart.

The bearded elder witch motioned to the beating heart on the floor and one of the witches hurriedly picked it up and put it into an earthenware vessel.

"I told you to never mention that ugly name in my presence!!!", she shouted.

Queen Morolake looked like she had come face to face with death himself at this point (and she might have). She was visibly shaken beyond her wits. Then, the elder witch with the staff that looks like an emaciated man spoke in her raspy voice: 

“Anyone else among you who is as foolish as Oro Oka will get the same treatment and worse; you will have your heart destroyed too. We may not be able to kill the girl yet but the earth and the four winds of the earth are within our grasp and we can send her anywhere we wish; we can send her to a land that doesn’t exist, a land of death from which no one returns, the abode of fear were even that ugly fish called a goddess cannot rescue her. Let's join our powers together and show them that we—the terrestrial mothers—own the world.” 

The witches linked their hands while the elder witches said the incantations to summon the four winds of the earth. 

      

Chapter 3: Idi Oro Village 

Atinuke had a very busy day; she had fetched water from the river, gathered herbs from the forest, tended to the goats, chickens and pigs, washed a heap of clothes at the river, assisted her mother at the kitchen, took care of her younger siblings and to top it all; she had to attend the-- boring --numerous suitors who came with expensive gifts to ask for her hand in marriage. 

So, she went to bed immediately after having her supper and the usual “welcome into adulthood, you are going to be a wife like your mother” discussion with her parents.

She had not been asleep for long when she heard her mother calling her from her sleep, at first she ignored the voice but when heard her mother's voice the third time, she stood up to meet her mum. 

As soon as she stood up, she made for the door, opened it and headed toward the forest like she was being controlled. 

All her instincts screamed “danger!” but her body seemed to have a will of it's own as she kept walking towards the forest.

Suddenly, the wind started to howl violently and a great tornado appeared out of nowhere, rolling menacingly towards her. She caught a glimpse of her parents running towards her and she tried to run back to them but she still lacked the ability to control her body.

She could see her parents moving closer to her and she felt hopeful: Maybe her father could pull her back and carry her to safety. She held on to this hope as the tornado engulfed her and she fell unconscious.

                  Ifatunde 

Ifatunde—Atinuke's father— fell deeply asleep, he was naturally a light sleeper but that night was different.

It was like a heavy weight was placed on his chest to hold him down, he heard from his slumber as a door was pushed open and he tried to get up to investigate but he couldn't. So he kept on struggling against the invisible force holding him down.

When he finally broke free and he was able to get up, he quickly woke his wife and they went to check on their little children together. After making sure they were okay, they went to their eldest daughter’s room to check on her.

He began to have an ominous feeling as soon as he saw the door to Atinuke’s room ajar and a thousand possibilities race through his mind, he ran into the room and looked frantically around; the oil lamp is still lit, the door and windows looked intact and everything looked as orderly as they usually were.

He called out once, "Atinuke!" 

hoping to hear a “Yes dad” from her daughter but he heard nothing but the eerie silence of the night.

At this point, Atinuke’s mother had become frantic, pacing up and down the room and occasionally grabbing her husband’s cloth and pestering him with questions.

“Baba Atinuke! Where is my daughter? Did she tell you she wasn’t going to sleep at home? Haven’t we told her to always use her chamber pot and stop going out at night to ease herself? We have to find her.”

Ifatunde was very worried but he couldn't show it to his wife so as not to increase her stress, so he assured her that their daughter couldn't have been far away and rushed to take his sword from his room so he could go out to search for her.

He had barely gotten out of the house with his wife—who insisted on following him—when a strange violent wind began to blow and the ominous howl of the trees in the nearby Iho forest filled the night air.

Instinctively, he knew that something bad was going on there and his daughter was involved somehow. So he sprinted towards the forest; sword in hand, with his agitated wife in tow.

He was surprised to see his daughter walking towards the forest and he started to call out to her—at the top of his voice—to come back but she seemed  oblivious to everything in her surroundings including her father’s voice as if she was under a spell. 

So, he doubled his speed with the hope of reaching her and carrying her home. He could not imagine a life without his daughter; he would rather die than lose her. 

He was about to reach her but a raging tornado beat him to her, engulfing her and swallowing her up like a cruel beast.

He fell on his knees at the spot where his daughter and the tornado stood barely a second before and he let out a sorrowful cry as his wife fell unconscious beside him.

Chapter 5: Ile Iberu(The land of fear)

Atinuke regained her consciousness at a cross-road in a strange land. She stood up to see nothing but four roads connecting at a center and brown grass punctuated by rocks and slender trees in all directions, stretching as far as her eyes could see.

She called out with the hope of being heard but no one replied to her, then she sat by the road with the hope of meeting someone passing by.

The sun was approaching the end of its daily journey to the west and despair began to creep into her heart so she wept; she remembered everything that happened to her up to the moment when she was taken by the tornado, she remembered her family, her friends and neighbours and the thought of not seeing them again weighed heavily on her.

“What have I done to deserve this Olodumare the God of gods? Have I misled a blind man or cheated the mentally challenged? Have I stolen from you or anybody? Whose donkey have I stolen and whose sheep have I unlawfully taken for myself? Why has my joy turned to calamity all of a sudden? Oh! My parents’ guardian spirits do not neglect me, Olokun Seniola the great mother of the sea, please do not forsake me.” she said with her eyes turned towards the sky. 

She was so lost in her thoughts and self-pity that she didn’t notice the old man with a black goat-skin bag beckoning to her from the middle of the road. When she finally noticed him, she was elated and she went to meet him.

The old man spoke gently to her, “Child, what are you doing here alone?”

She replied with a tired smile on her tear-moistened face, “Baba, I don’t know where I am; I was taken by a tornado from my village in Ijala kingdom to wherever this place is.”

The old man shook his head and said, “Where you are does not exist where you are from just as where you are from does not exist where you are. You are on a different earth".

Atinuke asked the man in a shaky voice, “I don't understand. What do you mean by another earth? How can I go back home?”

The old man replied, “I cannot tell you that, I can only give you a little assistance to survive as long as possible”.

Then, the old man brought out a small gourd with a chain of cowries tied around the neck and presented it to her.

“Take this gourd and let it be on your person always; it contains water from the source of the seas and oceans. Trust no one and know that everything you will ever need is in you,”

She kneels to collect the gourd from the old man and thank him. Then she asked him for his identity and where he lived so as to tell his parents about him and he smiled as he transformed into a barefooted young man wearing a cloth which was black on one side and white on the other, with a hat to match,

“I am Esu, the god of the cross-roads, the trickster and the messenger of the gods,'' he said. 

She was taken aback but the god assured her, “Don’t be afraid, as much as I would love to show you a few of my tricks, I am not allowed to do so; Seniola sent me. She could have sent any of her servants but none can cross to this dimension like I do; I can go wherever there is a cross-road, shadow or wall. It’s been fun talking with you but I’ve got messages to deliver. Stay alive!” and he vanishes in a wisp of smoke.

By then, it was getting dark and Atinuke was tired due to the things she had been through. She needed rest, she needed food. Out of nowhere, she saw a cave not far from the crossroad. She wondered how she didn't notice such a conspicuous structure all the while and she decided to check it out. She would probably be able to sleep there till morning. 

On getting there, she saw that the interior of this cave seemed safe enough; the moon shone through some holes in the corner of the roof, it was clean and warm, there was a fireplace and a bamboo bed in it. "Surely, someone lives there. Maybe I should talk to them",she thought to herself.  

She dozed off on the bamboo bed and woke up later to see a bowl of yam porridge and water beside her and an old woman cooking on the fireplace.

The old woman said, “I’m glad you are awake, please help yourself to the food and join me when you are through; I rarely get visitors here.”

Atinuke thanked her and wolfed down the food with relish. For some reason, the food tasted exactly like her mother's. With the flavour of honey- nobody had ever made yam porridge with honey except her mom. 

She finished eating and she went to sit across from the old woman. She looked like she was in her late nineties and she was visibly bent.

She spoke to Atinuke in a soft, quavering voice as she continued to stir the content of the big pot before her, “My daughter, you don’t know how glad I am to have you here, in fact I am having a feast to celebrate your arrival.”

Atinuke smiled and replied politely, “Mama, I appreciate your kindness but I don’t think you should go through so much trouble to entertain me.”

Her statement seemed so hilarious to the woman that she burst into laughter. She kept on laughing till Atinuke became uncomfortable.

“I said I would have a feast but I don’t remember saying anything about entertaining you hahaha.”, the old woman said. 

Atinuke tried to get the joke but instead she began to grow weak and dizzy all of a sudden as the adorable old woman turned into a vile salivating daemon.

In a short while, the cave became filled with daemons ululating and dancing. They tied Atinuke to an iron net and they were about to roast her above the fire when one of the daemons fell with an axe sticking out of it's slimy head. 

A boy came charging in; he was tall and dark-skinned like the night itself, built like sango- the god of thunder himself with an axe in his hand. He looked like he was created by the Orishas as a monster killing machine. 

The daemons snarled and ran at him with dripping fangs and greenish claws like hooks. 

He chopped off the heads of the first two to come at him and he sent the third flying across the cave with a kick to it's chest. He moved with deadly accuracy and speed, cutting down daemon after daemon like he had been doing it all his life. 

One of the daemons saw the mess the boy had created and it tried to take a bite off Atinuke before the hunter could get to him but it fell face first; it's head chopped cleanly off by an axe that went on to impale another daemon. 

The boy didn't stop, he continued fighting with his bare hands; bashing heads in and ripping out limbs till he got to the daemon whose head was holding his axe in place. He pulled out his axe from it's head and he jumped to the fireplace- knocking a daemon into the fire as it screeched and howled in agony. 

He got to the other demon with his second axe sticking out of it's guts and he yanked it out- covered in daemon blood. 

He then broke the chains they used in tying Atinuke to the iron net. He carried her on his shoulder like she was a piece of dove's feather and dropped a gourd in the fireplace: then he ran, knocking every daemon out of his way. 

The cave exploded with a loud bang as soon as he escaped with Atinuke on his shoulder.

Chapter 6: The illusion of time

Atinuke woke up alone the next morning in a hut with a terrible headache. The boy who saved her came in later with a bowl of herbs and she found it hard to stop looking at him; her memories were intact and she remembered seeing someone coming to her rescue but the boy she was seeing didn't have the looks of a killer who cut down daemons like grass. 

He had a charming boyish appeal, like a prince or a musician. But definitely not a stone cold killer. 

“Drink this; it will help to remove the daemon’s poison from your body,'' he said. 

Atinuke replied, “Thanks but how can I trust you? You could have come to help me earlier, why didn't you?”

He replied, “Firstly, I had to make sure you weren’t one of them because virtually everybody here is a monster. Secondly, you have little choice in this, either drink it or lose your mind before nightfall.”

She stared at him for a while before drinking the concoction reluctantly and she felt better instantly.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Atinuke” she replied,” And yours?”

“Aro” he said.

Then he asked her what she was doing in a place like Ile Iberu. 

She narrated her whole ordeal to him. Telling him how she got there mysteriously and her desire to return home. 

After hearing her story, Aro told her his story too; he used to be a hunter's apprentice in Ijala kingdom. He was a prodigy and he became his master's favourite. 

One day, he heard that a tiger was hunting and killing people in a neighbouring village; the tiger was not only killing them, it was making their corpses disappear too.

His master had gone on a journey and he instructed him to wait in the village till he returned. But Aro wasn't the type of boy who would wait around while a killer tiger roams free. 

So, he took his gun and his bag of charms and he went after the tiger. 

After tracking the tiger through the forest for 7 days, he found it dragging a girl to its lair. The woman was alive, which was a strange behaviour for a tiger. Tigers don't take away their prey alive. 

He kept following the tiger until he got to it's liar in the forest. He hid near the entrance with his gun and watched in horror as the tiger transformed into a woman before hanging the girl she dragged in among other people who were already hanging from the roof of the lair. 

His blood boiled with anger as he sent two bullets flying from his gun. The woman dodged both bullets and laughed.

"I knew you were there all the while, you should have left when you had the chance", she said with a look of amusement. 

Before he could reload his gun, she ran at him with the speed of lightning and ripped his gun out of his hand. 

He instinctively pulled out the enchanted dagger his master gave him and the woman fell at the sight of it, before she could get up, He fell upon her and stabbed her in the chest with it. 

Instead of dying immediately, she held onto Aro. He tried to break free, stabbing her repeatedly but she didn't budge. Instead, she began to recite some incantations. 

That was the last thing he remembered when he woke up in Ile Iberu. 

"We could go back home soon though, I was on my way to the wise man of the dessert. I heard he knows everything. He might know how to get us home too. You can come with me if you want"

Atinuke’s heart almost burst with joy at the thought of seeing her home again.

"Sure, lead the way hunter", Atinuke said. 

Chapter 6: The Journey 

They set out on their journey and they walked for about an hour without talking to each other. Atinuke stole quick glances and shy smiles all the while. 

Eventually, she broke the ice,

"So, Aro… how long have you been here?"

"I can't really say, the days and seasons seem drunk here. Eventually it gets confusing. If my calculations are right though, I left Ijala about 2 years ago during the reign of Oba Adegbule", he replied. 

Oba Adegbule had died 12 years earlier. That meant the young man had been on Ile Iberu for at least 13 years. Yet, he felt like he had spent just 2 years.

Atinuke realized this and she got lost in her thoughts...

"If this boy has been here for 13 years or more and it's just like 2 years to him, how many years have passed on earth since I got here? What's going on with my parents now? what's…"

Aro interrupted her train of thought by dragging her off the dirt road suddenly into the bush. 

The movement was so sudden she nearly fell but Aro pulled her to himself and anchored her with his strong arm while putting a finger over his lips as a sign for her to remain silent. 

They hid behind the bushes and waited. Atinuke tried to ask what was going on but Aro covered her mouth and pointed to the sky. 

Right above them circled a flock of giant birds. 

Before she could blink, one of the birds swooped down with unnatural speed. It landed on the same spot on which they were standing.

Each wing spanned about 20 feet and it stood taller than a horse with a long curved beak and a set of talons like swords. Everything about the creature spoke death- 10 men could not take it down unarmed. 

Atinuke froze in horror as the creature scanned through the surrounding bushes with eerily intelligent eyes before flapping its wings and taking off in a cloud of dust. 

The flock circled in the sky for a little while longer before flying away with their death and misery. 

"They are the Bagebage- servants of the sky daemon Kabu kabu. They hunt mostly by detecting movement and sound. If you remain still and silent, they will ignore you.", Aro said. 

Atinuke was still shaken, she could barely speak or move. 

"I think it's safer to move now, we just have to stay out of the open till we leave this territory", he continued. 

So, they got up and they began to make their way through the forest. Soon, they got hungry and thirsty and they sat down under an Iroko tree to eat. Aro took out a bunch of bananas and a flask of water then he began to peel off the skin of a piece of banana. 

Atinuke also took one of the bananas and she peeled off the skin. When she ate it, the taste was unlike anything she had ever tasted.

It was sweet like a regular ripe banana but there is this feeling of "something missing" that stays in the mouth after every bite. Like someone had cursed the bananas to never be enjoyable. It was almost depressing but it filled the belly nonetheless so she kept on eating it. 

The forest looked quite peaceful too except for one or two horrible shrieks and howls that echoed at random moments. 

It reminded her of the day she followed her father into the forest at night to pick a special herb; people were falling sick in their village and the oracle told them to find the herb and use it to cure the village but a virgin girl must be the one to pick it… 

She was deep in her thoughts of home when she saw a group of human-like beasts running out of the Iroko tree with mallets and maces in their hands. 

Within seconds, they had surrounded Aro and Atinuke. Aro stepped in front of her with an axe in each hand. His whole body alert like a tiger waiting to strike. The first beast to rush forward had it's head split in 2 equal halves by Aro's axe. Another one tried to grab Atinuke and he chopped of it's hand off cleanly from it's shoulders. 

He dodged two maces swinging at his head by dragging Atinuke down to the floor while spinning on his knees and taking out the legs of two of the beasts. 

The beasts stepped back in fear, and one of them threw a gourd at Atinuke and Aro cut it down with his axe. A green, foul smelling powder spilled out of the gourd; instantly, the world grew dark and everything seemed to be getting smaller and smaller and… 

THE TREE HOUSE

Her brain still felt fuzzy when she woke, she felt like she had drunk a river of palm wine. But she was still awake- just too weak to move. Even Aro didn't move, he was still knocked out cold. 

"Where am I?", she muttered. 

The Bagebage in front of her screeched and spread its wings menacingly but Atinuke was too light headed up to be scared. She was just trying to keep her head up. 

They had taken all their belongings and the clothes on her body weren't her own- she had been dressed up in an elaborate old fashioned Iro and buba with gold jewelry and a fancy headgear.

Aro, on the other hand, had been stripped naked completely 

Both of them were tied to a pole like goats waiting to be slaughtered.

Out of a hut, a daemon came out with a group of girls dressed and made up like Atinuke. He was painted outlandishly and he wore a long agbada decorated with different items of gold and silver- golden pebbles, silver shoes, golden knives, gold rings, silver figurines, and a host of other items could be found on him. 

He even had a golden slingshot hanging from his neck. He could have easily passed for an eccentric human male if not for the 2 little horns sticking out of his head. 

"Untie her karan", he said. 

Immediately, the Bagebage in front of her slashed the ropes with it's sword-like talons and two of the girls rushed forward to prevent her from falling. 

"Savages! Is this how to treat a lady? I told you to bring her home not tie her up like a goat! I'll have your heads for this", the daemon said as he turned to Atinuke "Hope you're not hurt darling? Ladies. Please help your sister up, will you?"

10 daemons stepped out of the shadow with heads bowed. One had a missing arm and two others had a missing leg each. They stood at about 8ft tall with humanoid forms but their heads were like bulls and they were covered in wicked muscles like those who fight for a living. 

They knelt before the daemon in Agbada, quivering with fear. One of them they spoke, 

"Master do forgib, koko is sowwi. The boy be very strong. Koko had to knock em out cold and tie em up tight"

"He took me leg" said one. 

"He took me arm" said another.

"He killed jojo" said yet another.

Together they bowed in tears, "master pleaaaaseeeee don't have we headses"

The daemon in agbada snarled and spat, "idiots!!! Dot brained bastards!!! Just pick up the goat and bring him along. And don't untie him"

The daemon motioned to the Bagebage and it bent, allowing him to climb on it with Atinuke. He flew home on the daemon bird with Atinuke seated in front of him. 

The bull-headed daemons lifted the painted ladies and Aro and they ran towards the same direction as the giant bird. 

Through the whole ordeal, Atinuke could barely move. She only heard the conversations like echoes from a dream. She could understand the words, but she couldn't react. She wanted to run but it felt like her body was separated from her spirit and she could only look at her surroundings without feeling or touching anything. 

When Atinuke woke up, she found herself on a golden bed in a large room. She was dressed in a white robe and her face was painted blue. She got up and look around the room and she saw nothing but the four walls and the paintings of animals on the wall. As she was trying to figure out what to do next, a girl walked in with some clothes in her hands. Her face was painted blue just as Atinuke but she had a blue robe on her unlike the white robe Atinuke was wearing. 

"Good morning sunshine, change into these and come to the great hall", She said as she placed the clothes on a table beside Atinuke and she walked out of the room. 

As soon as she went out, Atinuke walked to the door to lock it properly. Then she walked to the giant window. 

Looking out the window, she saw that she was high above the ground- about the height of 2 buildings. There was no way she could jump down from that height. 

Quickly, she took a metal comb from the pile of clothes the girl brought to her and she used it to tear the bed sheets into long strips which she tied into a long rope. She pulled the rope she had just made at each joint to make sure it was strong enough to support her weight.

She then tied the rope to the heavy bed after which threw the other end out the window. She gently climbed over the window while gripping the rope tight and she began to climb down as fast as she could. 

After a few minutes of climbing, she got close to the ground but she had gotten to the end of her makeshift rope. She dangled a little from the rope, looking down to determine the distance left to get to the floor and she jumped. 

She landed with a thud and she felt a sharp pain in her knees. She winced in pain but she couldn't scream or stop. 

That was when she saw the building in its entirety. 

It was a very massive building- about four storeys in height but it had no foundation. It was sitting on a tree as if it grew out of the tree. There was no stair or ladder, it just stood there strangely. The land around the base of the tree was cleared, turning the rest of the forest to a fence around it. 

As she was about to run into the forest, she remembered Aro. Somehow, she was sure he was still alive and he needed help. Suddenly, she knew exactly where to go and search for him. It was like an intuition but stronger- more like a voice in her soul. 

So, she turned and walked towards a part of the forest where the sound of livestock came from. As she got closer to the source of the sounds, she saw one of the bullheaded daemons. It nearly caught her but she quickly hid behind a shrub. She waited a while for the daemon to walk away and she kept running towards the sound, hiding behind shrubs and anything else that could give her cover. 

When she got into the forest, she looked around and she saw a farm with a wooden fence. She carefully walked to the farm and peeped through a crack in the wooden fence. 

There she saw Aro, naked and tied with 4 bullheaded daemons watching him from a short distance. They were mocking him and throwing stones at him. At times, one of them would throw a bundle of grass at Aro and taunt him.

Her blood boiled hot at the sight of the mighty Aro lying on the floor, tied like a goat and helpless. She wanted to run to him and save him but she couldn't; she could not fight a man on her own, talk less of the giant daemons. 

She stood there, trying to come up with ideas when Aro turned towards her. He looked straight in her direction and smiled. It seemed he figured out who was peeping through the fence. 

Immediately, he revealed the tip of a piece of rock he had hidden and he began to cut the ropes holding his hands together. 

Seeing him do that, Atinuke moved silently to the part of the fence that was closest to him. By the time she got there, Aro was free but he kept his hands behind him. 

"Hey pea-brains, let's talk. I heard a bull fucked yo mama! Did she mooooooo like this while taking it or did she call him daddy?" Aro shouted at the bullheaded daemons. 

The daemon turned towards him and growled in anger. 

"Shut up, OK me cuts you good!" one of them replied to Aro. 

"You don't have to be violent all the time, pea-brain. You might need a favour from me someday; I've got two cows back home and I could put in a word for you with them… damn! You should see their titties. You'll love them"

The daemons had had enough and they walked angrily towards Aro to shut his mouth up for him even if he lost his head in the process.

The first to get close enough to Aro got a wicked kick to his groin, he fell with a howl of pain. Then Aro stabbed him in the throat with the piece of rock he used to cut his rope. He looked in wide-eyed shock as he choked on his own blood.

The other daemons could no longer control their anger and they rushed at Aro. He picked the heavy mace of the fallen daemon and used it to crush the knees of another daemon before bashing it's head in with a single blow.

One of the two bullheaded daemons swung his big machete at Aro's head and he dodged it by stepping back. The daemon was not fast enough to attempt another strike before Aro struck it on the side of his head. The sound of his jaw and neck breaking was loud like the sound of a man breaking a dry piece of wood. He fell to the ground dead. 

The last daemon there turned to flee but Aro couldn't risk letting him escape to alert the other daemons, if he did, up-to a hundred daemons could be on him within 5 minutes. He dropped the mace and he picked up a piece of stone. He threw the stone at the daemon and it struck him at the base of his skull. He fell instantly to the ground. 

Seeing the last daemon defeated, Atinuke ran out of her hiding to hug Aro. 

"I knew you would be alive, you tough wolf", she said. 

"I was going to come for you just before you arrived. I actually tried escaping once before but… it's a long story. Let's just get out of here", Aro replied. And they ran into the bush. 

They kept on running till Atinuke got tired. They stopped for her to catch her breath and they continued running. 

After a while, they noticed that they had passed the same tree several times already. Then tried taking another route and they still found themselves at the same tree. 

"I think something is off, it seems we've been literally circling this tree for the past one hour! Can you see?", Atinuke said. 

"That bloody pervert!" Aro said as he spat in anger. 

"Luku- the daemon that had us kidnapped. He must have cast a spell around this part of the forest. Arrrggh! Why didn't I think of this earlier. Atinuke, please look around for anything that looks off or strange that will be the key to break the illusion", he continued. 

They searched the tree and surrounding forest for the anchor of the illusion. Atinuke was the first to notice the pumpkin plant hanging in midair. It was hard to spot- it blended perfectly into the forest. But Atinuke's eyes were exceptionally good at identifying plants, a trait she inherited from her grandmother who was a renowned healer. 

She stretched her hand to pick it but Aro held her hand. 

"Don't even try to."There is practically nothing here that is not caused, and more so if I may ask, what do you intend to do with the leaf?. Tinuke can't say precisely but something magical drew her to the plant. The first time she was drawn to an ordinary plant ,or perhaps not ordinary, but everything was  strange about her and the connection to this species. 

But we can't just keep running in circle with a zero progress,and these creepy demons, may soon group up again, this time  more ready, they already know The Aro is free, and the headless and limbless would stand an example, with warning of such gesture if care is taking against Aro (The axe man ).

Wao! I.am flattered, you should do this often, and in present of more elaborated audience you know, but seriously, we should get out of here as soon as possible, I hate being tied nicked in front of a suspicious beautiful sexy princess.

Uhn, she muttered.  It's a return gesture, but it's kind of too exaggerated though but a gesture well accepted. She turned her face to him. I think we should rather keep it for another time. 

  

 Oh. Yes of course, so are you going to touch the leaf without any ritual? Aro said. But now I think it is worth the fist.if we stay we die, and if we touch the leaf and it turns out to be a bad leaf. What is worse than death.?

Atinuke picked a single one. And as soon as she did, a big deer was sighted,it was feeding on the particular species of grass she had touched. Animals seem to have never set eyes on humans,it ran away as fast as possible. Well he couldn't have run too far. There is no way out from this place, but then, it didn't show up for four hours. That deer did get out for real. That means we can get out too.

 They began to trace the animal's footsteps and something miraculous happened, they found themselves standing in a far different place, full of rocks, and on one of them they  stood looking around for a clue. 

The two dogs and the deer stood with them and never departed, at first they may have plan, to kill the deer for a meal. But soon they discovered more about these animals, such discovery was that. The dogs ate great pathfinders and the two of them are the only remaining of their kind. Deer on the other hand was a tester and had a fragrance that was nice. It shines love like a golden plane under a mid day sun. And no insect can stay a mile away from it. These animals are theirs now and forever.

They followed the dogs all day long, until sunset when they busted into a hot build of horns types they are familiar with, they could only have been removed from killed demon  heads. That means. A more dangerous being lived there. They were not sure if to run away or wait and meet who or whatever reside  there.

As they were waiting, Atinuke collapsed. As Aro rushed to carry her, he entered the heat without a second thought, found a bed made of wool, he laid her on it,and gave her mouth to mouth oxygen, she woke up. It was hunger, I think we need to eat now. Said Aro. He stood looking around inside the hot,for anything that looked like food. And later saw many bananas behind the house. He ate and brought some for Atinuke,who can nearly stand on her feet. She eats them before realising that it was yet another sweet banana. 

                       WARS

The first time she ate banana was in a demon's house and it turned out to be a sweet poison.They began to hear dogs barking outside,they went to check and there they were, thousands of chariots and horses, a man led them." This smell trouble" muttered Atinuke, 

They were made to bow before the leader. By some rude armies, who roughly bent their heads, Aro struggled with them but was surely overpowered by more than a hundred soldiers. The leader was impressed by such a show. He turned towards Atinuke.

Why can't you fight for your life? Oh you are just a vegetable, the deer look more stronger than you, you know. Everyone began to laugh out loud.Making jokes of Atinuke. Aro became angry and began to fight again.many of the armies were kicked up, but he was soon pinned down again. The leader. Came to him, he said as he came. Release him.

Aro charged towards the leader who on return ran to meet in the halve way.but when they met. Aro received a dirty slap.and no.matter how much he tried, his hand did not touch the man. And at each try. Hot slaps were landing on his chicks. He slapped so much that Aro became weak, and was not able to lift a finger.

I won't kill these once, they are special, bring them to my abo

              

           SEARCH FOR ATINUKE

Man that had captured ATINUKE, was busy enjoying wine and the remaining beautiful maiden, he had no idea that ATINUKE had escaped. Later he staggered up to his room. His intention was to lay with ATINUKE for the first time but entering the room he noticed first, the line she had used in her escape. He knew instantly that the girl had escaped, he shouted so much that every living thing in his settlement gathered.

  He was going up and talking with great annoyance. He kicked at a wooden table.

You must look for them. I am to use the boys blood for renewer of my blood.and girl, I must Marry before The moon. She possesses powers that will make me the most powerful. Of all my kind.

    Search for them, they should not have gone too far, on foot. He floated in the air, then shouted even louder. Go and search for them. They began to rush out of his presence. His eyes are like fire, he breathes visibly. He was obviously desperate to lay with Atinuke, not only for her glaring beauty, but also for the power that lay within her. He wanted Aro dead for the blood in his vain, that held fire and rage.

  Demons came out in multitude in search for the escaped hostages, they sited not a saint of Atinuke and Aro. And few once that had gone to delivered message to The leader, had died in his hands. He kept wondering how they had managed to escape the "panda" ( spell that hid the road ). He was sure about the spell,and their smell was everywhere, he thought, they must be hidden somewhere not too far.

                BACK AT HOME 

Blood of sacrificed animals, everywhere on the ground man knelt on it  making encountation, He had done thousands of sacrifices, and has had lots of sleepless nights, he thought he was close to see where Atinuke was. But the mirror had broken several times. Iya kan GU.told her that Atinuke has crossed the brother of time, and no power down here can see beyond it. You have to forget about her,no one goes beyond the time and returns.

                       PALACE

At that same time in the palace. A powerful witch was telling the Queen. The same thing. The atom has delivered her across the border of time and she will grow and die there.and no matter how strong her Aura is, she still can't find her way back to our land. What else can you want more than this? My queen.

   I want her dead, very very dead, I don't care if she is here or anywhere. All I want is that her news of death be brought to me. I want to send my condolences to her family. Send people to wherever she is,  and bring me her head. Witch looking and confused.

My queen this can be difficult, because...because.. "Oh' I get it. There may be a way to do that. The Queen looked more interested now.

The war lord sat and there they were, sitting with him on a dining table. They talk as they eat. He asked. How did you learn to fight like that, who taught you?

If you want to hear how I was trained, then you must be ready to hear everything about me, Aro said. Then you have nothing to worry about, I do have all the time on earth.

I was born to a farmer and a Goldsmith, they live alone in a farm.land settlement. One day I decided to change my life. I refused to be a common farmer like daddy. I wanted to be something more. 

I always had a story of a man by the name Ajangbati the warrior. He used to lead my country army , until he was jailed for murder. Though he was guilty, all believed he was framed up by his enemies, who were jealous.of his achievement. 

While in the army, he was the strongest, and he can single handedly win battle.I loved to be trained by him. But never could get close to him. But after his release from prison he ended up farming just like my daddy. We became close. But to prevent people from knowing him , he went around wearing a mask and had the longest hare.

He trained me for three days before his disappearance, and I wish he trained me a lot longer.Only the three days made me the most skilled fighter in my country. Never been defeated until yesterday, when I trash my skills Before you and your armies

They spent some time eating without talking and suddenly the commander broke the silence. Fighting for me, Atinuke and Aro paused, and the man continued. I mean join the army and together we shall fight all these restless demons and make this place, this land a home for anybody.

    OK I will but there is one big task, and the task is that, we must recover my axe. Axe? You mean sword,the general interrupted,No, not sword, I can only fight with Axe sir, the only skill I was able to master before my trainer, "the warlock" disappeared.

 

Man dropped the chicken wing, washed his hand, rested his back and looked at Aro from a distance, then he asked. Where did you come from precisely? What's the name of your king? Who is your father? Don't bother. Your name should be. Akin Omo Aso Aro, your father is a farmer and a good hunter. Your king is a blind man.whom his palace was built on top of the mountain . Aro stood up, picked his dress, and began to walk away. After holding Atunuke by her wrist. She was confused but followed him all the same, she wanted to ask a question but didn't know where to start from. They walked a few miles away before they finally stopped to catch their breath.

   One of the general special guard, made attempt to chased them but the commander held his hand back.man look at the general he wanted a go ahead, and was surprised at commander special treatment towards Aro and Atinuke, it's not his usual character, he would normally by now have killed the two of them, and served their flesh to vultures. He kept his gaze narrowed, and expressionless.

You want to get us killed, she said. How dear you risk our life for your stupid egos sake? She strangled her hand free from Arose's grip. And walked back toward the generals camp. The armies showed up and captured them back to the camp.

   Demons stood in front of Their master, he was obviously angry. One of them spoke. I suggest we get the oracle talking, it will tell us how to find them.  He looked like one thinking then he said. Oh! Oracle is good. Why didn't I think of that? He looked up to the demon's faces and said. What is still waiting for me? Go fetch me the oracle now.They ran out .

At Atinuke's kingdom, the Queen sat down while some witches were invited. She asked. How do we kill one who has gone beyond the borders of time? Who will bring me the head of the one who eats with demons of Iberu land? Who among you can give me a clue?. There was one who sat separately, she answered. I may know one way out. And it's the only way ,my Highness. We need anything of her, anything at all will link us to her. The royal house must pay her family a visit. As soon as possible.

                   ILE IBERU

One stood shouting as a man arrived. Here comes the greatest Oracle.the voice of gods. 

He was made to sit before the demon lord. He spoke, look for something of theirs I mean anything, bring it to me and I will tell you where these once you seek are. Search everywhere, said the master. Bring me something. 

   Back at Aro and Atinuke, they were pushed to fall at the war lord's feat. He picked a sword when going to meet them.

He pushed the one that had pushed Aro. And instantly cut off his head and said. This man must be treated with great respect. 

 Inside. They sat down as he narrated his story, the story that would clarify their doubt, and the reasons why he had shown Aro and Atinuke that great love. And from his story everybody understood him, Aro was angry because the war lord was the same person that was training him back in his kingdom. He had been enchanted alongside thousands of his loved ones. He actually had a mind of coming back as he promised Aro, if not for the bad king that magically sent him into exile.

                THE WAR LORD

He started as Goldsmith, when he was young, his father noticed his craftiness. And went to register him  as an apprentice to Sokoti aka the heavens Goldsmith. The first to make a sword out of Sango's breath. At least that was the story we had.

He was fast at learning, if not too fast, he broke his master's record by making a million swords in two days. 

   The kingdom where he had learnt was the neighboring village to his own, and his fame had reached all kingdoms. A man that could single handedly build war weapons for a whole country's armies in a day. And for that he was Barred from making weapons. So he became too bored that he left the country and went back to the country where he was  born.

   He wasn't actually rejected in Sokoti his master's country, but was rather loved and respected, the only thing was that. He loved his hand work so, he felt dead, when he was Barred from making a sword or any weapon. He never knew that his news had gone before him to his hometown. And somehow they knew when he entered and had gone to welcome him back, by the royal house. He could not go home to his father, he needed to go see the king first.

   When he got to the crowned king, he was embraced by the King himself. An honor that was very rare. If any man was embraced by the king, according to the constitution. Any one who has embraced the king, has become. Untouchable, man must fight with him or thousands And not long, he was also bound from making weapons in his own country. 

Since there was no more career for him,even in his own kingdom, he decided to join the armed forces. But his skill in no time gave him great rank. 

   One day, he was sent to deliver a message to another general. In the kingdom, the highest of all generals, man who has more than a fifty thousands legions.

 And he was there that night, to be going back in the morning. But in the middle of the night, war broke out,it was an unexpected battle, the general was caught unaware, he would have easily won, but he had no plan for war at that time. 

  The invaders were rejoicing when another echo of war started, the attack was at that time on the invader, it was firstly believed that other kingdoms had come to help.but it was just a man fighting with speed of light. And accuracy skill, like that of gods. He single handedly killed more than half of those invaders army. They fled saying. " there was a god among the army"

  The general has never seen anything like it. Even Goldsmith himself did not believe he was that skillful, he believed something entered him and used his hand to fight.  The king called for him the second time and asked him to be his personal guard. Soon armies all over the entire kingdom started talking that the Goldsmith should rather lead them. 

   

  The issue caused a lot of stares among the people of the Senate. How would a low ranking officer rise to the post of primost general in such a short time. He was installed as a general at last, and all armed forces answered to him. His name alone superseded the name of any warrior before him. No kingdom will come to face his kingdom. 

   Few years later he was framed for murder by some high ranking officer of the law. And the normal penalty was to be beheaded on the tenth day. But all armies had risen and recovered him from the prison, where he was kept. And then the case was well investigated, and these culprits were brought to book. The head of this group was the general he had saved just at the beginning of his manifestation.

   The king began to be concerned, he thought he was not the only king anymore.

          The war lord fought many battles and,when kingdoms stopped, attacked his kingdom. The king began plans that would get him killed; he tried and tried but failed. Why would an ordinary Goldsmith be giving a whole king such trouble. You have all the power over him, you can just kill him for fun" Wife said but the king thought about it very deeply. 

     There are people you kill to show supremacy, and some because they are guilty of mega crimes but this one, you don't touch, even when they're guilty of any crime. The masses decide not the king, my dear. So he is above the law. Yes, something like that. But let's wait till he makes a mistake. Or we make him make one. 

   The king called his own close associates, and asked if the war lord had fought with any man, and there was no name mentioned. Except Paja the Palm wine tapper who confronted him with the allegation that he was sleeping with his wife. And when the allegation was investigated, it was actually true. The man sent his wife away. And the war lord married the lady. The mad is the only man on earth that truly will give anything to see him dead

    King summoned the man who truly hated him and asked him if he would like revenge, and the man in question was eager to kill his rival. He was given a poison to use for the war lord.

   Someone told the war lord about the king's plan to get rid of him, so he was more careful than before. And was no more eaten except the food that was prepared by his most loyal cook.

   The king was worried about his failed attempts on the war lord's life. So one day he decided to talk to the kingdom's most powerful sorcerer who enchanted him, and made him kill twenty seven members of his armies. During a mare sword practice.  

    He knew he had been enchanted, and since the law was to kill him for killing his own men he fled the city, and was taken in only by my father.in the next kingdom.

Even in his absence, the judgment was still passed and the king had banished him, but one day he was tired of living with just an hunter.so he decided to go and face the king and explain to him, but soon as he showed up, he was faced by king special force, they wouldn't allow him to see his king. One of them attacked him and died in one strike.

   The news of his presence and another warrior he had killed spread across the country, and almost half of the kingdom's entire armies came to help beg the king. For a perdone. When the king realised that once again , the war lord was going to walk free, he called his adviser, the sorcerer, for advice. And the sorcerer gave him a substance to lick and go out, to say " I banish you" he said once he heard the world I banished you, he will disappear, never to be seen again.

   But the king thought within himself that if he banished him and did disappear. There will be a civil war. So the king said; " I banish you and any loved one. So he vanished and here we have been since then.

   Oh' that is why he has disappeared  without trace. Now he must go back as soon as possible and get rid of the jealous king. 

Back at Atinuke,s kingdom, the queen and the witch  visited  Atinuke,s house,  they acted like people  feeling  very bittered, the witch asked. How have you been coping since your daughter vanished?. Uhn, nothing like coping since I didn't know why she disappeared. Or where  she has been. If she died I would have understood , but  she did not die,  just vanished. 

I have consulted  all oracles, and they have assured  me. That my child is safe and healthy.  They have advised  that I put my mind to rest and sleep  peacefully,  but how can that be possible. My one and only daughter, left for me by her mother, who has died on her birth.  Once in a while  I picked her comb and embraced it. There is a little body smell left in it. And that smell has kept me going  since then. 

 

   The queen went closer like someone  whose intention  was to embrace  him,  but she'd rather take the comb and leave before  anyone could suspect. 

 

On their way back,  the witch told the queen that a witch residing there is good at leaking secrets.  She will tell him of the stolen  comb,  and truly,  right at that time,  she was already telling  Atinuke, father of the comb and the intention of the queen.  As they were there. The queen returned.  And killed the two of them  she did not give any chances, and after she had done,  she left with assurance that her secret was safe.  But then, Adejokes father woke up and was in pain.  

    A king guard  paid a visit  to the Atinuke family and found  Awhile's father in pain,  almost  dead.  He carried him to the palace,  so that the  royal doctor  would take care of him.  The queen  realized that he had been brought  to the royal hospital. For treatment.  And the King has made a warning  that nobody should be allowed to get to him,  until he is alright.  The queen  tried to reach him and finished what she started,  and even she was not allowed to get to him.  

     When he was strong  enough  for questioning,  the king sent for him,  but he escaped. He was not ready to reveal the identity of the evil perpetrator, it would be a great risk to point  accusing  fingers to the Queen  of the land,  especially one who has gotten everyone in the country food. That he is a good woman.  The masses  will stone him at site. 

Now he knew  who had sent her daughter  away. And the same person  killed his witch friends.. And he swore to see the end of the evil queen: A wolf in sheep skin.  He fled the town  and Hadley left when some people  came, to set the building on fire.  And that was how he became homeless.  

                     The demons 

The leader was wandering inside  his house,  when  he stumbled  across   Aro's axes and clothes  of Atinuke,  he looked  at it for a while,  then she began  to laugh. 

THE WAR LORD'S CAMP

Atinuke  was trained and so was Aro,  who was initially softly trained. The training lasted  for days, nobody was allowed to sleep nor slumber.  She must be trained on time. The war lord said,  the evil here do not sleep nor slumber.  They are the only enemies we have been fighting for decades,  and the more they come,  only God knows where they come from. And I know one day.  Eledumare will reveal to me,  and that Day I will kill them all,  once and for all.

    Demons palace

      The witch was wearing an obvious too big regalia, he moved like one been blown  around by the breeze. He held in his hand the Clothes  belonging to Atinuke, and the Two axes they had collected from Aro, when he was captured.  He had tried and tried  but the vision  was still unclear, something  was surely wrong. He said, If there is no more of their thing  left,  then a strange force, a type that I have never seen before,  must be working with them now.  One that is stronger  than you. 

So there is a man here stronger than you and I put together?  The demon's chief asked, Not really, the witch answered, Though could be stronger than you and I, but surely not stronger than the two of us, put together,  but I am not sure there is such a man, what I mean is that something strange is wrong.

   The chief became restless. What is wrong?  Tell me and let us find solutions here  and now.  The witch answered. I think there  could be a way out. Demons  moved closer to him. I think we should  get to her through  his boyfriend, the one who owns these axes.  If we get  him, I am sure we can get her. 

               Atinuke's kingdom 

The king was furious and had ordered for all securities at work,  when Atinuke's father escaped. He gave them fifteen days to bring him back to the palace,  or have their heads on plates. The queen  was strongly in support,  she wanted him located, and brought back.  Before he started spitting poisons in the countryside

The king  dreamt

In his dream,  he was walking  his kingdom,  when he stumbled upon crowned fleeing. He tried to know what was wrong, by asking them,  but  they seemed to have no time to answer him, they just kept running, like something deadly was chasing  them, behind them was a mighty smoke. And inside  of it stood a woman. Causing the smoke, and as much as the king  tried to see her face. More smoke came and he woke up,  sweating. The Queen  woke up too, 

My kind, what is the problem, you had the dream again?  Yes I had it again. The woman still can't be identified.she must be a witch, said the king. A witch? I don't think so. Maybe. Just a dream my king. Or perhaps  I should call  the priest, you know she sees everything. 

                     Ifatunde 

Atinuke's father remembered a town, a town that had been in war with the kingdom he was fleeing from, he knew that was the only place safe enough for him to hide  away from,  queen  morolake, though he knew the king was not his enemy after his life.  But he loved and trusted his wife, an enough reason  why he had to go far away from the kingdom. 

Traveling to Opafaji was not the task but entering it. The security and protocol was like an exam, those in charge can see through your head, they are more metaphoric than technicalities,there will not be lies there.  Then he thought of telling  the truth , but that would be a more reliable way to die. The Opas will conclude that he has come to spy on them. 

He stood miles away. From where he stood, he could see an old towa of ego, and old windmill, he was there looking at the kingdom from far. When he slept off. He was woken up by a man's sword  hitting his head.  He jumped up among and founded himself among Armies. They instantly carried him on a horse,  and took him to Kind ogbon the primost ruler of  Opafaji kingdom, the only kind who had won Aditu " the Lord of riddles ``in riddles challenge. He was a king with a great brain. 

The king was outside  feeding his horses, and Sensitive was surprised when the king asked him to join him with the feeding. The armies  were a bit surprised at the king's order but they left him with the king all the same, and the King was a bit too free with Audio. Though he helped in the horses feeding, somehow he felt something was not adding up. No one has ever been that nice to him, not Atinuke, his lost daughter. 

Queen Morolake amidst a host of Eleyes, she was shouting; what is wrong with you?  Why is everyone escaping from the presence of your Eyes ? look at me this time you must trace him for me.  I want the father and her daughter killed and burnt, I want to drink my EKO with their ashes.

            aditi in the king's palace

The king slept, while the audition sat down looking at him, there were no guards, not a single one was around, to look over the king.  Awoditi was not hundred percent  sure of what was going on, he knew the king was a wise one. But this attitude of him now, was not a wise type. How could  he allowed  me into his inner chamber and slept,  what if I was really a spy. He should know  we are at war with each other. Even left the sharp dagga he has used to cut apple.  Beside himself. I could just walk up to him,  while he was asleep  and run the knife through his trout. And walked away. 

        The king Ademowi's palace

The wife has arranged with a male wizard who has come to deceive the king. After a long ritual, the man began to give in to his deceptions. He told the king that the woman he had seen in  his dream was a girl by that name. Atinuke. Who is Atinuke? Asked the king.

Atinuke use to live on a farm settlement, with Her father who is an herbalist, one who was attack few days ago, he has been brought here for treatment but he ran away from his treatment, for only Gods knows reason the daughter Atinuke was said to be missing for about a year now.

                  Warlord camp

I have missed my daddy, he will be worried now.it's been a month now, and I am sure in our world,it will be like a year from now. Aro speaks: I think you should not be bettered, everybody here is missing someone.What we should be concerned about is how to face these people here, because we have hope only when our life is not taken away from us. Cos these beasts here are ready to make sure we never get back home.Atinuke suddenly looked sharp, an expression that is of great determination and anger.

                   Demons camp

I remember there was a seed I collected from the girl.Maybe that's what the IFA have been pointing to. Yes I knew it, the priest said. Bring it to me and like Cristal shall the revelation be clean Clair. Luku went in and brought the seed.he handed it over to the priest. The priest began to laugh.

                   Ogbon's palace

Atinuke's father and the king were eating, the king looked up to his face; "you know you're going to save this kingdom" at first awositi did not hear but then his word came back. He was surprised at such a statement, would the king say so? Him that does not even know how to fight. And the herbalist thing was just a little complicated. He asked the king the quest. What do you mean , my majesty.and the king, repeated himself: " you will help me to save this country, and that is why you will be sent for training in the army.

     Awoditi sat alone in his room, he was thinking about the King's decision and how well he has been treated since his arrival, and now at  seventy he will be taking to the military training, he was sure that the king just decided a more agonizing death for him. 

    King ijala in his palace listening to the evil wizard. The girl must be killed or your kingdom will be raised down by fire, she will surely destroy this kingdom, my lord. The king stood up in great anger.why will she do that? I don't even know this girl, nor his father. The priest answered; she hates the queen, for her beauty, and you are hated, because the father wants your throne. So what more can I want. My king, the girl, is special. And can travel beyond the borders of time, who knows what is coming for the kingdom.

Then what can we do? What can we do to stop this from happening? I won't be able to afford any more war, as we are presently still at war with Oba Ogbon. Please send people to her and kill her at once.

    THE EMPIRE ( where it all began)

Many years back when the Zion empire was yet to be made, something happened that would interest you. The incidents took place in a kingdom we refer to as; "HEAVEN " how I came to the knowledge? Don't worry. But my name is not Oputa and I am not vigil. But I know more than all the Zions put together. Will introduce me soon enough, but for now. Listing.

   There was earth and heaven, but no humans were in it, but in heaven, there were Angels and of course,  "God" their creator. Then nothing was referred to as Demons, it was just God, Angels and earth. But then someone was called, " The Lucifer ".you call him the Devil.

Who wouldn't have heard of the Devil, OK then, since you know him, then you must have heard about his story, how he wanted to rise against his creator and was pushed down from heaven. But do you also know that he was not the one who was pushed down. He fell with a whole lot of hosts. They did have a change of name, now the name became " Demons ". So now you know where Demons surfaced from. They were angels and after the great fall, they became Demons.

Well, this story is not a bible story. I needed to introduce a few Demons of Kiminterest, one who fell in trees.some in the earth, some in the air, sky, and of course the most powerful of them all; " EFLA " The Demon of the deep. Where all powers, wealth of the earth was kept.

All these Demons waited angrily for the arrival of men, they said " if we can't touch God we can touch his creations" ( Human ). The Lord's most perfect hand work, said to be an image of him.

One day God and his Angels came together and said it's time to make humans. And make them dominate the earth. And so the.project was a success. Men were made to be female and male.bla bla bla; You all think you know the rest.

   Many years later after humans were made. Kingdoms rose against each other,nations against nations and then they began to seek powers. But these kingdoms are different, they love each other. From the ancient times, there were no fences, no borders, around the kingdom, because their ancestors felt there would be no need, as they had no fight whatsoever between themselves.

So, they also share the water the Oroki. The only river existing.

The first kingdom was on the mountain and it's called, Agbalis and the next was located close to the water so it was called, The Oroki kingdom. Agbali first crown King's  name ,was Akin and the one by the water was called Okuta. And So there was peace among men of those days.

     THE FAME OF OROKI WATERS

There came a time when the sender of rain stopped raining, and there was hardship, the first problem arose, and the kingdom began to sit for meetings, and so decided on what to do. There was a hall located in the Agbali kingdom where the meetings was been held. 

Agbalis and the Orokis had meeting, to Chanel the water so everyone can benefit, and after that has achieved, they went back to their homes, there was a girl by the name, Ewatoni, an extraordinary beautiful girl who the fame of her beauty has spread beyond the border of Orokis, her Kingdom of birth, 

Before the water was channeled, the people of the kingdom would go to the water and they got to know many of each other by the river side. And that was where Ekun the crowned prince of Orokis had met Ewatomi and also the place Ajigbonaku who is also a prince in Agbali has met Ewatomi. The two princes fell in love with Ewatomi, but for friendship reasons,they made a promise to each other that they will never Marry the girl, as it was obvious that her beauty was going to break their friendship. So Ewatomi was left alone, and none of the princes married her. 

After the water was channeled, the kingdom no longer had to travel to the water anymore, it had been made to come to them, and this made the friendship of Ekun and Ajigbonaku become not too close and later became occasional.

Ewatomi was alone, as no one dared to marry a once dated girl by the prince. Though Ekun was not interested, still, no one asked Ewatomi out. Not in the entire Orokis nor Agbali.One day The father of Ewatomi took Ewatomi to the king's palace, and tabled the issues of her marriage before the king. And the king asked his son, "Ekun" if what the man had said was true, and the prince said yes.

King became very angry, at such a stupid agreement, first Ewatomi is a citizen of Orokis, And secondly, she was not allow to decide who to love, and lastly The tag on Ewatomi which was sure to ruined, her chance of ever getting married. He said, it was an act of wickedness. Then he said for the last time, in a more angry tone, that the prince must marry Mary Ewatomi or be announced that anybody can Marry her. 

Prince asked his father to give him a chance to think about it but he refused and was forced to instantly change his mind, and get married to the most beautiful girl EWATOMI. Instantly the wedding date was set for the next full moon.

Ekun was worried about his friend and decided to travel to Ajigbonaku and explain to him Ajigbonaku did not act like he was bittered, he gave his full support to the marriage, but inside his, saw the marriage as betrayal and broke of promise. And decided that one day, he will be powerful enough to deal with Ekun.

The wedding day finally came to pass, and it was a great event, and so Ewatomi became the wife of Ekun of Orokis kingdom.

Years after years the two Kings became old, and crowned their princes kind of their kingdoms. So when their father finally died, and was buried, it became time for the two Kings to show their rulership.

Strength and eligibility. 

                         UNITED NATIONS

 The warlock called. Hey story teller, let my people eat now, " maybe you continue the story latter ". We shall join the dining briefly. We will love to hear the end of the story pls. The warlock continued eating and minded his business. 

Years latter, when their fathers has finally died, something happened to Agbalis, one I will call, blessing, two nations were been

Been attacked by their gods, and one by one they flee from their own land, and reside in Agbali Kingdom, and in two years, they had all relocated. And only their kings and families stayed back, and soon they became a cow-like human. And since then, they forgot that there is another land or kingdom elsewhere. But feed on any trespassing strangers. We call them Demons.

As for the Agbalis,they kept holding meetings upon meetings with, the new immigrants. Who have doubled the numbers of indegins. King Ajigbonaku junior was worried about this new immigrants.he was afraid they don't turn against him. He only knew of one man that has always be his adviser in the past. Okuta the now king of Oroki kingdom, he traveled to Oroki where he has not been for over a decade now. To his friend for Advice.

                  OLD TIME SAKE

Okuta the king of Oroki kingdom head the ñews of his old friend coming, and instantly kill cows, and other animals, it was a great ceremony that day, as he was welcomed with great ceremony. And when the friends finally spoke. Okuta gave him advice that even him and all of Orokis will later regret for a lifetime. He advised him to recruit all able men and women into the Army and made them swear to The Oroki goddess, but before then ask them to come for fortification tied all of them with great rope, as if it is part of the ritual. And then break the news or they get killed where they are. Since they are tied ,they will be left with no other option than to swear by the water, who they all fear. As she will not hesitate to drink the blood of anyone who breaks his or her sworn oath. Ajigbonaku thanked his wise friend and left with great joy. 

When the king got to his palace, he called the elders of the immigrants and told them that before they could be fully allowed into the society, they must be  fortified so the god that was after them will not find them here. And it must be done in three days. Or they leave the kingdom.The leaders asked for more days to convince their people,and will return with an answer in one day. 

    When they told their people of the ritual, many refused, but after a while they agreed, and reasoned it to be for greater goods." If that's all we need to do, for peace to reign,then we shall" they all agreed and leaders took words back to Ajigbonaku. And when the day came, All immigrants were tied to poles. And when they were well secured, the armies fell into formation, and the king came out with a sign of blood and brutality.

The whole immigrants were afraid and knew that the king had come to end their life, without giving them any chance to defend their life's, more than a thousand were beheaded in a few minutes. And the armies moved to kill the next  one thousand. The cry of the immigrants rose up, they were pledging for their lives to be spared. And will do anything they ask of them.

The king kept mute, he was looking like an angry animal, his eyes blazing fire. He looked like one that will kill them all. The exicutioners looked towards their king for another go ahead. And he gave it to them, every one of the immigrants shevers some are pooping on the spot while some are peeing, some wemen faited. As swords of executioners were raised in the air. And it was almost on the necks, when the king shouted. STOP! All of them have already become exhausted, they breathe like one who has been fighting in battle all day.

     The king mounted the podium and he began to speak; " You have invited yourselves into my kingdom,and have stepped your feets  on my land without a request, many of you have started trades on my markets. I even had some who have begun to weed lands for farming, but I am not bitter towards you. What you see today, is to set a reminder, that " I " the Oroki of Oroki kingdom will not be soft with any one of you that may try to confront me,or try to cause problems in my land. This fate is coming to anyone that will disobey my orders.

As you are, you shall swear by Orokis water goddess, that if you ever go against any of my orders, that your blood shall dry off. Instantly. The immigrants had no choice,as they followed up as requested of them. And took the king a whole night before the ritual was completed. And then every one of them were enrolled into the Oroki kingdom Army. And all able men, women and tinagers were forced into the armed forces of the now Great Oroki kingdom.

               OROKI FESTIVAL

The Oroki festival usually comes once in a year and it's a festival that kingdoms always take seriously. On such days, they come in great numbers for celebration, and since the water now belongs to everyone, they take the celebration to heart,and celebrate as if the Oroki water was theirs.

The two kingdoms came together, to wine and dine together. And when the party was going down, people suggested that they should play games among themselves, and the game they had chosen was Wrestling. And so people began to challenge each other, and After they had done that, they suggested a sword fight, but only wooden swords were allowed.

There was a man by the name. Kiitan. A warrior who was very popular, he challenged everyone into fight, but seeing the way he had messed up the previous challengers, he kept shouting and raising abuses on every warriors comparing them to weak animals like, Did, Chicken and so on, when it was becoming too insulting to the Oroki and Agbali Kingdom. They decided to present fighters and the first fighter presented was from Oroki kingdom and the name of that man was Ikukoyi. The only son of Oroki, chief of army staff.

They began the fight, and it was not an easy one, it took them hours before they were able to get a winner, and his name was not anyone else. But Ikukoyi the son of Balogun. He sure made the kingdom proud.

   

 

    

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