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021 THIS CAN'T BE
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Rayuwa 022 JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS 2
SAFIA We got to the forest late in the afternoon. There were birds in the sky, and the breeze at the forest's border was a bit violent, as if we were at the edge of a new dimension. "Can we still go through the forest today?" I asked Mai'Aljanu. He did not answer me. Instead, he alighted his horse and walked toward a tree at the border of the forest. We watched him lean on the tree as if trying to communicate with it. It looked bizarre, but it was Mai'Aljanu; everything was weird. After a few minutes, he came back and mounted his horse. "We ride on. My grandchildren do not have long. If night falls while we are still in the forest, the tree deities promised to protect us." He explained. My legs were killing me. If we were going to ride through that forest, I knew I needed to exercise my body to fix the blood flow to my thighs and legs first, feed and hydrate both myself and my horse, and then continue. "I don't know about you two, but I need to sit, eat and feed my horse," I said
Rayuwa 023 THE DECEITFUL GODS OF THE EVIL FOREST
SAFIA I was shocked to ride into a forest. Aisha and the wizard were waiting for me. "I need to talk to you two." Mai'Aljanu addressed both of us. "This place is treacherous. Everything here gives challenges humans are bound to fail. Do not drink the water, eat the food, follow, converse or trust any creature or being you come in contact with." I began wondering why he was telling us this. After all, we were simply going to mirror his actions and only do what he ordered us to. At least I knew that was what I planned on doing. So why the warning? "Looking at both of you, I can see you are wondering why I am telling you this. It is because the forest is alive, and it would test us individually and together. If we fail, we can't pass through, nor can we leave. If one of us fails, that person can neither pass through nor leave. Do you now understand?" We both nodded. What he told us was simple and clear enough. I immediately started to fear I might not return home. Somehow I began to
Rayuwa 024 THE PLAN
Leila I knew I had work to do. Two weeks was too short a period for me to succeed. Knowing Adam very well, this was something that needed to be done with care. I had to be smart about it. I decided I would support the union, befriend Binta and make Adam trust me again. The only way I could do any real damage was to be close to them. I could see that Adam loved her, and there was absolutely nothing I could do from this distance. Zuwaira had gone to town to find out more information. I set out of my room to look for Adam and apologise for everything and congratulate him on his engagement. I also had to make sure Binta was there when I did this. That was the only way it could work. While looking for them, I learned the two lovebirds were in one of the gazebos in the garden. I set off to find them. A guard tried to block me from entering the garden, but I was able to charm my way through. It made me feel good to know I still had that effect on men. When I saw them, they were both lean
Rayuwa 025 BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
Adam Leaving the gazebo, I couldn't believe what had just happened. Leila came to apologise and beg. She practically humiliated herself. Her behaviour did surprise me. At first, I thought it was an act knowing who she was; she might have been up to no good, but when I humiliated her, and she remained, my doubts began to alleviate. Could it be that Leila had truly realised her mistakes and changed for the better? If so, I am happy for her because at the rate she was going, she was bound to harm herself and bring shame to her family. Binta surprised me. She didn't feel or look threatened by Leila. I guess it is because of our engagement. The engagement might have given her confidence, and I liked that. Though most people would see how I proposed to her as acting irrational, it was the right thing to do. She was perfect for me, and I loved her just the way she was. My father had sent for me, so I had to escort Binta to her room and then go to see him. Leila insisted on walking back to
Rayuwa 026 IN THE WILDERNESS
SAFIA I woke up with a severe headache. There was a neighing sound, and I looked to see where it was coming from. It was my horse. Seeing him made me remember what happened before I passed out. I woke up, suddenly aware of my environment. It was already dark, and I was lying close to a fireplace. I knew I wasn't the one that made the fire, and that made me even more nervous. I knew I was breathing loud from fear, but I couldn't help it. "You need to calm yourself down." A voice said to me. It was the voice of a woman, and it was elderly. I looked around to see who was speaking, then I saw her. She was resting on a tree as if she was communicating with it. She had long grey hair, incredibly smooth skin and cat eyes. Apart from her voice and long hair, this woman showed no sign of ageing. When our eyes met, she smiled at me and stood up. "You need your energy." She said, handing me a steaming bowl. I collected it from her out of respect, but I was curious. "Please, who are you?" I as
Rayuwa 027 BEGINNING OF AN INVESTIGATION
Binta Leila's behaviour had baffled me. If she was as proud as Adam said she was, then she was surely up to something. I was very uncomfortable with her stay in the first place, but I had no power there. It was up to the Sarki to send them packing. I made it a point of duty to make sure that happened. When the Sarki told me what happened to our development plans, I was despondent. I wondered how people could willingly choose to remain in the dark with so much light shining around them. Every state in our country, Lafiya, was developed except for our island, Rayuwa. Lafiya consisted of four states, with Duniya as the Capital. Fili state, Ruwa state, Daji State, and Gona state. Rayuwa Island and Duniya City were in Daji state. Unlike the other states that had governors, Daji state had a Sarki, the Sarki of Rayuwa ruled and governed Daji State, and he was the most powerful and influential of all the rulers in Lafiya. Our status in comparison to the other towns in our state baffled me.
Rayuwa 028 SUSPICIONS AND CONFIRMATION
Adam I knew Binta was right about Leila and her cousin's stay in the Palace. The fact that Zuwaira had been asking questions about Binta made me upset. Since they were somehow my father's guests, not mine, I could not simply ask them to leave. I also knew my father would act faster if I had the proof. I had sent a guard to investigate Binta's claims. Once he returned, I would talk to my father. "Adam, good afternoon." I knew whose voice that was, and since I wasn't in the Palace, I knew there was a possibility Leila had been stalking me. "Good afternoon, Leila," I replied with indifference. The girl needed to get the message that I was no longer interested in her. "Haba," she started, "I thought we had agreed to be friends." She said and slowly walked close to me. I stepped back immediately. "Keep your distance Leila, and we agreed to no such thing. If you do not stop following me, I will order the guards to help you maintain your distance. And I do not want to see you or your co
Rayuwa 029 A VOW AND A PROMISE
Leila There was a hard and loud pounding on my door, and I was mad. I opened it out of anger, and to my surprise, I saw armed palace guards. "Miss Leila, you have been summoned by the king along with your cousin, Miss Zuwaira." A guard announced. I wondered what the whole drama was about. "Ok, let him know I'll we will be there." I was about to close the door when the guard blocked it with his hands. "We are to bring you two immediately." He said. "What!" I exclaimed, "this is an embarrassment. This is harassment. Very well then, let me tie my scarf." I left the door open for them, and Zuwaira and I prepared to follow them. Deep down, I was scared. Whatever it was, it was obviously not good because of the way the guards had come to get us. I strongly wished my father hadn't left me with these people. If he weren't too ambitious, he would have just left things alone and let me move on, but he insisted, and now I am being treated like trash. When we got to the throne room, what I
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