Mazi Ileka lowered his gaze when Ezeudo threw his words back at him. He felt disappointed. None of them saw this coming. They knew their daughter was a special child, but they never knew how special she was until now. Ezeudo relaxed on his royal chair and waited patiently for him to speak. "Your Majesty, the gods are always right, but I disagree with them on this. No one wages war against a destructive spirit. She was born with the strength of three men, yes, the old woman told my son before her death. However, one does not need mortal strength to fight a spirit. The gods are wise but this time they failed by choosing the wrong person." "I was more devastated when I was told that the messenger is a girl. I was expecting a well-armed warrior like Ike, the chief guard. The gods are always wise. They see things we could not see that is why they know better than us. But one assurance I'm giving you today is that she will win the battle and put an end to this nightmare." Ezeudo assured.
Mazi Ileka’s household was woken up by a peculiar sound made by the enchanted staff of the chief priest. The glowing ever-burning fire staff came out whenever the chief priest was on a mission to deliver the message from Ajonwa deity. The fire staff was a symbol of authority. No one doubted any message delivered to the fire staff. The people of Ohanta had often fled each time they heard the peculiar sound made by the staff. The staff was as old as Ajonwa himself, and according to what people heard, the fire on the enchanted staff had never snuffed out. When the sound of the staff was heard in Mazi Ileka’s compound, all the members of his family began to come out of their different cottages one by one. The look on their faces could not be described. Onochie fumed with rage. The words of the king had been repeating in his ear since yesterday, and now this. They stared at the chief priest with itchy ears. Onochie was so determined to commit murder if he had come to take the child away.
“Yesterday, you told me you have a plan, please share your plans with me, we need to start carrying it out immediately.” Mazi Ileka’s wife asked her husband had gone deep in thoughts. “Ajonwa has disorganized my plans.” “How?” “I planned to marry her off after ten seasons.” Mazi Ileka said lowering his face. She has been chosen already, there is nothing we can do.” “Are we going to sit and watch our grandchild go down to hell?” Onochie’s Mother asked. “Do not worry about the child; let the gods protect their own. I am worried about Onochie. A curse has been laid on him; I need to do something about it urgently. “Nothing will happen to my son.” “If we act now!” Mazi Ileka responded. “What do you intend to do?” Onochie’s mother asked. “I will go down to Ndikwe community tomorrow, to ask for help from the greatest deity presiding over Ndikwe.” Mazi Ileka said. “Will you travel that far for a mere threat?” “You call that a mere threat? The chief priest laid a curse on him, Uzo!
"Hei!" One of the messengers of Nge shrine shouted at Mazi Ileka who laid helplessly on the shrine's mat. He had been lying there for more than four hours and no one seemed to notice his presence as they were busy attending to their people. He stood up immediately and waited for further instructions. "Drop two cowries in that calabash over there. You will be invited to see the Chief priest shortly." The messenger instructed. Mazi Ileka walked towards the big calabash that was partly buried in the ground. He was surprised, there was water inside the calabash. The water was crystal clear. However, it turned red immediately after Mazi Ileka dropped two cowries into it. The sudden change of color scared him. He suppressed his fear as he walked back to the mat. He laid on his back, bent his knees, and supported his head with his two hands. Mazi Ileka had not eaten for the past three days and he was not hungry either. It was as if all the worms in his stomach had gone on strike. He was
"Mother I'm going ahead with our plans. Please do not try to stop me for no amount of entreaties will make me change my mind. I'm leaving this community, I have no reason to remain here." Anine said standing at the door of her mother-in-law's hut. "Come inside and have a seat let's talk." Anine walked into the hut sluggishly. "My daughter, I just lost a son, my husband is nowhere to be found. If I lose you and my grandchild, I would lose my sanity. Please stay with me." Onochie's mother held her hand. "No mother, everything reminds me of my husband and how he died unjustly. He was only trying to protect his child, yet the gods allowed the evil to triumph over us. Mother, I'm sorry, there is no god in this Kingdom." Anine lamented. "I'm disappointed too but they say the gods are wise." Onochie's mother said. "The gods are either sleeping or doesn't exist." Anine insisted. "Since your mind is made up, I'll go with you. When are you leaving?" "Tomorrow, at midnight." "Very
Despite being awake for some days now, Anine still showed no signs of awareness. She had forgotten completely that she had a daughter. All she did was sit all day and stared at the roof of her room. This got her parents worried. Mazi Ileka invited healers from different communities to help his daughter-in-law regain her full consciousness. However, it was as if her confusion increased as the day passed by. Before they knew it, Anine began to talk, but she only talked to herself. Mazi Ileka wept bitterly. She remembered the old woman of the cave and how she would have been of help if she had been alive. "The pain you are going through right now is nothing compared to what the people of Ohanta would go through if the messenger is not nurtured properly." Mazi Ileka turned and saw the old woman of the cave. He was startled and he took some steps backward. "Where have you been all these years? You left us when we needed you most. My son died because you were not there to reverse th
Since Anine began to have some sleep, a lot of things started changing in her body. Her cognitive ability began to surge up gradually. Soon she started perceiving the world around her accurately. Everything in the world looked like a joke to her. The life she wished and the world she had been fantasizing about since she was a child had just collapsed. She felt she had no reason to continue living in the world. Since Anine could not escape with her daughter, she took her mind off her daughter. This led to attachment disorder. There was no mother and daughter relationship between them. To Anine, Ije was already a condemned child. She never treated her like her daughter. The child's grandmother and her grandfather were all Ije had. They took good care of her and showed her all the love she truly deserved. Her grandfather never failed to shower her with praises at any slightest opportunity. Ije's routine structures- such as regularly scheduled meals and bedtime were all created by her
“How could you Uzo,” Mazi Ileka’s voice thundered from behind. “What have I done again? I had an issue with a woman today at the market because of my granddaughter; here you are again about to issue out another warning. What again have I done this time? Onochie’s mother asked. “What happened at the market square?” Mazi Ileka asked. “Come with yours first” “Did you just tell that girl that I’m her husband?” Mazi Ileka asked. “Yes” “Why?” “What would I have told her? She kept bothering me with the question and I do not have an explanation to give her. Please let it stay that way unless you have a better answer.” “How did she know she was betrothed?” “A woman at the market said it when she was warning her to stay away from her daughter.” Onochie’s mother responded. The woman kept quiet when she saw Ije coming towards them. “My husband!” Mazi Ileka turned when he heard the voice of his granddaughter. The child smiled at him. “Ije, please go and fetch Dee Anine for me.” Mazi Il