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