LEILA The Sarki sent for me, and I went straight to the throne room. "Greetings, your highness." I greeted the king. "Save the pleasantries for a fool." That was his response. I looked at him, confused. I could see the anger in his eyes. I wondered what I had been accused of. "Save that look for a fool," he continued, "you might have been able to fool my son in the past, but you were never able to fool me. I knew you were bad news from the day I met you. I warned Adam. I wished he listened." He said. "What have I..." I tried asking when a guard yelled at me to be silent, "you will only speak when asked to speak." Was his instruction. I wish my father did not leave me here. These people were too hostile. "You have connived and manipulated your way all through. But your journey ends here. You will leave this island today along with your cousin. You are never to return here ever again. You are never to be near anywhere my son and his bride-to-be are, here or anywhere in Lafiya." He

ADAM It had been two days since we returned from Binta's home. Binta was still mourning, and I couldn't blame her. She had refused to leave her room. Feeding her was difficult. We even had to postpone the Gaisuwa. She wasn't herself anymore. She also pressed me a lot on what the wizard had told me. I would have loved to tell her everything, but she was not on the council. It was forbidden to inform anyone outside the council of such matters, even if the person was a noble. If she were already my wife, that would have been a different issue. I finally told her that I could not divulge the problem to her. I have never seen Binta so gloomy. Every night, I crept to her room to hold her and remind her that she wasn't alone. She was practically an orphan now, but she needed to know that she had me. Everyone knew that no one escapes the forbidden forest. I hated Mai'Aljanu for the pain he brought into her life. He was the one who brokered the deal that cost her her brother and father. He was

ADAM. I refused to speak to my father after they took Binta away. I was denied access to see her, and that enraged me. I didn't sleep at all. My soul was troubled. I was afraid she might die. I felt like a child all over again, and I hated myself. I felt useless. I felt unworthy. The image of the guard tearing her blouse played on and on in my head. The chief Boka even wanted her stripped naked. How could my father do what he did to Binta? And he claimed he loved her like his own daughter. I hated him and began to think of ways I would hurt all of them. There was a knock on my door, but I refused to answer. Whoever it was, I did not want to see. After a while, the person went away. A while later, someone was turning the nob on my door, trying to get in. "Get lost!" I shouted in anger. "Open the door." It was my father's voice. I reluctantly got up to open the door. I knew the guards would break in if I didn't let him in. "Why did you refuse to come when I sent for you?" he asked

ADAM We left Binta's room and returned to the throne room. We were having a long night. When we arrived at the throne room, I found Malam Bamali pacing back and forth. He was clearly impatient about something. "If I may speak, your majesty," the swine began. I hated the man, and the fact the Mai'Aljannu had confirmed his hatred for Binta made it worse. "Speak." My father told him. He cleared his throat and began. It was apparent he was trying to summon the courage to speak. It meant we wouldn't like whatever he planned to say. "We all agree that we deserved to hear what Mai'Aljanu said about Miss Binta. What happened in there was unusual, and it calls for concern. I have never seen the selection stone turn red before. It might be a sign of trouble for Rayuwa. We need to know what deity has chosen to defy Aljanan Daji; we do not want to incur her wrath." My father took a deep breath and then spoke. "I do not appreciate you instigating the council," he began. "Binta is a part of

ADAM I couldn't sleep through the night. Binta's fever was high, and she kept mumbling nonsense. It had been three days since the injury she incurred from the whipping. I wondered what the herbalist had been doing, and he forbade me from turning her over to check the wound myself. He claimed it would impede the healing process. I began to feel really stupid. There was a loud knock on the door. I had been unable to sleep all night because of Binta's situation. I hoped I wasn't being summoned for another council meeting. When I opened the door, I saw the head herbalist of Rayuwa along with two witch doctors. "Your Highness, good morning," the head herbalist began, "I am here to continue miss Binta's treatment." He said with a bow. "Ok, why are the witch doctors here?" I asked, addressing the two old men that had accompanied him. "There is a spiritual matter involved with Miss Binta's issue." He began, "I believe the spirit of death is upon her. These men are one of Rayuwa's best wi