Rose of Numen

by Olatunde, Biola;

  With more than 30 years’ experience as a scriptwriter and producer, Biola Olatunde has written more than 200 stories for radio and television, as well as poetry anthologies, and an adventure novel, Blood Contract (IFWG Publishing).

  She is an alumnus of the Dramatic Arts department Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

  A professionally trained newscaster, she went independent over twenty years ago. She got involved in intervention drama to help change attitudes towards behavioral change and so created a series for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on teenage reproductive health, “I NEED TO KNOW”. It was so successful that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) became involved and had it adapted into radio, in two of the major Nigerian languages. It was shown on national, state and private television and radio in the country as well as on satellite television.

  Biola has always been interested in bringing social issues to public attention using drama and fiction, including writing for USAID on maternal health, Democracy and Governance, Women’s issues, and HIV/AIDS.

  She was given a distinguished alumni award from the Dramatic Arts Department of her alma mater O.A.U Ife, in recognition of her contributions to the growth of the legacy of Dramatic Art.

  Numen Yeye series by Biola Olatunde

  Numen Yeye (Book 1)

  Rose of Numen (Book 2)

  Also published by IFWG Publishing

  Blood Contract

  Sunset Tales (chap-ebook only)

  Numen Yeye series: Book 2

  Rose of Numen

  Biola Olatunde

  This is a work of fiction. The events and characters portrayed herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places, events or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher.

  Rose of Numen

  Biola Olatunde

  Copyright Biola Olatunde/IFWG Publishing 2015

  ISBN-13: 978-1-925148-87-9

  This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  IFWG Publishing International

  ifwgpublishing.com

  Melbourne, Australia

  In loving memory of my grandmother

  Oseriyike Alale

  Priestess of Okeseri

  Prologue

  Then…

  Your purpose, Numen Yeye, should be to awaken women to see themselves as having their own roles. Not as liberators—for they were never in bondage except the ones who inflicted it on themselves. We wish to let you know that when the strain is high you will be free to return to this room to rest, but it will not be something we wish to encourage you to do too often.

  Mother will decide when you may be allowed in. Let the legend of the memory of Numen help and strengthen you, as you are Numen the good, empowered to seek from Creation experiences that would enhance your spirit for further ascent.

  Go now for the full power of Ashe is granted to you.

  An hour later, a healthy baby was born and Ife sighed happily for both the mother and child. The brand new mother was wheeled into the ward from the theatre while Ife went to clean up. She wondered if she should go back to her room but decided she might just check on her other patients. The newborn had been washed and Ife was amused as the new mother stared in awe at its very tiny fingers.

  When a tiny creature slips forth into our Creation, called forth by our longing to achieve immortality, our love is simple and profound at the same time. We watch in wonder as we study the tiny fingers, the fine features, the newborn’s helplessness, and the simple unquestioning trust of its unformed awareness that makes us swear we shall do right by it. We are ready and willing at this time to do everything to ensure that the child has everything it needs. A sense of gratitude to whatever faith we profess makes us humble and joyful.

  This is a gift; a treasure. All our hopes become embedded in the child. We look into the future, as the child becomes the crystal ball through which we can spy the future. Life has a meaning. Later, our first thoughts and gratitude will fade and we forget the message; that we too should be that fetus in Creation; simple trusting but aware.

  Ife watched as the thoughts rushed through her.

  I actually can’t imagine why Mama’s prophet and I don’t see eye to eye.

  …And now

  After the festival was over, Ife returned to find her father pacing up and down the room with a letter in his hand. Ife stared at him asking what the matter was, but he simply gave her the letter. It was a scholarship from her old principal to practice medicine at the university teaching hospital. She sat down slowly, unable to think.

  Her father sat down too and Ife was shocked to find he had tears in his eyes. He shook his head several times and Ife knew he was trying hard to control his voice. His hands shook as he placed them almost timidly on her shoulder. “You always wanted to be a doctor, Princess.”

  “Yes Papa, always,” Ife whispered, staring at the letter. Attached to the offer of scholarship was a letter of admission from the teaching hospital and a request to confirm her acceptance.

  She cried silently as she read her principal’s words. “Fly brightest and best, it will be a pleasure to call you doctor soon.” He signed it simply as Ayo Lawrence.

  Her mother walked in and stared at the picture of her husband and daughter in close embrace. She raised her eyebrows and Ife said quietly that there was nothing to worry about. Her father explained in a quiet wondering voice that Ife was continuing her style of paying her way through her education. He explained what had happened and of course in celebration Ife’s mother removed her head-tie and danced round the room singing praises to the Creator.

  ~~~

  It was a quiet peaceful family that celebrated Ife’s imminent departure for medical school. Grandma asked how long the medical school was going to take and when she was told she became alarmed. Yeye Agba wondered if Ife might not be an old maid by the time she takes up her duties as the Princess.

  Ife laughed. “Grandma, I am sure the Light above does not care about my intellectual ability but I am sure as a woman I do need to equip myself properly, you know.”

  “Hmm. Too much of this western thing might spoil you. You will lose touch with your roots and become blasé.”

  “I have not the slightest intention of being a village idiot nor of marrying one either,” Ife replied sharply, becoming irritated.

  “Did you choose one then? A village idiot? And have you asked him what he wants to do about that?” Grandma countered.

  Ife turned puzzled eyes on her mother. “What is she talking about now?”

  Her mother coughed and explained that at the peak of the festival the priestess had announced that Numen Yeye had chosen her groom.

  Ife was agitated. “I am sure I did no such thing, Mother, who started that story? I am not thinking of marrying anyone right now, great lights not when I am about to go to medical school.”

  Her parents stayed silent except Grandma who simply hummed a tune. “You are Numen Yeye and you chose a groom. You need to check with him, whoever he is, about this trip of yours. I don’t like doctors, they are always poking at you, and you want to start sticking knives into people?”

  Ife turned straight into Babatunde who was standing in the doorway. He was holding in his hands a string of cowries. Ife stared at him in horror backing away.

  Ife disappeared into the grove to seek out Yeye. She stayed away for two days.

  ~~~

  Her father had to seek her out. They went to sit u
nder the tree and Ife had alarm in her eyes.

  “Papa, I am not thinking of being anybody’s wife right now and I definitely have no memory of choosing a groom. Somebody is playing a fast game on me.”

  Her father gave her a keen look and gathered her into his arms. “I thought I taught you never to run away from your problems for they will still be waiting when you run back. Besides, I don’t think the goddess meant you were to marry right away, you see.”

  Ife interrupted him. “Papa, I am not marrying anyone. Being a woman does not mean I have to automatically be somebody’s wife. I am not ready.”

  “I heard you the first time, my dear.”

  Ife stared at him and the hint of frustrated anger came into her voice. “Papa, why in goodness did you ever agree to this for me?”

  “We would never agree on that will we? You have to make arrangements to return to Ibadan, sign in to your school and we will take what happens in easy stages shall we?”

  Ife was silent looking out and then turned to her father. “Where is Babatunde?”

  Her father frowned and stood up from the hard bench. “You know what? That young man looked like the most resigned groom I ever saw. When I questioned him, there was a strain of frustration running through his voice too. Seemed the goddess chose a very reluctant pair. He seemed really pissed I can tell you.”

  Ife suddenly laughed. “Yes he told me himself and I told him it was kind of silly coming to my place holding the string.”

  Ife’s father was puzzled and he stared. “You have talked with him? When? How?”

  Ife bit her lip remembering that she could not explain to him about her ability to talk with Babatunde telepathically. She smiled and shrugged saying she really couldn’t remember when they had talked as things had become hazy in her mind. Her father stared at her speculatively and she sensed he suspected her of lying. Ife felt terrible and looked everywhere but couldn’t meet her father’s eyes.

  He stated very quietly, “Seems there is no real cause for alarm then is there?” Her father took her home.

  Two days later she traveled to Ibadan to sort out her admission requirements and filled in a form for hostel accommodation.

  Her medical studies began.

  ~~~

  The journey was finally coming to an end and Numen sighed in some relief. It was going to be a rough time spending the next few days with Ezanthen. She knew that Ndana was curious and she gently rubbed his head talking softly to him. He was not from her side but they always helped the beings from the island each time they came to the mainland. Ndana was on his way to see what he could do about Obakoyi and she had been asked to offer protection and guide.

  Ndana was small with soft blue-green eyes and had a merry laugh. He kept up a steady chatter as they traveled the fairly long distance until they got to the outskirts of the settlement.

  “I should keep my emblem on my arm?” he asked, speaking aloud the silent conversation they had been holding telepathically.

  Numen smiled and her long hair gleamed, as her thoughts became a cloud of soft green haze. Her deep green eyes were warm with laughter as she looked down at him. “Look, we don’t want to announce exactly what we have come for. Ezanthen is a friend.”

  “Yes I know, but she is definitely going to ask questions about this mission.”

  Numen nodded and he saw the cloak drop down, meaning he was not to intrude on her thoughts. Ndana sighed and wondered if he could take a peep ahead and see if he could anticipate where they were headed.

  “Keobi Pachouki.”

  The two words popped into his mind unbidden and he looked up startled as a flash of lightning to see the floes of light swirl around. His forearm tingled and he watched in some surprise as the stamp was burned into his forearm. There was no pain, just wonder because he knew that he had the ability to change shape at will.

  He was an unformed fetus that was still growing and weaving threads round his yet unformed head. Numen gave him a smile. “Your wings are still tiny but they will soon be visible.”

  She had to look out for him when he incarnates and was ready for the work he was expected to perform.

  Chapter One

  Ife hurried through her chores as she wanted to be sure she could make it in time to the car park. She was visiting home and looked forward to a quiet time with Yeye Agba. Her maternal grandmother was always a fun person to be with and she had promised that she would visit more regularly. Now a trainee medical doctor, who worked shifts, she could not always be sure of a free time. One of her dreams and her prayers was that her grandma would stay long enough here on terra firma until she had her own clinic. Each time she visited, her grandmother would stare at her stomach and ask when she would bring a man home as her future husband and Ife would laugh. Ife would always explain that she was building up her life to take on further responsibilities. Sometimes she would tease her grandmother asking if they should go to a nightclub together to see the male species so her grandmother could choose a husband for her. That type of suggestion always raised a laugh but Ife knew her grandmother was kind of anxious. She always promised her grandma there was still time to bring a groom home.

  Dressed in her usual white she stepped out into the main courtyard she shared with other resident doctors and met Bianca coming out of her flat. They smiled at each other, because they were also friends and shared an occasional outing together in the rare times they had free moments that coincided. Bianca worked in the male surgical ward as a surgeon.

  “Hey you look cool as usual,” Bianca said, giving her a low whistle.

  Ife smiled. “You don’t look bad either. You are off duty?”

  “Yes,” Bianca replied. “And I am taking the best possible chance I can get. I have a date with Okey.”

  Ife returned a smile. “Lucky Okey, imagine having a date with your wife, so what else is new?”

  Bianca laughed and pirouetted in her very high heels. “I want to tantalize him to make it legal my friend. He is going to propose today, I can sense it. He can’t keep referring to me as his wife and do nothing! Today is his last chance. We can’t all live like you. So where are you headed this time?”

  Ife gave her friend a grin. “I am going to visit a sweet old lady in my village, who I have not visited in weeks and I do miss her company.”

  Bianca grimaced. “You must be a very odd person indeed, a fine day is being wasted. Do you think there will be a riot if you come with me? Okey and I are just going for a drive and going to his club”.

  “It is too early for any of that,” Ife replied swiftly, as she made her way out of the courtyard towards the main gate, her bag slung casually over her shoulder. She gave the gateman a smile and he returned it. The gateman always maintained that Ife looked too young and fragile to be a doctor. Ife accepted him as one of her admirers but treated him respectfully. He asked if she was traveling and she said yes, so he offered to help her call a taxi. Ife thanked him but declined that she needed the walk first. About an hour later she was in a taxi and on her way to her village. She closed her eyes in some semblance of sleep as she allowed the chatter in the taxi to flow over her.

  ~~~

  Yeye Agba was feeling her age today as she gave Ife a slow once over look. Ife was amused but simply pulled the traditional stool close to her grandma and knelt to greet. A friendship of mutual likeness had grown over time and they tended to sometimes discuss things like friends of the same age.

  “Now that I am here, what has been bothering you?” Ife teased, as she dipped her hand into the bowl of melon seeds and started to help her grandmother shell them. Her grandmother seemed to always do that and Ife had gotten used to seeing her that way.

  Yeye sniffed and gave Ife a quizzical look. “That flighty girl needs some handling. She says you are yet to indicate the next festival date and Babamogba wants to know because the Sango Festival is close…”

  From the corner of her eye Ife noticed a Misty and cocked her ears inviting the Misty to go ahead. She liste
ned as she also listened to her grandma. She could multi-task that way easily now. Often the Misty Ones would chat to her and people around her rarely noticed. By the narrowing of her eyes, her grandmother had sensed someone not human was holding a conversation with Ife.

  “So Iya Agba, as you were saying…?” Ife asked. “You were referring to Yeye as being flighty? How so?”

  “I just told you!” her grandma snapped.

  Ife smiled and promised to have a conversation with Yeye the priestess.

  Ife gave her surroundings a close look noting the place was a bit run down. Ife sighed and gave her grandma a clinical look. It was now a matter of weeks before she would be saying a temporary goodbye. She felt a little sad but hoped that the lines of communication will still be open.

  She was losing her loved ones and she did not enjoy that much. Uncle Sasa had shocked everyone when he departed abruptly two years ago. He had gone to bed one night and simply did not bother to open his eyes the next morning. Ife knew that her son’s death had shocked Yeye Agba. She seemed to have suddenly shrunk. It was painful watching her pain as she tried to come to terms with it. Ife was doing her clinicals then and it had been tough on her too. She still missed him, his easy jokes and teasing.

  ~~~

  The next morning she paid Tinu a visit and got another surprise. Tinu announced she was preparing to take her school certificate exams. Ife’s jaw dropped as she gave her friend a quizzical look.

  “Is Lucas looking at another girl now?” she asked

  Tinu laughed. “No nothing like that, I wasn’t planning on remaining an idiot forever, Princess.”

  “Oh I decided I was going to live with that,” Ife returned, with mischief lurking in her eyes and got an angry look. After some silence Ife asked again what brought that on. Tinu looked exasperated.