“Somebody told them,” the Head-of-Government continued. “They were aware when we were coming. The leak came from this room.”
“Talk me to in a straight manner,” the King said.
“Okonjo's loyalty is questionable.”
“Be logical, he won't be stupid enough to warn them because he has nothing to gain.”
“Then someone dangerous to us is protecting the young man. We are not sure how long we can keep the information from reaching the commoners. The boy will definitely have chiefs who will embrace him when he gets to them, not to mention that he happens to be a good friend of Gbangba.”
“How do you know?”
“It’s my job to know, Your Majesty. He grew up to have a brother who happens to be the general of Ozuoba, but it seems they are now grave enemies, all the better for us.”
King Nwosa shouted for his servant and told him to get the Ishu priest and the Okpalaukwu. Then turning to the Head-of-Government he said, “Give me an open view of where we stand.”
“Sire, we are not sure, so let’s look at it from the worst perspective. He is definitely supported by a man or men of some degree of power, so we call a meeting inviting all the chiefs to the Conference Room. Anyone who does not make himself available has violated his allegiance to his King with death as the only punishment. But if they should all be present, then we take advantage and eliminate any chief capable of dishonor.”
”Supposing he really is my son?”
“That has nothing to do with the situation at hand, Your Majesty.”
“I was under the impression it has everything to do with the situation at hand. I have this painful intuition that he is my son and the people seem unsatisfied with my successor…I was thinking about accepting him publicly as my son because the thought of shedding a drop of blood from my own son…burns me somewhere inside.”
The Head-of-Government smiled and nodded.
“That is an alternative. But I doubt if your other son will give up the chance to be King. Even though he is crippled and weak, there will still be chiefs who will be ready to back him and I have not mentioned how delicious your death will become. Sire, once there is room for another successor as strong as you are…everyone will seek your death, especially your chiefs, so they can take advantage of the months the princes are battling.”
“Whatever chaos this creates, I ought to have separated my spirit from this body.”
“You seem to forget one more thing—his mother died for him to survive. That is one sacrifice no man can ever forget, especially if the order is linked to the man whom he should call father.”
“I did not order her death.”
“But you let it happen.”
The King closed his eyes and then opened them with a look of concern. “What do we do now?”
Before the King got an answer, the Ishu priest and the Okpalaukwu walked in. The Ishu walked around the room with his fingers twisting in the air.
“What are you doing?” the Head-of-Government asked.
“I am trying to think.”
“What is going on?” the Okpalaukwu asked impatiently.
“Aneaton’s son is alive,’’ the King said.
“With all due respect, Sire, that is impossible. I witnessed the ritual death of that child by the Ogun priest,” the old man replied.
“Then you saw the death of another.”
“The Ogun priest would never have betrayed you by sacrificing the wrong child.”
“We never said he did, but somewhere along the line, the child was switched.”
“What makes you so sure the Ikaza’s son is not just someone taking advantage of the similar physical traits that the two of you share and then claiming to be your son?” the old man asked.
“How did you know he was the Ikaza’s son?” the Head-of-Government asked.
“Everyone knows about the young man who claims to be your son. Even the market women have gotten access to the information and they seem to be playing with it in whispers.”
The three younger men in the room seemed dumbfounded and then the Head-of-Government asked, “Who told you about this?”
“The elders just told me about the situation before I was brought here. From the way they addressed me it seemed like the rumor is fresh as a baby’s buttocks. Or is it not a rumor?”
King Nwosa adjusted himself and began.
“Our people say a child that cries can still see with his two eyes. Before I became King the oracle said, and I quote, ‘Fear will come within the laughter of men. The pain that is hidden will find its way through. Time will not stand in the way, but it will try to cover the dark colors and the mountain that holds the grains of our integration will collapse, leaving behind a naked ridge.’ That was what the Anwu priest told my father.”
“So what does the parable mean?” the Ishu priest asked.
“If I knew what it meant, I wouldn’t have shared it with all of you. In fact are you not supposed to be the Headman to the Oracle, or am I to understand that you cannot use your tongue to count your teeth?”
“Sire, whoever gets the oracle understands what it means and I am positive the Anwu priest told your father what it meant. The oracle no longer responds to us, but I think it’s talking about a mishap that will come and we will not be able to prevent.”
“The oracle no longer responds to you!” the King yelled. “It seems the god you worship is impotent. I wonder how you became the Headman to the Oracle.”
“Your Majesty, forgive my incompetence, but I am sure your father was aware of the translation.”
“Maybe I forgot to add, my father did not share the information with me.” With irritation, he faced the Head-of-Government. “So what is your plan?”
“I have to communicate as soon as possible with all the chiefs to understand the magnitude of our situation.”
“What do you mean by ‘our situation?’” The King seemed confused.
“We are at war.”
Chapter 5
The clouds were changing form and darkness was encroaching into the day. The people of Alloida went about with their normal trade, ignoring the threat of the imminent storms. They were known for being insatiable, this was the result of a curse put on them by a virgin girl they burnt on a stake, claiming she was a witch. The real reason for her death was either her blatant refusal to marry Chief Hejieto or the acceptance of the religion of a group of missionaries.
As much as the people tried to deny it, from that day, the respect for the missionary’s God grew to extreme heights. They watched these white missionaries kneel and beg for the life of this girl while the other Portuguese tradesmen laughed at them. After the girl’s death, the missionaries migrated from the province. Gbangba’s beheading of a Portuguese trader made the other white men in the province flee.
Gbangba sat on his throne-like seat, which had arms made of elephant tusk and the hides of bulls, awaiting his guest. His visitor, the highest priest of the Ifa god, emerged looking fifteen years older than he was. He also did not have the characteristics of the highest priest. Firstly, highest priests were typically old and wrinkled, but this man was middle aged. Secondly, he seemed to have verve in his bones. Lastly, he did not seem like the kind of man who would bend over to publicize his god. The fact that he was blind was no surprise. In the past, the highest priests of each god always had a form of defect because of old age. Some could not see; they were normally unable to speak aloud, or they were partially deaf. As the blind man approached, the general and the chief's envoy were surprised by the unconformable features of the highest priest of the Ifa god.
The Ifa priest ignored the presence of the men in the room. He walked directly in front of the chief. “I would like to talk to you alone.”
Gbangba waited a while, looking at the blind man, then he signaled the men in the room to wait for him in another chamber. As they left, the blind man sat down.
“I was under the impression that the custom of our society made a man like y
ou require my permission before you sit,” the chief told the Ifa priest.
“I could tell you a thousand apologies, but none of them would weigh as much as a feather.”
“Now I see why they always choose an older man with eyes to be the highest priest of a god.”
“I would love to engage in this petty encounter with you but my time is limited.”
“I am so sorry, great one,’’ Gbangba said with great theatrics. “If only I realized how totally useless my time is and how valuable yours was, I would have treated you as the King you are.”
“Save your sarcasm, your friend's life is in danger.”
“Which friend?”
“Obi.”
The anger in his face radiated and he rose as he spoke.
“Who is the dead man that wants to touch a hair of his skin?”
“The King.”
“The King.” His voice faded as he sat back down. “Why?”
“Did you ever hear of Queen Aneaton?”
“The queen who refused to sacrifice her son when asked to by the King.”
“Well, that son is your friend.”
“That’s impossible. The Ogun priest sacrificed the child.”
“Yes, there was a sacrifice, but there was a switch.”
“It still does not make sense. I grew up with him and he does not look like the King. He is slim, whilst the King is as big as I am. Not to mention the King is lighter than he is.”
“Your friend’s life is in danger and he needs your help.”
“How long has he known?”
“A long time now. He always kept it to himself, but as of now he does not know that his secret is now with his father, the King.”
“How did you know?”
“I have my ways and I have a limited time to inform him before they get to him.”
“What makes you think you will get to him before they do?”
“As I said, I have my ways.”
“I am to believe that you have Obi's infinite trust?” Gbangba's voice rose.
“Honestly, I have never been acquainted with him, but by the end of the day, I will be serving him.”
“Does King Nwosa think I am stupid? Do I look like a fool? Do you not have any pride? I thought you were supposed to be a highest priest of the Ifa god, or are you people now so easily corruptible?”
The Ifa priest got up and started walking away and the chief followed him, now shouting.
“Is this how the King intends to test me? Have I broken any of the laws or not paid his taxes? Let him know that when it comes to my duties, the law comes before any woman, child, and especially friend of mine.”
By the time he finished, the Ifa priest had left the room. The Omees wanted to reprimand the Ifa priest, but the chief waved his hands, allowing him to go without stress. He walked around the room moving in circles. He laughed at the thought of his friend becoming King.
The Ifa priest could be working with the King and high chiefs, but what does he have to gain? Probably because the Ishu priest will never let him become the Headman to the Oracle, even at his death. If I was the King and I wanted to get rid of a man like me, how would I do it? I probably would start my destruction from within. Vacoura. Why would he want to destroy me now? Greed or insecurity? This still does not account for the Ifa priest. Why would he go all this way for Obi? To become the Headman to the Oracle? That’s not possible. There is no King alive who would make a man so young his high chief…unless he owes you a favor. He really is Queen Aneaton's son.
The chief laughed insanely. His Omees came to check if he was okay. He told them to get his general and envoy.
As the two men entered the room, he sat down on his throne-like seat and told everyone near the parameter to go away. Both men knew a big event was about to take place and they hoped it was not a tragic one, involving them becoming deceased. Gbangba still sat, not uttering a sound.
Vacoura was about to explode with defensive rage, accompanied by fear. His mind was trying to guess what the Ifa priest told the chief. Gbangba has finally found an excuse to kill me. As our people say, when you have trapped your turkey, it has no choice but to fight back. It is a pity. Just when my son started walking, this dilemma chooses to surface. That stupid brother of mine will now marry my sweet wife. No way. If I had known this was the time for me to die, I would have kept a scar on my son's arm so he would remember his father. If only I could just hold him one last time, I will...
“Vacoura, Envoy, the King has declared war with us because he was told that we have accepted his son from the late Queen Aneaton to be our King.”
Vacoura could not say anything. He was still catching his breath after the prelude to his supposed death. Anything he wanted to do now was all right, as long as it didn’t concern him.
“Everyone knows her son is dead,” the envoy said.
“That’s where we were wrong. He lives.”
“Who is he, and why are we helping him?” Vacoura asked.
“He is Obi, supposed son of the Ikaza, Ifeanyi.”
“I guess that answers why we are helping him,” Vacoura said. “With all due respect, as envoy of this province, we are not going to be able to match the whole Didasu Kingdom. I understand your ties with him, but I don't think his life is worth making a multitude of women widows, children fatherless, and freemen slaves.”
Gbangba rose in fury. “Are you telling me that you and my people are not ready to die for your King?”
“We are not sure if he really is the son and as of now, he is still a prince,” the envoy replied.
“He is the King I now serve and I would like to know if we serve the same King,”
“Who am I to go against my chief?” Vacoura immediately replied.
The chief watched his envoy, waiting for his reply.
“Since I became your envoy, I have never had thoughts of being disloyal. Even now, the thought does not cross my mind. Your king is my king but my duty is to tell you the pure truth.”
“Good. Now the kingdom is not aware of this, making it easier for the King to get access to Obi and kill him privately, so we have to let the kingdom know of the new King without the provinces acknowledging where the information came from. Envoy, you will get your most trusted messengers and send them to all the provinces to spread the news to anyone who walks, talks and crawls. Firstly, the people of Utagba should know everything in detail and as quickly as possible. Give the messengers my fastest horses. Vacoura, from today we will be checking the entry of people into the province. You prepare and station the Omees for anything. All the elders who are corruptible should be persuaded to fight for our cause amongst the other elders. Whatever price they ask, give it to them. This job I expect you to do personally, Envoy. All the market women and any gossiper should be given the story in whispers to speed its travel. As for the war against the kingdom, we have no intentions of going to battle now and, as of this time, our loyalty is still with the kingdom, the persuasion of other allies from the other provinces I will take care of personally. You may leave us, Envoy.”
The envoy bowed. As he was about to leave, the chief said, “Thank you.” He pretended not to hear, but those were the things that made him loyal to Gbangba.
“What else do you require me to do?” the general asked with enthusiasm.
“Stop deceiving yourself. I do not trust you, Vacoura, and I am positive at the first opportunity you have, you will stab me in the back.”
“Never.”
“Face it, Vacoura, you can't be chief as long as I am alive. I know how much you crave this seat. By the time I leave, nobody will let you succeed me.”
“Chief, why would you punish me with such ill thoughts?”
“If we succeed in this battle, then I shall take over as the Head-of-Government of the kingdom and Alloida will be yours.”
A grin finally came to the general's face and he said, “You are too kind.”
“There is this tiny problem that is still bothering me,” the
chief continued with a deadly look on his face. ”The province can still belong to you if you betray me to King Nwosa, so I decided to keep your son as my personal guest till King Obi is crowned .”
“You can't do that. He is my only son,” the general begged.
“Don't worry, everything is going to be all right. You of all people have no intentions of betraying me.”
“I beg of you. I swear total allegiance with any god you mention. Please take any other member of my family, but not my boy.”
“Look at it like I am showing him around his new home that his father will soon inhabit. Enough.” The Chief clapped his hands and his Omees appeared. ”Escort him to his home so he can hand his son over to you.”
With hatred in his eyes Vacoura said, “This is all about power to you.”
“No Vacoura, it is all about my friend.” Gbangba turned his back to them while they left. Yes, Vacoura, it’s all about my friend, my only friend.
Chapter 6
Obi and his wife had passed through the river. Though they saw no one behind them, they maintained their pace. The areas after the river were muddy; they stopped to eat on a few dry patches. As they traveled, Amina stopped once to vomit. He was positive she was pregnant, but being the proud woman she was, she refused to let him carry her. It was not until she sprained her knee that he forcefully put her on his back and continued the journey.
The farther he went, the more he felt guilty for dragging his greatest asset into such a quest. He wondered why he left everything he had and started this journey with this priceless human being. His thoughts raced, looking for a reason why the Ifa priest would lie to him, but there was none. As he kept moving, there were only two things he was sure of: the first was that the direction he was traveling in led to his mother’s province; and secondly, he was not interested in being King, prince or anything that was offered. He just wanted to go back to his way of life.
Dawn approached and he wondered if the people of Utagba would accept him during this crisis. He had nowhere else to go. There was also the possibility that they were not aware of what was happening. The thoughts were getting too heavy for his mind to carry, but he was consoled by their nearness to the boundary between Utagba and Abogima. He found a shelter underneath a pile of boulders and they spent the night there.
When Gods Bleed Page 6
