Men of Valor, Books 1

by Kiru Taye

  Her heart pounded in her chest because she didn't know what to expect. If Nonye was already angry, then perhaps things didn't go too well for her in Umulari.

  Or perhaps Nonye found out about Ezinne and Emeka!

  She gulped in air into her lungs, telling herself not to panic. There was no reason for Nonye to be angry with her. Her relationship with Emeka was engineered by Nonye.

  So Nonye hadn't wanted Ezinne to fall in love with the prince, but that couldn't be helped. No one else knew about it. So Nonye couldn't possibly have found out.

  She just had to keep a level head. On arrival at Nonye's quarters, she took another immersed breath to calm her nerves and racing pulse. There was nothing to fear.

  Nonye’s guard indicated for her to go in.

  "Welcome back, my princess." Ezinne curtsied low, keeping her gaze on the floor. Since she wasn't sure what mood Nonye was in, it was best to play it safe.

  "Thank you, Ezinne. Rise and come to me," Nonye said, her voice cool and calm. Detecting no anger from her mistress, Ezinne straightened up and looked at Nonye.

  The princess looked as regal as ever, composed and sophisticated. Everything that Ezinne would never be.

  "I hope you had a pleasant trip to and from Umulari. You look very well. How are the people in Umulari? Did the festival go well?" Ezinne rattled out questions, eager to find out more about Nonye's sojourns and hopefully distract Nonye from asking her questions about her time with Emeka.

  Nonye laughter was cheerful. "That's a lot of questions, Ezinne. My trip was pleasant enough. Everyone in the palace is doing well. The festival was great. But my father is a little worried, though he would never admit it about the rumors that there will be a war soon. It is not a good time for war because the crop yield for this year is not as bountiful as it is usually. I doubt if Umulari could sustain a prolonged siege."

  "My princess, that is terrible news indeed. I pray to the gods that such a thing as war does not happen in Umulari again." It explained Nonye presence back in Umunri earlier than planned. Ezinne knew Nonye would not have returned so quickly if it wasn't for an important matter.

  "I know. I cannot believe it myself. But the atmosphere in Umulari is tense despite the celebrations. My father sent me back to ensure that he has the full support of Umunri in case there is a war."

  "Well, I'm sure E—Prince Emeka and the king would not hesitate to support Umulari in their time of trouble," Ezinne spoke, averting her eyes, hoping that Nonye did not notice her slip of tongue. Using the prince's given name was punishable with a few stokes of the whip.

  "I have already spoken to Prince Emeka since I returned." Ezinne couldn't miss the deliberate way Nonye had referred to the prince, indicating to her that Nonye was aware she had been about to use his given name. But instead of reprimanding Ezinne, Nonye flashed a quick smile and continued in speech, waving her hand in the air. "He has already assured me that he will do everything within his power to make sure there is no war. Failing a peace negotiation, Umulari has his support. That is good enough for me."

  "That is good indeed, my princess." Ezinne sat at Nonye's feet. She racked her mind for other things to talk about but the only thing that came to mind was Dike. "Did you get to see Dike? How is he?" Ezinne asked in a quiet, tentative voice.

  For a brief moment, Nonye's lips hardened into a thin line, her hands clenched on the arms of her chair. Then slowly she relaxed. Ezinne sensed that something must have happened between Nonye and Dike.

  "Yes, I saw Dike briefly. He looks well and is doing well as far as I know. Anyway, I don't want to discuss Dike right now. I want to find out about you. Where were you just now? For a brief moment, I had a crazy notion that Emeka had done something terrible to you and you had run away." She laughed. "It's crazy isn't it? I should have had more faith and known you would never let me down. So where did you go?"

  "Oh, I went to the stream. I was helping out the kitchen servants," Ezinne said, her face heating up with embarrassment. This was the topic she wanted to avoid. But she couldn't ignore Nonye's question. It was odd that Nonye would think she'd run away because of Emeka. She wondered why she would think that.

  "Why would you do that? Your job was to stay close to the prince. To keep him company. Why didn't you do that?"

  "But I did. I have been keeping Prince Emeka company every evening during his dinner. He said that was all he needed of me, and that's all I've done."

  "You mean you want me to believe he hasn't touched you, hasn't bedded you?" Nonye asked, her tone irritated, her voice rising.

  "It's true, he hasn't," Ezinne insisted as the heat of embarrassment crept up her face. The way Nonye asked the question made Ezinne feel as if she was a failure. That she couldn't even get the prince to bed her as her mistress requested.

  "Ezinne, don't lie to me." Nonye's eyes flashed with anger, her teeth clenched.

  "I'm not lying." Ezinne replied tartly her own temper rising.

  "Don't you dare lie to me, Ezinne. I didn't come back here for you to lie to me after the disappointment that was Umulari." Nonye stood and started pacing her chamber. Ezinne was taken aback. Usually when Nonye lost her temper, her first response would be to strike who ever had offended her. That she simply paced the room instead added to the subtle changes Ezinne had noticed in her already. It made Ezinne more curious to find out what had happened in Umulari to bring about the change.

  "Ezinne, tell me the truth. I promise you no harm will befall you. I just want to know the truth because I know you spent the night in the prince's chamber last night. But I want you to tell me yourself. Did Prince Emeka bed you last night?"

  Frustrated with trying to convince Nonye, Ezinne nearly yelled, "No, he didn't."

  Nonye let out a gasp, and Ezinne lowered her head into her hands, frustrated tears banking up behind her eyes.

  "I tried, but he doesn't want me in that way. I'm sorry to disappoint you. I'm not beautiful enough for the prince," Ezinne said, her voice low and strangled, her chest contracting in pain, tears clouding her eyes. She was never going to be beautiful enough for the prince, not with her past constantly dogging her footsteps.

  Sensing Nonye standing still beside her, Ezinne fought to hold back the tears.

  "Ezinne, I know I have never said this to you before. You are a beautiful woman."

  Flabbergasted, Ezinne lifted her head not caring if Nonye saw the tears in her eyes. She couldn't believe it. Nonye said she was beautiful. Nonye had never given her a compliment for as long as she could remember. Maybe when they were children but certainly not as adults.

  "Shocked, aren't you?" Nonye gave her a weak smile. "Yes, I know. It's not like me. But I've been told I need to be nicer to the people around me. Otherwise I'd grow into a sad, lonely, paranoid person. And seeing my father that way terrified me. So here I'm trying to change. I can't promise I'll be totally different overnight. But I'm willing to try. There is someone I need to do it for too."

  Things just got even stranger. How was it possible? Where was the vindictive woman that went to Umulari a few weeks ago? What happened in Umulari?

  "I'm really grateful for your kind words, but you're right. I'm shocked. It is not like you at all. Dare I ask who asked you to change because I need to thank them?"

  "You may ask, but I reserve the answer for now. All I can say is that it is someone whose opinion matters to me. It does deflate the ego when someone important to you tells you that you are a bad person. I realized the error of my ways. Anyway. Back to the matter at hand." Nonye moved back to her chair and sat down. "Why did Emeka turn you down? What did you do? You are certainly a beautiful woman, and I know he's been watching you in secret for weeks. I only wanted to give him something he already wanted."

  "He wanted me? He's been watching me for weeks? That can't be right," Ezinne replied, certain that Nonye was out of her mind. The prince had barely noticed her until the day she'd been presented to him as a companion.

  Nonye smiled. "You forget I have experienc
e in these things. I know when a man desires a woman. I have known that Emeka has desired you since we arrived together. It wasn't an overt thing. But I knew. The quick glances he stole at you when you were simply standing there trying to blend into the background. You are a very beautiful woman, Ezinne. Don't look surprised that the prince would desire you."

  "But if he felt that way as you say and you knew about it, why were you not angry? Why did you then push me to become his companion?"

  "Because I knew he would never go to you himself. He is an honorable man. I have really only come to appreciate that fact lately. I needed him distracted so that I could get on with pursuing my own interests."

  "By interests, you mean Dike."

  "Well, I have soon come to realize that was a waste of effort. It is a good thing you didn't bed the prince. Because it looks like I'm back in Umunri to stay. So I have to focus on doing my duty as wife regardless of how I feel about it."

  "I'm glad to know you have worked out things for yourself. Prince Emeka needs you here," Ezinne said, happy that Nonye had found some resolution for her initial restlessness.

  "Yes, indeed he does. This brings me to the other matter at hand. You. I can no longer keep you here. I'm going to send you back to Umulari. My father needs a companion, and I think you'll be very good for him."

  Chapter Thirteen

  That evening Emeka sat in the lounging chair in his quarters. Nonye sat beside him, regaling him about her trip to Umulari and the success of their recent New Yam Festival. Emeka barely paid attention to her words, nodding and grunting at regular intervals.

  For the first time since his marriage to Nonye, she could not keep his attention. His mind roamed and always seemed to settle on Ezinne. He hadn't seen her all day. He had been hoping to pay an impromptu visit to the weaving hut earlier in day, but his plans had changed by the sudden return of Nonye.

  It had been a huge surprise, considering he'd been thinking about sending Ikem to go and bring Nonye home. Despite his initial shock, he had to see her arrival as a godsend. It meant he could proceed with resolving the issues surrounding Ezinne as quickly as possible. He could also relax now knowing that Nonye was safe in Umunri and not in Umulari under threat of war.

  Nonye's message from her father had been no huge surprise. King Agbado had used Nonye as a bargaining chip and was doing so now to guarantee the future of his reign. Something about the man's tactics didn't sit well with Emeka, though.

  It had prompted his visit to the chief priest for consultation about Ezinne. Emeka wanted to be sure there could be a way of releasing her as soon as possible without her having to return to Umulari for the ritual.

  Now he waited in expectation for Ezinne. His need to see her had grown despite his decision not to pursue an amorous relationship with her. But the truth was his heart was already lost to her.

  While he would do everything to ensure her well-being he couldn't force her to be with him. Anyway, he still had Nonye's feelings to take into account. Despite her faults, he didn't want to hurt his wife in the process too.

  "... My prince, ... you have not listened to a word I've said, have you?"

  Distracted from his thoughts, he turned and looked upon Nonye. Her lips were pouted, a frown creasing her normally smooth forehead.

  "Forgive me, Nonye. My mind was elsewhere," he spoke, hoping to calm her. Guilt washed over him. He shouldn't be thinking of Ezinne when his beautiful wife was seated next to him. But he couldn't help it. It seemed Ezinne had taken possession of his mind as well as his heart.

  "I've been sitting here talking all evening, and you haven't paid attention to anything I've said. Did you not miss me? Would you rather do without my company tonight?"

  Yes, a voice whispered in his head.

  "No," he said instead, hoping to appease his wife. He'd never seen Nonye this upset with him before. Taking her hand in his, he massaged the back the way he knew she liked. "I'm enjoying your company, Nonye. Please don't get offended. I have weighty issues on my mind. I hope you understand."

  "Of course I forgive you, my prince."

  Two servants walked in carrying plates of food for dinner. They put them down on the table and departed. Still, Ezinne did not come.

  "The food is here, my prince. Come, let's eat."

  Emeka stood up and walked to the table wondering why Ezinne was taking so long to get there. She was usually in his quarters as soon as dinner arrived and would help to serve it.

  He waited for Nonye to sit, before taking his seat.

  "Where's Ezinne? Isn't she going to help you serve the food?" he asked, his mind unsettled at the lack of Ezinne's presence. He hadn't realized how much he would miss her if she wasn't around, but not seeing her seated at the table like she'd done the past few weeks or standing at her usual spot in the corner of the room made him restless. He wanted to know she was doing well. It was unlike Nonye not to have someone serve the food.

  Nonye didn't look at him but started dishing out the food with a shrug. "I gave her other chores to do this evening. There is no need for anyone else to serve the dinner. I can do it quite well as you can see."

  "Sure. I can see. I'm just curious as to why you've suddenly changed a habit I've known you to have since you arrived in Umunri. Not that I'm complaining."

  "While I was in my father's kingdom recently, I learned a few new things. One of which is to pay more attention to my husband. I don't want to leave other women to serve your food or provide for your needs when I'm capable of doing so myself. I hope you approve, my prince."

  "I very much approve, my princess." Although it's a little too late as I've lost my heart to another woman.

  "So it'll just be you and me eating dinner together with no servants under our feet from now on."

  "So what will Ezinne do with her time, since you'll no longer need her in the evenings?"

  "Don't worry about Ezinne. I'm sending her back to Umulari. My father is getting old and needs someone to keep him company and cheer him up. Since I now live here I need to make sure he is well taken care of. And Ezinne is just the right person for the job."

  A finger of cold dread traveled down Emeka's rigid spine as he sat in his chair. What was Nonye thinking?

  "What is the matter with you?" Emeka snapped at Nonye, his voice cold and angry. "How can you do such a thing to Ezinne? After all she's been through already?"

  Nonye sat up straight, her eyes puzzled, her face furrowed. "My prince, what's the matter? What have I done?" she queried, subdued.

  "Are you claiming you don't know what sending Ezinne back to Umulari would do to her? Sending her back to the man who abused her?"

  Nonye's eyes widened, and Emeka remembered that Ezinne had said she hadn't told Nonye about the rape. And she didn't want Nonye to know about it.

  "What are you talking about?" Nonye asked.

  "Didn't your father try to sell Ezinne to Ichie Uwaluru?" he asked, wanting to find out how much Nonye knew. He couldn't believe that she wouldn't have noticed his father's deviancy and cruelty to Ezinne and other slaves all this while.

  "Yes, but that was a long time ago, and we resolved that. Ezinne is my sl—servant. My father will never sell her because only I have the right to dispose of her as I wish. She's only going there to keep my father company. I have no need for her here any longer. She will live the life of a special companion in the palace. It is a privileged position."

  "Well, she's not going to Umulari," Emeka stated like he was giving an edict.

  "Why not? She's mine to command."

  "And you're mine to command, Nonye. And I command you to release her from her bonds with you."

  "My prince, what has gotten into you? Do you choose to talk to me in that tone because of Ezinne, a servant?"

  "She is also a person, a human being who deserves the right to choose what she does with her life. Not bought and sold at your whim."

  "But she's already agreed to go to Umulari. Her choice."

  "What? I don't believe that.
"

  It could not be true. Ezinne could never choose to go back to a man who had abused her. Why would she do that? He had to see her. He had to see her now. He couldn't stand it anymore.

  Scraping his chair back, he stood up.

  "I'm going out. I need some fresh air," he said before walking out of his chamber leaving a surprised Nonye.

  Chapter Fourteen

  "You are summoned to come with me immediately."

  Ezinne looked up from where she sat outside her sleeping quarters. One of Prince Emeka's guards stood at ease before her. Assuming it was Princess Nonye summoning her to the prince's quarters, she rushed to put down the skirt she was darning in her chamber before following the guard. Her spirit had been low since the return of Nonye and the news that she would be going back to Umulari. She had accepted it, knowing it was what she had to do under the circumstances.

  But when Nonye had broken the news that Ezinne would no longer serve dinner, not even for the last few nights she was in Umunri, her heart had dropped further. She'd realized that Nonye was practically forbidding her from seeing or interacting with Emeka any longer. She would not even get the chance to see him again before she left Umunri.

  However it seemed she may yet get a chance to see Emeka since Nonye was having dinner at the moment with him. Maybe the princess had changed her mind after all. Ezinne could only hope and pray. The guard's strides were long, and she had to hurry to keep up. When he walked past the palace, she stopped.

  "Are we not going to the palace?" she asked, looking uncertainly toward the prince's quarters, her body longing for one more look at the prince. One more moment in his presence.

  The guard shook his head. "No."

  Ezinne waited for him to elaborate, but he didn't and simply continued walking away from the palace. She had no choice but to follow him down the path that led to the palace pool. She wondered who had summoned her and where she was supposed to be going. The sun had already set and their way was lit by the bright moon in the cloudless sky.