His Queen

Chapter Twenty-Nine - Who's responsible?

  Third Persons Narrative;

It is a cold morning and two young girls are making their way to the stream with their clay pots sitting on their bare waists. Waists roll with every step they take.

Their bare feet press down the wet grass in their paths. Grasses that have been wet by the little rain that fell the night before.

Birds chirp and fly away as they make their way to the stream, and other creatures scramble on, sensing the presence of humans.

The big trees are dressed with fine, rich, green leaves. It is true what the elders say. Trees, planted by the riverside, never lack. Oftentimes, elders bless their children with this knowledge. Praying for them to be as fruitful as the trees by the riverside.

The girls get to the stream, discussing and filling each other in on what about their lives the other party has missed. They set their pots down and keep discussing in the cool morning breeze while listening to the cries of the go-away bird.

The first girl fills her pot, and waits for her friend to fill hers, so, they can get going back to their houses to help their mothers with the chores.

“Funke, please wait for me. I want to pee. “The second girl begs her friend and the first rolls her eyes.

“Fine. Just be fast. “She replies to her friend as she places her pot down.

The second girl walks over to the bushes and squats behind them as she answers to nature's call. She sighs in relief as she lets out the liquid that has been threatening to burst her bladder.

After she's done, she looks to her side and freezes when she sights something… A hand. She stands to her feet and pulls her skirt down.

She stares curiously at the palm she's seeing, and she looks over at her friend, but her friend is looking elsewhere.

She tiptoes carefully towards the bush behind which the hand is showing. She takes care for her anklets not to jingle too much as she walks towards the bushes.

“Hello… “She whispers, but the hand doesn't move. She finally takes a deep breath and looks over the bush.

However, the sight she sees causes all life to drain out of her face.

She lets out a shrill scream that causes the birds around to take off in fright, and her friend rushes over in alarm.

“Tiwa, what is it? “Her friend screams as she rushes over, but she freezes when she sees the devastating sight her friend is looking at.

A dead body. The one half of the body in the stream, and the other on land, behind the bushes.

His throat has been slit, and he's soaked in blood. His eyes are wide in shock, and one can see the terror that was in his eyes right before he died.

It's not just horrific that they are seeing a dead body, but a detail that hits more is the fact that they know the man who's been killed.

Ex-chief Abiodun.

The girls run off… Breaking and abandoning their pots. It is indeed an inauspicious thing to see a dead body so early in the morning.

However, back to the question a lot of us might have by now… Mr. Abiodun is dead? Who killed him?

Ajinke's POV;

I am standing beside the prince in the palace. Today is one of the chief's birthday, and there is a private celebration in the royal court.

The king and his queen are on their thrones, and the prince is sitting with the other chiefs around the large, rectangular dining table.

I am pouring some mango juice into the princess cup when suddenly, a guard runs inside.

“Your highness! There's an emergency! “He announces, and the king looks around the room in alarm.

“What is it? “The king questions the guard who has one knee on the floor, and the young man's reply causes color to wash off my face.

“Your highness, ex-chief Abioduns dead body was found beside the stream this morning. “

“What? “The king exclaims as he rises to his feet, and every other person in the room stands.

“Who discovered the body? “The king questions.

“There were two of them, your highness. Tiwa, the daughter of the potter, and Funke the daughter of the butcher. “The guard replies, and I gulp.

Muyiwa's father is dead? Who could have done such? I suddenly come back to the room when I realize that almost all the chiefs at the table are stylishly looking at me.

Wait, what? They don't think I did this, do they?

“Where are they? “The king questions the guard, and he looks up at the king before looking back at the ground.

“They're outside. “The guard replies, and he asked for them to come in. He questions them, and they narrate how they found a dead body while trying to fetch water by the stream.

I feel bad for the terrified girls as I watch them shake and tremble.

The king haves a sigh, and announces.

“Summon Yemoja. “He requests, and chills run down my spine. Yemoja is the powerful healer of the village.

She lives in a hut in a secluded area, and she hardly comes out. People see her as the embodiment of our beloved goddess Yaremi.

She comes out for special occasions, but after that, we hardly see her. Rumors have it that the light in her eyes is so strong, looking into her eyes can get one blind.

People say she communicates with the goddess and is one with the goddess. They say she sees the future and can read into the past. People say that she gifts the fruit of the womb to barren women in the village too.

There are tall and mighty claims around her, and these tales are tales that will make you shiver at her glorious wonder. She's the exact opposite of Ìginla. That demonic lunatic.

We all sit for some time in sober silence, and I stand idly beside the prince. Not knowing what to do. I feel bad for the chief whose birthday celebration just git ruined.

The mood in the room has now changed from jolly to gloomy.

My ear suddenly rings with the sounds of unique jingles. Jingles from a different type of anklet. The rhythm is consistent and melodic. I look towards the doorway but find no one.

How can I be hearing jingles if no one is coming? I look around the room and find that only I seem to be hearing these jingles.

Soon enough, Yemoja steps into the room. Draped in beautiful white wrappers, and I realize that the jingles were from her beautiful, white anklets. Her hair is all white, the dark iris in her eyes are almost non-existent. She's old, a little bent over, but she's still flawlessly beautiful.

White beads rest around her neck, waist, and wrists. She's holding on to her sack bag, which she's carrying over one of her glowing shoulders.

“Your highness. “She greets with a bow and the king stands as a firm of respect. Causing everyone else in the room to stand.

“Dark clouds are heading towards our village. A small seedling that was groomed under devastating conditions is beginning to grow into a poisonous forest. “She says, and my heart drops.

“Meeting of the chiefs. “The king announces, and every other person in the room understands, that the king only wants his chiefs present.

The queen stands and silently exits the room, and every other maid in the room begins to follow.

“Bring in the body! “The king orders and guards walk past me, carrying the lifeless body of the monster who tried to rape me, in white cloths.

Who could have killed him?