His Queen

Chapter 48 - Black Pot

Ajinke's POV;

It's been four days since I last saw Adebiyi. I have three days left, and in all honesty, I miss him, badly. He and Asake. He said he'd come back to see me soon, and I've been expecting him. However, he hasn't come to see me. I hope he's fine.

My lessons with Yemoja have been going well. I've learned how to prepare some royal dishes, how to connect with the goddess without the use of beta dance, how to hear from her, and so much more.

I wonder what more beautiful things I'd learn in the next three days. I don't know if I'm more excited to learn, or excited to finish and go back to my prince.

I'm standing in Yemojas massive front yard, and she's standing in the middle, under the scorching sun, with a big stick in her hand.

"Today's lesson is self-defense. As a queen, it's your duty to keep yourself from any other man, so long as the king is alive.

It is also important for you to earn how to protect your king from danger. Today, I'd be teaching you some basic Technics.

In other kingdoms, they believe in their queens being perfectly delicate. But here, in this village, we find true beauty, in the combination of grace and strength.

You need to be just as strong as you're graceful. This way, you won't be a burden on your husband in the face of danger. "Yemoja narrates, and I nod attentively.

We soon dive into the lesson, and I must say, Yemoja is not at all weak. Yes, she's old and is bending over, but she's not weak!

She beats me like my age mate, who's much older would. As she beats the crap out of me, she chips in lesson notes in-between.

After about 30 minutes of pure torture and embarrassment, she finally ends the lesson. I am panting furiously, but she's just a bit ruffled from some of my lucky attempts.

"I'd leave you to rest. Wen fighting, everything thing is not about strength. Sometimes, observation and strategy are your biggest strength. "She says, and I nod while trying to relieve my aching body.

"Go. Take a bath, and rest. We'd continue later. "She says, and I nod before walking off.

All through my bath, I keep staring up at the tree Adebiyi was on the last time he was here. Hoping, his perfect face would come into view, but just like the last three days, no such thing happens.

Why hasn't he come to see me? I hope he's fine. Muyiwa can not have done anything to him, could he? Of course not. If something had happened, Yemoja would know about it, and I'd find out too.

My prince is fine. He's probably just busy. When I see him, I'd give him an earful for abandoning me here for so long. Doesn't he miss me?

*********

Adebiyi's POV;

It's the fourth day since Ajinke left for Yemojas place. I should have gone to see her in the past three days, but plans for our marriage, and my coronation, have been taking up so much of my time.

But today, I want to see my little soon-to-be bride. It's morning, and I've dressed up. I'm all set to follow my secret shortcut to Yemojas place.

I'd see Ajinke, and rush back to the palace before anyone notices my absence. I'm about to walk out of my room when my mother's shrill scream causes me to freeze.

I rush out of my room in fear, and on getting to the entrance of my parent's room, there's a black pot. A guard rushes up to it and picks it up. He looks inside the big pot and turns to me.

The look on his face causes dread to fill me. I stretch out my hand to collect the pot, and on looking inside, the items I see, cause blood to freeze in my face.

In the pot, are two dead pigeons.

"What nonsense is this?"I question in irritation and pure confusion.

"What is it, my son? "My grandmother, who just ran here, questions, and I turn to her. I turn the pot to her, and her nose scrunches up in disgust.

"What does it mean? "I question my grandma, as we Yoruba people use a lot of material symbols, to communicate, but this... I've never heard of two dead pigeons in a black pot before.

"I have no idea. It makes no sense to me. I've never heard of or seen anything like this. "My grandmother replies, and I stare back at the pot in wonder.

"It's a symbol of disrespect! "My father's voice booms from behind us all, and we turn to the end of the corridor from which he's coming from, with a gun in his hand.

We all bow as he approaches us, and my eyes dart down at the gun in his hand. Guns are very rampant in the kingdoms around, but we decided in our village, not to use them. We see them as ultimate objects of destruction and disruption.

Hence, our warriors are unbeatable masters with other weapons. But guns.

"I found this on my throne this morning. I'm sure whoever did this, is responsible for this pot. "My father says, holding out the gun, which bottom is wrapped in a red cloth. That's a sign of war.

Not only did they send the gun, but they dropped it on my father's throne, and dropped this pot in front of my parent's room. That's utter disrespect.
Which kingdom can be so unruly? And what kingdom would want to wage war against us now. Last I checked, we have no issues with any kingdom.

"So, we don't know what kingdom sent these? "My grandmother questions in understandable worry, and I look up at my father.

"No. They sent their message but didn't tell us who they are, and neither did their Messanger, show himself. "My father replies, and I inhale deeply.

"That makes no sense. "My grandmother says, and my father nods.

"We need to prepare for war. "He says as he walks over to my still shaken mother, and pulls her into a hug. He looks up at me, and I understand the look in his eyes.

I hand the pot over to a guard and excuse myself.
What sort of madness is this? What sort of horrible timing is this?

Now, I'm not scared of war. I have full faith in our army. However, I'm annoyed. First off, why now!? This could disturb my marriage plans with Ajinke. This most likely would be a hurdle. Secondly, what kingdom is so crude, and daring that they'd pull the stunts they did.

Dropping an abominable message of war on my father's throne, and scaring my mother with that horrible pot. And now that we don't even know the fools who dared to do this, we don't know what to expect, or when they'd strike.

I'd have to postpone my visit to Ajinke. I can't go and see her like this. She'd read me like a book and I would not be able to hide the truth from her.

I don't want her to worry and not focus on her classes. I'd have to and see her some other time.