The Queen of Abanjiala kingdom

Prologue

"The events are about to start, hurry up!" Linda said pulling Amara towards the door.

"You're acting as if you are going to participate. Let me wear my shoes first, jor," she replied, removing her hand from Linda's grip.

"Amara, this is the biggest event we might ever attend while we are here, let's make the most of it.
I've heard that girls from all the villages of the kingdom are coming to attend. Hurry up, now, Fatima and the boys have already gone."

"Okay, okay, let's go." Amara locked the door to the small house in which we were staying for their youth service. It was a two bedroom house containing two spacious rooms. One for the three girls and another for the boys.

Linda pulled her as soon as she put the key in her handbag. Ever since they started sharing a room when they arrived in Uloeze village of Abanjiala kingdom for our youth service, they had become like best friends.

It had been two months since then and their stay so far had been somewhat good apart from the little children who kept sneaking into the house.

The youth servers were shown hospitality by many of the elders but had seen no other royal except the princess who was always roaming.

Today, however, they would get to see them in good light. The king was holding a dance competition for the girls in the kingdom to pick a bride for his son.

Like Linda said, many girls were sure to come, most out of will, while others, their parents were sure to force them into it as even if not chosen in the end, they receive gifts of money.

Amara had only seen most of these things in the movies as she grew up in the city. So it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for her.

Once they got to the village square, where a total of... maybe hundreds of people were either seated or stood, they made their way to their fellow youth corp members.

"What took you so long, we almost thought that your were taken for sacrifice."

"Ask Amara, she got ready so slowly and precisely as though it was her wedding day and wanted it perfect. She don vex me sef, mtchew, chameleon," Linda sighed seating next to Samuel, the boy who spoke.

"Abeg, no vex, shift, let me sit down."

They talked to each other for a while before the crowd stood up in roar over the contestants entry.
The girls made an entry majestically.

Some looked shy, most pompous and confident and others just looked around in anticipation for their soon to be groom.

After they'd taken their places in the large space set for them in the village square, they all waited for the entry of royalty.

"So, what do you think the prince looks like?" Fatima, one of the corpers asked.

"Must be handsome considering all these girls are lined up to perform shaku shaku for him," said Ikenna.

They couldn't help but laugh at his silly comment. It did make Amara wonder whether the prince was one of those traditional princes who believed only in residual culture or a more of modern one.

Just then, the crowd roared even louder and she knew her questions were about to be answered.

Three cars pulled up just at the back of  square. Okay, at least they did not come on donkeys or oxcarts, she thought.

Ever since she was young, she had this idea that traditional royals only rode on animals like horses or were carried in palanquins.

The guards wearing white and black uniforms and carrying sword sheaths came out of the first and last cars. The ones in the second car which was more of a van proceeded to the car in the middle and opened the sliding door to the left.

First a man with almost greying hair stepped out and was dressed in fine clothes, so she concluded he must be the king. He was pretty handsome, save the wrinkles.

Then a woman of nearly the same age, the queen who wore the same Ankara style as the king.

Before the guard could open the other door, it swung open, hitting his knee and the one and only princess stepped out.

Some people laughed and the king and queen shook their heads in disapproval.
The princess looked really pretty though.

Finally, the fourth door opened and the prince stepped out and the girls especially started screaming and whistling.

They sat at a reserved table and the onowu (prime minister) stood to start the intro.

"Abanjiala kwenu!" He shouted and the crowd erupted with ya!.

"Abanjiala kwenu! Kwenu! Kwenu!"

The crowd roared with response, "today, we are gathered here for the the prince of Abanjiala kingdom, prince Onochie's bridal dance competition.
With all the beautiful ladies present, I take it he's bound to find his bride today." People laughed at that, "Igwe, would you like to say anything?"

The king stood from his seat, "may the best dancer win!" The crowd roared again.

The drummers took their position and according to their position in the odd shape they formed, the girls started dancing.

As a Christian, Amara had no idea how a dance competition could determine one's wife, but she still found it enjoyable to watch.

The prince however seemed to have very little reaction, he watched stiffly and only nodded once in a while.

"Forget the prince, I will find myself a wife here if he doesn't choose any of these talented girls," Samuel commented.

"Oh please, even if you were the only man left in this village none of these girls would marry you," she said this time and the rest laughed.

She had no idea for how long they had been watching but her favorite part was when two girls bumped into each other while dancing and started fighting. The prince immediately stopped them by simply saying you're disqualified.

"So what if more than one girl catches his eye?" She asked Linda.

"Then they would have to contest in a series of other competitions until the best outstandingly is chosen."

After hours of continuous dance, a break was given so people could go and eat and do what they wanted to do. After the break, they would d gather together again.

Amara and Fatima went to converse with some of the girls.

"So, can you show us how to do your dance?" Fatima asked the girl whose name they learnt was Ebere.

"It's quite easy, just move to the beat of the drum," she signalled the drummers to play then started dancing and they joined in following her.

Along the line, her friends started cheering her on and she joked around as though she was in the competition, but little did she know someone else was watching from afar.

A while later everyone gathered for the prince's final decision.

The prince arose and silence once again enveloped the square.

Many of the girls started preparing themselves for the prince's approval and she rolled her eyes.

However, instead of walking to them, he turned around and walked towards her and her friends.

"He dey craze?" Ikenna asked Samuel.

"See for yourself," Sam replied.

As she's watched him, their eyes met and the look he had gave her a bad feeling.

With his eyes still on her, he stood before Amara and said five words that shut her brain completely.

"She will be my bride."

To be continued.