MAIDENS

MAIDENS 9

Wura sat alone at her desk long after the whole class had gone. She felt like a failure. The three new students had announced their names to the class and showed off their headbands as they were given enough time to address the class. All three had unique experiences before their invitations. They stood boldly to talk about the prices they had paid for the glory they wanted to bear on that special day. They had abandoned their good friend, Ist-something.

Adelola had run out of the classroom immediately after Teacher Alakola had listed how to treat the maidens and dismissed the class. That was thirty minutes before and Wura was still trying to process the bombardment she had received from the ladies today while processing her next point of action. Coming up empty of ideas again, Wura decided to go home to her booked appointment with her father. She was almost at the door when she heard a man's voice just outside. He was speaking a mixture of Hausa and English as he very desperately pledged his love to a lady. He would occasionally sing a verse of something too. A man speaking Hausa, the language of three new additions to the Prince's Royal Procession at this time of the day when the school is empty. Very suspicious. She would wait and listen.

Wura silently thanked the king who had made it compulsory for every vassal to learn the basics of the four languages in the kingdom to enable smooth transmission of duties when they became stewards. She carefully interpreted the words coming through the door as accurately as she could.

The man's voice was calm and deep. "My friend, I have lost all rest and need for food since you left me to come here. I had to follow you slowly through the journey to keep you safe and try to convince you of my love for you."

"Is that so? You kept me safe?" cooed Dinatu. She looked like the leader of the bunch. She was the tallest and always the first to answer questions whereas here she was being the chief deceiver in reality. "But is that all you have to say?"

Encouraged, the man continued. "I remember the days we spent together in my tent and yours. There was no place in our land that we have not been to together. I remember how often you would rest your head on my chest when you were tired, and everything would be all right. I used to be your comfort in your pain and in your time of need."

"That is true."

"Not just your comfort but your confidante. Can you remember the secrets you shared with me? Have I ever used them against you? Have all I have ever shown you not been love?"

"True again."

"Then why can we not continue our relationship as we used to? I value you too much to let go of this friendship. Please, Dina, I ask you to take back the words you spoke to me back in the village." He cried.

"Istifanus, I cannot deny that I loved you with all my heart but those days are over. I have decided to keep myself for the Prince's Royal Procession. Not just I but all my sisters too. I may not be able to answer your questions fully but you are not good enough for me."

"Saratu, why do you keep quiet? Please say something. Try to convince your friend. Please, remember all we have been through!" Saratu? She is here too?

Saratu replied so fast that Wura could not interpret what she said making the man ask hopelessly. "Please, Saratu. Just, please!" Wura began to feel sorry for him. Those two girls were heartless. She was beginning to fear their region. Thankfully, nothing had brought them together till now.

"Then what do I do? Even if you have pledged yourself to the service of the prince, can we not continue our story? Can you not be for the king and with me at the same time? No one would ever need to know. If only that..." Three voices suddenly laughed together jolting Wura. All three of them are there! Disgust rolled in her belly. Imagine! The three maidens were so bold to talk about what they had left to come here but were indeed boldly declaring their betrayal, disloyalty, and shamelessness to everyone.