MAIDENS

MAIDENS 20

Olóròógbò sat on his throne with stealth. He let his gaze go around the room to offer its usual ointment on his injured heart. This room was his favourite in all this ugly place; the only one he had found to make home and the same one he would gather the whole of the Aiyélojà people into. This was the place that he had been forced to choose after the prince deceived him and destroyed his whole legacy but he would pay him back in double, no, in triple. He would pay him back if it was the last thing he did. And he already had his plan in motion. He had been kidnapping the people in their droves and forcing them to work for him. How they cried and pleaded. If they knew how much he enjoyed their cries, they may stop entertaining him with them

He was a master dungeon keeper so he knew how to play the part. But it was not enough. What he needed were the maidens. What could crown his joy could only be the Chosen Maidens. They were the most valuable part of the procession. King Adénúgà Adélòwò took great pride in watching and receiving the ten Chosen Maidens because they were a symbol of devotion, faithfulness and love. In all the years he had lived, he had witnessed different Royal Processions but he knew this one would be different. The prince would be coming himself to signify the end of this season and a start of a very different one where the villagers moved into the King's Royal Palace. This was what made him afraid. Olóròógbò stood from his throne and went to the wall to touch the shiny objects. He needed the comfort they always offered him now.

The shiny objects were the most valuable in his life. They represented his victories against the king. Every gold dust had been taken from his captives. Every Aiyelojian was born with a golden core. That was what made Aiyélojà a wealthy kingdom. The king shared his wealth with every single person instead of keeping them for himself by ensuring that even the poorest in his kingdom still had something as valuable as the gold core. He had learnt about them from his long years of ruling them. When the gold core was removed, the person would seize to be an Aiyelojian so he made sure to collect every single one from his captives. This way, they could never return to their land. That was what his Ajaile room was for. He kept them there until they lost everything and he could then use them anyhow he wanted.

But all of these and he still needed more. A mild air of something different came his way and Olóròógbò looked around. He had felt a strangeness.... After being this long in the dark, even the smallest light, he would notice. He shook his head. He must be feeling strange things. Maybe he was sensing it from Eku-Emó who had just returned. Maybe all those interactions left a little scent on him. Where was he...? Yes, he needed to touch the king where it hurt and those maidens were it. He would make sure the banquet did not hold. He would abduct the Chosen Maidens and destroy every one of them again. One problem was that he had foolish people as warriors.

Olóròógbò bent to hold some of the gold dust in his hand and threw it at the fools kneeling before his throne. They scurried together to hide from his attack. When he had tired himself, he took a handful back to his throne. His useless warriors cowered in fear of what he could do to them. Eku-ose had returned empty-handed as well as Eku-ofon and Ekute. Eku-Emó had just come in now and he was empty-handed too. Olóròógbò found himself smiling. They should be afraid. He was a chief torturer and favoured slow death. And these ones should know. They had seen him at work very often. He had a session with the dead ones today to see if he could get more gold from them. He would never stop until he had it all. Better to get it over with. All the silent torture was not making the Chosen Maidens his any faster.

"Eku-Emó, bring forth your strong reasons!" Olóròógbò had not meant to shout but he had. Maybe he was angrier than he had realized. He watched Eku-Emó pull off from the fold to kneel, his hands on the floor as he spoke - the sign of reverence in this kingdom he had created.

"My Lord Olóròógbò, it has been written in the Sacred Scroll of Iwe-Mimo, the book that holds the truth for the people of Aiyélojà kingdom that they shall not live by Àkàrà alone, which is the daily bread of the villagers if they want to wear that White Ankara on the Great Harvest, but by every word that is written in the Sacred Scroll of Iwe-Mimo. The ladies have this understanding and they are preparing to join the Royal Marriage procession that is different from our own so I could not get any to come."