Broken World - Part I - Awakening of the Beastmaster - #8CCMay24

Chapter 37 : announcing the engagement

Nnomo Bidima wears a black gandoura as usual. His wife Omang Nnoma looks the same as his daughters Lalla. The only difference is that her long dress is totally white as well as the high heels she wears. This woman in her early forties has kept all her freshness and her daring style attracts the attention of more than one person. The couple, also seated not far from the throne, look at the group of young people with interest. After all, their two daughters are part of the group that is causing all that commotion.

''This kid is interesting.'' Says Nnomo Bidima.

"My daughters really know how to choose their friends." Omang Nnoma comments with a smile.

This couple, who seem serious and distant at first, are rather liberal.

The group of masters gossiping on the balcony found themselves sitting on the floor once Bindzi released his coercion. They get up with difficulty and return to their seats.

Meanwhile, Onambélé, Mani and the group of young people have crossed the large hall and are under the steps that lead to the throne. Onambélé and Mani climb the steps. They stand in front of the throne and face the hall.

"Dear guests, I thank you for having responded to our call. Excuse my young guest. These events and what is said in them are unfamiliar to him. You probably know my son Ékobo and the Bidima daughters." Onambélé said.

"The Bidima girls?" A man asks.

"I only see one." Another man comments.

"Don't you know the rumor that is going around about their authority?" A young woman said.

"I have invited you this evening to introduce you to the fiancé of my daughter Ama, Bindzi Émana. The only son of the main branch of the Emana family..." Onambélé said solemnly.

Ama, who was not ready to announce her relationship to the whole world, smiled shyly and clung even more to Bindzi's arm.

From the mezzanine, the elderly man who accompanies the young Moto gets up and approaches the railing. Just as Onambélé stops speaking and is about to continue his speech.

"Chief Bizimana, excuse me for cutting you off, but don't you think I'm just going to accept superficial apologies because this kid is your son-in-law." Said the old man.

"Chief Moto, it was your grandson who started this incident." Comments Onambélé as he looks in the direction of the young Moto who had time to return to his seat. "It has always been customary among masters to demonstrate their authority during these meetings in order to establish their position." Onambélé adds. "Just because young Émana has a horribly coercive authority and you can barely resist it doesn't mean you're going to muzzle him."

"My husband and I apologize for this discomfort." Mani said. "Let's put it down to inexperience. It's been twenty years since his authority was sealed."

The whole room turns its gaze to Bindzi after receiving this shocking information.

"Chief Bizimana, don't you think you should ask our opinion before lifting the seal on his authority?" The old man sitting near the throne asks.

"Dad, you're not going to do it too." Onambélé replies. "Who among you asks permission from the other before using his authority?"

The huge banquet hall falls into total silence. All the masters present are aware of the implication of these words. None of them would like to be accountable to others when they use their authority, let alone be deprived of it. The old man smiles and waves to Bindzi, who also makes a slight gesture with his head.

"But if authority poses a real risk to the balance of the world, it is necessary to discuss it." Says one of the men who was fueling the debate on the balcony of the mezzanine.