Oroma had always lived an ordinary quiet life.That was until her village was invaded.After being carried off as a slave, what more did the future hold for her? Never could she have imagined that was only the beginning.
She was running through the forest; there was no time anymore! She had neither worn her beads or her expensive lace. She did not care that someone would see her in this state anyway. Her mind was too preoccupied with the recent happenings in the palace.
Her Lord had not been his himself for some time. The people in the palace had already begun to think him mad. Everywhere she passed there were hushed voices, abruptly-stopped conversations, gossips...but she did not blame them. Her lord was acting more paranoid with each passing day. He visited more shrines, called for more seers, performed more libations, put on more charms, he even drank more.
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He trusted no one anymore - his trusted advisers, his bodyguards, his children, even her. He ate less and even when he ate - for man was eat to live - he insisted that she be the one to cook it and taste it first before him . He slept less and passed most of the nights staring in the sky or talking to himself. He had more nightmares; his frequent waking up in the middle of almost every night affected her sleep as well. He hardly spoke to her and when he did, he spoke incoherently and absent-mindedly. The more days passed, the less she understood her husband.
She understood it was caused by fear. The prophets, the priests, the seers had all prophesied doom. She had refused to believe them and had sent for Wonodi - the most respected priest in the whole of Ikwerre land and the highest priest of Amadioha - the god of thunder. He had said the last thing they dreaded to hear; "Eleishiali would fall and the royal family would be wiped out by invaders. The invaders would take over the whole of Ikwerre."
Wonodi was the one priest everybody took for his word. Whatever he said was always genuine and came to pass. Her lord had not voiced it out but she knew he had lost hope at Wonodi's words. Not she - she still held on to the last strand of hope and that was what brought her to the forest. She was going to see Ada I.
She heaved a sigh of relief when she got to Ada's hut. Ada was seated on a mat inside.
"Ada I, Ibola," she greeted as she stepped into the hut.
"Lolo," she replied, "What brings you here?"
The Lolosat down on a nearby mat.
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