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.
I was in my own home once again. It was no dream; it was as real as it could be. It had not changed much even if a year had passed since anyone lived in it. However it felt different. There was no life in it, neither did it not exude that warm feeling of home and....my mother was no longer there to welcome me home. If she had been there, she would have rushed at me, embraced me so tightly and kissed my forehead and then she would would say," Nwo m, Ibiadule?" I struggled to chock back tears as nostalgia welled up inside me.
"You do not look so happy now we are finally here." Obuike commented.
He had insisted on following me back home when I told him I had to return to my land. He said I had been there for him in the past, now it was his turn to be here for me. At a time like this, I felt so grateful he was here.
"At least I...I....am home...," my voice faltered at this. It was all I could do not to cry. Obuike must have noticed tears build up in my eyes because he embraced me tenderly and said,"Oroma, I understand. You know I would always be here for you."
Yes, I knew. Obuike had left the affairs of the kingdom to Madume, his most trusted adviser just to come with me here. Yes, Obuike had since be restored as king after the rebellion. He had done the noble thing by keeping his word and giving the Ikwerres back their freedom and power. He also did not seize power from the people of Ugbuland so they chose for themselves a better king than king Wiwa. For the past weeks, Obuike had been receiving the people of Ikwerre and Ugbuland who had come to express their gratitude. Apaba could not be more proud of their king.
"My only family...is gone," I sniffed.
"I am sorry about your mother," he said soberly.
I nodded and managed to stifle a cry. I had to leave here; it only made me sad.
"There is nothing to return to," I said finally, "Where is Wami by the way?"
"He has been waiting for us outside."
We stepped outside to see Wami beaming at us with open arms. After all the hugs, laughter and usual pleasantries, he gave us the good news: The village had honoured him for leading the fight against king Pere by making him the Paramount Chief of Elemini. We were so happy for him and congratulated him. Then I remembered I had not seen Papa, Wami's grandfather.
"Where is Papa? I have not seen him since we arrived here."
Wami gave a defeated sigh. "I told him to move with me into the home reserved for the Paramount chief but he insisted on staying in the hut."
"You mean he is still alive? He was not killed during the invasion?"
Wami nodded. "He is an old man. I feel they thought the same way and decided it was not worth killing him."
After that, Wami took us to Papa. His hut was not too far from the hut my mother and I lived in. When we got to his hut, we found him seated outside.
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