Women Of Steel | ✔

XIX

Dedicated to the amazing and beautiful SherryGold a new reader but an awesome one. I hope you are enjoying crown of thorns so far.

This chapter is broken into two, the second will be up soon.

The sun is wicked on my dark skin, it is on the noon of the third day that we reach the town of Abule Agba. Weary on our horses and half driven mad by tension.

The king gallops faster, as if he cannot wait to be away from us, from me. He has not spoken a single word to me in the past three days, he is sulking, I know it, awaiting the perfect time to enact his revenge. The prince, Tobi, watches with an emotion akin to concern, then he chases after the king, leaving dust in my face.

I glare at his retreating form. The king must have given orders to the guards the day before because they begin to lead us away in the opposite direction.

Many eyes turn to us as we pass through a busy market, no doubt wandering about the dust covered guests. They don't seem to find anything fascinating as they turn back to shouting their wares and prices to buyers. Some sellers go to the extent of dragging reluctant buyers into their bamboo sheds. Beggars litter the space, some handicapped and some able bodied women and men.

This market scene brings a memory I have tried to bury surface. I think I was ten or so, I insisted on following my mother to the sole market back then in the village even when she turned me down several times. I was a stubborn child and I ended up getting my way.

I remember the market stinking heavily of sweat, blood and meat. I remember the beggars moving from stall to stall, I remember asking my mother why there were so many tattered people begging.

"Because of the king. When the head is sick Demi, the rest of the body feels the pain." My mother had said before dragging me off to a fish stall. I think that was the first time I felt resentment towards Tadenikawo who had just been made king several months back.

I shake my head as I snap out of reverie, the guards seem to be leading us to the river side, River Esimirin.

The air seems to become charged with energy as we approach the docks and the canoes by the water. The sun casts an red glow on the water. It should look special but the river looks like every normal river, fishermen chatter by the boats and children wash by the river.

Sade finds her place by my side as I dismount from my mare, following the palace guards actions. Sade is helped off her horse by a guard.

"It looks ordinary." Sade says.

I force a smile. "We are in the presence of a river spirit, it is best that we show respect."

My attempt at getting her to laugh fails miserably as she blanches further. Humour is obviously not my strong suit.

Sade looks torn between kneeling to the ground in respect of this spirit and running off.

I should feel guilt for dragging Sweet Sade into my whirlpool of trouble but the selfish part of me is glad she is here with me.

"What are they doing?" Sade asks, pointing to the King's guards shouting orders to the people around the boats and in the river.

The guard standing feet away from us answers. "The king has ordered for the river to be free of people. The ritual will happen soon, the chief priest will be here soon."

My heart drops to my stomach, I clench my hands into fists and steel my spine.

***

The chief priest does not arrive soon, he does not arrive until the sun is down and the moon shines from above. I shiver and gather my arms around myself as flimsy protection from the cold from the billowing waves of the river.

Sade cuddles with the beach sand, fast asleep and pinky finger in between her lips, it's a habit she has not been able to shake. I have noticed she does it when she is frightened. She looks like a child, and I resist the urge to smoothen the furrow of her brows.

The guards sit far away from us, chattering in low tones about their families and comparing war gossips. I had asked for a clothe to cover Sade from the cold but all I got was a gruff laugh of mockery. I had contemplated breaking a nose or three but my fear seemed to overpower my anger.

The river Esimirin scares me, the spirit scares me. We tend be afraid of the unknown rather than the known.

Most of all, I am afraid of what the spirit could demand in payment for protection. Esimirin never gives for free. I have nothing to give, but so much to lose.

I feel the Tadenikawo's presence before I see him, he walks with the prince trailing behind him and the chief priest besides him. My husband looked exhausted and broken, he looks as if he lifts the weight of the eight kingdoms on his shoulders.

The guards rise simultaneously, hurrying to relieve the priest of the fur skin bag he carries. I watch Ifatunji give instructions to them and the prince strides to me.

"It is time." He says quietly. I ignore him, eyes fully focused on the priest as he draws a pentagon with chalk on the sand. He sprinkles something I cannot tell from where I stand and place five lit candles on every pentagon angle.

The wind should blow them out but somehow it doesn't, the air appears still and I shiver. Sade still lies, asleep.

Tobi takes my elbow and half dazed, I let him lead me to my husband. Tadenikawo avoids my gaze.

The chief priest's forehead glistens with sweat and I see the strain on his face as if this simple activity has tasked him heavily.

"Ekale, Oloori." He says with a low bow.

"Ekale, Ifatunji." I repeat his words. He instructs me to sit inside the pentagon and I do so, looking up to him for further instructions. My lower lip wobbles and I bite it.

Tadenikawo stares at me with hooded eyes, half disinterested.

"I will put you in a trance for one hour, you will meet with the spirit Esimirin and demand your protection." He recites as he marks my head with white chalk. "Be careful, your Highness. The river spirit is a trickster, do not fall prey to pride."

I nod absentmindedly, bracing myself.

"You must wake up before the hour is over or else, I cannot bring you back. The veil between life and death is very thin."

"You must be ready to give what the spirit has demanded for,"

I listen, enraptured by the Ifatunji's raspy but comforting voice.

"Now go to sleep, Oloori."

My eyes snap shut.

Translations

Ekale - Good night.