Women Of Steel | ✔

XXV

I couldn't leave you guys hanging so here's a chapter, a short one though. Next update will most likely come at the end of the month. RECAP: DEMILADE MEETS THE FOREST KING.

-----

History always finds a way to repeat itself.  And it continues to repeat itself in the cruelest ways.

My second sham of a marriage begins the same way my first marriage did. When I was fifteen, I was told of my betrothal and my betrothed. A king that was hated by half of the village and me was to be my husband, when my father had told me, I had expected him to burst into laughter. Surely it had to be a joke, I had thought.

My father liked stories and he liked to play tricks too. My little sister, Layo took after that trait. Most times I wondered what my mother ever saw in him, she was serious and no smiles. I can count on my hands the number of times I have seen her smile. My father never failed to retell the story of how they met and married. It was a classic fairytale; The joker and the chief priest's daughter.

I waited for moments for the outburst of laughter that never came, my father had never looked so serious, my mother on the other hand challenged me with her blaring gaze. Till this day, I am not sure what reaction she had been expecting.

I had been expecting news of my betrothal, after all, it was not irregular for girls my age to be engaged. I did not anticipate that day, neither did I dread it. From the age I was aware of the word 'marriage' I had viewed it as an unnecessary bondage, but secretly, I wished for a marriage like my parents.

I did not cry or throw tantrums when my father repeated his words. Instead, I walked away from their presence, the only disrespect I had ever shown them. Then I had entered the hut I had shared with my sisters, packed whatever little things I had and ran away. I was gone for half a day.

I never got far enough before I returned. I had known that realistically, I would never make it far before I was brought back, kicking and weeping. It was either the coward's way or the right way, it is no wonder that I chose what my mother would have chosen.

Before i returned, under the evening sun In the forest I stood, I swore to make the king's life miserable. I had cursed our union before it happened.

So I waited, waited and counted the years until the king claimed me. I didn't wait very long, I was brought to the palace a fortnight after the Tadenikawo's first wife died mysteriously.

Give him hell, my mother's famous last words to me. Hell I had shown, I had been dragged to Tadenikawo's palace. No, I did not cry like some girls would have done, I stood and rained curses on the king and threatened his guards with my fists.

They thought it was amusing, so had Tadenikawo. My bravado was tainted with fear and he could smell it. And he had preyed on it.

So to fool and placate me, he had fallen to his knees in front of dignitaries and chiefs and sworn his eternal love. I had lapped it up like a starved dog and had suffered the consequences.

I am older and no wiser now but I still see through the forest king's facade of the devoted husband. His horseman watch with mouths open and looks of loathing flashing in my direction. Sade's face pales even further, pressing a hand to her chest. Tobi hides his own surprise well, although his facade is of no use, no one is watching the servant now. No, all eyes are fixed on me.

This time, I am not foolish to fall for his cheap tricks. This time, I know how to play his game.

The female rider shaken her head as my gaze flickers to hers briefly, still wondering her role in this. Is she a dignified princess, or a warrior among men? Is she an ally or someone to fear?

All will be answered in due time, in the meantime, I return my cherry loving gaze to my new husband.

I play the shocked part of the blushing bride and stagger backward in surprise. Amadi rises to his feet and takes my hand in his. He towers well over me, and I should be scared of his advantage, of muscles chiseled perfectly by war but the only emotion I can summon is amusement.

I try hard not to laugh.

"Don't be afraid, fair one." He says to me, locking his wicked black eyes with mine.

I shrink back in feigned fright. Inside, I sneer at him, I am far from fair.

"Your Majesty." I murmur lowly, snout nosed Kelechi leans to catch my low words. "I am forever in your debt for rescuing me from that monster."

Surely Tadenikawo's mistreatment of me is a wide spread story, Amadi must know of it. Especially because I am sure he has been spying on the palace for a while.

A proud smile spreads on his lips. I shake my head internally, the forest king has unknowingly revealed a fatal flaw to me -- flattery.

My head reels from piecing information together, a theory perhaps but still close to the truth. Amadi is seemingly obsessed with outsmarting and outbesting Tadenikawo. The two kings are close rivals, obsessed with besting the other.

Fools. Tadenikawo is afraid that he will never be as good as his half brother and Amadi is jealous of Tadenikawo having their father's love while he was treated like the plague, he wants everything Tadenikawo has.

Including me and the kingdom of Ile Wura.

The corner of my lips tugs in an invisible smirk, the two could tear at each other forever and never notice anything else.

I let the king caress my rouge covered cheek, I even let him press a kiss to my forehead all while sporting a maniac grin.

I'll let both kings claw at each other, I'll even watch, maybe Amadi will destroy Tadenikawo or Tadenikawo will destroy him. Or rather, they'll destroy each other and I'll sit and watch, while stealing their kingdoms right under their noses.