Women Of Steel | ✔

XXXVI

I'm constantly blessing you with updates despite the fact that I'm in the middle of exams, for those who care, I'll be done tomorrow. Enjoy this one ;-)

The forest king likes sunlight, he likes the feel of the heat kissing his light skin. He likes sitting in the kitchen shed and gazing out at all he has achieved while reassuring himself that he is better than his half brother. This morning is no different. He sits on a long bench with me just staring out at nothing in particular.

Another bench is placed before us, wider rather than longer.  Steaming food sits on it, untouched as we await Ejiro, his first wife and queen. It is not uncommon for her to be late to breakfast, she takes her sweet time and prances like the queen she is. Two days ago, I asked the king if he was bothered by her defiant behavior but all he did was laugh softly and pat my arm.

"She has been by my side through storms," He said.

His mind is preoccupied, and mine is too, wondering when he will discover Omolara missing from her dungeon and wondering how he will react upon finding his monster slain.

"Your Highness," Ejiro appears suddenly, flanked by three servant girls. She curtsies and takes her place at the king's right hand, I expect her not to look at me, like she usually does but her eyes flick to me briefly and a frown appears between her brows.

"You look a little worse for wear." She notes, not wickedly but honestly. Ejiro is an honest woman, the kind of woman raised to be a queen, kind and just but firm. The kind of woman my father wanted me to be.

"I fell yesterday." I lie. I make no move to touch the bruise on my cheek.

She does not believe me but she nods. No more words are said as we eat. The forest people have a different breakfast tradition than the Yoruba, their meals are mostly yam dishes, pounded, boiled, mashed or fried. This morning it is boiled cocoyam to be dipped in fish sauce.

I chew quietly, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Nothing happens until afternoon, the news spread like wildfire and the servants gossip frantically in badly spoken Ede. I don't revel in their fear, instead I worry that I have drawn attention to myself, no doubt the superstitious will begin to trace events back to me. I resort to staying hidden in my room, biting my nails and worrying my head with Omolara's words that continue to haunt me.

I have never thought myself to be capable of ruling over a kingdom, I wasn't even a good wife or a good queen. I don't care for anyone but myself. For a long while, I have decieved myself with the dream of a world where women who are warriors are respected and I thought myself to be a matyr, sacrificing myself for the greater good -- like the gods -- I let myself think I was doing the women a favour by teaching them the dance of war. I was being selfish, and a selfish and broken woman cannot be queen, I am no better than Tadenikawo.

I harbour a resentment for my people, the only tether to them was the father who is far from the man I thought he was, finding out who he really is snapped that cord binding me to my people. My mother is dead, my siblings are far away or worse, there is nothing left for me in a village that was supposed to be my home. I have no home now.

Only revenge burns in me and pushes me harder, else I am an empty shell. Everyday, I dream of draining the life out of my oppressor but I dread the day my revenge becomes a reality, when that fire burns out, I will be forced to find out who I am without that fire, without that hate.

So I bite my nails and try to banish the thoughts from my head, by nightfall, the village is in disarray, it is almost midnight and yet, the people vigil outside their huts and discuss in hushed tones. The palace compound is crowded with Amadi's cabinet and lit with lanterns and the king is in the middle of it all, servants mile about aimlessly, listening in. Something else has happened, something I don't know of yet and it puts me on the edge of my seat.

Through the chaos, Sade and the prince sneak into my room unnoticed. Both of them, wide eyed with fear, confirming my suspicion.

"What has happened? Is this because of Omolara's escape?" I ask, turning to them with an expectant look in my eye. I hope to the heavens that it is Omolara that has caused this ruckus.

Tobiloba sighs, rubbing his forehead tiredly. I wonder if he misses playing the flute and with a jolt, I am surprised I still remember, unless it matters to me, certain information slips from my mind, forgotten. For weeks now, I have only seen few emotions on the prince's face, exasperation, fear, exhaustion or irritation. It is strange recalling the serene expression I used to see on his face when he played the flute.

"Yes and no. In the afternoon, they found out about Omolara's escape and the serpent's demise. From what I heard, they don't think it was you, they think my king sent his sister to spy on their village." Tobiloba explains.

I don't feel any satisfaction, instead, my frown deepens. It is only a matter of time before they begin to connect the dots. The events and happenings of the past weeks have left me wary, I have gathered information and gossips too easy, nobody suspects a thing about me. In my world, nothing comes easy without a price, and I wonder if this is Esimirin's doing. If it is, then the price is not something that will be light to pay.

"There have been a few mentions of your name but the forest king continues to fight tooth and nail for your innocence," Sade tell me. She avoids my gaze, since that night she covered for me, something has changed between Sade and I, and I am not sure I like that change. She has started to look at me less a a friend and more as a servant speaking to her mistress.

"Then why are they suddenly gathered out there, I can feel the tension thickening like curdled milk in the air." I snap impatiently, tugging at my newly braided hair. It takes everything in me not to being pacing the room. Sare watches me warily, stance tense and shoulders held high. "Is the princess gone already? The longer she remains here, the higher the chance of being caught. Omolara will not last under torture before cracking."

The prince looks at me with barely concealed irritation, he is slowly coming to terms with my selfish behaviour and it angers him to no ends.

"She is still here but safely hidden, she refuses to go home and I cannot force her."

I slam my fist against the mud wall and the lizard poking it's head, scurries away into the roof. Sade flinches, the prince stands stoic.

"A rider was caught on the outskirts of this village, wearing Ile Wura's colours. My king has decided to wage war, he is no longer patient." Tobiloba says the exact words I refuse to hear but must hear. "War is here."