Women Of Steel | ✔

XLIII

There is no saddle atop my horse and I don't complain about it either, without a saddle, the journey will undoubtedly be rougher but I willingly welcome the pain, anything is a welcome distraction.

Tobiloba looks at her body is dismay when he realizes we cannot take her along to bury her body where she deserves, where she wanted; home. I deprived Sade of her home and even in death, I continue to deprive her.

Ejiro hands me a thick leather pouch full of cowries.

"You three will have to take a different route back to your kingdom because of the war, you will through the Igbo kingdom and perhaps will need to stay for a day or two, in this pouch, the king's signet ring lies, show this to whoever suspects you and you will be welcomed." Ejiro says, I am only half attentive, but Omolara nods at every word, the excitement of returning home clear on her face.

"Thank you for your help." Tobiloba nods, inclining his head in respect. He helps Omolara atop the horse they will share. "May the gods be with you."

She places a motherly hand on his shoulder. "I will try my best to preserve her body until it is safe for you to come back for it."

The prince almost falls to his feet in gratitude.

"I won't forget this."

I allow Ejiro murmur comforting words into his ears and I let them mutter their goodbyes, it isn't until we are galloping out of sight that I speak.

"How many days will the journey back take?" I ask lowly.

"It took --" I cut Omolara off with a withering glare in her direction, she makes an exaggerated motion of shutting her lips but I see the hurt flash in her eyes.

"I didn't ask you," I say, my tone isn't even scathing, just unfeeling. I don't feel hostility towards the princess but the less I hear her voice, the better for me. Letting Omolara speak is an invitation to further babbling and for once I would rather listen to the voices in my head.

Our horses trot at a slow pace, while the sun has begun to peek it's head in the clouds, it is still not safe to ride at a fast pace in this gloomy forest, only the gods know what traps lie in the ground.

"Our journey here took a week, but this one should be more than a week because we have taken a different path. I'd say a week and three days." Tobiloba answers.

"Make that a fortnight, We are not going straight to Ile Wura,

He pauses. "Why not, Your Majesty?"

My body suddenly sags with exhaustion and a prickling sensation, Sade should be here with me.

"We will make a stop at Abule Agba before returning to Ile Wura." I tell him. My vision blurs with fatigue and I stifle a yawn. "I wish to see the river spirit Esimirin."

I don't think I say more than a few words of command and direction, even after days when we arrive in the Igbo kingdom. The Igbo kingdom is every bit as magnificent in the stories I was told a child, it's tall stone walls that surround the city would have been a sight to behold if I could feel anything other than self loathing. I let Tobiloba do the talking and I let the Igbo people do the word spreading. In the tentative spirit of hospitality, we are offered a place to stay in the house of a notable merchant.

By evening that day, I am sure half of the kingdom was aware of my presence, I don't hide the purpose of my journey -- to claim a crown I never wanted -- so I play the role of the prodigal daughter returning home well. I am sure news of my return would reach Ile Wura before I even arrive thanks to the traveling merchants leaving the kingdom.