ONAGBORASO

Part 1

CHAPTER ONE
It was a rainy evening in the land of Onoshioze, and the palace was in a state of disorder as everyone was worried about the situation on ground.
Queen Illamosi was in labour, she had been in labour for the last five hours and all were wondering at why it could take this long. She had been married to the king for the past ten years without having a child for him. This had led to the king taking another wife Queen Ogiator she was called. Queen Ogiator since then had given birth to two sons and a daughter for the king. Finally Queen Illamosi got pregnant and is now in labour pains trying to deliver her first child.
King Oshobugie had called the high priest to inquire of him the mystery behind this lengthy hours taken by the queen to give birth. The high priest had told him that the gods had never refused to speak to him except now. So everyone was left confused.
At about the the fifth hour the king and all who were with him heard the cry of a baby, finally they were relieved of the suspense. But soon to follow was the sound of cry of agony as one of the midwife ran to the king's personal adviser to tell him that the queen had given birth to a son but gave up the ghost in the aftermath of her delivery. Filled up with tension the king immediately shouted at his personal assistance to inquire of him what he had been told by the midwife. On hearing the news the king taken with shock fell on his seat while everyone else was left to cry and ponder at what had transpired in the last hours.
The king had loved her so much that he didn't want to take a second wife when the member of his council of elders persistently urged him to. He later had to give in after she herself had pleaded with him to heed to them.
Now he had lost his wife his beautiful and charming wife. She was so beautiful that all would always want to see her face whenever they came to the palace. She was the peaceful queen who loved everybody, she would always share food and other items to everyone who had nothing whenever they had a big festival in the kingdom. A woman of great virtue she was, who was always calm and she also wore a smiling face all the time. Even when she had not given birth she never allowed herself to be filled with jealousy for her second who had bore three children for the king. Every young girl in the kingdom had her as their role model. Even young men were happy with her as she would always encourage them to never give up to the difficult moments of life.
Behold, this queen of theirs had gone to join their ancestors, but who knows maybe it is for the best. Everyone in the kingdom was saddened at the news of her death, those from other kingdoms who knew her were also saddened by the news of her death. She had gone but they all knew that they had to move on, so did the king.
It's been eight days and the queen had now been buried, it was time for the young child to be named. It was a tradition for every child to be named on the seventh day after birth. On that faithful day it rained cats and dogs that those who would have attended the ceremony couldn't make it since the roads leading to the palace were covered with water and the storm was also heavy.
It was time for the king to reveal the name of the child; Onagboraso he was called (this name he had chosen after the dream he had during which he had seen his late wife who told him to give him the name). The few people present wondered at why the child should be given such a name as it was a tradition of the land that any child whose mother had died during childbirth be named Ogbuwoh (meaning someone who kills the mother). They were only left to ponder on why such a name was given as they couldn't question the king's decision.
 
CHAPTER TWO
Ten years had passed since the death of queen Illamosi, with the king still missing her so much. He had refused to eat for fourteen days after her death.
He had been told by his council of elders to banish the child as it was the custom of the land, but he decided to keep him and save him from the banishment. This decision which he took was not pleasing to the council of elders but they couldn't do anything since he was the king. He had pleaded with his second wife to take care of the little child but she refused saying that she wouldn't want anything evil to happen to her and her children. Being left with no other choice the king had to have one of his late wife's maid to take care of the child in the palace, he strictly ordered her not to allow him come out of the palace but remain inside as he provided all that the little prince needed.
She had been taken care of him for the past ten years until she was framed and subsequently banished from the land.
The queen had been angry at her and the little prince not only because of her fetish belief but because she was afraid that he would one day grow up to become king. She had ever since hated her and looked for a way to get rid of both the maid and the little prince from the palace. Her hatred was also shared by her two sons who always did evil to the little child. She had told them that he wasn't their brother but a rival that they should always be hostile towards him. Her daughter was quite different from the others as she constantly played with the little prince despite her mother constantly telling her not to. The hatred of the queen was so much that she had tried to poison the little child, unfortunately for her the food which she poisoned was not given to the child even after persuading the maid to give it to him.
She had then come up with a plan to get rid of the maid thinking that once she had eliminated the maid killing the prince would be easy for her.
She connived with her two sons to blackmail her. She took the king's favourite attire which he cherished and had been given by his late wife and hid it in the maid's wardrobe. When the king observed that it was missing he asked the queen if she saw it of which she said she didn't. Standing by were her two sons who then asked him what he was looking for, after telling them he was told that they had seen it with the maid. Getting angry he called the maid and asked her if she saw it, she said no that she didn't. Immediately she was accused of lying by the queen who suggested to the king that her room be searched. The king gave orders that her room be searched. After searching the room, the guards saw the attire and taken aback by the whole scenario, the maid pleaded her innocence but the queen accused her of being a thief. The queen pressured the king to take a decision and being that the council of elders was present and using that as a advantage the queen also suggested that she should be banished.
Meanwhile, the head of the council of elders was the queen's uncle. He had previously told her of the council's displeasure with the king for keeping the little prince. She on her own had told him of her hatred for the prince and how she had a dream of the prince becoming king in place of her sons. They had both agreed to look for a way by any means to have the prince banished from the kingdom.
Her uncle seeing all that was happening immediately supported the queen's persuasion for the maid to be banished. The king's anger coupled with the pressure of the council and queen left him with no choice than to banish her. This pronouncement by the king made the queen happy as she now had the opportunity to get rid of the prince without any one helping him.
Immediately after the maid was banished she offered to the king to let her take care of the prince of which the king allowed.
The maid was banished taking along with herself nothing.
 
CHAPTER THREE
It's been ten years since the maid was banished and the prince was now a very handsome man, more handsome than any other youth in the kingdom.
The queen had tried severally to kill him but he had always survived. The king was yet to declare who was to be the crown prince and the more each day goes by the more the queen was certain that Onagboraso was going to be declared crown prince.
Onagboraso was not only handsome but very kind, he had the same virtue as his mother. While he was growing up he was constantly taught by the maid the virtues his late mother had. He had looked when she was banished, he cried but could do nothing as she was dragged out of the kingdom. He was very humble, hardworking, friendly and never had any reason to quarrel. He always wanted to satisfy the needs of others that his half brothers always used this to bully him. His half-sister was friendly to him. She always loved being with him and had most of her best times with him. He would share anything with her and her also with him, it was as if they were both of the same mother. He loved hunting and was never afraid of the wild animals. On one of his hunts in the jungle he had killed a tiger and presented it to the king who was happy and declared a feast on his behalf. This further deepened the hatred which the queen had.
The queen had a plot with her two sons and her uncle to get the prince banished from the kingdom. She had tried several means but all to no avail. This time she was certain it would work.
On a faithful day when she was alone (after sending her maids on an errand);she called Onagboraso into her inner chambers, when he came in she locked the door and told him to lay with her but he refused telling her that it was an abomination. She threatened him that if he didn't she would scream and accuse him of rape. Despite this he told her that he wouldn't do it. Seeing that she was losing the battle, she striped herself naked and started shouting, at the same time she drew him to herself and tore his clothes. Meanwhile, the king and members of the council of elders were in a meeting, on hearing the scream they immediately ran to her chambers, on getting there they saw the prince in the queen's chamber with his clothes torn and the queen naked. The queen kept on shouting "he wants to rape me, help", the young prince was left dumbfounded as he was surprised at what she was doing. The king was heartbroken at was he saw, he commanded the guards to restrain him while he thought of what to do to the prince. The prince and all who were present left the queen's chamber while the queen was smiling and happy that she had finally gotten him this time.
It was evening of that same day, the king and all his subjects who had heard of what had happened gathered at the palace. All who heard of what happened shook their heads as they couldn't believe what was said of the prince. Those who had initially had some doubts about him with regards to his birth concluded that he was guilty and cursed.
After hearing from the queen, the member of his council of elders didn't give the prince any opportunity to explain they pressured the king to pass his judgement. After taking his time and with a heavy heart seeing that everyone was against the prince he passed that the prince be banished from the kingdom. This pronouncement pleased the queen and all who were present that were against the prince. He was to leave the kingdom by night that very day.
 
CHAPTER FOUR
It was very late in the evening when the youths of the kingdom assembled by the council of elders under the authority of the king gathered to escort the young prince away from the kingdom. They followed him throwing stones at him which left some injuries on him until he crossed the river separating their kingdom from another kingdom.
Immediately after the river was a forest dreaded by all. It was believed that no one who ventures into the forest comes back alive. Onagboraso was now left to face the mysterious forest alone at night.
He had not gone very far into the forest when he heard some mysterious voices making mockery of him, the voices said "you foolish prince, how could you kill your mother and expect to be king".
Going on further he heard the sound of an animal, what animal it was he couldn't tell. Seeing that the sound was getting close he climbed a tree to hide and see what animal it was. Lo and behold, he saw a mighty lion with three heads. At the sight of this he was terrified and couldn't move. He waited for the lion to go very far before coming down. After coming down and walking a distance he heard the sound of someone running towards his direction. It was the lion, without wasting time he took to his heels. While he was trying to escape from the lion he feel into a pit that was covered with leaves.
"Onagboraso! Onagboraso!! Onagboraso!!! A voice called to him. He couldn't tell who the person was but he knew he had seen such a person before in one of his dreams. The mysterious person said to him "do not be troubled about what has happened these past days, behold you shall be who you are destined to be." At this he woke up and to his greatest surprise there was before him people he had never seen before. They spoke in a foreign language. They were discussing among themselves what to do with him. After coming to a conclusion, one of them an old lady asked him who he was, he told them that he was a prince banished from his kingdom. She told him that they had wanted to lynch him but had decided otherwise. She told him that they had seen him in the pit together with the lion unharmed and that it was strange as the lion always kills anyone it sees except her. She told him that they had decided to let him leave but shouldn't return as the forest spirit was angry at his presence in the forest.
Before leaving the old lady asked him of the name of his kingdom and he said Onoshioze. Feeling shocked she asked him of his name of which he told her Onagboraso. At that moment she cried and hugged him. She told him her story about how she survived after her banishment, how she saved the lion when it was in pains, how she came to be accepted by the forest people. They were both happy, he told her to leave with him but she refused saying that her life is almost over. Saying goodbye to him she enjoined him to keep on leaving by the virtues she taught him and also she told him the secrets about surviving through the forest.
So he went his way and after about three months in the dreaded forest he found himself in another kingdom.
 
CHAPTER FIVE
Onagboraso had barely spent two months in his new kingdom when a tragedy happened.
When he got to the kingdom he knew no one and after spending days on the way he was very hungry. No one who he asked for help offered to assist him because of the way he looked and smelled. Lo and behold, fate smiled on him when an elderly man in his late fifties and his young son who were coming from their farm saw him and feeling compassion for him offered to help him. After telling the man that he knew no one in the kingdom as he was a stranger the man took him to his home.
Eshikpemi was a farmer who had been married to his beautiful wife for many years. They had prayed and done all sort of things in order for them to have a child but nothing fruitful came out of it. Finally, heavens smiled on him when his wife got pregnant, it was the talk of the neighbourhood as most people had nicknamed them the barren couple. It was a rainy evening and his wife was in labour, he had in a dream saw that his wife died while giving birth. He had since prayed with all his strength that it won't happen. On this day he prayed all the more as she was in labour. Not too deep into the night did the traditional birth attendant come to him with the bitter sweet news that his wife had given birth but was lost to the cold hands of death, though the child was alive.
He had since vowed not to get married again but to with all his effort give the child the kind of life she would have wanted him to have. He was a kind and jolly good fellow who always catered for anyone in need. He was incharge of providing the king's palace with yams which the royal family consumed. It was no mere coincidence that he met Onagboraso as the way which he took where they met was a road he hardly ever took. That day he had decided to take the road after he heard that the road which he usually take was blocked by Ineme the infamous giant. He had no other option but to take this road.
After having dinner, Onagboraso told him everything about himself and Eshikpemi was moved with pity for him. He offered him his home and told him that he could stay for as long as he wanted. Onagboraso was grateful and surprised by how welcoming he was to him. He had since lived with them for the past two months.
On this fateful day, Onagboraso went to the farm to help harvest some yam for the family. Eshikpemi and Aloaye his son was all alone at home. Aloaye told his father that he was going to play with his friends.
It was while he was away that the tragedy happened. Ineme the giant attacked where the children was and ate all of them. Not leaving anyone alive. It was Izuagbe the palm wine tapper who saw all that happened and ran into the village crying at the top of his voice and saying "Ineme has killed our children". All who heard was heartbroken.
Meanwhile, news of what happened had not yet gotten to Eshikpemi until Iluobe the fisherman ran to him and told him of what had happened. Izuagbe had identified the children and when he was told that his son was among the Children killed he was heartbroken and fell to the floor. How his world has taken another setback he thought to himself while all his relatives and all those who came to sympathize with him comforted him.
 
CHAPTER SIX
Meanwhile, Onagboraso was a stone throw away from the compound when he saw that there were many people in their house most of whom were crying and sobbing.
On getting inside he saw Eshikpemi in tears and on the floor, he kept asking what the problem was but none answered him until finally Iluobe told him that Aloaye was dead. He couldn't believe his ears. Aloaye who he saw in the morning was no more. It can't be true he thought to himself as he walked dejectedly to where Eshikpemi was.
At the palace the next day, the king called all the members of council for a very important meeting as regards the death of the children. Osigbemhe one of his councilbmember's son was among the deceased so he knew at this point that something had to be done. He had held several meetings with them concerning the deeds of the giant but the conclusion they had always arrived at was that no one could defeat him and this meeting was no different. Despite announcing that whoever can kill the giant would get married to his daughter the princess who had had a number of suitors requesting for her hand in marriage but turned all of them down. This of course didn't please the princess but the king had no choice.
Odorvue was the only child to the throne, she was very beautiful and had a kind heart. She had spent most of her time with the children of the village who she always made happy with her stories and playful attitude. She also loved going to the stream with her maids.
Onagboraso had sworn to himself that he would do anything to kill the giant and seeing Eshikpemi in his depressed state made him all the more angry. Despite the king's decree no youth of the village dared to face the giant. It was believed that no one could get as close as ten metres to the giant as he could pick anyone's smell.
With his desperation and determination, Onagboraso decided to study the giant and his movements. Every day he would go to the domain of the giant and from a distance watched him. On one of his scouts he observed that while the giant was picking leaves there was a particular leaf he avoided, whenever he got to where the leaf was he saw that the giant would turn back, if he had mistakenly touched the leaf he would sneeze and scratch his eyes. So he decided to look for the leaf and make inquiry of it.
When he got home he took a sample of the leaf and showed it to Eshikpemi. With extreme seriousness Eshikpemi told him to throw away the leaf and wash his hands properly. After washing his hands he came to Eshikpemi and asked about the leaf and why he reacted that way. He was told that the leaf was called Aghua meaning forbidden. The leaf was known to be the most poisonous substance that existed, that even just a touch of it could kill someone. Furthermore, he was told that it could irritate the eyes and nose. He was warned by Eshikpemi never to get close to the leaf. Reluctantly he promised that he wouldn't have anything to do with the leaf.
That night he went to sleep thinking about how to use the leaf to finally get rid of the giant. "I can't get close enough to the giant to make him take it", he thought to himself.
While he was asleep he had a dream where an old woman told him not to be afraid for he was going to defeat the giant. She told him to go to the river bank and get a particular leaf which gave a particular aroma, she explained to him that the aroma from the leaf can never be perceived by the giant. He was to boil the leaf and with the water bath himself before going to the giant's domain. When he woke up the next morning he quickly went to the river and collected the plant.
The next day, when it was time to go the farm he told Eshikpemi that he was not feeling well and asked for permission to stay at home which he granted.
Immediately Eshikpemi was out of his sight he swung into action. He made a potion with the forbidden plant and boiling the aromatic plants he bath himself with it, took his machete and left for the giants place.
From his scouts he observed that the giant was always out at noon and so he went there at this hour. On getting to the giant's house he went to where he usually kept his drum of water opened it and poured the entire potion into it. When he was done, he hid himself behind a tree from a distance and watched. It wasn't till about sunset that the giant finally appeared. He wandered around his domain while Onagboraso watched from where he was praying for the giant to go over to the drum of water. Finally after about an hour the giant took a step towards the drum and drank from it. Immediately after he was done he fell on the floor and after gasping for breath he gave up the ghost. Filled with joy Onagboraso quickly went to where he was and cut off his head with the machete.
All the time, Eshikpemi had been at home pacing about think at the possible whereabouts of Onagboraso. Suddenly he heard large noise of people shouting. The noise was getting closer and from a distance he saw Onagboraso holding something he couldn't identify on his hand with the large crowd of people behind him.
To his greatest surprise when they finally got close he saw clearly the head of the giant in the hands of Onagboraso. Everyone was hailing him chanting "hail Onagboraso the giant killer". He couldn't control himself as he went into tears, finally justice had been served for his son.
 
CHAPTER SEVEN
It was early the next morning and everyone in the kingdom were gathered at the king's palace. Everyone was astonished at what had just happened. Onagboraso who was a nobody but a farm boy had just killed the fierce giant.
Finally, everywhere was calm and the king was about to make his speech. He had been told earlier that someone had killed the giant but when he was told that he who killed the giant was not one of the famous strong men of the land he wondered the more about who this person could be.
He said " people of our great kingdom, for years and generations past this giant had been causing havoc in all of our lives. We have cried to the gods several times but had no answers. Finally, a young man has eradicated him from the face of the earth". Turning to Onagboraso he inquired of his name and he was told. He continued "being that Onagboraso has ended the life of the giant, I hereby declare that he will be given one quarter of the kingdom. From today he is now the royal ambassador of the kingdom in charge of all matters of security of the land". Pointing to the princess he said "having earlier decreed that whoever kills the giant will be given the princess in marriage, I hereby affirm to that decree by giving my daughter to him in marriage". To the surprise of all present the princess with an overwhelming joy shouted "Yes".
It was on the day of the death of Aloaye. After harvesting yams for the family, he decided to go to the river to bath. While he was there he met the princess who was alone at that time as she had asked her maids to get her a fruit from the market. She had seen a cobra which almost bit her and after hearing her screams he ran to where she was and killed the snake. They both had not talked for a while before her maids came up to them. He had left without asking about her name. He thought she was someone important but not to be the princess as she had put on simple outfit other than her royal apparel. She had ever since kept thinking about this handsome young man that she had never seen before, she wished she could have had enough time to find out more about him. She had asked her maids about him, they told her that they had seen him in the palace when he came to deliver yams. Onagboraso had also marvelled at her beauty and wished he had spent more time with her. It was the thought of her he was having prior to when he got home that faithful day to the news of Aloaye's death.