Dethroned episode 3 – 4
DETHRONED
Episode 3
By AMAH’S HEART
I am still sitting dejectedly with my hands on my chin trying to get over what had happened earlier,
My eyes looked towards the direction of the door that the stouts left ajar.
It’s from there that I saw that the morning sun has risen in the sky which signifies day break.
After what I experienced last night, I am scared of ever stepping out of my hut but at the same time I was wondering on what I will be eating today as I hadn’t eaten all through yesterday.
to make matters worst, the worms in my stomach were vigorously raging for food reminding me that I shouldn’t try sleeping on an empty stomach again like I did yesterday night.
I sighed sadly as I readjusted well to straighten my back against the wall. It has actually been two days since I last tasted anything edible
I mean it is not like I do have a choice anyways since the wild fruits and vegetables I was feeding on in the forest are no more available because of the current drought in the Land.
Thankfully I am not the only person affected by the drought,
it is actually affecting everyone in the village and it begun two months back when an image of a masquerade had mysteriously appeared in the sky.
I grew up here and have never experienced this kind of thing, there’s always plenty to feed on until the plâgue kicks in without notice
Typical of a village like the Land of Yada, the main source of getting water is through rainfall, stream and lakes.
But it all dry up
so in the absence of no single drop of rain in the Land for two months, the subsequent effects were that the crops in people’s farmlands dried up same with the village streams.
Inevitably it led to serious hunger and thirst plague in the once fertile Land of Yada, and as unbelievable as this may sound it is the less privileged villagers like myself and others in the village that were more at the receiving end of this plague
Well, I am seriously pãinéd I can’t stop venting out my frustrations on the plague that has befallen the Land of my forefathers.
That is also why it battles me that instead of finding solutions to this plague,
someone could actually pay village stouts to come search for a maiden
What is the person’s problem with me? or is it that the are mistaking me for one of those maidens that have food secretly stored up in their houses..?
did they come to steal from me or is there something else I don’t know about…?
I couldn’t think of any answers to the numerous questions on my head so I gave up thinking.
I heaved sadly as I got up from the floor and begun arranging my shattered room. I set my bamboo bed in its rightful position and tiredly sat on it, then gently I laid down whilst placing my two hands under my head for support in the absence of a pillow.
There were a lot going on in my mind and I do feel so alone in this village because I have no one to share my problems, fears, and thoughts with.
I lost my parents to an unknown ailment. ever since their death, I have been surviving on my own and also staying all alone in this thatched hut I inherited from them
there is absolutely no day I don’t miss my late parents.
I wish I still had them here with me and as an only child I admit that the are times I also wish the had given me at least a younger sibling before joining their ancestors, then just maybe this loneliness I feel wouldn’t have been this extreme.
I sighed again with my eyes now closed and said a short prayer to the gods that I would not dïe of hunger before the time of breakthrough finally comes through.
After the prayer, I planned forcing myself to sleep but a loud yawn involuntarily forced its way out of my mouth as the worms in my stomach did not quit singing for food
I shook my head pitifully as I pushed the dreads on my head backwards and dramatically said to myself in low tunes
” Rana I think it is about time you quit pitying yourself… you have to be strong and go out there and find anything to eat before hunger will use your name to open the first dëäth record in this land…” as I was saying this I slowly got up from the bed
Yes I am scared no doubt but if I don’t think fast then I will likely be starving today as well. Slowly I made my way out of my thatched hut
Now outside, I lifted my eyes to the skies and said a short prayer to my ancestors
“…Gods of our Land protect me from every evil eyes.. and please do not let this drought succeed in finishing me or any other villagers in this village.. Ise!”.
I managed to use the broken door to atleast cover up the open space to avoid anyone looking inside or walking into my house.
There was a bush opposite my compound, I felt strange, like something or someone was watching me from those bushes.
I felt goosebumps already as I take each step.
Read – When fate strikes episode 21 – 22
DETHRONED
Episode 4
By AMAH’S HEART
” See Jack I told you the girl was in that hut all along.. but you didn’t believe me.. now you’ve seen it with your own eyes..” I heard James blurt out to Jack who looked on confused upon seeing me walking out of my compound.
They were standing by the bush side this time as I slowly approach
Looking around to make sure I wasn’t the only one on the path
I am sure he is wondering how it is possible for me to be coming out of the same compound whose hut they had searched thoroughly yesterday without finding someone
Upon reaching where they stood conversing, I deliberately slowed down my steps so I could still be within earshot to hear what they are saying
” I am still surprised James… I mean we’ve been standing here awake since last night and we saw nobody enter this compound which only means you were right about her being in that hut all along… but then how is that possible when we saw nobody inside there?”
” I am equally confused Jack… or could it be that what Nene told us is actually true?” this are the last words I heard before I completely walked into another apian way
I couldn’t pass the same way again, the fear of them grabbing me in a broad daylight scares me off
As I walked into a different road, escaping from this two men and avoiding raising suspicion
I took to my heels and speed off, I ran as my weak legs can carry me.
I stopped running as i approached the village square
As I walked towards the village square that was buzzing with activities, I kept reminiscing on what I heard earlier
who is this Nene that Jack and James were talking about..?
is she the one who sent them to search my hut but then why…? I thought inwardly feeling disturbed.
The Land of Yada consists of three neighboring communities; The Land of Gada and The Land of Zada, of which The Land of Yada is the one with the highest population hence it is the most feared and respected amongst the three.
Although the most populated amongst the three communities, The Land of Yada is still a small indigenous community hence I know almost everybody’s names in this village.
which is why the name ‘Nene’ truly sounded strange to me and I am very sure there isn’t anyone who bears that name in this village,
this could only mean one thing! that it should be the name of someone from either of the two neighboring communities.
I sighed heavily as I walked pass a group of three women who were discussing and lamenting about the woes caused to them by the drought
” I don’t know what to do anymore Chinwe.. and with the rate this plague is going I might end up joining my ancestors tomorrow morning!”
” You’re not the only one Ngozi… my children are looking like walking cørpses.. there is no food or water to feed them with again.. the gods knows that I am so scared of losing my children by night” Chinwe replied with a cracked voice and eventually bursted into tears
” Ngozi you are here talking of tomorrow.. what about me that lost my last child this morning because of hunger..?
… Please it’s enough with the tears Chinwe.. you know that I am the one who is supposed to be crying not you”
I was taken aback by what I heard from the last woman. Wow! so people have already begun dying…?
I shook my head feeling pity for the woman who lost her child.
I had wanted to turn back to go sympathize with her but I figured that it was best I mind my business to avoid stories that touch
I continued walking ahead and on the way I greeted the two middle-aged men I saw on the path, from their red caps I could tell that they were kinsmen in the village.
Unfortunately for me, these men were too involved in their conversations to reply to any of my greetings
” Nnamdi we really need to think of something really quick else our families and other villagers will start dying like chickens.. already you’ve heard that a child díéd early this morning”
” You’re right Anedi.. but do we even have choices here?… clearly the gods and deities aren’t listening to our pleas as a people neither are the accepting our sacrifices.. so I don’t know again!”
Mazi Anedi heaved before responding
” I guess it is due to the fact that our land has no priestess to communicate with them like other formidable communities do…” there was a paused before Mazi Anedi continued
“…who knows?… maybe if we had one in our midst then the deities would have harken unto our woes and subsequently provided a profound solution to this plâgue that has befallen our land”
A priestess? I remember my parents telling me a tale about them when they were alive but I never knew those tales were actually true
According to what my parents told me, they said that from time memorial communities are governed by priestesses.
and since the Land of Yada, Gada and Zada share the share border, only one person is chosen for that role.
To everyone the priestesses are the overall highest authority, her words and declarations are law.
Also the priestess is the one who communicates directly with the deities and serves as a connection between the gods and the people.
this automatically makes the chosen community which the mantle of priestesshood rest on the strongest and most respected community.
it is also one of the reasons the three communities sometimes battle each other.
” But Anedi you know it has been over three decades yet no priestess has ever been enthroned after the dëäth of the previous one that was chosen from the Land of Gada.. so that is a hopeless wish”
” You’re correct Nnamdi.. it is like an hopeless wish since no one has yet been seen to be in possession of the powers that is befitting of such a mantle”
” Oh! Anedi what if the gods is actually ângry with us for keeping that seat vacant for so long?”
” I guess you are right Nnamdi because throughout those years we were never bothered by it since we never had a serious need for a priestess…
but with this drought that has just befallen the Land.. we are doomed!”
Those were the last words I heard before I finally walked pass them and continued on my way.
I think my ears have heard enough for one morning. and with the stomach discomfort I am having, petty talks would not solve it so I better find food to eat first before I faint on this bush path.
The running to escape jack and James made me more hungry and tired
I felt strengthened, hopeful as I saw a cloudy cloud
What if is about to rain or could it because one of those days that ends with another disappointment.
I can only hope for the best before more lives are gone.
May the gods forbids it and show us mercy through this cloudy sky.
My throat felt so patched, I need water to quench my taste.
I proceeded to the busy path with the little strength left in me.
Tbc