Dethroned episode 30 – 31
DETHRONED
Episode 30
By AMAH’S HEART
A memory slowly flickered in about a conversation I had with Great Uba in the early months of when I ascended the throne of a Priestess.
In the conversation we had, Great Uba told me that he loves and considers me a daughter hence he is always willing to go out of his way to save or protect me.
It’s as though he knew that a day like this would come when I will need his help to escape dëäth.
That day, Great Uba created a secret code in which I could use to reach out to him in the spirit land and he will come to my rescue.
The secret code is Great Uba’s birthdate which I vividly remember since I was practically the only one who had wished him a happy birthday that day. He was so overjoyed at my thoughtfulness and genuine love for him that he engaged me in that conversation we had earlier.
That fateful day, I remember making fun of his words because I thought he was only being dramatic about a Priestess getting into an helpless situation that would require help.
But today here I am facing a life and dëäth situation that requires urgent intervention before dusk. Indeed no-one truly knows what tomorrow brings.
I have never used that secret code he told me but I will do so today because I really need him to save me. I have to brace up as this is no time for self-pity since my life now lies in the ability to get across to Great Uba.
So right there in my sitting position I muttered the secret code hoping to see Great Uba appear in front of me but nothing happened!.
I shouted the code again but this time I wasn’t muttering, I said it louder yet nothing or nobody came.
Oh the gods! I am really praying Great Uba wasn’t just pulling my legs that day.
I said the code over and over again until I eventually gave up trying. It seems that even Great Uba has gotten tired of my sílly mistakes and has given up on me.
I sighed preparing myself for whatever lies ahead of me today.
At least by the time I am gone, everyone and everything would be at peace.
I suppose that even the gods who had chosen me and then abandoned me because I sinned would be happy too.
Sometimes I wonder why they had chosen me in the first place.
After all it’s not like I wanted this crown that almost cost me my life in my battle with Nene and Eze.
As a maiden all I wanted back then, was a simple quiet life yet they still choose me to rule a people who are so ungrateful and self-centered.
They succeeded in making my life lonesome in the name of priestesshood and exposed me to various attåck I clearly wasn’t ready for.
Now look where I have landed myself and obviously they will be more than glad to watch me dïe prematurely.
After all I’m very sure they saw all this coming so why didn’t they warn me ahead…? why didn’t they at least given me a glimpse of what my disobedience would cost me…?
this were the thoughts on my mind as I sat on the ground inwardly soliloquizing
” A penny for your thoughts graceful one.” Great Uba said smiling as he walked into the príson through the wall.
I breathe a sigh of relief seeing him. Ah! finally a rescuer has come to save me.
” I’m glad you came to my rescue Great Uba… I honestly thought you had given up on me and left me to my dëäth” I said to Great Uba with my voice cracked as a result of many conflicting emotions
” Wipe your tears graceful one. Actually you were right that the gods saw all this coming… I saw it too and tried to warn you in various ways but you were determined to go astray.” Great Uba answered and I nodded because he is right about me being adamant to the glaring red flags surrounding Eze.
” I’m sorry Great Uba… I’m truly sorry… I thought I could escape the lonesomeness of the palace… the crown and greatness in which everyone admires was so heavy and burdensome a cross to carry… I felt more like a sacrificial lamb hence I wanted to be happy.. I’m sorry” I responded with tears freely cascading my eyes and my cheeks. Funny how it seems I am beginning to be a cry baby.
” With the rate you are going with your constant tears. I won’t be surprised if you actually end up crying a river from your eyes graceful one…” Great Uba uttered amusingly. It’s probably in an attempt to create humor and lighten the emotional atmosphere. He continued…
“…it’s enough beating yourself over the past my dearest Rana besides every greatness comes with scars, stories of failures, mistakes, pâin and life lessons. All those who hürt you will pay for their crimes but for now I think it’s about time you brace up and lets find a way to get you out of here…” Great Uba said and I scoffed in total surrender
” I no longer have the powers to disappear and as a messenger you don’t have the permission to disappear with an earthling. Going out through the doors isn’t an option either because I will be seen and might end up being stoned earlier than dusk” I said without making any effort to stand up
” Trust me on this… nobody would dare hârm a girl I consider my daughter certainly not when I am alive and breathing fine. Rana you will leave here alive without the least as a small stone touching or hurting your delicate skin”
A smile unconsciously found its way out of my lips as I heard those assuring words from Great Uba.
I feel so overjoyed as I stood up and hugged Great Uba with all sincerity.
” Thank you so much Great Uba for being here and for not giving up or criticizing me like the others… you’ve truly acted like a true father would and I’m really grateful Father”
I intentionally referred to Great Uba as father and I meant it. who wouldn’t..? When this man has always acted a father figure in my life after I lost my parents and ascended the throne.
Great Uba reciprocated the hug and he kept on patting my back to comfort me followed by soothing words
” I love you Rana.. you are like my daughter.. I won’t stay idly and watch you díe so even if you hadn’t called for my help… it wouldn’t have stopped me from still coming to your rescue.” Great Uba said which made more tears to flow down my eyes at such sincere show of fatherly affection
After a while, I disengaged from the hug but I had to express my deepest fear
” I believe you Great Uba but how are you going to save me when I am already fated to dïe by my people..?”
” Rana you will leave here safely and if it warrants making the whole village fall into a deep slumber so you’ll escape… I will do so and face the consequences later” Great Uba replied and I was taken aback. What exactly does he mean by facing the consequences later…?
” What have you done Great Uba…? What consequences are you going to face for going out of your way to save me…?” I asked in apprehension and Great Uba smiled looking at me lovingly.
He inhaled and exhaled deeply. I immediately knew that what he is about to divulge is something quite heavy for the heart to say.
” Well I won’t be able to see you until after certain long years has passed… I’m sorry Rana but I had to make this little sacrifice to set you free from dying.” Great Uba said and I exclaimed before I could stop myself
” What! You call it little..? Wait! are you dying or something…? Why wouldn’t you be seeing me for a long period of time…?” I asked feeling so confused
” I’m not dying Rana, it’s just a kind of restriction… Well enough of this long talks… You should go Rana!.. go far away from this village but please do not misuse this second chance you’ve been given.. ensure that you use it with wisdom and may the gods be with you!”
” What second chance are you talking about..? Look Great Uba after I successfully fleed this village I am living my life quietly without any problems” I stubbornly said to Great Uba and he bursted out laughing in sarcasm
” The future will tell Rana but don’t worry because with time you will fully understand the second chance I mean!” this is the last words I heard before Great Uba disappeared leaving me to my confusion.
Read – Moana Mulan episode 45 – 46
DETHRONED
Episode 31
By AMAH’S HEART
” Olamma… where did you and your brother sneak out to again..?” I asked with a high-pitched voice whilst looking at my seventeen year old daughter who begun stammering in fear.
I was slightly angry when I checked their huts and found out that they went out yet again without letting me know.
” mo..mot.. mother.. Ammon and I went to get some water from the stream!” Olamma replied with her eyes bent low.
Whilst standing in front of me, Olamma was practically fidgeting with her fingers presumably out of fear. And I know my daughter very well so from her frightened demeanor I could tell that she is hiding something from me.
” What are you hiding from me Ola…? You aren’t looking me in the eyes which means something is up with you.. what is it..?” I asked as I referred to Olamma by the pet name I carved out for her.
When no reply was forthcoming from Olamma, I had to ask a second question
“…by the way.. where is your brother Ammon..?” I inquired and at the same time begun looking around for my son.
I heard a light cough behind me which completely startled me since I hadn’t expected anyone to be behind me
” I’m right here mother… I’m so sorry if I startled you!” Ammon said regrettably as he walked over to stand in front of me and beside his sister Olamma.
” You sure startled me Ammon.. and where exactly are you coming from…?” I asked still wearing an angry expression
” Oh mother! I went hunting and the gods has favored me with something huge today!” Ammon said excitedly raising a big bush meat up for me to see.
I am happy to see the bush meat Ammon caught but I am not pleased with the fact that their stories do not contrast, which only means Olamma is lying as I had presumed.
Actually, the recent happenings of her sneaking out and then coming back to cover it up with flippant excuses started a week back.
Initially, I thought it was one of those teenage girl fever but now I do not know what to think of it anymore.
We live deep into the forest slightly close to a village by name Asa Land.
It is from this Asa Land we do sell herbs for money or we purchase foodstuffs and other essential things from whenever we need them.
Or wait! could it be that my daughter has started making friends with maidens from the village even after I warned her to stay off people…?
Or could it be that there is something entirely different that is bringing about all this recent bad behaviors from her…?
I thought inwardly but I couldn’t ascertain which is actually true.
Oh the gods! what’s happening to my only daughter…?
” You did well Ammon… thank you for the meat I’ll use it to prepare bush meat pepper soup for dinner.. but do not leave the hut without telling me next time. And also did you in any way see your father while coming back home…?” I asked slowly shifting my gaze from Olamma to Ammon
” No mother I didn’t see father… But didn’t he tell you where he was going to before he left..?” Ammon asked worriedly and I nodded affirmatively
” He told me he wanted to assist in gathering the firewood since it is almost finished from the shade but then he is taking too long… I’m beginning to feel worried!” I answered sighing deeply.
I was truly feeling worried for Nonso who is now my husband.
It was after I left my village and journeyed into the forest that I came across a fine hardworking young man; Nonso.
Sadly, he is a banished villager like me and had erected an abode in the forest where he resided by himself until I came along and begged to join him.
It is in the forest I found out that I didn’t lose the pregnancy that I bore for Eze like I earlier thought I did.
Oh! the joy I felt when I saw my baby bump growing day by day.
My baby was still intact in my womb and since my powers were no more, giving birth to him wasn’t so hard.
Eighteen years passed and I’m proud to say that my child is now an adult whom I had named Ammon after his birth.
Despite my pathetic situation and story, Nonso was so caring, loving and thoughtful towards me and Ammon.
He treated me well as a woman and loved Ammon as his biological son such that I begun falling in love again.
Thankfully, Nonso was also genuinely in love with me and he even asked me to be his wife which I accepted.
After Ammon turned a year old, we had a private marriage between ourselves and our union brought about Olamma.
Honestly, I haven’t regretted loving Nonso like I did with Eze because Nonso is still the same loving, caring, and thoughtful man he was from the very beginning.
So far Nineteen years has passed, and yet I am really thankful for the fact that I am still alive to see the light of today.
Indeed time truly flies but then the memory of that day I escaped dëäth has forever remained stuck in my mind.
That day, Great Uba made the whole village fall into a deep slumber so I could successfully escape without notice. But sadly, since that fateful day I haven’t seen him till date.
Oh! How I miss him so much and wished I could get to see and talk to him again.
It still burdens my heart to know that I am the sole reason such a consequence of not seeing each other for years was passed on him in the first place.
I sometimes wish I could turn back the hands of time to correct certain past mistakes I made, but sadly I can’t.
I’m glad that the gods gave me my son as a consolation for my pains. And despite the fact that Eze is his father, I love my son so much and not once have I ever regretted birthing him or Olamma.
It’s Olamma voice that brought me out of my reverie into the present day
” I’m sorry for lying to you mother… Ammon was not with me nor was I at the stream as I claimed earlier.. I know you taught us against telling líes and I’m really sorry for telling you líes mother” Olamma said with an inaudibly voice
I heavily heavily as I turned my gaze to Olamma again but this time my eyes softened and had this glaring motherly love in them.
In truth, I love my two children a lot and since I wouldn’t want them to make the same life mistakes I made as a maiden without proper mentorship, I ensure to always correct them with tact and love.
” …go and freshen up Olamma so you’ll join me in the kitchen to prepare dinner before your father returns… even you Ammon I want you to freshen up too so you will assist me in the kitchen… I do need you both with me!” I said softly to the surprise of Olamma who probably thought I was going to try forcing the truth out of her against her wish.
” It’s okay Mother.. I’m perfectly fine the way I am.. I’ll just join you in the kitchen then after we are done with the cooking, I’ll take a bath.. I think that will be much more preferred for me” Olamma replied and I shrugged in total surrender
” Okay Ola.. do what works better for you.. I really don’t have a problem with it and how about you Ammon..?” I asked with my eyes now staring at Ammon
” I think I’ll prefer to take a bath mother so I’ll feel more refreshed.. let me drop this meat in the kitchen then I’ll take a quick bath and join you and Olamma shortly!” Ammon said and quickly dashed into the kitchen situated at the center of the forest.
Immediately Ammon was completely out of earshot, I heaved as I fixed my gaze intently at Olamma who is still fidgeting with her fingers out of fear.
” Olamma tell me the truth… is there a man you are secretly seeing without my knowledge..?” I asked looking at Olamma without batting my eyes.
Olamma lifted up her face and looked at me wide-eyed. I suppose that it’s because she was not expecting such a direct and blunt question from me
” Ah! No mother… I.. I..I..” Olamma blurted out and then slowly begun revealing something that I found so shocking and unbelievable.
Tbc