Dethroned episode 7 – 8
DETHRONED
Episode 7
By AMAH’S HEART
” My daughter I am happy you had listened to your instincts and took to your heels as I forewarned you” the strange quipped looking at me
” Please what exactly is going on? I’m really not understanding all this” I responded feeling extremely tired from the tedious journey that took me two days to get to this point.
” Rana you should stay here for the meantime.. for now the stream you met earlier would provide water to quench your daily thirst.. and your daily meal will be provided by this tree and meats in this forest!” the strange man said avoiding my question.
He just kept looking at the tree,
I followed his eyes and saw that the tree is filled with mouthwatering fruits of different types
which I found really weird but I couldn’t ask questions on it as that was the least of my problems
” Please when will I be able to go back to my village?… Or am I going to live here all my life?” I asked with displeasure on my face
I was happy to see the fruits no doubt but I certainly can’t live in the forest all the rest of my life, can I?
” I will let you know when it is time for you to go back… for now stay here Rana!” the strange man simply told me and then vanished into thin air like in my dream.
Wow! just wow! I thought as I heaved and begun finding a resting place to lay my head as I was feeling so tired from the long tedious journey.
I packed a pile of dry leaves and made a heap with it, then I spread one of my wrappers on it
and immediately my back touched the hand made bed, I dozed off.
Four days passed yet the strange man did not appear to me again after that day.
I was feeding well thanks to the fruits, water and the bush meats available in the forest.
But I was feeling really worried about how the people of Yada were faring, I am sure that by now the number of deaths has increased.
I was perplexed and losing my patience but I knew I couldn’t do anything other than to wait as he had told me the last time we met.
On the morning of the sixth day, he came and this time I could see his face although still not very clear but better than other times that I couldn’t see at all.
The strange man looked like an ape with reddish eyes and lips that gets me wondering if he is a human being or truly a spirit?
He slowly walked over to where I sat and stood directly facing me
” I see you’ve been enjoying your stay here graceful one… Well I bring with me goodnews Rana..
“…I came to let you know that you are permitted to go back to Yada… as the stage has already been set for you to reveal your powers and take your crown as foretold”
As I heard this I let out a deep sigh I never knew I was holding
I didn’t even understand all of what he was saying but my joy is that I have been finally released to go back to my hut
” Ah! thank to the gods! I should start packing up then.. I will leave by tomorrow noon” as I said this, I stood up to start putting my belongings in order.
Then his next words halted me and I turned to look at him to be sure his senses are still intact
” Tomorrow is too far.. you have to go back now Rana.. I want you to be in Yada in the next thirty minutes!”
I bursted out laughing because his words were so unbelievable. how am I suppose to travel a two days distance and reach there in thirty minutes?
Is he crazy or maybe he thinks I am a time traveller or something? I thought as I scrutinized him from head to toe
He was barefooted and wore funny clothes that were equivalent to wearing rags,
honestly I hadn’t noticed this earlier because of the tension of the moments we had met in the past.
The man’s dressing really cracked me up as I begun to understand why he was speaking like a mentally derailed person.
He was really looking like one
” I understand you may not be mentally stable sir.. but I have to let you know that it is really impossible to reach my village in thirty minutes time no matter whether I chose to walk or run.. it is a two days journey and might even take three days if I rest a lot on the way!” I explained as I folded a piece of wrapper into my bag
” Rana you don’t need to explain because I know all that.. but you should equally understand that a graceful one of your caliber doesn’t need to go by foot to long distances… all you need to do is close your eyes and imagine any specific place you would like to be.. and it will be done Rana!” he told me and I looked at him as though he was speaking gibberish and bursted out laughing again
By the time I stopped laughing, I realized from his facial countenance that he was no more in the mood for my jokes and sarcasms
” You’re wasting time Rana.. everyone is gathered at the village square awaiting your arrival but I have one warning for you Rana.. guard the source of your powers with all your might.. if you don’t, then your vulnerable point would be your downfall…” the strange man hurriedly said
and in few seconds I felt my eyes slowly closing as if I was falling into a deep sleep
I tried forcing it open but to no avail
“…go my child.. go and save your people Rana” this were the last words I heard from the strange man.
I saw the image of the village square of Yada appear in my head and then I felt myself falling as if I was vanishing.
By the time I was able to open my eyes, I was standing in the center of the village square with many eyes centered on me.
There was a crowd of people gathered. I recognized some of my village people but I saw strange faces as well.
and then I knew that people from the two neighboring communities were equally gathered here as well
I looked around wondering how I got here. why is everyone gathered..? and why is all of them looking at me..? I thought as I was getting nervous due to the thousand of human eyes that were focused on me
Some had looks of surprise that slowly transformed into that of amusement, whilst some had looks of pure jealousy and anger glaring in their eyes
Then slowly all the people gathered went down on their knees whilst chanting this three words simultaneously
” All hail the Priestess!”
” We are forever loyal to your reign!”
“All hail Priestess Rana!”
I was taken aback by the continuous chants of thousands of people who were still on their knees with heads bent low. I looked around to be sure of whom they were referring to.
I was the only one standing and so far I am the only maiden who bears the name ‘Rana’ in the three communities.
This is because we have a rule that states that no two villagers should bear same names, which makes it easy to differentiate one from the other.
So many questions were going through my head yet there were no answers to them, I kept wondering..
could it be me they are referring to me as the Priestess..? am I dreaming..? If I am dreaming then don’t you think it is about time I wake up Rana…?
Read – Witches lust 4 episode 114
DETHRONED
Episode 8
By AMAH’S HEART
” Thank you so much Eze.. it was nice taking a stroll with you… thank you ” I told Eze as I smiled with all sincerity.
” You’re always welcome beautiful one… you know you can count on me anytime and anyday you feel like taking a walk” Eze replied smiling back at me.
I feel so excited knowing I finally have someone I could call a friend.
Eze is the only person who isn’t scared of walking beside me and despite knowing my position, he still speaks informally with me like when we had first met at the bush.
Aside Eze, no one else does. Reason being that the rest of the villagers fear and honor me too much to think of taking a walk with their Priestess let alone talking casually to me.
I do feel depressed oftentimes because no matter how hard I try to be friendly towards people especially fellow maidens like myself, I am still given distance mixed with utmost respect.
I guess their fear is that I might subsequently punish or harm them with my powers yet I would do no such thing.
My life as a Priestess further opened my eyes to see that although having authority and wealth may be sweet,
it is as well the fastest route to a lonely and boring life even with lots of people around me.
That day at the village square, I got my full powers activated and was crowned the Priestess of Yada, Gada and Zada to the merriment of every villager present.
With my full power I was able to get rid of the plâgue by following an instruction that was laid in my heart by the gods.
Afterwards, my life later became a clear description of from the ground level to the topmost level.
Rana the ordinary maiden is now a crowned Priestess of three merged communities. I am generally addressed by everyone as Priestess Rana.
Till date I still marvel at how much time flies and I still can not believe that it has been a year since I became a Priestess of Yada, Gada, and Zada.
Ever since I became a Priestess, my words are the law that everyone abides by, all I needed to do was to speak and it was obeyed.
Yet beyond the power, authority, honor, respect, and luxury, I soon came to the realization that one of the intricacies is extreme loneliness.
I have no freedom to live a simple life like every other maiden.
I couldn’t even do anything on my own because I had maids at my beck and call who wouldn’t allow me lift a pin.
Oh, how I miss those times in my life when I could cook my meals and do other minor things on my own without people to help out.
Those times when I could walk without being noticed, not now that everywhere I pass I got easily noticed followed by several head bows everywhere.
At times I do wish people saw me as an ordinary maiden and related casually with me,
but the opposite was the case.
I believe you now understand why I feel so much excitement knowing that there is someone who still sees me as a normal human being and was willing to take an evening walk with me.
” Thank you Eze.. this means a lot to me… you won’t believe that it has been a year yet I haven’t had anyone who had the courage to walk with me… So I thank you so much for being exceptional” I uttered smiling as I walked into the vast compound that now belongs to me.
As I am the highest authority, I stay at the biggest and most beautiful compound in the community that is befitting of my status as a Priestess.
It was also well furnished to my taste with about twelve maidens allotted to ensure that my needs were met effortlessly.
” It is not a problem Rana… but I hope you are okay with me addressing you by your name without your title first?” Eze asked me.
I nodded as I beckoned on a maiden to get a chair for Eze and I.
” Of course Eze.. I am perfectly okay with it… you don’t know how happy I feel having an opportunity to hear my name again without Priestess being attached to it” I replied jiggling as I truly felt like a human being again
In a few seconds a long chair as I had requested for was brought over by one of the maidens.
Eze and I sat down side by side.
” Well I believe you should have gotten use to the position by now.. you know it is a position many maidens will give anything to possess”
” I know Eze which actually baffles me… I bet they do not understand the burden of carrying the responsibilities of three large communities on your shoulder when you are barely three decades old…” I begun and paused to take a deep breath as what I am about saying stirred deep emotions within me
“…they do not also understand what it feels like to be surrounded by people yet you feel so lonely… and being fully aware of the fact that it may likely remain that way until the day you finally join your ancestors”
” I do understand your pain Rana… but you just have to bear it.. with time you..”
” For how long Eze?.. you do know that as a Priestess I have to bear this burden all the rest of my life right…?” I asked cutting Eze’s words midway and he nodded without responding
With no response from Eze, I continued venting out my pain and frustration,
thankful that today I had someone who was willing to listen to me
“…Eze there are times I wonder why people battle for a vain position like mine because to me it is one of the loneliest path to thread on… I mean look around me…” I uttered dramatically using my hands to point at my luxurious compound that looks like a palace
“…what exactly is power, luxury, authority and honor if happiness and true friendships are absent?” I asked sadly.
I watched as Eze sighed as he looked at me directly in the eye before replying
” Yes you’re correct about everything being vain in the long run Rana… honestly I understand how you feel and I wish I could take all your pain away but sadly I can’t…
“…but I can assure you that I will be your friend from now onwards if only that will help make you feel less lonely.” Eze told me whilst shifting his gaze to my lips that was few inches within his reach because of how close we sat on the chair.
before I knew it, Eze brought his lips closer to mine for a kiss and although I knew this was wrong in every sense,
It’s an abømination because of my title, I wasn’t supposed to have any intimate moment with men.
But I just couldn’t resist the euphoria that was threatening to burst open my heart as our lips brushed.
Tbc