DIAMOND IN THE FOREST (episode 23)

DIAMOND IN THE FOREST. Episode 23
© Amah

Dami digged up more ridge for his grandma at her backyard, he kept on digging and suddenly he stopped to wipe sweat out of his forehead, the sweet aroma coming from his grandma’s kitchen filled his nose

His stomach made a funny sound, he can’t wait to eat whatever the grandma was making
He sat on the ridge and held his digging h0le in hand as he look straight at nothing
He was deep in thought when his grandma startled him
“Eku se omo daadaa… (Well done good child) I’m making risi ati omiobe (rice and stew) I guess you are tired… you have tried for today… go and wash up so that you will have something to eat…I bought rabbit from the hunter…I added it to the omiobe…and dried some by the fire for tomorrow efo riro…so we will be having a rabbit stew with rice…I have miss my usual bush meat… when your grandpa was alive… people come here to ask if there’s any bush meat available…I will serve them and they will eat to their satisfaction before going to their different houses… your grandpa was a good hunter, a loving husband and a great father not just to your mother who happens to be our only child but to other children…
“And you are a great loving grandma… you seem to be taking maami’s death with ease…
being your only biological child…every mother will cry their eyes out if they loose their child…
“No mother wishes for the death of their children, every senseable human prays to grow old and and die at a very prime age…peacefully. it was a mishap… like a blow to us all but death is certain, mine May not come earlier but it will, both the good and the wicked dies my child… killing another will not make the wicked to live forever, the wicked will still die anyway…

“I wish mother has lived…I wish Remi wasn’t banished, I wish father was alive…uhmmm…I just wish for many things yet I can’t have any…
“If wishes where horses even beggars will take a ride on it… isn’t it how the saying goes?…life happens my son…so, we the living have to move on… let’s not dwell on our loses but take everyday as a gift from the gods… only the living has hope for tomorrow…a living dog is better than a dead lion… being alive is not because we deserve it or we did more good than the dead…not at all… only the gods favors those they chose to favor, so everyday is a blessing and live it as such and don’t be ungrateful rather be thankful in everything…in that way you will secure more of the gods blessings…
“Bee ni iyaiya ( that’s very true grandma) I imagine what Remi could be doing, being all alone in the forest, no good shelter, no good cooked food, no friends or anybody to talk to…just all alone, exposed to all kinds of danger, wild animals and bad spirit that hooves around… she is carrying a child…who will help her during birth time… How will she cope with everything…iy
a you assured me that egbon mi (my elder sister) will be fine but I find it difficult to believe just imagining all the danger she has to face.. except you are saying that to console me…all I see is the impossibility of her survival…I know she is very strong, she has a strength of five men yet even her strength may fail her in such an environment… she won’t be able to make it iya…I fear… hmmm…I fear for her…

“Don’t be… Remi is fine…I assured you that… she carried a diamond that must not be tampered with… maybe if she has stayed behind the wicked would have found a means to hurt her and the seed of crown so the gods sent her away and I’m certain they will protect her… I know she has being through alot, wrongly accused, injustice done her and then a harsh sentence was passed, your mother died and she was banished with the child that was still forming in her womb… that is just too much for one person… yet she will scale through, victory will be hers when the sun finally set in her favor…
“Amin…(Amen) let me run to the river and have a long swim, I will fetch more water on my way, I can’t wait to eat the rabbit stew with rice…mo nbo iya (I’m coming grandma)
Nike came to meet Leja where he sat
“You know you can’t drop out now… whatever happens has happened..I wanted her off my way and is done…
“You are so heartless… do you know that Remi also lost her mother and I’m very sure your wicked mother has a hand in her death…how can you be okay with yourself knowing well that Remi might be dead by now for your sins… like mother like daughter…too evil….how do you sleep at night with your conscience…
“I don’t have one, I don’t have a conscience…if you become an enemy I will make sure I clear you off my way…

“Do not dare use those threatening tone on me… I’m very sure you know who you are talking to, I told you Nike..I warned you not to do anything against the oba that he has the ear of the gods and yet you disobeyed and went ahead just to have the prince and become Queen…now the prince does not want you or any maiden close to him…ever since Remi was banished for the very sin you committed… you suppose to be the one in that evil forest and probably dead by now not Remi…but I’m sure the gods will deal with you for all your atrocities…
“You mean deal with”us” I’m as guilty as you are so don’t start what you can’t finish…if I go down you are definitely going with me Leja… so you better cooperate and stop trying to shift the blame on me… and leave iyami out of this… I’m waiting for my flow this month if it did not come it means that the prince will be a father with your child…I will do everything I can to make the prince to become mine… whether he likes it or not… I’m fully into this no going back…I will achieve all my aim… just watch and see…
Ope walked past Leja and Nike as they argue that day, Ope noticed that since Remi left, the palace has loose it’s color, everything seem boring and quiet or maybe is the way she feels and Leja and Nike seems to be having argument every now and then
The next morning
Ope passed Leja without greeting him, Leja called her
“Hey…do I look so small or I’m I invisible that made you to walk pass me like that…
“Imabinu… ekaro (don’t be angry, good morning)
“You have being giving attitude this days Ope…I noticed it but wanted to keep watching you until I’m sure of what you are turning into…be guided…
“I’m guided you are the one I should be telling to be guided…I don’t mean this as an insult but why don’t you hush Nike like you are doing right now…I know both of you are upto to something…I don’t know what it is but I just hope it has nothing to do with Remi being banished… Remi is a good maiden and has a heart of gold… her sister Nike was always jealous of her and I know it right from time is just Remi did not see the green snake in a green grass that Nike was.. you lied the baby she carries was yours but I know is not true it belongs to the prince… Remi said it herself… and I believe her… even the princess confirmed it…I saw your guilty face that day her sentence was passed…it was as if you were being punch… Leja I understand that jealousy is making you do the things you don’t want to do…but the gods will not forgive you if
you don’t let the cat out of the bag… Remi maybe dead but she will not be forgotten in the heart of those of us that love her… don’t you feel guilty… you killed an innocent girl with your evil minded companion…
“I did not kill any one… stop assuming things that you are not sure of… whatever happens is in the past now.. everyone is trying to move past that…
“Not everyone… Leja… you can not move past it because it is glued to your conscience…
Mikai hærd a whistle from the far end of the forest and whistled back
“That was my father, I call him Pah, he is back from hunting…we use mouth whistle to communicate sometimes… Let me call him to come over…
Mikai whistled again three times with her mouth different sound, before turning to Remi who has thousand and one question she wanted to ask the girl who looks like she was not afraid of anything or anyone.

“What are you roasting…I mean what kind of animal is that… burning out… that’s not how to roast a game…
“Is a grass cuter… the one it’s back is covered with spikes… that is what i use to make my arrow…
“Ooh…it looks like a hedgehog to me… and your bow and arrow is made from a bole..tree trunk… that’s not good.. you can’t do anything with this…I will give you one of mine…I have different types some made from animals skin… Pah thought me how to make my own weapon…I really have questions I would love to ask but let my father come first.
“Same here, I also have questions but let’s wait for your father…
The monkey jumped on the tree and
started making strange noise, a mouth whistle was hærd not too far from where they where and Mikai responded
“I guess your father is close by… that is why Ore..my friend is making those funny noise…
“Sure he is… animals has a funny way of communicating to humans… when you live among them you will get to understand them better…here he comes…pah…
A tall young man, maybe a little younger than Leja or same age, with a hand made raffle hanging on his shoulder, he was good looking and has a big scar on his forehead, Remi has expected an older man but was shock to see a young fine man, a Father to Mikai who has a little of his resemblance
He stood surprised as he looked from Remi to Mikai, Mikai spoke first
“Pah… her name is Remi, that’s her friend the monkey, who she calls Ore… she is lost…I guess… so we are not really the only one living in the forest…we have a companion… and she is expecting a baby… look at her tummy… God added to us… we will have a friend and a sister… isn’t that cool… pah… pah
Remi smile as she watch Mikai speak to the man who seem to be lost in thought as he stare at Remi. When he got himself he moved closer
“Pardon me please… I’m just shock to see another human here after many years. before I start throwing the question going through my mind let me introduce myself first… I’m Sipah from the far north. I guess Mikai has introduce herself already…I thought we are the only human here… I’m glad to meet another maybe we can talk about why you are here… you will need good food and a shelter…
“I’m Remi… you and your daughter’s accent sound so different and sweet to the ear .. I’m so happy that I’m not alone here… thank you Si…pah
“Just call me Pah… and don’t thank me yet… because we haven’t done anything for you…I will pick up your things and we will all leave here…
“Thank you “Pah.. I’m grateful
Sipah and Mikai gathered up Remi things, wrapped it up and carried it, as they turn to leave, Sipah turned to Remi…
“Forget about the bush meat…is almost turning into charcoal, whenever you want to roast a game.. don’t leave it ones you throw it into the fire just… keep turning it untill is properly done…I will teach you how to do that… Do you still have another person here or you are the only one…
“Yes, I’m just the only one with my monkey friend… Ore, hope you don’t mind if he comes along…he has being so helpful…
“Ofcurse not…Ore is from now onward our friend… let’s go home
Remi smiled as she looked from Sipah to Mikai who were both smiling, Sipah has a very attractive fine smile as he looked at Remi, she looked up the tree where the monkey was jumping from branch to branch
“Ore… is time to go… come let’s go… there’s home for us somewhere…
They walked untill Remi could see a mould house and the out house was built with leaves and sticks the wh0le place was widely fenced, and there were vegetables and yam farm, there was also corn and Millet farm everything seem to be in order and well arranged
She smiled as Sipah ushered her into their home in the heart of the forest
She thanked him ones again as Mikai took her into a warm room
Sipah rushed to the fire place to cook something for Remi, who despite how stressed and troubled she look she still posses an inner beauty that is so welcoming
He can’t wait to hear her story and what she was doing in the forest
Remi’s looked out at the small window and saw Sipah, cutting wood and putting them on fire, something was cooking in the fire place, Sipah has a well built muscle and and an inviting smile, despite the scar on his forehead he was still very handsome and also young
Remi wondered if he was truly the father of Mikai because of how young and handsome he was
She can’t wait to hear their stories and what made them to build a home in the heart of the forest surrounded by wide animals but for now she will silently thanked the gods for sending Mikai and Sipah to her aid.

To be continued… (Pls like the story below and comment)

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