DIAMOND IN THE FOREST (episode 6)

DIAMOND IN THE FOREST
© Amah

“Two will want you, only one will have you then disaster will struck and you will be in between… the gods will take you away… Faraway with the seed of crown…far away with the seed of crown…

The echo was so deep, her grandmother’s voice was echoing repeatedly in her dream, she toss and turn in her bed that night untill she finally woke up.

Remi sat up from her small bed that was beside the princess big bed, she looked around, everywhere was still very dark except for the lamptan oil light that was burning at one corner of the princess room.

The princess was sound asleep on her big comfortable bed

Remi breathed deeply and try to go back to sleep but sleep wasn’t forth coming, she wondered what her grandmother meant by those words, does it mean she will die, her grandmother has said “…then disaster will struck and the gods will take her away…faraway with the seed of crown…

The gods taking somebody far away only means that the person will die, so will the gods take her Life with the seed of crown and what exactly is the seed of crown…

“I don’t like it when iya speaks in riddles… she scares me…seed of crown… the gods will take me faraway…aaah…I don’t want to die… not now… invisible God…I don’t know if you are listening to the trouble in my heart…if you are real and you hear The silent cry of your people then save me and don’t allow my grandma’s riddles to come to pass because it only means death if the gods take me away…faraway” it sound like the grave…I don’t want to go faraway…not now… maybe when I’m as old as iya. invisible God who watches over the land and over the people of this kingdom, please help me to serve well with all sincerity and love, don’t allow anger and hate to control me but rather help me to overcome it all in love, I don’t want to run into trouble again in this palace…I know grandma said we are born into a troubled world and our days are filled with trouble but God of our land and of our ancestors save me from any trouble that Will consume my life an…

“Remi…Remi o sun..o in kun…(What are you mumuring, you are not sleeping)…what are you whispering to yourself…or are you sleep talking…

Remi was startled to hear the princess speak to her, she has thought the princess was deeply asleep, she quickly stood up and pretended she was just waking up

Se o gbodo ma sun ki otu ma Soro, princess mi, pada lo sun (I must be sleep talking, I think I was talking in my sleep…sorry about that my princess please go back to sleep).

The princess nodded and went back to sleep, Remi covered her up from the night cold and later went back to her own bed, after sometimes she fell asleep she found herself back home, she was crying as she held her brother in her arms who was vomiting blood, she started calling her mother to rush down

“Mami… Mami, ewa Dami ti n bi (Mami come Dami is vomiting blood) where are you…Dami is vomiting blood…Mami…

She kept calling her mother but her mother was nowhere to be found, she later left her brother lying helplessly on the ground to go and look for her mother,

she search for her in the rooms but she wasn’t there, she ran to the backyard still crying and calling her mother

Remi was hearing somebody silently crying in the backyard, she followed The voice and was shock to see her mother in the pull of her own blood, her mother was also vomiting blood and was covered up in the mess.

She scre-med and awaken from her sleep, she was breathing heavily as she sat up, she looked around, everywhere was still dark except for the lamptan, the princess was sound asleep, she sat on her bed thinking of the terrible dream, it has felt so real, she felt something cold on her cheek and touched it, it was tears, she cried from the dream to real life

Remi breathed deeply, she was afraid to go back to sleep.

She stood up and quietly walked to the window to check if dawn was close at hand but she couldn’t tell how far the night has gone, she wish for a day break.

Remi walked to the door and quietly opened it, she sneak out of the room without making noise, she didn’t want to wake the princess up,

She quietly closed the door and walked through the quiet long corridor, there were lamptan at the both side of the passage

She wanted to sit outside to avoid sleeping back, she was afraid that if she go back to sleep she will have another bad dream

When she got to where she can sit , in the open air sorrunded by flowers, it was a long bench sit, hanged like a swing between two chains, she crawled up there and sat, she was swinging the chair as she look straight ahead.

The night cold was much, her night wear was a simple free wear which can’t hold the cold but she covered herself with her thick Shaw.

She was there when the c*ck Crow, she looked up hoping for a sign of day break, she hærd a foot sound coming towards her direction, she sat still and tried not to make a sound

” ta lo wa nibe (Who is there)…who is sitting at the swinging chair…

Remi knows that she has being caught, no hidding place, The person was coming towards her with a torch light, she can tell from the voice that it was Leja, he stood tall and bare chest as he approach the bench where Remi was

“Emi ni (“Is me)…is me

” Iwo tani, se oni oruko ni (You who…who are you, don’t you have a name…)

“Emi ni Remi, Leja, emi ni oo (is me Remi, Leja is me) is Remi the princess personal maid…Leja is me…

“Kilo n se nita, hi iwo yii (what are you doing outside here by this time) you are suppose to be sleeping in,side…

Remi was silent as Leja came, he flashed the torch all over her as he wondered why Remi was out in the open air by the early hours of the morning,

Remi who was already on her feet didn’t know what to tell Leja who was standing very close to her and pointing touch at her

Leja still has his torchlight on her he didn’t bother putting it off, he was happy to see Remi alone which was a good opportunity to express his feeling for her

Remi’s Shaw fell off from her shoulder and she quickly bent over to pick it and immediately she bend down to pick up her shaw, her cle-vage was exposed through the night wear
she was putting on

When Leja saw it, he stiffened and swallowed hærd, he wish he can have her to himself, he wish she will agree to come and warm him up in his room, he wish he came cuddle her and hold her so close to himself

Remi quickly covered up but Leja’s mind was still on how he will get Remi close to himself considering that the night was cold

“Remi, my beautiful maiden, The woman that caught my heart… so beautiful like the morning sun, her eyes Shone so bright like the stars, her h¡ps moved in every direction calling mighty men to follow, her smile is so captivating, her voice sound like The godess of the riverline, her br-ast is so socullent, a fresh apple from the garden that can make a man hærdened, her l-ips is as the flo…

“Leja…Leja..stop, enough of all this praise, to what do I owe this early morning praise…

Leja walk past her and sat on the bench, Remi who was still standing did not feel comfortable with Leja’s presence but later sat down, giving space between them

“Why are you outside here beautiful one…is there a problem…?

“No problem, I had a night mare and I was afraid to go back to sleep so I decided to come out here,. I was here when the first c*ck Crow, not long ago…

“That was not the first c*ck Crow that was the third one, this was my second night watch before the day finally breaks, I wake up three times every night to go check the compound, it was the noise coming from this swing that got my attention, I knew somebody must be on the bench, I’m happy to know that you are the one… now we got to be together before dawn…

Leja move closer to Remi

“Stop moving close to me Leja…

“Don’t you like me, don’t you want me as I want you, Remi please forgive me if I have offended you in anyway, I need you in my life…

Leja suddenly grabbed Remi’s hand and place in his manh-od, Remi was shock as she pulled back her hand

“What kind of nonsense is that Leja… why will you do that…

“I just want to show you how much my body yawn for you, my bladder is calling your name… can’t you hear it Remi…my body is hærden and only you can soften it up… is on fire for you my beautiful one…please let me in just ones so that I can quench my tasty soul…Remi ejoo… consider me please

“Mtcheeew…I’m going back in,side… it was a mistake to have come outside here , if I know I would have remained in,side…

Remi made attent to stand up but Leja held her back as he deliberately brushed his hand towards her br-ast, Remi slapped Leja and stood up but Leja wasn’t letting go of her

“Yes, slap me more Remi…please slap me again, I need your touch…be it hærd or soft touch just do it…

“kilo de to ofi sebe Leja(why will you do that Leja)Something is wrong with you Leja…you are not okay, if you touch me one more time you will see what I Will do to you…

“Remi. arewa omo odo mi (Remi my beautiful maiden) mofe Rio gege bi olotu femi (I want you, my body yawn for you).

“O serious rara, otu Kuna to o ba mo (you are not serious at all, you are so unfortunate) nonsense…

As Remi made attent to leave again Leja tried to grab her, but with her one hærd push, Leja found himself on the ground, he hit his head on the bench and silently cry out in pain

Remi left him there and went in,side and stayed awake till the following morning

Nike came up with a plan to try and get Remi’s trust again, she plan to beg Remi and to start acting as a sister to her so that she will be able to know what was going on with her and to gain her full trust

As Remi wash the princess cloth in the wash room, Nike came to meet her.

Nike apologies to her and ask if she can help her in washing the cloths,

Remi was surprise at Nike, she told her not to worry about helping out that the princess cloth wasn’t much

Remi kept watching Nike’s as her attitude changed, she was acting all nice all of a sudden

Leja who felt embarrassed after the incident with Remi, anytime he see’s Remi coming he will hide or follow another way,

No maiden has ever rejected him or embarrassed him like Remi did that night, he felt ashamed of himself anytime he remembers it

The prince was looking for an avenue where he Will get to sit down and talk with Remi again, ever since she returned back to the palace he has not been able to speak with her

Remi totally forgot about the dream but the only word that echos in her mind which she wish she can understand is her grandmother’s words

“Emi meji yoo ma wa nkan nkan, yoo si pada bosi owo enikan nigba na ni yanpon yan ri n yoo wa sele, Iwo ni oma wa ni arin, orumila a si mu o lo si ona jin jin pelu eso ade.

“(Two Will want you, only one will have you then disaster will struck and you will be in between, the gods will take you away… Faraway with the seed of crown…)

She thought within her, the two that may want her is either the Prince or Leja, but every other thing in the riddle was confusing to her, she does not understand but wish she does so that she will know what the Future holds for her.

Does the “two” that will want her really means the prince and Leja or is her mind playing tricks on her

What exactly is the full meaning of the riddle

Remi wondered within herself.

 To T continued. .. 

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