DIAMOND IN THE FOREST (episode 7)

DIAMOND IN THE FOREST  (Episode 7)

© Amah

“Iya…iya… where are you…

“Omomi…wa n bi… I’m at the back yard…

Remi dropped the basket in her hand and went to meet her grandmother who was using sticks to cover her crops…

“Iya.. what are you doing…

“All this fowl has ate up my melon and groundnut seed that I planted in this ridge that Dami, your brother helped me to dug…they will use their tiny legs to scatter my plant so I decided to put sticks around The crops to prevent them from destroying the crops…any chicken I see close to this my ridge will be so unfortunate…I will use it and prepare a delicious egusi soup, me and your brother will enjoy ourself because he will be the one to catch it for me, I can’t be dragging land with this fowl and I don’t want to sell them because of you and your brother, I told your mother to come and take some she hasn’t showed interest since…aaah…see the way I’m talking about unnecessary thing forgetting to ask how you are doing and what brought you down here…. please don’t tell me you got into another fight and they sent you home for another punishment…

“Rara o (not at all) the princess sent me to get somethings for her at the market place, oja oba, I was suppose to rush back to the palace but something has being bothering me for days so I decided to drop by, check up on you and also see if I can get any help

“Hmm, what could that be my child…

“Your riddle iya, is being echoing in my mind and I see you repeating it in my dream..”two will want me.. only one will have me then disaster will struck….I will be in between and then the gods will take me away…faraway with the seed of crown…what does it mean iya…I don’t understand any single thing in the riddles except that two will want me… which is probably Leja and the Prince… will I die iya… what does The riddle means ejoo …I want to know

“No my child, you won’t die.. not soon anyway, there are things even I can’t explain…I was just The mouth piece of The gods… The gods will take you away…faraway with the seed of crown which will become a precious diamond sorted for and it will be hidden in the deepest part of the forest… that’s all I can say untill I’m given a go ahead to say more…

“I came for an answer to the previous riddle now you are adding diamond and forest to it, anyway… I’m happy that I won’t die so what I don’t know won’t kill me…is better I stop disturbing myself over things only The gods has answer to… Iya.. I’m glad you are well as usual, there was no time to stop and check up on mother and Dami…I believe they are fine…I will be on my way back to the palace now.. before the princess will start wondering what is keeping me in oba oja…

“Becarefull my child in trusting people, don’t be too soft or you will be easily penetrated and don’t be too hærd or you will scare the good ones away, be in between and be wise… don’t trust easily Remilekun… don’t tell your secret out because you maybe telling your enemy in a friendly clothing…

“Iya…is okay…I don’t want more riddles… the first is yet to be interpreted… telling me more will confuse me and trouble my mind… let me just hold on to the fact I won’t die… not yet until I come of age like you…

“The gods has prepared this part for you my child…be strong because you will need alot of strength for the battle ahead…I pray the gods will have mercy and give us wisdom to live among those who hates us and strength to forge ahead even when it seem all hopes is lost…

“Amin, I don’t really have much enemy again because Nike apologies to me and she is acting all nice but I’m watching her closely because she maybe upto something…Leja acted foolishly around me one night and even made me to touch his manh-od but he regretted his actions and has being avoiding me like a plague and I guess is his guilty conscience that is troubling him…I don’t want to have enemy Iya… I’m glad Nike is finally seeing me like her sister and that is what I have always wanted… but I don’t trust her… not yet though…

“Trust is cheap until your leg get glued in the trap set up by same people you trusted… becarefull my child, I will be seeking The gods face on your behalf…but just be careful…there are things yet to come which will trouble the little world around you… don’t forget to overcome hate with love and serve with all sincerity as you are called to serve…

Remi was in hurry and didn’t bother paying attention to the rest of the things her grandmother was saying, she picked up her basket from the ground, gave her grandmother a warm hug

The older woman tapped her gently on her back before Remi released her and run out.

The woman watched Remi until she was out of The compound, she lifted her face up and muttered something in the air before returning to her crops ridge,

Remi’s brother came in with a pot of water, he joined his grandma in cutting more sticks and digging up the ridge

“Your sister just left here not long ago before you came in. If you have come in earlier you would have seen her, she stopped by from oja oba, where she went to buy something for the princess

“Okay, I was filling mamis water drum, she was socking the cassava she peeled, she want to prepare fufu that she will sell next tomorrow in the market place… that’s if the cassava soften and ferment on time for her to be able to cook it… since egbon (big sister) now work in the palace I have to double up in helping out…

“That’s very good… omo daa daa, (good child) you are a good son…dig that stick very deep let me see how this crazy fowls roaming everywhere will be able to scatter my plants again… and don’t forget to bring my own fufu ones your mother is done with it… she makes a very nice fufu without odour and also soft…

Remi was making the princess bead outside, as she sat at the swing chair alone, Nike came to meet her

She wanted to engage Remi in a conversation which Remi was not sure if she should fully trust Nike or not.

Nike sense Remi’s withdrawal and decided to apologise again to her for the past deed

“I know I was terrible in the past Remi, je ki aje ebonati aburo pada ki a si gbagbe tateyin was (let’s be sisters again and forget about the past)…he ki a jo sise papo bi ebi still ore (let’s work together, let’s be sisters and friend)

“It doesn’t work like that Nike, is not magic… because I know for sure that anytime you begin to act all nice
and guilty is only because you need something from me and ones you get what you are looking for… you switch back to your real self…I don’t trust you… so spill it out… what do you want Nike…

“Nothing, I don’t want anything I just want to be your sister…I know I have being very bad to you… but I’m a changed person and I’m for real this time not because I want anything…I have come to realize that we are sisters and we don’t suppose to be fighting each other all the time…

“Are you just realizing that now… is better we just remain as enemies and avoid each other than to start this our friendsh¡p which has never ended well…

“Aah aah Remi, don’t say that…I don’t want to be enemy with you… not again, I’m tired of fighting with you every time when we should be looking out for each other…I know no matter how much I hate or fight you… you will keep getting favoured more than me and will always win so I can’t be fighting a loose battle…I just want to truly be here for you and support you like i was meant to be…ejoo…Remi my beautiful sister…

Nike kept talking untill a maid came to inform Remi that the princess was calling her

The following day as Remi was walking along the long Royal passage to hang the princess wrapper which was not properly dry the previous day,

she ran into Leja, who has being avoiding her ever since the night incident

He tried to ran back but couldn’t as he stood face to face with Remi

he was speechless on seeing Remi, Remi tried to ease him up

“Good afternoon Leja, is being a while I saw you… did you travel… how are you doing…

“Mi…o wa kpa…(I’m fine) I have being around…

“Ooh really…since that other night… I have not seen you…is being over seven days if I’m not mistaking… I’m glad you are fine…

“You sound happy to see me, Are you not angry with me for what I did… that was more reason why I have being hidding from you…I can’t even come to you and apologise…i can’t even look at your face…I have being so ashamed of myself…I felt so terrible after that night… and since the gods has decided to bring my fear to my face I will use this opportunity to plead for your forgiveness…Remi… I’m so sorry…please pardon my uncultured behaviour…I know I went about expressing my self in a very wrong way…to tell you the truth I have beaten myself so hærd than the pain I feel after hitting my head on that chair when you pushed me that night… I’m not that kind of man that takes advantage of palace maiden… no I’m not but many maiden will want me to approach them like I did to you but I can’t because I have no interest in them…I wanted you Remi and I felt I was loosing you…so I thought I will get you down to myself after I Saw you alone that night…I don’t have any thing reasonable to justify my actions… all I want to say is I’m sorry… I’m really sorry and thank you for stopping me from such an abominable act and giving me that hærd push…I needed it… although I had a terrible headache after that but it serves as my punishment…I…

As they were talking Nike walked past severally and greeted them with a smile each time she walks past, Leja ignored her and kept talking while Remi responded

“Is okay Leja, I hold no grudges against you, I’m glad you learnt your lesson and sorry for the headache you had because of my push…

Leja loosened up and laugh, Remi also joined in and also laugh making Leja more at ease with her

The prince was coming down and saw Leja and Remi talking over something and laughing together

He wondered what they were talking about.

As Remi and Leja saw the prince they knelt in respect and greeted him, he asked them to stand up and they did

He looked at Remi, who’s Head was bent in respect and Leja who stood straight like a statue, he asked them to look at him and they both did

“I was wondering what could be amusing two of you…I love happy people and I’m glad you two are finding something to laugh about…so I want to join the conversation… Hope you two won’t mind…

Remi and Leja looked at each other, not knowing what to say

“Relax, I was only joking…go ahead with your conversation…Remi please see me later…

“Yes my prince…

The prince walked past,

Remi and Leja departed, Nike came to meet Remi as she spread the princess wrapper outside

“egbon mi…ore mi to sho. hahahaha eku se jare (hailing Remi, “my elder sister, my sure friend, Weldon) what was Leja telling you…he talks like a woman, he was talking and I walked that passage four times…he kept talking…non stop…he talks too much… what was he talking about…

“Some unimportant thing…is not relevant…

“Despite I would have love to hear it but I’m much more interested in what the prince said.. he said something to you… please can I know what he said…?

“Still not important…he just stopped to say hello to me and Leja…

“Eeyah…I like him he is so humble and and also very nice, he is handsome too… fine prince… anyway can I assist you in hanging The cloths…

“No, is not much… I’m through with it..

Remi later returned back to the princess chamber, The princess had message for her from her brother

“Remi, my brother said once you are through with whatever you will do tomorrow you should come and tidy his chamber, he complained that the cleaners are not doing it properly, he need you to come and do it, he has already informed me so I told him I will send you to him tomorrow…is a good thing that the prince wants you in his chamber, he doesn’t allow maidens or any female palace worker to come in there except boys…so is a good thing he picked interest in you and trust you enough to clean up his chamber… you should be excited…

“Yes my princess…I will go and attend to his chamber ones I’m done with my work here tomorrow

Remi wondered why she has to be the one going to arrange and clean the prince chamber when he has a male personal servant that attends to him.

To be continued…. 

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