EMPIRE – THE RULER (episode 14)

EMPIRE – THE RULER EPISODE 14
© Oladipo Daniel 

The young ladies in the closet, held each other tightly, they have a long gaze. Nothing was heard in the room except the expansion of their nose as it breathed in and out. They both knew that was the last night spent together as friends. Now they spoke out as they let go of each other.

BANKE
I will be your sister in the next life, I promise.

RONKE
There you go again (tears rolled down her cheek)

BANKE
(Softly)
You don’t have to make me cry too. Pls stop!

RONKE
Make sure you stay safe and enjoy your new life.

BANKE
And you too, just that you will miss your parents.

RONKE
(sweetly)
 I wish destiny could dance in our favour but what shall we do?

BANKE
(Mimicked)
Destiny? What destiny. Our lives is in some people’s hand: the people of power.

It was evening, everyone was busy on one or two things preparing for tomorrow wedding. King Adedapo commanded Dayo to be brought for punishment. In the open space outside the palace, he was forced to kneel down and a stick of 10 inches wide was tied across his shoulder with his two hands separated and tied at the each edge of the stick. The King commanded the guards to wh¡p him till he nearly lost his breath. None of the ladies in the palace could stay to look at him as he was being beaten, they ran in,side their rooms. The king told them not to kill him but postponed his death as entertainment for him shortly after his wedding. So Dayo was left alone outside the palace lifeless till the next day.

Finally the long awaited day has come, everything was set. Visitors were trooping in and out of the palace, kings and important personas, gradually the palace became market. Banke was dressily prepared to be married. In the lobby were the visitors were awaiting, there was silent discussion amongst them. Some people said they were scared of staying long under Adedapo’s roof, they said his house is under curse. Some said he had issued with the gods. Despite this side talk, they could not leave because as powerful Adedapo is, he can deal with them and their villages nor neither could they say to his face… The King was in his closet, his loyal guard ran in,side breathing heavily. The king asked why he ran in,side or maybe there is something pursuing him.

GUARD 3
(Tiredly)
My lord, I cannot talk until you invited more people into this room.

The King was quite aware of the signal, it was a parable, so he ordered the people who were dressing him to leave and to ensure nobody came in.

KING
Now, I order you to talk.

GUARD 3
My lord, it is unspeakable. My mouth is too tiny to speak what my eyes saw.

KING
I repeat, I command you speak.

GUARD 3
If I tell you, o! Heaven, who will understand me. This is too much for me to say…

KING
Are you alright at all?

GUARD 3
(He touched himself, tested his temperature)
My lord, I don’t know too. It seems my blood is short. In fact, my head is not on my body.

KING
See! Imbecile, today is my joyous day, you cannot come here and ruin it. I advise you go back now and make yourself available for the work I gave you.

GUARD 3
Work? What a mess! There is no more wedding my lord.

KING
What rubbish are you saying?

GUARD 3
Who will help me explain my mind?

KING
Hello, I thought you have recovered from this madness. If you just let me send out those people without you saying anything, better leave now before I change my mind.

GUARD 3
Your Highness, pls kill me, I need to join my mother in her grave. I need to be free from the trouble of this cruel world.

KING
(Assuredly)
I will definitely kill you but still want you accomplish my request. Now get out.

He stood up leaving and suddenly turned back to the King, prostrated.

KING
What again!

GUARD 3
Yes my lord, I have remembered.

KING
That?

GUARD 3
The lady, your son wife-to-be…

KING
(angrily)
You must be crazy, point of correction. She is my wife to be, ok?

GUARD 3
Yes, you’re definitely right. She is ehm!

KING
(shouted)
She is what!

GUARD 3
I saw her, she did not know. I followed her steadily. She went on and on and on…

KING
So what happened?

GUARD 3
To the back side into the tiny darkness. She went on and…

KING
And?

GUARD 3
I don’t know.

KING
(Furiously)
Get out!

GUARD 3
(shivering)
My lord, I will talk.

KING
Is she dead like my son again?

GUARD 3
 Not yet my lord, maybe soon. I saw her meeting a man behind.

The King was shocked, who must have been the man meeting my to-be-wife?  He asked himself. His anger skyrocketed, he began to praise himself singing his ancestral panegyric.

To be continued

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