Urenma episode 25 – 26
Urenma
Chapter 25
The entire land of Ukeh knew that someday the two children would achieve greater things than their parents. But in the meantime they were awed by the
thunderstorm which removed Urenma’s
bones from her grave.
On a certain eke market day, the sound of music was heard heading toward Ukeh and a large crowd followed a man. Ukeh did not know what the celebration was for.
Obinze had drawn a crowd to himself as he passed through villages on his way to Ukeh. The legend who saved their lands when Ogidi came and had gone to the lands of the spirit to bring back his wife was on his back home. When Obinze and the entoutage which followed him drew near to the eke market, people came out to see what the sound of music was for; and there in the midst of overly excited men and women was Obinze.
The effect of Obinze’s return was beyond
words. In Ukeh and the lands around it, a big celebration began. To impress Obinze young men came to wrestle at the village square.
Foods and drinks were made available by
the rich men of Ukeh and the villages around them.
When Obinze had peeled himself away from
the people who swarmed around him, he
blocked off time for his children and
Urenma’s parents. They were the only ones he told the details of his journey to the river world; however he did not tell them about the beast from the sky and the small wooden ring. “In a few days Urenma shall return.
In battles I won her hand in marriage”.
Ngbankwo and Okeke were filled with joy.
They didn’t mind her being a goddess; she was their daughter for all they cared.
Obiakor and Olachi cried in excitement that their mother was coming back. When
Ngbankwo and Okeke left to attend to their increasing guest, Obiakor and Olachi jumped on Obinze and wouldn’t let go of him. In between some hunter with his father.
Obiakor would pinch him to know if he was still human. “Papa you mean you fought against spirits and beat them” quizzed Obiakor “Yes I fought them and many for that matter. I also beheld the gods, my eyes saw them. I have some friends there now”.
“You do?” asked Olachi “Yes Ola, a plant and a fish. They helped me in my most
challenging time. And when your mother was imprisoned in a cage, the fish helped her”.
“What! They put my mother in a cage! Which of the spirits did that?” asked Obiakor “The gods”, “I see; someday I shall go there to take a wife and the gods shall tell me why they put my mother in a cage”, boasted Obiakor “Obiakor, the river world is not a
place you want to go. If not for love, I
wouldn’t have gone there” “Papa you have
just returned, soon you will hear of me. I am ome ka nna ya(a son who behaves like his father). Everything you have done so far I shall do and much more”. “I see your grandmother has been feeding you stories”.
“Even me papa, a prince shall come from
the river world to marry me” said Olachi. “So Ola, you will go to live in the river world?”
“No, the prince shall live here in Ukeh with me”.
“I can see that you two have planned your future already. I have to leave now to go and speak with the elders, in a few days your mother shall return”. Obinze’s children grudgingly let him go. When he sat with the elders, Obinze told them the much he could and explained the thunderstorm, “That was the gods preparing to return my wife Urenma. In a few days she shall be with us”.
“When she returns, we shall give her a great feast. And also the post you left as the chief of all the lands around us is still waiting for you” responded the elders “I have no desire for that position now; I have missed my family for long, maybe when my wife returns,
we will discuss if I should take it again”. And so the preparations were made in readiness to welcome her.
Days and weeks passed and there was no
sign of Urenma, Obinze began to wonder if the gods had beguiled him and locked his wife in a cage again. To make matters worse, Akputa, the medince man who helped him cross into the river world was dead. To say the least, Obinze was worried; however when people asked him about Urenma’s return, he would answer cheerfully that she would soon be with them.
Sick and tried of waiting for their mother to return, one early morning, Obiakor and Olachi set to Nwangele River to demand that the gods return their mother to them. When they reached the river, Obiakor was the first to speak “Hear me ye spirits under this river,
your sin of refusing to release my mother to her family and that of putting her in a cage, are amongst many sins whose consequences you shall bear. I shall find a way into the river world in this life or in another, and when I leave, there shall be no river world. I
am OBIAKOR OBINZE, the son of a goddess
and a warrior who fought spirits and
prevailed. I am not like my father! I am half human and a half spirit and this you know well! I demand that this day you release Urenma my mother or wait for my wrath!”
Obiakor cast some local currency into the river and stepped aside for his sister to address the gods in Nwangele
Chapter 26
“I am Olachi the daughter of Obinze and
Urenma the princess of the gods! My brother
has spoken well. When he makes his match
upon the river world, I shall be by his side!
Don’t forget I am also half human and half
spirit!” she also cast some money into the
river and they both turned to leave.
Behind their backs, Nwangele River began to
tumble and rage. The two children did not
run, they made their stand; Obiakor drew his
machete and Olachi pulled two small blades
from her wrapper. They were too navie.
They had not seen a battle before; neither
did they know what it meant to fight in one.
All they heard was their grand-mother’s tales
about their father. They knew nothing about
how spirits fought. However the two little
children stood their ground and waited to
fight whatever came out of the river. It was
in their blood, it was their nature, and they
would fight till death. On their feet they
stood and their eyes strained on Nwangele
River. The trees around shook as a mighty
wind blew upon the river. From the river a
slowing head with dazzling flock of hairs
began to emerge. When they saw the
creature in the river, Obiakor turned and
looked at his sister. Together with a shout,
they leapt into the air to descend upon the
infernal creature which was coming out of
the river. A hand glowing like the rest of its
body came out of the river and suspendend
the two child mid-air. They trashed all they
could to break tree, but they were not match
for what had crawled out of Nwangele River.
When the whole figure emerged from the
river, it was Urenma. She had returned. As
she walked out of the river, Urenma lowered
them to the ground.
The two children did not recognize her
immediately, but when she spoke her voiced
struck a chord, “What are you two doing
here?” Lifting their eyes in shock, they
shouted and embraced her. “Ola we made
it!” shouted Obiakor. “Yes we scared the
gods mama is back!” responded Olachi.
“Shut up you two!” Urenma shouted tenderly
at her children. She continued, “The gods are
angry at your words. They said I should warn
you two or else they will afflict you with
otolo (Diarrhea). Your words were actually
too big for your ages; you shouldn’t use
them next time. The gods rejected your
money now you can have them back”. She
gave them back their money. Obiakor and
his sister were too excited to bother about
what the gods thought, in spite of their
mother’s warning, they believed it was their
threat that made the gods release their
mother.
“We scared the river world mama!” Obiakor
said excitedly. “We were ready to fight for
your release mama!” Olachi added. From
how they sounded, Urenma realized she
would never convince them that their words
amounted to nothing, so she decided to
humour them, “When you spoke, the river
gods trembled and crouched on their knees
and begged me to return to the world of men
before my children would destroy their
world”.
Her words made them go berserk with
excitement. Olachi climbed her mother like a
tree and hung herself on her back, while
Obiakor held unto her right arm firmly.
Joyfully the three walked back to the village.
Urenma’s return was celebrated like a
festival. Obinze was happy that his efforts
were not in vain. The gods honoured their
words and sent Urenma back to Ukeh.
Ngbankwo and Okeke were happier than
anyone to see their daughter return. Urenma
no longer had any need to hide her true
nature, everyone knew who she was and she
was free to use her power. Urenma like her
old self who wanted the best in all things for
Obinze convinced him to take back the
chieftaincy position which Ukeh and the
lands around them offered him. Happily they
lived until NTANI, a younger princess of the
gods paid Urenma a visit………
NTANI’S VISIT
“There is a conspiracy by the gods to bring
you back Urenma”, said Ntani. “But I have
only arrived here”. “Yes, but Nshaa and the
other elder gods do not like your stay
amongst men. They hate it that a mortal
man achieved heroies in their world and took
their princess to his world. They seek his
distruction and your return to the river
world”. The gods were smarting over
Obinze’s success against them, and to undo
him they decided to send emissaries to
Akama Oghe to exhume the bones of Ojadili,
the greatest wrestler in igbo folklore. He
fought against men and spirits and
prevailed. No man or spirit could bring him
down in a wrestling match. The gods in their
secret chamber planned to bring him back
amongst men.
They would have him challenge Obinze in a
wrestling match organized by the gods for
Urenma to return to the river world. Their
secret design was for Ojadili to kill Obinze.
“Urenma this is the scheme of the elder
gods and you cannot stand against them
alone. You need us- the princesses of the
gods. We will join forces with you and seek
the help of other gods. You are not in
Ojadili’s class; he will destroy Obinze and
bring you back to the river world”.
To Be Continued….