Queen of Queens episode 13 – 14

Queen of Queens

Episode 13

Ono was too impatient to listen to the man; his eyes strayed to the lifeless body of his younger brother.

‘No, no, this cannot happen’ Ono pushed his father back and moved closer to the boy’s body.

It was all like a dream, one moment ago, he had been thinking of how excited he would be to hear the news about his visit to the princess.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he scanned his brother’s body.

‘What happened’? He managed.

‘I found him foaming at the mouth as I returned from fetching goat fodder’ the older man replied.

Ono’s eyes flickered all over his brother till he found something strange, his ribs were moving, his heart was still beating.

‘Get the healer! Get the healer, we could save his life’ Ono pointed at the rise and fall of Onoifiok’s beating heart.

With wobbly legs, the old man fetched his walking stick and rushed out of the hut towards the healer that lived nearby.

‘I would do anything to save your life; I promise you that’ Ono whispered gently, knowing how painful it would be if his father, after witnessing the death of their mother would also witness the death of Ono.

‘I cannot allow that to happen. I must find a way out of this’ he sobbed.

‘She is here’ his father returned with the healer.

‘You’re welcome, Abia’ Ono bowed his head in reverence.

‘Move away, let me have a look at the boy’ the healer ignored his greetings and made for the lean and frail looking body on the mat.

She was a stout middle-aged woman, who was neither married nor had children; she devoted her lives to curing people of all manner of disease.

She dropped the raffia bag that contained herbs, seeds, potions and charms which she used in treating her patients.

Her short and rough-edged fingers traveled Ono’s body, from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot.

‘He would’ve died, the gods spared his life’ she stood to her feet after her examination.

‘May the gods be praised’ Ono released the breath he had been holding.

‘Yes may the gods be praised, but the gods cannot do for man what man can do for himself’ the healer scoffed.

‘What is it you want Abia’? Ono’s father asked.

‘The boy is epileptic, it starts later in some victims’ she replied flatly.

Ono exchanged glances with his father, epilepsy was an abominable disease and he was sure no one suffered it in their family.

He was about to question the healer’s diagnosis when his father cut into his thoughts.

‘How can we treat my son’? The older man asked.

‘I can cure him totally, but the cure is very expensive’ she replied.

‘Expensive? How many cowries’? Ono’s heart skipped at the mention of money.

‘A hundred cowries and seven live tortoises’ she gestured with her fingers.

‘A hundred cowries? That is too much’ Ono was gravely scared at such a high price.

‘Go on, ask around, I am the best healer in the Ajop Kingdom; I treated the Princess when she was injured by her attackers; if you really want your brother alive, find the means to get the cowries’ the Abia replied in a stern voice and moved towards the door.

‘Please, you cannot leave him this way, I promise to give you the money once you commence treatment’ Ono fell on his knees; he couldn’t just fold his hands and watch his brother die.

‘Swear by the gods that you will not go back on your word’ she dug a hand from her medicine bag and brought out a charm.

‘Ono…’ his father moved to stop him, the old man’s heart was broken; by swearing to the gods, Ono was putting his life at risk and he didn’t want to lose two sons at the same time.

‘I can do this’ Ono replied confidently and took the oath.

Once he was done swearing, the healer dropped her medicine bag and moved to work on the boy who was growing stiff.

‘Get me some hot water’ the healer instructed.

Ono quickly rushed towards the kitchen to start a fire, not before his father had interrupted him.

‘Where do you plan to get a hundred cowries? You don’t even have up to thirty cowries, the price for Mma’s hand’? The man was greatly shaken.

‘Don’t worry father, the Princess offered me a job, I think I will accept it’ he reassured the old man of his safety as the Mbiam gods were very deadly.

Night had fallen upon the Kingdom of Ajop; leaves were carried upwards by the gentle night wind that breathed upon the land.

The sounds of night birds, evil and good resonated throughout the land. The eyes of the stars searched out the silhouette of men and women that had not retired to their huts.

The moon stood still, smiling her silver smile and watching all who walked underneath her full glare.

She was lost in the beauty of the night; she was lost in the beauty of his eyes as she stared at the moon.

‘Mmafffiong’ she whispered his lover’s name and became jealous once again.

As she stared at the silver moon, her hate for Ono’s lover budded. He seemed so devoted to her; their bond was so strong.

No man had ever resisted her charms; no man had ever turned down her offer, not even her father the king.

How then could he turn down her request for him to work in the palace? She had it all planned, with him around in the palace, she would never grow lovesick, but he had turned her down.

She felt hurt and humiliated but she didn’t show it; she was lost, was she to give up on him? Was she to stay?

She heard a loud tap on her door, she hesitated at first, what servant would dare knock on her door? She wasn’t expecting anything or anyone.

‘My Princess open the door, I have come to beg your forgiveness’.

‘Go away, you belittled me’ Obot drew a deep breath and steadied her voice. She couldn’t let anyone know about her feelings for Ono.

‘But I can help you out; you cannot deny what is in your heart. You were only enraged because I spoke the truth and the truth is not sweet, it is like bitter cola’ Afiama replied.

‘And what is the truth’ The Princess moved majestically towards her door and pulled it open.

‘That you are in love with the man that saved your life’ Afiama spoke in a whisper and bowed her head.

Princess Obot’s face lit up as she heard her friend voice out her innermost thoughts.

‘How did you know that my heart craves his attention’? She pressed her hand against her chest.

‘I felt it from the first day we both set our eyes on him, I can help you out; just trust me’ Afiama offered.

‘But it is wrong, it is abominable, what if Prince Iboro finds out? His father could declare war upon our land’ She replied.

This was what she needed, the opportunity and chance to play out her plans.

Afiama broke into laughter, she laughed till the dim lantern of the hut picked the light traces of tears on her cheeks.

‘And what is funny’? The Princess raised a brow.

Episode 14

‘And what is funny’? The Princess raised a brow.

‘Don’t let any man fool you, what makes you think the Prince has been faithful to you this wh0le time’? She scoffed.

‘Yes, of course, Prince Iboro is in love with me and I can swear he has never cheated’ Obot was sure of this.

‘Don’t be naïve princess, Iboro is a good looking man and sleeps with his serving girls; he unleashes his passion on them’ Afiama moved closer to her friend.

‘So are you saying his love for me is not real’? Obot began to doubt his love.

‘His love may be real, but that is not the point. The point is that he is not as faithful as you think; maybe you should enjoy yourself too’ she bit her lip and focused on the light.

‘But Iboro would kill me if he finds out I am not a V-rgin’ Obot was amazed by her friend’s boldness.

‘Don’t worry, when we get to that river, we shall cross it together’ Afiama replied.

‘I feel so much better talking to you, swear my secret is safe’.

‘I swear by my mother’s grave’ Afiama replied.

‘I love him so much; I even offered him a job here in the palace but he rejected it and I felt so hurt’ she relayed her feelings to her friend.

‘I want him Afia, I want him so badly’ tears welled up in her eyes; she had never desired anyone in this way before,; she had never wanted a man like this.

‘From the little I heard earlier, he has a lover’ Afiama replied in an icy voice.

‘Mmaffiong’ the princess eagerly offered.

‘They must be greatly in love, that is the reason he cannot realize how beautiful you are; you, whose beauty transcends the world we live in; whose beauty is beyond what has been seen; how can a man refuse that’? Afiama was equally shocked herself.

Ono was a rare gem.

‘So what do I do? How do I get him for myself’? Obot was restless.

‘Get rid of Mmaffiong, only then shall his heart turn towards you’ Afiama was sure of this, this was the only way her own plans could work out.

‘Get rid of her’? Obot was startled.

‘How much do you like Ono’? Afiama stared at her friend intently.

‘With everything in me’ Obot confessed.

‘Then be willing to get your hands dirty if you must find love’.

Her face was bright, brighter than the moon; filled with expectation and hope for great things.

Obot had finally played into her hands and she would make use of this opportunity, to turn things around for herself.

She ran all the way from the palace towards her father’s hut to discuss her latest discovery; they needed to create a plan, one that would serve them well.

‘Why does my daughter come home so late’? Chief Nkwo, the king’s adviser heard her light footsteps approach his hut.

‘Father…our dream has finally come to pass’ tears of joy streamed down Afiama’s face as she joined her father in the hut.

‘Did you meet with the prince? Did he propose love to you’? He rose to his feet, he could see the excitement written all over his daughter’s face.

‘No, but I have means with which to achieve that’ she replied.

‘Tell me your plans child’ he returned to his wooden seat.

‘She has fallen in love with the man that saved her from her attackers; she confessed it to me’ Afiama narrated in detail all that the princess had told her.

She saw a glow of satisfaction in her father’s eyes; she felt happy he was proud of her for seizing this opportunity.

‘So what do you plan’? He asked.

‘To gain her trust, to manipulate her and to blackmail her’ Afiama replied with determination.

‘You are free, I am solidly behind you. The throne of Obodom belongs to us and no one can take that away’ the chief replied.

‘Yes, first I must get rid of her opponent that is the only way to make her trust me’ Afiama replied.

She had many men that worked for her and did all her father’s dirty jobs; she would find one of them and end Mmaffiong for good.

Mmaffiong became a stumbling block to her plans because if she were still alive, Ono would never fall in love with Princess Obot; and she needed that to happen by all means.

‘Death to you Mmaffiong’ she rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

‘Mmaffiong’! Eka shook her sister at the sound of the c*ck’s crow.

‘It is morning, we must find something to eat, I came with some spices and yams but it wouldn’t be complete without fish’ Eka shook her gently.

‘You want us to go the river’? Mma raised her brow.

‘Yes, it is not too far from here, I know a route that would take us closer to it’ Eka replied and moved towards her basket to fetch the hook and the net which they will use.

‘I am surprised father kept this hut away from your mother, does Ekpo know about this hut’? Mma rose to her feet.

She had thoroughly enjoyed her sleep on the bamboo bed her father used for his mistress, but she still needed to be sure that they were safe.

If her stepmother found out she was with Eka, all hell would be let loose and she was going to be sent away, she didn’t need that now.

‘I don’t think he does’ Eka replied, she alone knew about her father’s hut.

‘Now come, it is always good to fish in the early morning or late at night’ Eka moved to the door and called to her.

‘After you’ Mma smiled and fetched a mirror from her basket of wrappers.

Her eyes seemed weak and sad; they were black rings beneath them; there was no glow on her skin; she had totally changed overnight.

‘I must see him today, I must show him gratitude for everything’ she smiled at the thought of Ono. Once she was settled, she would tell him everything that happened including her father’s death and secret burial.

She fetched her soap and decided bathing in the river would be a good way to refresh herself.

Two rivers flowed through Ajop, one that was at the center of the land and the other, close to the boundary that separated Obodom and Ajop.

One could use the latter to travel to Obodom, and from Obodom to the other Annang lands.

‘You look so happy, what’s the secret’? Eka glanced at her sister’s pretty face. It wasn’t a hidden thing that Mmaffiong was much prettier than she was but she never felt envious. She had always loved and pitied her sister when her mother ill-treated her, but she had no choice but to stand back or face Nkoyo’s wrath.

‘Sister, I have much to be happy about. I have a roof over my head and here we are going fishing? It is only the hands of the gods that can do this’ Mma replied.

‘Are you sure’? Eka laughed, she could swear her sister was thinking about someone she really loved.

To be continued….