Queen of Queens episode 17 – 18

Queen of Queens

Episode 17

Blood trickled on the ground; blood splashed on the faces of those that stood near. The earth was pregnant with blood.

Ono busied himself in the kitchen hut, boiling lots of water which the healer had asked for. He was slightly happy that his brother had returned to life. Onoifiok was now able to sit up and eat, though lightly but his strength had not returned fully.

“His strength shall be fully restored when I place him on the herbs, I will need cowries to do that” the Healer had said to him.

‘May the gods favor me before the princess’ he sighed and stared at the crackling fire.

‘And why do you seek favor before the princess’? Mmaffiong stood at the entrance of the kitchen hut.

She had walked in on him soliloquizing, at the mention of the name she feared most, her heart leaped and she started to wonder if her sister had been right after all. What if Ono was falling for the princess?

‘No, he cannot betray me’ she thought in her heart.

‘My darling’ Ono leaped to his feet at the sound of that sweet voice.

‘My love…’ Mma was happy to see him and wondered why he looked really tired.

‘You look refreshing, you look beautiful’ he scanned her lovely golden brown eyes and her hair that was packed into one.

‘Thank you’ she smiled, still not sure whether to repeat her question about the princess.

‘Onoifiok is ill, that is why I am here, boiling this amount of water as requested by the healer’ he pointed his hands at the massive black pot on the hearth.

‘I am so sorry, where is he? Can I see him’? Mma asked she loved Onoifiok like her own younger brother. He was respectful and nice, just like his elder brother, the man she had fallen in love with.

‘No, only the healer can be with him now’ Ono replied and moved towards her.

Though he reeked of smoke and sweat, she wasn’t repelled by his raw scent; tiredness marked his eyes and something else, it was a worry.

‘You are so lovely’ he fingered her supple cheeks.

‘What is wrong Ono, are you not happy to see me’? She asked.

‘No. Far from it, tell me, how did your family receive you’? He asked, and then fetched two chairs from the hut.

‘Badly. My father died mysteriously and Nkoyo had buried him without informing the chief priest; she sent me out of the house’ Mma expounded to Ono everything that happened to her.

‘If not for Eka, I don’t know where I would’ve taken shelter’ she sighed.

‘Here, of course, I don’t care what people would’ve said, what matters is the love that we share’ he reached out and grabbed her hands.

‘Do you really love me Ono’? She asked.

‘Yes, more than everything’ he replied.

‘Would you ever break my heart’?

‘Why all these questions? Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me’? He scoffed and let go of her hands. He had never seen her this way.

‘I am sorry if my questions offended you, I just want to be sure’ she still wasn’t satisfied with the answers she had gotten. Ono seemed to hide something away from her, he seemed really evasive and she had never seen this part of him.

‘I need the cowries I gave you to keep for our marriage back’ Ono blurted out, he didn’t know how to tell her. He didn’t want her to be so disappointed in him.

‘Why? Don’t you want to marry me again’? Tears welled up in her eyes.

‘No. The healer that is treating Ono wants A hundred cowries and seven turtles, I need to gather all I can before my brother’s state worsens’ he replied.

‘Okay…’ she quickly wiped her face and dispelled her fears.

‘I shall bring it to you this night’ she replied.

‘The Princess offered me a job at the palace, I had rejected it at first, but now, I’ll take it; she promised to pay handsomely’ Ono said to her.

At the mention of Princess Obot, her heart raced; what if Ono had already fallen in love with the princess? What if he was only giving her lame excuses?

‘I don’t want you to work in the palace’ she said coolly.

‘Why’? Ono raised his brow, wondering where she was headed.

‘Please, don’t’ she begged.

‘So you want my brother to die’? He raised a brow.

‘No, not at all, you can sell your yams and grains; don’t work in the palace if you love me’ she begged.

‘I cannot believe this’ Ono rose to his feet. He had not seen this side of Mma before; this insensitive side that lacked care and love for his younger brother.

‘How much yams do you think I will sell to make much money? I need this job and I will take it with or without your consent’ he replied sternly.

‘That is a measure of how much you love me’ she hissed angrily and walked away from him.

Ono felt hurt she would treat him like that; why was she in such a foul mood? What demon had possessed her vessel?

‘Abasi! What has come over this girl’? He stared at her.

‘She must have found herself another lover’ his father strolled towards him, the old man had listened in on their conversation.

‘Father? Don’t say that, Mma cannot do something like that’ Ono replied coolly. He trusted her with his heart.

‘Don’t delude yourself son. I am your father and you are my son. Be wise. Why would she ask you to risk your only brother’s life for love? And why would she hiss at your presence? She has lost it, she is no longer worthy of your love, let her be’ the old man advised.

‘But what could provoke such a change’? He wondered.

‘Mma is a black beauty; surely other men have eyes on her. The way I see it, a richer man has asked for her hand and she is reluctant to tell you; instead, she is trying to manipulate you not to work in the palace, so that if you say no, she would use that as the basis to break upon you’ the old man explained.

‘No, Mma cannot cheat on me’ Ono replied coolly and walked away from his father.

‘May you live long father’ Afiama bowed her head before the chief.

‘Where are you off to’? He asked she seemed to be in a hurry.

‘I sent the men to take out my greatest threat, Mmaffiong and I have faith she has been killed; I must go now to the palace and convince the princess to go ahead with her plans’ Afiama replied.

‘Go well then, I shall join you in the palace too, a meeting with the king’ he replied.

‘Alright father’ she bowed and hurried out of her father’s hut.

She needed to convince Obot to march forward with her plans to have an affair with Ono; now Mmaffiong was out of the way, he would be hers.

She took a short route to the palace and was surprised at the activities that went on there.

‘What is going on here’? She asked one of the guards.

‘The Princes of Obodom have arrived, we prepare to welcome them’ he replied.

‘Prince Iboro is around’? Her heart leaped, the excitement laced with her voice was thick. She missed her lover, she couldn’t wait to see him again.

She couldn’t wait to k-ss him, to embrace him and to make love to him.

‘Where is the princess’? She asked.

‘In her chambers’ the guard replied and then she took off.

She drew a deep breath and knocked twice ‘It is I, Afiama, your friend’.

‘Come right in’ Princess Obot replied in a low tone.

‘What is it my friend? You don’t look happy’ Afiama noticed.

‘You can all go out now, leave us’ Obot snapped her fingers and her beauticians rushed out of the room.

‘Your hair is really beautiful’ Afiama scanned the tiny balls of periwinkles that her hair had been knotted into.

Episode 18

‘Your hair is really beautiful’ Afiama scanned the tiny balls of periwinkles that her hair had been knotted into.

‘Thank you’ Obot smiled briefly.

‘Talk to me, what is it’? Afiama could read the princess like a book. She knew when she was happy and when she was sad or when she was to be left alone.

As she stared into her face, she realized that her friend was worried and greatly bothered about something.

‘Are you aware that Prince Iboro is in town’? Princess Obot rose to her feet and walked towards the window of the hut.

‘Yes,’ Afiama nodded, knowing where this led.

‘I don’t know what to do. I can’t keep Ono out of my head; why can’t I get over him? Maybe what I feel is just infatuation, maybe it is not real. I wish I never met him; my life would’ve been much easier. Now Iboro is in town, I mustn’t see him again’ tears welled up in her eyes.

‘No, don’t say that….’ Afiama had not expected this if the Princess went back on Ono, it meant she had no chance to win the Prince for herself.

‘It’s the truth and it is glaring me in the face’ Obot cried.

‘No. If you really like something, you pursue it, you go after it. It may not be love, but you should explore it. Remember I told you the Prince sleeps with servant girls, you’re free to enjoy yourself at least before your marriage to him’ Afiama advised.

‘But Ono doesn’t even like me, he does not tremble at my beauty; that Mmaffiong girl has possessed his entire being. I hate her, I hate all of her’ she spat out.

‘Mmaffiong would no longer be a problem’ Afiama moved towards her and placed a calming hand on her shoulder.

‘How? Why’? Obot swirled round.

‘She is dead’ Afiama replied.

‘Really? You kil..led her’? Obot asked.

‘I am ready to do anything to make you happy; now Mma is out of the way, Ono is yours. Fight hærd for him and win his love’ Afia advised.

‘Thank you so much, you’re the best friend in the world’ she threw her hands and hugged her.

‘You’re welcome, now you must wipe your tears. The Prince is here’ Afiama saw her warrior walking into the palace with his men.

‘Why is he not with his father’? Obot wondered she had thought he had come to marry her.

The entrance of the Prince and his men was marked by loud beating of drums and singing of the people; it was garnished with the Ekom bi and Abang dancers.

Women ululated with their smooth voices; men in the palace and the throne house all rose to their feet, acknowledging the majesty of the Prince; all men were up except the King and Queen of Ajop Kingdom.

‘Stop’! The King halted the drummers and the dancers.

‘Welcome to my land, Prince Iboro of Obodom’ The King stepped out of his throne room.

‘My father…’ Iboro bowed his head before the king.

‘Son, where is your brother, I heard you were two’ the King asked.

‘Udo is at the bank of the great river, he is with some men. He would join me later in the palace’ Iboro replied.

‘And your father? He promised to be here for the marriage rites’ the King felt a little bit disappointed.

‘He will. I did not come here for the hand of the Princess’ he replied.

The King was startled by this statement, had he come to break the engagement with his daughter?

‘No, I came to solve the puzzle hovering round her attack’ Iboro quickly ch¡pped in. He had read the fear in the man’s eyes and he knew where that fear came from and what that fear meant.

‘You are a fearless man, just like your father. I am proud of you’ the King smiled.

‘You see, those behind her attack have not yet been found; we have questioned the gods; offered sacrifices, but they have been silent. It is really a puzzle Prince’ The King said.

‘My King, the gods are always silent when we need them most and so at that point, man must rise to defend himself, with or without the help of the gods’ Iboro returned.

The King simply, nodded, all the more marveled by the wisdom of the Prince. He was extremely happy, his daughter would end up with him.

‘Say a few words to the people and join me in the throne house’ the King whispered to him and left.

He scanned the faces of the people that had come to welcome him. Truly, the people of Ajop were hospitable and it pleased his heart and soul that they will welcome him in their numbers.

‘I send greetings to you all from my father and the people of Obodom. I came here with my younger brother, Prince Udo who will join me later here. I am very pleased with your dancing. Ajop is blessed with culture, with color and beauty…’ he paused as his eyes landed on the maidens that had danced.

‘I came here to find those that attacked my princess and I would not rest till I find them’ he raised his staff.

‘May your days be long’ The crowd cheered and applauded him.

He felt elated by this gesture, his happiness knew no bounds as his eyes fell on the Princess, who had just stepped out of her chambers in the company of her maids.

He clutched firmly to his staff to settle his shaky hands; he wanted to hug her and k-ss her breathless but he had to be in control before the people.

She had taken in all what Afiama had said, all she needed was to wear a mask and act like everything was okay.

‘My love…’ she grinned widely as she reached where he stood.

‘My darling…’ The Prince bowed before her.

‘You are welcome to my palace’ Obot smiled and knelt before him.

‘Rise’ he commanded her and then snapped his fingers at his men.

The men came along with gifts for the Princess and her family.

‘I came bearing gifts’! The Prince raised his staff once again and the people cheered.

His smile faded easily as he s₱0tted Afiama among the crowd; his brother’s words begun to ring in his ears: “You must end things with her before it is too late”.

 

Her heart was heavy as she returned to the hut where she now lived with her sister Eka. She had never seen Ono that way, he seemed determined and wouldn’t even consider her plea.

She knew how important saving his brother’s life was, but she was afraid her sister was right; what if he actually fell in love with the princess? What if he abandoned her when she needed him the most?

Tears welled up in her eyes as the scene of them arguing replayed in her mind; she had never argued or had cause to be upset with him. No, it had never occurred before. They were always happy and should any misunderstanding arise, they would settle it immediately and not afterward.

Something had changed about Ono, she noticed this; she had expected him to run after her while she was leaving his compound, but he didn’t; he simply watched her walk away and this troubled her greatly.

‘Eka? I am back home’ she wiped her face with the back of her hand, she couldn’t let her sister see her this way; she didn’t want to give Eka the satisfaction of knowing she had been right.

‘Sorry I took so long, I had to go see Ono, I found out that his brother was ill’ she continued but she heard nothing.

‘She must have gone to the river for more fish’ Mma sighed, knowing how much of a fish lover Eka was.

She walked to the back of the hut where Mma stayed to roast fish and fetched a stool back to the frontage of the house where she decided to settle.

She recalled Mma’s statement about the princes, about one of them falling for her; this caused her to chuckle.

‘Impossible’ she muttered to herself. Princes were meant for princesses, not that she cared though; she only hoped that Ono realized this and stayed away from Princess Obot who would never be his’.

The heat of the sun rose from the clouds and reached where she stood, casting a shadow behind her. That was it, she had waited enough for her sister, she was tired of the scorching cruelty of the sun.

To be continued….