Web of Confusion batch 2

WEB OF CONFUSION”
Episode 2
Ulumma rushed into her mother’s Hut hurriedly without knocking. She just had a nightmare, not just a nightmare..”a vision”.
She met her mother rolling around her raffia bed in pains with her wrapper soaked in blood.
“No No No!!! You can’t succeed! Ugeli the witch of the forest has never conquered the earth goddess before and it cannot start now! Mbanu.. Oma nmee!!(it can’t happen)”She scre-med and ran out to wake her sister Ebere..
“Please go and call Nwanyi Udu”she said and ran back to her mother’s Hut.
“Nne, hold on.. I promise nothing would happen to you or my brother.. Just keep being strong inugo?”
Asa nodded weakly.
She was already bleeding heavily and her eyes was closing slightly but she was determined to hold on for her baby.
Ulumma rushed to the kitchen and Came back with a clay pot filled with water..she rushed back and came in with Aziza(broom).
She put the broom in,side the water and started sprinkling it around the Hut..
“Out… Out I say! Back to whoever sent you!! Tell them the daughter of the earth goddess is here.. Oya out!!”She kept muttering as she sprinkled water all over the Hut.
Suddenly, Asa scre-med in pains.
Ulumma dropped the pot and ran to her..
“Nne ogini? (Mother what is it?)”
“The bleeding has stopped”Asa said weakly..
Ulumma smiled..
Just then, Nwanyi Udu came in with Ebere and told them to leave the Hut while she prepared to help Asa.
********************
Confusion filled the palace as the ndi ichies argued and debated on the issue at hand. Each brought a contrary decision on how to curb the problem of the burial of the Eze.
“Let us go ahead and bury our Eze in the rightful traditional way”Ofor said
“but are we going to ignore the warning of onu-agbala?”Ndulue asked
“Okay.. What do u suggest we do? Throw our king into the evil forest?”Dike fired
“We could still look for another alternative!!”Ndulue said
“What other alternative? Where u sleeping when Onu-agbala said there was no other option?”Ofor fired angrily
“Don’t dare insult me!!”Ndulue flared
“Please calm down everyone”Onowu said
“We are here to protect solution not to argue unending pleaseeee”
Everyone was calm..
“We should make a decision fast. I mean now..”
There was silence everywhere as each of them thought hærd and long.
Finally, they decided to d–n the warnings of the gods and bury their Eze in the right traditional way.
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THE QUEEN’S CHAMBER
Lolo Akunna sat scrumpled at one side of her Hut. She looked pale and sorrowful like someone who just finished crying.
She was in a pure black wrapper with no beads on her neck, head or ankle.
She looked sore and forlorn as she soliloquized slowly.
“I warned him.. I warned Omekannaya but he wouldn’t listen.. now see, am a widow all of a sudden! And now.. The wh0le village would have to suffer for what they know nothing about.. Omekannaya!!!”She busted into tears.
Prince Afam came in at this time.
“Nne what is it? Are u still crying?? I have told u, Nnam is gone and gone forever, there’s nothing to do about it. Please stop tearing yourself up pleaseeee”
Lolo Akunna sniffed repeatedly as her son consoled her.
********************
Olaedo was seen sitting down in the bush amidst fallen trees and shrubs. Her crossed her legs with her left hand on her chin lost in deep thoughts.
A hand tapped her shoulder and she jumped up in fear.
It was Ulumma.
“You! What are u doing here? How did u find me??”Olaedo asked in anger
Ulumma walked slowly towards her.
“Ajonwa, this is the last time I’d warn you to stay clear off my family! What was it with the stupid stunt you tried to play with my mother early this morning?”
“That is none of your business!”Olaedo scre-med
Ulumma smiled
“I thought it was wise for me to warn you first before I dish out my full venom against you.. Ajonwa don’t ever come near my family.. You will hate me even more if u try it”She said and started walking away..
“I am not afraid of you Nwaala!! I am not!!”Olaedo scre-med but Ulumma was already gone..
Episode 3
Okoro’s compound was a beehive of activities. Pots of soup, abacha, yam pottage and ngwogwo was flowing as women cooked. The older men sat at the end of the compound laughing and discussing over calabashes of palmwine, Young men were seen roasting a goat under the ube tree while the young girls and children made endless trips to thee stream to get water for the numerous cooking.
It was in preparation for the naming ceremony of Okoro and Asa’s beautiful baby boy who arrived 7days ago.
The family was overjoyed especially Okoro who atlast now has a heir! And in this spirit, he threw a big party to name his child.
Ebere and Ulumma were not left out as they dotted around their mother like bees over honey answering her every need like a Queen.
The arrival of the baby has indeed brought undiluted Joy to the family.
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NDULUE’S COMPOUND
Adaugo hastenly fed her children (a boy and 2 girls). She needed to be at Ndulue’s compound to help with the cooking as failure to do so would attract a fine from the “Umunne society” of the village.
Her co-wife Omasili was among the women to prepare pots of soup in the morning and she was already back while Mama Nnukwu was exempted from the wh0le exercise because she reported sick and needed to get treatment.
When she was done, she tied her youngest child to her back and ordered the other two to play in,side the compound and not move out till she returned then she made her way to Omasili’s Hut.
“Omasili..”She called gently
No answer
She called twice more before Omasili emerged from the Hut with an angry face.
“Ogini biko? What is it again??”Omasili asked
“Please, I just want to inform you that am on my way to Asa’s place. Am amongst the set of women to prepare the ngwongwo. So please help me keep an eye on my children..I’ll be back early to prepare Nnanyi’s evening meal” Adaugo said slowly.
Omasili nodded and headed back to her hut while Adaugo left..
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THE PALACE
The Ndi Ichie had conveyed again to put finishing touches to the preparation for the grand burial of the king.
The date has been slated for the next two market weeks. It’d be a 7 days event as custom demanded and everything was going as planned.
Onu-agbala had kept his distance as he said and wasn’t included in any of the preparations but these Ichies cared less.
The Prince was invited.
“Ndi Ichie I greet u”Prince Afam greeted
“Nno (welcome)” they said
Onowu cleared his throat “Afamefuna, as u know, the preparations for the burial of your Father, our late Eze is on full gear. The date has been communicated to other villages and as his heir apperant and future king of this Land, I am sure you know the custom and traditions so well. You’ll be crowned King 21 days after the burial of the Eze but you must have a woman by your side as your Lolo. You cannot ascend the great throne of Umuozara without a wife”
Other Ichies nodded in agreement.
“Ndi Ichie, I thank you for this information and I want to tell you that am fully aware of it and I promise to get a wife before I ascend the throne”
*******************
Olaedo was in her Hut eating roasted yam and palm oil with her friends Dimma and Agbomma.
“I’ll be heading to Ulumma’s house after I finish from here” Agbomma announced
Olaedo eyed her
“Me too”Dimma said stuffing yam into her mouth
“And why? What’s the event?”Olaedo asked
“ahahn! Are u a stranger in this village? Don’t you know Ulumma’s mother put to birth 7days ago and today is their naming ceremony?”Agbomma said
“ohh”Olaedo sighed
“Well, I won’t be attending”
“Why?”Dimma asked
“Because.. Well.. Because I don’t want to.. I have something to do today. You girls can go if u wish to..”She said standing up.
Agbomma and Dimma looked at themselves in surprise.
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OKORO’S COMPOUND
the ceremony was now in full gear. The child has been named “Lotanna” and there was eating and drinking everywhere.
Ulumma went into the bush nearby to pee. As she bent down, she felt a presence around her and she jumped up looking everywhere.
“Who are you? Show yourself!!”She scre-med looking around.
Suddenly, Olaedo appeared laughing.
“I thought you claimed to be a tough nut but you were fidgeting moments ago”
Ulumma sighed
“Ajonwa, what do u want?”
“I just came to say hello.. I heard your mother put to birth successfully”Olaedo said with a tone of mockery.
“Ajonwa, I am warning you.. Stop poking your nose into my family affairs. You know me, I will so deal with you.. I’ve beat you once and I’ll do it again.. Stay away from my family!!”
Olaedo laughed long and hærd.
“Nwaala, you’ve become so soft.. Is this what having a family could t-rn one into? That is why I never want to have a family.. I’ll just complete my mission and leave.. Am getting bored of this wh0le place, I miss my home”
“I don’t care about your feelings, and as for your mission, count it as one of your numerous failures because it can never work.. I, Nwaala daughter of the earth is here to stop you!”
Olaedo looked at her with fierce anger
“Umuozara must suffer! Not even you.. Or your mother..can stop me!”
Ulumma smiled
“No need to banter words with you. I’ll cross my legs and watch how you’ll succeed” She started walking around
“Nwaala, we shall see..”Olaedo said
Ulumma turned and face her
“Yes, let’s watch and see..”
TO BE CONTINUED…