DIAMOND IN THE FOREST Episode 28
Written By Amah’s Heart
Ope walked round the market to make sure she has gotten everything the princess sent her to buy.
As she was about going she sighted a young boy, she recognized the boy
very well, despite he has increased in height and body she still know
who he was
He wanted to buy fufu from a older woman who seem to be smiling while talking with him
Ope quickly walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder, he quickly
turned and looked at Ope with a confused face before greeting her
“Eka sun (good afternoon)
“Ba wo ni (how are you)
“O wa pa (I’m fine)
“Do you know me…or let me say do you remember me…?
“Rara o (not at all)
“Are you through with what you came to buy or you still want to buy other things?
” I’m through…I just want to wrap up the fufu and I will be on my way…
Ope nooded as he collected the fufu and greeted the woman cheerfully and they both Left the market together.
“Oru ko mi ni Ope (my name is Ope) I work in the palace…and I was close to your sister Remi before she was banished… I’m deeply sorry for your late sister and also your late mother, Remi was a nice maiden but she has so much enemies than friends and they plot together to destroy her…I am sorry… what is your name again..
“My name is Dami and I live with my grandma now, she sent me to buy somethings at the market, the woman you saw me talking with use to be Maami’s friend, they usually sit together in this market and sell their fufu but ever since maami passed on she has never stopped giving me and my grandma free fufu, she refuse to collect money from me, she said maami was kind to everyone including her, maami will give her last meal to a total stranger and go hungry… Maami’s death is still a shock to her and to those she was close to, it sound so unbelievable because she was looking healthy on the last day she came to market and the following day she was gone… followed by my pregnant elder sister being banished, I thought the world has come to an end but I’m glad to be among the living. well, I think remember you now. My sister do mention your name sometimes back then… how’s the palace and the Oba…we hard that he is very ill, hope he is getting better?
“The palace is cold as usual…it was as if your sister took the color along when she left… the palace is never the same but we all go about our rightful duty as we called to and as for the Oba… we are still hoping on the gods for him to get better…I hard this morning that two of the cabinet men are also sick and the native doctors has gone to attend to them…no one knows what is happening… only the gods sees in secret…
“My grandma said so… she said many will become sick and the kingdom will be torn apart… the seed of crown which happens to be the diamond in the forest will be sorted after… she said the oba Will not die.. he will live to see the seed of crown…
“What seed of crown and diamond are you talking about…I don’t seem to get what you are saying Dami.. what are you really talking about…
“I can’t even explain myself I’m just quoting my grandma…but she say certain things that ends up being true. She makes me to believe that Remi is alive and well… she has a son and they live in the forest with with a stranger…I believe her because she has the ear of the gods…
“Can you take me to her, I mean iya agba… your grandma …
Let me greet her before going back to the palace
Dami took her to the house, the grandma was making ewedu soup with a
short bunch of broom. She has prepared Amala already as Dami went to
assist her after introducing Ope to her.
Ope knelt down and greeted her before Iya asked her to stand up
“Remi was my good friend back in the palace before the disaster struck… she was a kind person, I just wanted to greet you Iya and to also sympathize with you…it must be very hard loosing both daughter, grand daughter and even a great grand child if Remi’s had given birth…but the gods knows the best…Remi was selfless when she was alive…
“Yes, and she is remain selfless because she is alive. she trusted too much but that was because of the kind of person she is, enemies in a friendly clothing were surrounding her… it wasn’t because she was cold or foolish that sent her to the forest… my grand daughter was wise and bold yet too soft…
“You mean she survived the forest and bore her child right in the wild…
“Yes, a son, diamond in the forest…he is the seed of crown… a remedy for the kingdom…
“Oh… the gods be praise…so Remi will eventually return back to the kingdom alive with a son… wow…it sound too good to be true…I can’t wait Iya… I can’t wait for her return… how long will it take for It to happen…
“The gods did not reveal the time or hour, I use to guess maybe it will be upto five years before all this will take place but I feel the time is close… she is not coming alone… she will be coming with total strangers… they have shining light around their feets, they came before and built The first school here for us but the Oba chased them away because he felt they brought new strange teaching that may corrupt the people’s minds but this time the stranger coming with my grand daughter will come to stay, he will pitch his tent here and many will come to believe in his teaching…he is a good man with a pure heart and so is the little girl with him… they will marry our own and multiply… the troubled kingdom will be peaceful again because the wicked will not stand the heat… they will be exposed soon…
“Amin… Iya, even though I don’t understand everything but it all sound too good…I am so happy to know that Remi is alive and I will keep pleading to the gods to keep her and her son safe until there return…iya I have to run back to the palace now…I met Dami in the market and decided to stop by and greet you..
“Please wait and eat something my child, the soup is almost ready… you can’t come over without eating or drinking from me… the princess is not in need of you right now so eat before running back…you are a good child and the gods are smiling towards you… your fight for justice will be greatly rewarded…but in all your doing be wise because the enemies plan is only to kill and destroy anyone standing on their way…
Ope nooded and waited as grandma served her Amala and Ewedu soup with dry fish.
As Ope silently ate, Dami sat beside her eating his own Ewedu with
fufu, grandma kept on talking to her about things that are yet to be
Ope did not understand every thing but she nodded anyway
The food was so delicious that she ate up the plate of Amala before thanking grandma
Before she Left she promise to always stop by any day she was sent to
the market just to check up and to know if iya agba cooked Amala and
Ewedu
They all laugh before Ope Left.
Nike’s mother became
sick, Leja came to give the prince message to them but found out that
Nike’s mother was critically ill, he passed the message anyway and left
without wasting time, he tries to avoid any suspense or questioning that
will come from Nike.
Leja reported back to the prince
Nike
couldn’t return to the palace after the prince warning, she doesn’t know
what Leja said to the prince which made him to dismiss her from the
palace maiden, she was angry at Leja and planned to find out what he
told the prince ones her mother’s health improves.
She wanted to be in the palace where she will get to see the prince daily but she can’t leave her mother in her condition
She planned to deal with both Leja and Ope if she is allowed back to the palace.
Nike wondered why people were falling ill in the kingdom, first it was
the Oba, then two cabinet men now her mother who knows who will follow
next.
But she wasn’t afraid, she must try to achieve her aim by
becoming the next Queen of the kingdom, and Leja has to help her achieve
that other wise he will expose him.
Remi worked with Mikai in Sipah’s farm, as they harvest the corn.
Ademide was securely at her back with the stained wrapper which has become almost everything to her in taking care of her son
Sipah has gone into the forest to cut woods for his farm.
Ore was with Remi and Mikai as he follows them everywhere they go wanting to assist but don’t seem to know how
When Ademide started whining and crying, Remi decided to drop him close
by, she spread the corn ear first on the farm land before spreading the
wrapper over it to make it soft.
She sat Ademide on the ground and asked Ore to play with him
Ore was happy to have baby Ademide to himself as he jump up and down making the little boy to giggle.
Ademide stopped crying and started laughing as Ore started entertaining him.
Mikai looked over to where the baby and monkey was playing and started laughing
“Ore will make a great baby sitter…he act like a human atimes…he likes playing with Ade… The baby is fond of him…
“Yea, Ore is an intelligent animal, the first day he showed me the spring I was shock… my throat was patched…I really needed water and Ore lead the way to the spring, it was from that day I gave him the name Ore…
“Someday I pray to also have a baby…I love babies…I grew up here with Pah, he told me the stories of my real parents burning in a house fire set up by wicked people, Pah saved me and he became a parent to me, he taught me to read and write and how to do so many things like my own weapon, he is my father and my only family I have on earth, I’m use to this environment and I’m not afraid… I’m use to pah and the animals untill you came here, pah has said if I come of age he will take me to a faraway village where I will be able to have a suitor… maybe marry and have children…he doesn’t care much about himself, but I pray every night that God will protect him and send a woman who will become his wife… do you know that when you came it looks like you were an answer to my prayer… you and pah were getting close I was happy but recently i notice that pah seems to be distancing himself from you… do you know why?
“Well, not really… you know pah can be weird and he prays alot… maybe he likes having quiet time where he can communicate with God without any distraction…
“Maybe you are right… Pah prays too much, almost all the time. you said you also lost your father and mother, the only people alive is your grandma and your brother… you are still blessed to have a grandma and a brother…I wish I have a grandma and a sibling too…but is all good… the Lord’s ways are far different from ours… he sees and knows all things. Pah thought me to be thankful in everything… forgive those who hurt us and pray for those who hates us…
“He is a good man…I mean Pah and he really brought you up in the right way but forgiveness doesn’t come easily for people like me…I still hate those who hurt me and I wish them nothing but pain and suffering…
“When you forgive you do yourself a great favour because hate is a great burden and it can weigh you down…
“Your words are too matured… let’s talk about something else. will you like to leave this forest someday…I mean with Pah…?
“Certainly, I will love to live among humans, I will love to visit the market and see lots of people, I will like to go to the stream and see people there… not just me and pah but living in the means of plenty people and blushing when a handsome man looks at me like you blush when ever pah looks at you…I have seen you blush before…
“Whaaaat…oh mine… do I really blush… was it that obvious…oh Mikai.. now you have caught me..
“Yes, you do blush and I wish I can get a fine, God fearing, hardworking, fearless man like pah who will also make me blush… hahahaha..oh my God…I sound like a broken record..
“Yes… you really do, but my younger brother can actually fit into your description…he can make you blush, he is handsome, strong, hardworking, God fearing too…
“I’m not sure your brother will like a girl from the forest but we are running ahead of ourselves…we are still in the forest… let’s wait untill we out of here first…but this place is so cool unlike the noisy crowded world… Pah says that alot. The hunter he once saved brought different things to thank him, like the crops we plant, cloths and foot wears… many other things. Is being years now we never hard from him. Pah told him not to come to this part of the forest at night again because is dangerous for him and he is an elderly man, unlike pah filled with hot strong blood, he has being through alot but I’m glad God kept him… everything in this world may fail but God’s word stand firm forever…look… look… Ore is trying to lift Ade from the ground…I think he has peeled on himself and Ore want to move him…. hahahaha… this is so funny…
Remi laughed at the scene before going to carry her son from the ground.
Sipah was carrying wet wood which he plan to use for his yam and other crops like vegetables, beans, groundnut and melon.
Ore saw him coming and ran to him
He was happy to see him as he jump up and down.
Remi and Mikai watched and laugh while Sipah kept on smiling with the heavy wood which he later dropped down, he breathed heavily.
He waved at Remi and Mikai before leaving again to cut down more wood.
DIAMOND IN THE FOREST Episode 29
Written by Amah’s Heart.
More people began to fall sick in the kingdom, the Queen was not left
out and no medicine man have a cure for the sickness outbreak, the
Prince took over in place of his sick father, he invited different
healers from faraway kingdom and they all came and yet none could place a
name for the sickness or the cure to it.
The kingdom was torn apart
as several people went into panicking and fear, they prayed to
different gods to help them out but nothing was done.
English
doctors where invited, after administering all the drugs they could
think off and still no positive result they packed and left.
Things were becoming more complicating and the whole kingdom was in disarray
Ope was with princess that hot afternoon as she tried to cheer a saddened princess up
“Maybe we should go for a walk…in that way you will feel better…my princess…
“I don’t feel like going anywhere, do you wonder if this sickness that is taking over the kingdom is in the air…when we go out there and breath in the wrong air then we will also fall ill…just like many out there….Father, mother, the kings maker and so many other people…sometimes I’m afraid….i wonder who will be the next victim, maybe the gods are punishing us for some unknown sin we did in the past…can you imagine that no doctor…no medicine man has a cure for this sudden sickness…the English came and tried their best, the native doctors are doing all they could but yet nothing….what could be our sin, father has being ill for too long…Tunde is a very patient man, he is ready to wait until everything is in order again, I can’t marry him when my father and mother are dying….this is really strange…my brother is now in charge of everything in place of father…he is worried sick and the last time I saw him he is deeply troubled…mother who was caring for father is seriously down…who will save us apart from the gods…I pray for their mercy everyday…and to purge our land and restore the peace of this great kingdom…
Ope thought of Remi’s grandmother and all she has told
her about Remi being alive and a diamond child she bore which may be the
answer to the troubled kingdom, maybe the gods saw her innocent and the
injustice being done to her and decided to raise a trouble dust in the
kingdom, she and her son maybe the cure to this kingdom
Ope decided to speak up
“I once visited Remi’s grandma one day after meeting her brother in the market…
“oh really, is really sad…how are they doing…Remi’s death must be a very sad one to them…thinking of the way she was banished and has to die in the evil forest…with her pregnancy…sometimes I do think of her and it saddens me anytime her thought crosses my mind…she left with the beauty of this kingdom and I know she was innocent and the baby she carried belong to my brother who refuse to admit to the truth. maybe…just maybe her death was part of the punishment of the kingdom, I don’t have any right to say that father did not judge her well and the cabinet men worsen the issue, but I can’t help but admit to the fact that is just the bitter truth, Remi is innocent, I was the one that sent her that day to go and tell the queen mother that I will be leaving for the stream the following morning, she was with me the whole time before I sent her to mother and the next news was that a maiden tried to poison the Oba, I saw them hitting and even trying to force her to eat the supposed poison, I saw her fought for herself despite her condition, no one judged in her favor, no one stood in her defense, everyone condemned her, they all condemned her to go and die in the evil forest….is very sad, it was a cruel sentence and her death…it must have being painful, think of the wild animals tearing her apart and digging there claws into her…aaaahhhh…is terrible Ope…just imagining that alone makes me sick…is so terrifying …
“Yeah…it is…don’t imagine such my princess because it never happened…Remi’s grandma told me that Remi is alive and she has a diamond child…she is being taking care by total strange whose feet is filled with light….she said that…
“duro…duro…ki lo soro (wait, what did you say)
“ Remi lives with her son whom she bore in the forest….and she is cared for by a good stranger who will later live and marry among us…that was what iya agba told me….and it sound too good to be true…but with the way she said it…I’m certain that Remi is truly alive…
“is she a diviner…how did she know…the gods must have revealed that to her….yes…Oh the gods be praise…I need to see my brother immediately and tell him this good news…and I also need you to take me to see her grandma….this is indeed too good to be true…is something good to hold onto…maybe Remi’s grandma will have more to say…
The princess rush out to see her brother, the prince.
Nike waited for Leja outside the palace and when Leja came walking down the road Nike came out of her hiding and started insulting Leja
“I have waited for you here all day, because I was certain you will pass here today, what did you tell the Prince, I went to resume back to work after one week and the guards at the gate refuse to let me in, I asked to see you but they said you are with the prince and you can’t see me…I was dismissed from the palace not because of my pregnancy but because of whatever you told the prince…you are a foolish man…what did you tell the prince…you sold me off to him so that you will remain a guard and trustworthy servant right…idiot…you lied to the prince and spoil all the whole plan i took time to construct…all my hard work on how to become the next Queen you spoil everything with that your wide mouth like basin….
“why all this insult Nike, I never told the prince anything, you sold yourself out by going to seduce the prince and even lied that the child you carry belong to him, your head was filled with rat brain which made you not to calculate well, you spoilt your plan with your own hands, if you are smart enough you could have known that the prince will find out the truth one way or the other…he is a prince, the next Oba of this great kingdom…he is not a fool…and for your information, I’m not interested in that child you carry, I have washed my hands off it even before the prince threw you out…I don’t want to have anything to do with you or the child, you wanted to be pregnant…you got exactly what you asked for…so carry the burden but never you include me in it because I will deny that I ever know you or have anything to do with you…bear your child and become a mother…but I’m out of this…if I ever want to have a wife or a child it will never come from you…you and your mother are a dangerous venom… and non of my seed must come from you…
“you are an unfortunate he goat Leja, smelly he goat like you…fool, since the prince rejected me and this child there is no hiding place for you…you are the rightful owner of this pregnancy and you must take responsibility of your action…you can not escape it…never…and I will tell every one the whole truth, I will let them know all the evil that you did…let’s bet…just bet with me and you will see how I will mess you up…
“I don’t bet with the devil…I have no business with a witch like you…get lost Nike, you are not even capable of telling the truth…the word “truth” has being killed and buried in your conscience…so go ahead and tell everyone because in that way you will be exposing yourself…all your atrocities will be exposed… go ahead…I dare you to go and tell the prince or anyone who cares to listen…I am daring you Nike…if you have such gut then go right ahead…we will both suffer…and thank the gods your mother will be inclusive because she was the one that gave you the poison for the Oba and she also killed Iya Remi with same poison…and am sure she also killed your father because he favored Iya Remi more than your mother…evil run in your blood…transferred from your mother to you so I don’t want to have anything to do with that child you carry because you will transfer same evil to him or her…
As Leja tried to leave Nike who was so pained and was boiling in anger raised a hand to slap him but Leja pushed her aside, she staggered from Leja’s push but hold onto a tree from falling, Leja walk pass her.
Nike searched around for something to stone Leja but she miss her first throw and Leja dodged the second stone from her, Nike fired another stone and it hit Leja on his shoulder Leja started calling Nike “omoobirin Iya laje” (daughter of a witch) while Nike kept on firing stones at him.
The prince left with some guard immediately to see Remi’s grandmother, the princess wanted to go with him but he asked the princess to stay behind and watch out in his absence.
After the princess told him that Remi was alive and she have a baby in the forest, she and the baby are both alright, well taken care by a stranger. It sound unbelievable to the prince so he decided to go and see the fortune teller which is Remi’s grandmother, she may also have answer for the troubled kingdom.
“Alafia, ni fun ile yin, lati odo Oba….(peace be unto this house hold, greetings from the king)
Dami who was in the kitchen, fanning coal to boil water for his
grandma’s bath ran out as he hard the royal greeting. His grandma was at
the backyard planting crops in the ridge he dug up for her
Dami prostrated as he saw the prince in their compound. The prince asked him to get up and he did
“ ikini irelemi (my kind greetings) we are her to see your grandmother…is she around?
“Bee ni Omooba…let me go and call her
And just then grandma was coming out from the backyard, the prince greeted her in respect.
Dami rushed and brought seats for everyone to sit down after his grandma was well seated.
