OJADILI Episode 17 by Erasmus Ugochukwu Okafor

OJADILI Episode 17 by Erasmus Ugochukwu Okafor

**Sorrows and joy**

Ojadili was visited by Umuabani in his dream. The little child narrated all that happened between him and the princess. Ojadili was abreast of all that happened even though Umuabani told him that there was one good thing that would happen in Amachara to make the happiness of the king complete. Ojadili was enshrouded in curiosity which birthed lots of questions but he got no reply or illumination from the young boy. Ojadili was so inquisitive to know about what Umuabani termed ‘the consummated happiness’ but didn’t get an answer. According to Umuabani, he revealed everything concerning Amachara to Chinonye but left one as a surprise. Even with teasing and appeasement, Ojadili couldn’t succeed making Umuabani speak.

When Ojadili woke up from sleep, he realised that he was in the middle of the bush, so he hissed realising that he’d been in a dream. Feeling that his quest to find the missing princess was hexed, he began to go back to Amachara to confront both the king and the queen. At that point, Ojadili was ready to make bare all he knew before the king and the queen since none wanted to talk to each other about their secrets.

Entering into the boundary between Amachara and Ugoloma, Ojadili met Ucheadi running as if he was being chased by the spirit. Ojadili was surprised, so he rushed at him and stopped him.

“Thank God, I found you!” Ucheadi said hastily and kept looking back, “this is strange, so strange indeed,” he added pantingly.

Ojadili looked straight ahead to know if anything was coming after Ucheadi but was surprised that he saw nothing. “What’s the matter, brother?” he asked looking so confused and eager to know what was coming after Ucheadi.

“The Uriom okuko (chick) began to grow so…so fast,” Ucheadi stammered trying to catch his breath.

“You should calm yourself down first,” Ojadili said and pulled him closer for comfort, “What happened to the chick?”

Ucheadi pulsated with fright and couldn’t talk. He simply battled with fears.

Ojadili knew it was time to go and see for himself. He knew that Ucheadi was so frightened, so the best way was to find out what was making him afraid.

Mentioning the chick made Ojadili acknowledge that he’d not even checked on the bird for long, so he needed to go to Ucheadi’s house to learn what he knew. He began to go to Ucheadi’s house while the frightened man followed fearfully hiding behind him.

Getting to the compound, Ojadili was surprised to see about seven dead hawks littered in the compound. He was shocked because he couldn’t understand why such happened. It was ominous to him, so he slowly went in. He went straight to the cage where the Uriom okuko was kept to ensure it wasn’t attacked by the hawks. He was surprised to see an unsullied white eagle with blood all over its beak and claws. It was obvious that the eagle devoured the hawks but the reason was oblivious to him.

In Igbo land, the eagle is considered one of the most important birds that are so rare to be seen. One can live all through his life without seeing an eagle physically; it’s possible. Even if an eagle is seen, it’s not usually an all-white eagle; no wonder an adage says that: ‘Anya huru ugo ñuria makana anaghi ahu ugo kwada’ (the eyes that is fortunate to behold an eagle should make merry because it’s scarce).

Ojadili already understood that the eagle devoured the Hawks, so he became confused and was bothered about the chick.

“Kedukwa ihe aga akpo nkea (what could this be)?” He muttered looking fearlessly at the eagle. He was a bit frightened but his curiosity outweighed his fears, so he kept his eyes fixed on the sharp eyes of the wild bird.

Ucheadi still hid behind Ojadili as fright overtook him. He couldn’t understand what was happening, so he said: “If the bird can understand you, ask it about the chick,”

Ojadili checked his knapsack to know if he’d see a kola nut so that he’d consult Umuabani but was surprised to see a flute. He couldn’t remember dropping a flute there, so he was amazed.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Ojadili asked rhetorically, “Ucheadi, when you ran out of the compound, where was the chick?”

“Let’s leave here first,” Ucheadi replied as he throbbed with fear, “The way I see this eagle, it will attack us soon and we can’t escape the claws,”

“That’s not an answer to my question,” Ojadili maintained and brought out the flute, “What happened here?” He asked again still looking cleverly at the eagle in case it attacks.

Still hiding and looking at the eagle with fear, Ucheadi said: “I saw the hawks storming the compound to attack the chick in the cage. Suddenly, the chick began to grow so fast, so I ran away. Looking back into the cage, what I saw there wasn’t a chick anymore but this white eagle. It was so big that the cage couldn’t accommodate it. I guess the wild bird devoured the chick, so I began to run for my life. I thought it would come after me but it didn’t,”

The explanation confused Ojadili a bit, so he shut his eyes to know if he could understand what went wrong. What he saw was the junior version of himself as if the child was standing before him. The little boy reminded him of the sacrifice required to be made with pure blood to help him decipher the meaning of the strange words written by Umuabani.

Opening his eyes, he saw the eagle standing before him while Ucheadi had taken to his heels. Ojadili breathed heavily as he conjured some confidence to face the eagle. He knew that whatever was happening wasn’t ordinary.

“The chick definitely grew into an eagle and not a fowl,” Ojadili said and smiled, “I think we’re close to finding the meaning of the words,” he voiced and watched the eagle fly towards him. He didn’t run but remained calm, even though he was a bit uneasy. He was surprised to see the eagle perch on his shoulder. The animal was big and heavy but Ojadili had to do the needful. He allowed the eagle to rest on him as it flapped its wings in celebration of meeting the one it was waiting for.

Turning to leave; with the birds gracing his shoulder, Ojadili saw princess Chinonye coming with Akwaobi, so he tried to hide so that they wouldn’t be scared.

“Please, Ozowaraonaa, wait,” Chinonye said looking so excited and impressed, “Umuabani told me that if I see you, I’ve seen Ojadili. And how on earth did an eagle come into this village? This is strange and rare,”

The princess and Akwaobi were frightened but seeing Ozowaraonaa, they were somewhat confident that they wouldn’t be hurt. They tried to come closer but were unsure and careful.

“This is amazing,” Akwaobi said and closed her eyes, “I have seen this moment a lot in my dreams. Do you have anything like a flute with you, Ojadili?” she asked with her eyes still shut.

Ojadili was surprised to see Akwaobi even though he already knew who she was. He never knew that she was to partake in the reconciliatory ritual to end the Iwenwanne war.

“That’s the flute he has with him,” The princess pointed out, “what is it meant for?” she added with extreme curiosity.

“Follow me,” Akwaobi said and began to move back into the forest.

The wild dog began to bark at the eagle continuously but no one could explain what was going on. The eagle remained on Ojadili’s shoulder as they left.

The princess was confused but just had to follow them.

It was a long walk but they had to be patient to know where they were heading.

As the long walk lasted, Ojadili held the princess when he felt that she was getting weak; though they never stopped. They trod on both smooth and rough paths as the trudge to their destination lasted.

Getting to a spot, Akwaobi stopped and pointed to the ground taking saying: “It’s here,”

“I don’t understand you,” The princess said looking confused at Akwaobi, “All I can see are the sands,”

“This is the spot where the fight took place,” Akwaobi iterated and collected the flute and from Ojadili. She handed it over to the princess.

“Now is the time to make the sacrifice to the gods. Let’s hear from you, my princess,”

The princess didn’t understand what she was expected to do, so she took the flute and remained speechless. She looked at Ojadili to know if he’d give her a clue but Ojadili was as confused as she was.

“What about the eagle?” Ojadili asked looking confused too, “I know the bird is meant for the sacrifice but how are we sure that we’re at the right spot? Even if we are, there is no knife or machete for slitting the sacrificial bird. Even if there are any of these, how are we sure that the eagle wouldn’t attack us or resist capture?”

“The eagle is expendable, great son of the gods,” Akwaobi said and bowed before Ojadili, “You’re the chosen one and I have always seen you in my dream,”

“But Umuabani said that Ojadili should be here,” The princess said looking confused, “I won’t do anything until I see him. Ozowaraonaa, where is Ojadili?”

Ojadili smiled and said: “I am not Ozowaraonaa but Ojadili,”

The princess was so amazed and confused as she looked at him with great surprise. She took a heavy breath and cleaned her face with her palm but still couldn’t understand. Before her, was Ozowaronaa, and not Ojadili, so she was flabbergasted.

“What did you just say, Ozowara?” The princess asked looking more baffled than she was before. “But you’re supposed to be a stranger who lost his way…”

“I didn’t lose my way,” Ojadili interjected, “I simply shaved the entire hairs that made me look like a wild animal. I knew that revealing myself could make me be arrested or executed because of the arch enmity between Umuabani and Amachara. I am from Umuabani but was excommunicated because I was accused of killing my parents. I didn’t do it, even though I’m yet to find out what happened. I have been a sojourner moving from one village to the other according to the directives of the gods. I came to Amachara to bring peace. The gods entrusted me with bringing an end to the Iwenwanne war that’d lingered for years. I am Ojadili Amaraegbu,” Bowing to the princess, he said: “The princess of Amachara, may you live long,”

The princess began to cry joyfully as she looked at Ojadili with so much respect and love. She felt like jumping on him or even hugging him but there was an assignment imminent to be taken care of. As she smiled, she regained her confidence. She held the flute firmly to her lips and began to play music with it. As she displayed the exotic performance, she danced egwu ngala (prideful dance).

To everyone’s greatest surprise, the eagle suddenly sprang from Ojadili’s shoulder lifting its full weight into the air. The immaculate bird flew high into the sky, making Ojadili to unwittingly start dancing the surugede (the dance of the spirit).

Akwaobi knelt on the ground, dispersed the sand with her palm, and revealed where it was boldly written: ‘Ajani Ajani Uwalaka Ajani’

Both Ojadili and the princess were surprised seeing this; especially Ojadili who’d been hearing the language without knowing the meaning.

The eagle flew so high and suddenly began to blossom like the sun.

When Ojadili and the princess tried to look up, they couldn’t have a clearer view of the bird. The brightness of the eagle dazzled them; making them to shield their eyes with their palms.

In no time, there was a heavy rain of blood from the eagle; watering everywhere with pure blood.

To everyone’s greatest surprise, the handwriting on the ground suddenly began to be clear to all of them. The language of the spirit transformed to the language they all understood.

Looking closer, Ojadili read it out: “On this day, the great reconciliation is achieved. The law isn’t to be written on the stones anymore but in the hearts of men. Let peace reign and let the brotherly war seize to perpetuate. The seven kingdoms from the eldest to the youngest have reconciled. Amachara, Ugoloma, Obohia, Azummiri, Amirioma, Ajani, and Umuabani, have reconciled,”

It was then that they all realised that they were in Ajani village. Thinking about the strange words made Ojadili remember that Ajani was mentioned thrice (Ajani Ajani Uwalaka Ajani) in the strange language. He couldn’t understand why.

Umuabani suddenly appeared in Ojadili’s imagination and whispered joyfully saying: “The significance of this is that Ajani is the only village that never participated in the Iwenwanne war. Repeating the words thrice in the language of the gods is a way of representing the three people expected to offer the sacrifice of reconciliation; You, Chinonyelum, and Akwaobi,”

After saying that, the other six ancestors joined Umuabani. They danced with happiness.

It was only Ojadili that saw the seven ancestors as if they embraced each other in peace. He watched then as they danced. After a while, they all vanished.

Suddenly, the eagle disappeared too, and a heavy downpour ensued.

The three officiators remained in the rain until the entire seven villages were cleansed from their guilt.

Villagers in the seven villages all danced in the rain; including their kings. They never knew why they enjoyed the dance but it was the gods that directed their thoughts and actions.

The rain lasted for seven hours representing the seven ancestors and villages. The heavy downpour continued until the last drop of the thick blood of the eagle had been washed away.

The last thing that was washed away at the seventh hour of the rainfall was the write-up on the sand. As this happened, even the ones that were written in the Amirioma kingdom and Obiakpo forest were all washed away too.

The end of the rain made the malice in the hearts of the people to varnish. No one could even remember that they were meant to be at war with each other; the gods are supreme and wise.

After the rain, it was already evening. The clement and peaceful weather ushered in the evening sun. The successful acceptance of the sacrifice by the gods brought serenity and peace in the land.

The princess held Ojadili closely and never wanted to let him go. She continued resting her head on his chest and fondled him with care and tenderness.

Akwaobi smiled as she admired the love that flared between them. She knew it was time to go back to Amachara, so she came closer to them and touched them.

“I think it’s time for us to meet my father,” Akwaobi said with feelings of both happiness and sadness. “At least let me know who he is,” she added with tears.

“Of course we’ll go,” The princess said looking into Ojadili’s eyes, “but I wish that this moment in the arms of my hero lasts longer than this,”

Ojadili smiled and said: “I wish the same too, my princess but to Amachara, we shall all go. It’s time to bring about reconciliation between your parents,”

They began to go back to Amachara to break the news they came with and to reveal all they knew about the secrets.

**

On their way to Amachara, they saw lots of people rejoicing even when they couldn’t explain the cause of their happiness. The trio was happy as they entered the village. The journey back to Amachara wasn’t as far as it was when they headed to Ajani.

Getting closer to the village, they saw Ujuamara walking as fast as he could to the palace, so they followed him until they got to the entrance.

The Amachara people were already gathered in the palace as they mourned because of the disappearance of the princess. Amid the celebration of peace, their happiness was cut short.

It was surprising to the people to see the princess coming into the palace with Ojadili and Akwaobi. They gathered around them in gladness, especially Chizaram, Omasiri, and Ochomma who couldn’t wait to meet their boss.

Notwithstanding the population of the people in the palace, the king and the queen were in the chamber and didn’t come outside. They weren’t seen, so the people speculated and waited.

When Ujuamara saw the princess, he beckoned her and said: “Your father is about to commit an abomination and I can feel it; hence my rush to the palace. Go now or you won’t like what you’d hear as a result of his anger,”

The princess was struck with anxiety as she heard this, so she rushed straight to her parents’ chamber while Ujuamara and Ojadili followed.

Akwaobi developed cold feet at this time and didn’t know how to confront her dad who caused the death of her mom. The anger that left her as a result of her untold happiness revisited, so she went to the side and sat. The wild dog followed her while the people dreaded the animal thinking it would hurt them.

The people all looked with surprise at the stranger being in the company of edi abani. They looked at her as a total stranger because of how she dressed as a priestess.

Akwaobi didn’t even pay attention to any of their gazes but cuddled herself as she wallowed in self-pity and melancholy.

The princess kept shouting and knocking at the door but the king never opened the door.

The cry of the queen was heard while the threatening voice of the king towered in the barricaded chamber.

Onodugo was hinted about the development, so he rushed straight to the king’s chamber. He met the princess crying and knocking. He hit the door many times but the king didn’t open but kept shouting indistinctly at the queen. Onodugo had to kick the door open.

The king was about to smite the face of the queen when Onodugo and the princess rushed in.

The furious king suddenly stopped and pointed a dagger at them; to make them not come any closer. “I don’t know this woman anymore!” he squalled as he chocked the queen with his firm grip, “I’ll kill her and kill myself,”

It was obvious to the princess that her mom had hinted the king about her infidelity; hence the king’s inevitable anger.

They had to intervene to avoid homicide.

Onodugo cleverly rushed to the king and held his hand before he could use the weapon. It wasn’t easy for him but he had to take the risk to avoid losing his parents.

Ojadili rushed to the queen and shielded her so that the king would make the mistake of stabbing her.

The queen was already brutally beaten, so they had to protect her from being lynched by the angry king.

“Dad!” the princess snarled, “I never knew that you’re this mean and wicked until this day. So this was how you strangled Adadimma with your bare hands. You want to suffocate your queen too,”

The king was surprised that his secret was already bare even to his daughter. He got weak due to his, making him downcast.

“I think you need to calm down, Nna anyi,” Onodugo said looking confused because he understood nothing that was going on. “Can someone explain this madness to me?”

Ujuamara went straight to the king and collected the dagger and kept it away.

“The gods would have cursed your entire generation if you ever committed this atrocity,” The chief priest outcried and locked the door so that no other person would hear the secret converse, “I was at the shrine and had a revelation that you were about to make more mistakes than you’ve made before. I have been having this message from the gods concerning atrocities from the palace. I never wanted to confront you because the gods kept sealing my lips and I never knew why. Who did you kill, my king?”

Onodugo was shocked to hear this, so he pushed his dad away to have a clearer look at him. “Igwe, what’s he talking about? Did you kill anyone?”

Ojadili knew that the tension was high so he raised his voice and said: “First of all, I am not Ozowaraonaa. I am Ojadili Amaraegbu from Umuabani kingdom,”

Everyone was shocked including Ujuamara who couldn’t get the revelation about Ojadili’s true identity.

“The gods hid this from me, why?” Ujuamara asked in lamentation, “I never knew that the same man that revived the king was the one being accused of infiltrating the palace for mayhem…”

“Is this true?” King Azuamailo asked and rushed to Ojadili and embraced him, “were you the same one that gave me life when I was crossing the boundary to the afterlife?”

Ojadili nodded with tears in his eyes making the king cry aloud holding him firmly.

“My son, I’m sorry for all these humiliation and torture,” He apologised, “even though I’m more humiliated right now by the unfaithfulness of my wife,”

“I think we all have to sit,” The princess entered to calm their nerves, “This discussion doesn’t require any commotion; even though it would introduce anger and regrets. We need to be calm,”

“Chino, what are you talking about?” Onodugo asked looking more confused, “It seems I’m the only one lost here.

What’s going on?”

Being that Ojadili’s identity had been known; he raised his hand authoritatively and made them all calm. They all respected him because they’ve known who he was.

“Lend me your ears, all of you,” Ojadili said and made them all sit while he remained standing, “My king,” he said looking at Eze Azuamailo, “this news would be a shock to you but you have to take it. We all here know about the murder of Adadimma and the bloodline of Onodugo who belongs to king Ozoemena of Umuabani…”

“King who?” Eze Azuamailo barked and sprang up in anger to rush at the queen but Ujuamara raised his staff and stopped him.

“Igwe, inwa ya anwaa… (My king, if you dare…)” The chief priest blurted angrily. He didn’t complete his statement but the expected obedience was already commanded.

Onodugo didn’t understand anything at all, so he looked at his mom and said: “Nne, what are they talking about?”

The crying queen and couldn’t say anything, making Onodugo rush towards her to force her to talk, but Ojadili singlehandedly held him back.

“Go back to your position, my prince,” Ojadili commanded courteously and pushed him back to the seat, “Let me tell you what you need to know,” He said to the distressed man starved of information, “Your dad was cursed by the maiden he thought he murdered. The young maiden later died, but it wasn’t your dad that directly killed her, even though he did that indirectly. Because of your dad, Adadimma died of heartbreak,”

The king was confused when that was mentioned.

“What did you just say?” Azuamailo muttered confusingly, “But my guards buried her before me. It’s confusing saying that I didn’t kill her. I did,”

“And I exhumed her,” The queen entered tearfully making the king dumbfounded, “I took her to Agbogidi in Obohia village where she was revived,”

The king was gravely baffled hearing that his wife exhumed Adadimma.

“But she died,” The king said assuredly beating his chest, “How come?”

“She didn’t,” The queen maintained, “I revived her and took her to the great healer. She later discovered that she was with child and was heartbroken. After a couple of months as I monitored her from a distance, I met her again at the same spot where you buried her when she was in labour. I tried to help her deliver her baby but some wild animals chased me away. When I went back to Agbogidi, he said that the lady never showed up again. According to the great healer, he searched around for the poor girl and later discovered she’d been buried. The person that buried her and took the baby away remains a mystery to me. When I married the king, I knew that my husband wouldn’t be able to bear a child anymore. I knew he was under a curse, which was why I began to seek for help. I know that I did the unimaginable but I was just trying to protect my home. Unfortunately, the curse remained with the king, and that was why Onodugo has been suffering. The worst is that my son can’t even lift the Isigebuogidi staff because, oga anyikwa ya onu (it would break his neck). The truth, that I couldn’t deceive the gods; therefore you have no heir right now, my king. Onodugo isn’t your child just as I told you earlier before you wanted to kill me and kill yourself. Now is the time to kill me. I’m done with my confession, my love,”

“Ewo, efukwam oo (OMG, I’m lost)” The king yelled and fell before them all and began to twirling on the floor crying.

Ojadili and the princess wanted to help him up but Ujuamara stopped them.

“Leave him alone; let him cry to his gods,” The diviner said and went closer to the king, “Nemesis is the god of vengeance. Something that you did in secret came haunting you. The queen was just used by Nemesis to fight back at you…”

“It was Mpiawazu that used her,” Ojadili corrected.

“Nke ka njo (the worst)” Ujuamara yelled and put his hand on his head, “Nwam (my son) did you say it was Mpiawazu?”

The king began to hit his staff on the ground as he cried, making Ujuamara rush towards him. He collected the staff forthwith to protect it. It’s an abomination for the staff of authority to be toyed with let alone being broken. Ujuamara slowly kept the staff on the king’s bed.

Onodugo couldn’t even utter a word since he’d learnt the truth. He simply remained speechless and numb. His mouth was agape as he moped at all of them as if he was going bananas. He couldn’t just understand the complications of his life, so he stayed on; gaping and thinking.

“It may interest you to know that Mpiawazu’s spell has been broken,” Ojadili continued, “Akwaugo your sister will soon be coming home and the entire people she held in bondage would find their way back to their villages,”

“Fortunately,” The princess entered, “I went to Onumajuru village and cried on the king’s behalf. The heart of Adadimma melted and she’s forgiven the king. Please, Ojadili, bring Akwaobi in,” she said and smiled at Ojadili. “Adadimma’s daughter still lives. Father, your daughter is alive and in this kingdom right now,”

The king suddenly got up. He couldn’t believe what he heard; even the queen couldn’t believe it too.

“How come?” The queen asked while Ojadili left to fetch Akwaobi, “But Agbogidi said that even the baby wasn’t found. I thought it was the wild animals that devoured the baby,”

“It was Akwugo, my aunt that took her away,” The princess replied looking at her perplexed mom, “and she was the same person that buried Adadimma,”

“Kpotaram nwam (bring my child)” the king cried, “I never knew that I got that innocent girl pregnant. I buried her out of fear in the protection of my status as an heir to the throne. My atrocities are many already,”

“But you’ve been forgiven,” The princess added joyfully, “The gods took away Onodugo from you and gave you Akwaobi?”

“What a sorrowful name,” Ujuamara murmured and shook his head, “Akwaobi,” he muttered and shrugged in dismay.

“Even though I wish she’s a male child, I have to accept her and be happy,” The king added ruefully, “The throne will still be left empty,” Looking tearfully at the princess, he asaid: “I wish Ojadili is from Amachara. His marriage to you would have restored the dynasty and my ancestors’ dignity. But I’m still happy that I have a daughter from the one I molested and killed. May the gods forgive their handmade,”

In a jiffy, Ojadili entered with Akwaobi.

The king looked at the girl dressed as a priestess and saw the replica of Adadimma. Seeing Akwaobi made him cry like a child because his sins just flashed before him. Remembering Adadimma broke his heart. In few seconds, he reminisced on how the young maiden helplessly passed out by his firm grip as she struggled for freedom.

Kneeling before Akwaobi; even though it wasn’t kingly, Azuamailo cried aloud saying: “I have offended the heaven and the gods. I have offended the spirits and offended the living. Anya mmiri eju nna gi anya (tears has possessed your dad’s eyes). Come let me embrace you one more time even if I’ll die after it,”

Akwaobi was full of tears just like every other person present except for Onodugo who was absently looking as if he’d gone nuts. The beautiful princess knelt before her dad and cried bitterly. Closing her eyes, she imagined her mom crying before her and asking her to forgive her dad. It wasn’t easy for her but she had to crawl on all fours to the king.

Getting to her dad, she cried out: “Nnam (my father)”

The king spread his arms and said: “Nwam (my child)” He pulled her into a hug and they wept in each other’s arms.

As they cried, the queen slowly went closer to them but couldn’t join them. She remained speechless until Chinonye came closer to her and said: “Forgive yourself, let’s all forge ahead in life. There is always a reason for everything. To err is human,”

The queen hugged Chinonye and burst into tears saying: “I am your mother; I didn’t sleep with any other man to have you,”

The princess cuddled her mom closely and wept on her shoulders. “Nne, I know everything already. I’m the gift from the gods showing you’ve been forgiven. You don’t need to explain anything to me. I am the reincarnation of Ifenkili,”

Chino and Ugoeze knelt with the king and they all cried together. They cuddled each other as they cried sorrowfully and joyfully.

Onodugo at this point realised that he wasn’t part of the family as he thought, so he stood and staggered. He acted tipsy as he spun in confusion. “Now, the odd man is out,” he muttered sobbingly as tears began to rain down on his cheek. “And I have been suffering for years for what I knew nothing about. Chim olee ebe ino (my god where are you)?”

His tears got everyone weeping, even Ujuamara who couldn’t help it anymore.

As Onodugo moved away from them, he kept staggering as if he’d fall.

“Jiderem nwam, biko (hold my son for me, please)” The queen yelled but couldn’t stand to help him because she was numb to action at that particular point.

The king was heartbroken seeing that the child that he’d known as his son for years wasn’t his offspring after all. He wept as he looked at Onodugo staggering in anguish.

“Kpotaram ya (bring him to me)” The king grumbled with heavy sobs and opened his arms for Onodugo to join them.

Ojadili tried to help the stumbling man so that he wouldn’t fall but Onodugo pushed him away forcefully.

With a heart full of sorrow, Onodugo kicked the door open and rushed out of the chamber. As he ran away in excruciating pains, his eyes streamed with tears. He couldn’t even control his emotions or contain his sadness. His inextinguishable tears watered the palace as he ran like a child being chased by a wild beast.

The onlookers were surprised seeing Onodugo as he rushed to his hut.

Uremma heard the cry of her husband and rushed out to know what was happening. She saw Onodugo crying and rushing towards her, so she spread her arms to welcome him.

When Onodugo got to Uremma, he fell before her and wept like a child while the confused wife cuddled him.

The contagious sorrows of Onodugo swept Uremma off her feet, making her weep in pains even without knowing what transpired or why she was crying.

“What have they done to you, dim oma (my husband)?” The pregnant woman cried aloud looking around to know if she could get a clue of what happened but got none. In helplessness, she wept bitterly and consoled her husband at the same time.

To be continued…

OpraDre

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