THE CURSED LANTERN Episode 9 By Okafor Erasmus Ugochukwu

THE CURSED LANTERN Episode 9 By Okafor Erasmus Ugochukwu

Chizorom was a young man, popularly known as nwokeohia (the bushman). He had lived most of his life in the bush. He neither shaves nor barbs. One of the days when he was roaming in the bush, he was attacked by a lion. The gods were with him that he singlehandedly devoured the lion with his bare hands. After killing the marauding beast, he skinned it. Since that time, he always wore the skin of the animal as his cloth. Even the skinned head of the lion he used as his helmet. The wide open mouth of the dead animal was where he sees through while hooded with it.

He lived in a dilapidated tenement in the bush in the ancient kingdom of Umundanda where he secretly heals the people of different kinds of infirmities. Chizorom was highly blessed with gifts but he chose to remain isolated for a reason known to him alone. He was a youth but no one had ever seen his face.

The few people that knew about him popularly knew him as Ogbuagu (killer of a lion) but no one ever knew who he was or where he came from. He had no family or friends. People see him as a strange being because of his kind of living.

That morning, the day was bright and chilly while Chizorom kept clearing the bushes and cleaning his bushy compound. He had to fix the dilapidated tenement before a heavy wind blows it away.

As he was busy doing that, he felt as if he heard a footstep announcing the arrival of a stranger. He suddenly took his spare, hid behind the tree, and waited for the person to show up. As he remained there, the clanks of the footsteps stopped. He continued to wait but he saw nothing. He then continued what he was doing but with heightened senses this time. He was very vigilant and never allowed the spear to leave his side.

When he was done, he started to roast the deer he killed for his breakfast. Chizorom eats nothing except meats, vegetables, and water. When he was done, some wild animals suddenly gathered around in wait for their portion of the meat.

Seeing them, he smiled and shook his head. “Unu abiakwana ozo (have you all come again)?” he said smilingly and began to cut out some parts which he shared among them.

The animals all ate, got filled, and disappeared with joy.

Chizorom had become friends with the wild animal, especially after killing the lion that had before then made the Ndanda Forest inhabitable for both humans and animals. Killing the lion made him the king of the jungle. According to the story, the lion belonged to a strange wicked deity that suddenly showed up from nowhere and occupied the forest. The marauding beast started killing and wounding people that come to hunt for animals or harvest woods for different purposes. The lion was mythically a spiritual being that always eats people as its means of survival. The animal remained powerful until it was subdued by Chizorom, the strong boy. That earned him the name-Ogbuagu but only a few people knew about him.

Chizorom knew that destiny calls him but he never knew where he was meant to go or what he was meant to do. He needed to leave the bush but he never imagined what he could be doing with the people of Umundanda let alone other kingdoms. Solitary life had been his lifestyle so it wasn’t easy leaving Ndanda Forest to a destination where he knew not.

When the wild animals were no more found around him, Chizorom went into his hut to pray to his Chi (god). He searched for the piece of cloth that he uses for prayers but couldn’t find it. He had a sentimental attachment to the cloth; therefore was always fond of it. He was worked up because that piece of cloth was the best memory he could have of himself. He grew up seeing that cloth by his side. It was made from the skin of a strange beast called Iju. That animal, according to history is seen one in donkey years, maybe a thousand years. How the cloth came to belong to Chizorom was what he couldn’t explain. There were mysteries around him that he found hard to explain.

The only best friend the bushman had was an old man that comes at night to see him. He always covers his face too.

Chizorom never saw his face even though they’d known for many years since his childhood. If the boy sees the old man in the daytime, he wouldn’t know who he is. They were best friends.

Chizorom couldn’t explain how he lost the cloth that was dear to him, so he got up and ransacked the entire cabin to know if he’d find it but he didn’t. It was mysterious to him, so he began to go into the bushes to check if a wild animal took it away; probably for childbearing.

As he searched through the thick forest, it seemed as if he was wasting his time because his instinct informed him that he wouldn’t find it. He ignored that thought and continued to search until it was night. He was apparently tired and needed to go home. Due to the fruitless search, he had a steadily escalating premonition.

Chizorom started to go home as fast as he could because he was famished. Getting closer to his house, he discovered that a faint mpanaka (lantern) shone from his hut. He searched around to make a weapon handy but he saw none, so he continued to move closer incognito.

Getting there, he saw three people lying down outside his hut shivering. He already knew that the old man had come again with those patients that he brings to him to heal.

Chizorom heaved a sigh of relief and went to meet them.

The people he met were almost dying, so he rushed at them and began to observe their bodies. The symptoms he saw were unusual. He never saw those before, so it was clear that they must have been struck by a plague. He couldn’t even find the old man that was supposed to bring them, so he was concerned at the moment.

He closed his eyes as he placed his hands on their bodies; one after the other. As this happened, he started to listen to his innermost voice to know if a solution could be found for them. The message he got was strange and incomprehensible so he opened his eyes with a tinge of fear.

“What did you people do and how did you come here?” he asked looking confused and curious, “why are your legs tilting and your hearts decaying while you’re still alive?”

The three youths wanted to talk but they were too weak to talk. They simply fought hard to keep their eyes open since they were dying.

Chizorom already understood that those guys would die soon, so he dashed out into the forest that night to meet his great healing tree, Anunuebe.

No diviner, sorcerer, or even chief priest dares to visit the Anunuebe tree except when the oracle has gone for a mission. It was only Chizorom that had full access to the Anunuebe tree in his lifetime. It was a rare privilege to him. Even the favored boy couldn’t explain how it came to be. He simply enjoyed using the tree as his last resort in terms of healing the people. That was a secret that no one knew about, not even the old man that knew a lot about him.

Chizorom uses many kinds of shrubs to heal the people but once the ailment is spiritual and very hard to be healed, he remembers Anunuebe.

As he was going in the direction of the great tree, he began to hear strange sounds in his head but he continued.

He felt as if the sounds were there to distract him from thinking straight, so he continued to head to the location of the oracle. Getting to the thickest part of the forest where the tree occupied graciously, he saw different kinds of poisonous snakes around it. He already knew that they weren’t mere snakes but deities guarding the tree.

He knelt in that dark, ensuring that the lantern he came with was far off because no one dares to come close to Anunuebe with any form of light.

“The great oracle of ages and of old,” Chizorom began praisefully, “I come in peace, and not to abuse the privileges given to me. I am here again for the help of humanity. There are three young men dying in my compound. I do not know what they are passing through or what caused such a deteriorating condition. Reveal what I should do for the plague to leave their bodies. I need a solution that’s why I’m here with a plea. I need your help,”

Chizorom closed his eyes as he bowed before the tree waiting for its response. It was surprising to him that he got nothing but silence. He couldn’t imagine how the great tree would want to leave the patients to die. It was unusual to him because he had never come to Anunuebe without getting an instant solution. He usually takes a part of the wood that he uses to heal, but that night was different. He got up, bowed again, and began to leave. He almost felt bad but knew that any decision taken by the oracle has valid and logical reasoning behind it.

“Anakwaam, oke osisi (the great tree, I’m going,)” he said and began to leave.

When he left the premises, he became piteous because he knew that those boys must definitely die. What he planned to do was to dig a grave and bury them. But on second thought, he made up his mind to dispose of them in the forest since they’d been rejected by the gods.

Getting to his house, Chizorom was surprised to see the old man seated while the three young men sat on the floor around him thanking him.

It was confusing to Chizorom because the last time he checked, the gods rejected his plea to save the strangers. He rushed to them but had to extinguish his lantern because once the old man is around, no lantern should be on. That was the rule they had between them, so Chizorom had to obey.

When Chizorom got there, he sat beside them looking confused. “What’s going on here?” he asked with both joy and confusion. “Am I missing something?”

“No, you’re not,” the old man said, “we are to ask you what happened and how your compound has turned to a healing ground even when were not around,”

Chizorom began to reminisce on what just took place when he visited the great tree. He then realized that his prayers to Anunuebe were answered even without having to pluck any part of the tree. He smiled and nodded with satisfaction. “Then let them go in peace since the crumbs of the blessings of the gods could heal them even in their silence,” he said satisfactorily, “but not without telling me what got their bodies tilted and plagued as if they were cursed by ajo mmuo (evil spirit)”

The three guys were silent at first as if they were dumb. They were simply finding it hard to express their gratitude or say what happened to them.

“My name is Nwokorocha,” the old man began, “Chizorom, I know I never told you my name all these years we’ve known each other. If I see you on the pathway without your identity being the lion skin, I wouldn’t know who you are. If you see me in the daytime, you won’t know me too. But one day, we’ll know each other,”

Chizorom chuckled on hearing that. He simply listened.

“I was on my way to your house when I saw these three boys twirling in the forest,” Nwokorocha continued, “They acted as if they were hit by the anger of strange gods. I had to carry them one after the other to your compound; knowing full well that you’d heal them. But I never knew that your compound has garnered so much healing power. Even in your absence, healing takes place. Your healing prowess grows by the day. The powers of the supernatural are on you. My son, the cloth you were looking for is in your hut. I’m sure you must have been looking for it,”

Chizorom heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you for keeping it for me,” he said with laughter, “I thought I’d lost it. That cloth stained with the dried blood of an animal makes me feel that I have my destiny tied to it. You said that I cannot be separated from the cloth but never told me the connection. Are you my father?”

Nwokorocha smiled, looked at the three boys, and said: “what put three of you into this mess that almost took a life out of you?” He chose to ignore Chizorom’s question for a reason best known to him.

The young healer already knew that the old man didn’t want to disclose some pieces of information, so he decided not to disturb him with questions. He was used to the man’s methods of keeping a lot of secrets that he kept promising to reveal someday. The most intriguing thing that got Chizorom appalled was that the old man was so strong even though he looked aged and weak. Most of the patients he brings to him were all carried on his shoulders to his compound.

“Explain now or the plague comes back to you; stronger this time,” Chizorom said sternly to the young men. “As I healed you, I can also make you suffer, so I suggest you start talking,”

One of the boys tried to talk but the other one nudged him, so he kept quiet.

“Even though it’s dark,” Chizorom said to the men, “I know that you may be under an oath not to talk. But right now, you may need to choose between telling us the truth and losing your lives,”

Even though the boys were uneasy, they chose to live than remain silent.

“We are killers,” one of them said in a sad tone, “we are three friends from three different kingdoms. We’re used to perpetuating evil, especially when we are paid handsomely. We don’t ask questions once money or good exchange is involved. My name is Okiri and I am the leader of the gang. I am from Umudike village,”

“Yes, he is right,” the second guy entered, “I am Egbe ana-agba anyanwu (the gun used to shoot the sun). You can call me Egbe because of how lengthy the name is. I am from Azummiri village and I work for prominent men in the village. I am the second in command,”

“This is Ogbarankiti (the silent one) by name,” Okiri cut in, “He is deaf and dumb but very notorious too. His notoriety made him be banished from the Oduma kingdom. He joined us in our evil deeds as a means of survival. Due to the distance of this kingdom, we chose to be hiding here whenever we have carried out evil plans. Umundanda is the village where we hide,”

Nwokorocha and Chizorom were taken aback hearing that. They kept imagining what could have led the young men into such nefarious acts without batting an eyelid.

“So what brought you all here with all the plagues on you?” Nwokorocha asked.

“Exactly,” Chizorom seconded that question.

Taking a deep breath, Okiri said: “We’re in search of someone we were asked to kill. We have been paid handsomely for this purpose. The location of the person is still unclear to us. His name is Amandi from the Umudike kingdom. His uncle sent us to search for him and kill him. According to him, Amandi Acharaba may have died while escaping from his ill-fated life. He sent us to ensure we fish him out and kill him; that’s if he’s still alive,”

There was a moment of silence when the revelation was made.

Chizorom and Nwokorocha were just speechless as they imagined the kind of wickedness that got the good conscience of the three assassins crippled.

“So what did you intend to kill him with?” Chozorom asked thoughtfully, “And you’re yet to answer how you got plagued and what really happened to three of you. Does it have any connection with the deadly assignment?”

“We were told to use Onwuamaka (beautiful death) potion to kill him silently,” Egbe revealed making the listeners shudder, “the reason is that it would make his death look natural. No one would know he was slain,”

“Did you hear that?” the old man asked Chizorom, “where on earth can such poison be found?”

Chizorom smiled, whook his head, and said: “They were coming to steal it from my house. I can now understand what happened,”

Nwokorocha was shocked to hear that because such poison was so hard to be found because of its source.

“How did you locate the Anunuebe tree? Secondly, how did you capture the deadly snake to have even gotten the poison from it? Echi eteka (cobra) is almost nowhere to be found in this forest. I hope you haven’t forgotten that I’m a staunch hunter,”

Chizorom chuckled and shook his head. “I have mastered the forest a lot and could have access to any animal or tree around,”

It was then that it began to dawn on Chizorom that the Anunuebe tree that he visits in case of emergency situations may not be visible to others; especially to Nwokorocha whom he knew was conversant with the forest.

“An additional respect for you,” Nwokorocha said and smiled, “I guess you all were coming to the house of the healer to steal the potion but got caught by the road. The same person you came to steal from healed you from a distance. Nature can be funny sometimes, and the gods are wise,”

Chizorom had the imagery of how he went to talk to the oracle that healed the repented criminals. He couldn’t understand how the same Anunuebe that was offended by the thieves that came to steal its product ended up healing them.

Anunuebe is a tree known for its mercilessness but in the hands of Chizorom, it seemed as if it had lost its cruelty to softness and grace.

“On our way to steal the onwuamaka potion,” Okiri continued, “we began to feel that something wasn’t right. Our visions blurred while tracing our way to this place. We got blind and stopped seeing. It was only Ogbarankiti who could see. Maybe the gods pitied him for being dumb, so they spared his sense of sight. Our mouths and legs began to tilt while our bodies started blistering. We suddenly started feeling as if our hearts were failing. Our heartbeats slowed down and we began to wither. We passed out. We just woke up at the same location we were tracing. We were surprised that we got healed by the same person we came to steal from even when we were ready to kill him if he dares to stop us. We didn’t even know how we got here,”

Chizorom got up, smiled at the gods, and began to go into his hut. Getting to the door, he looked back into the dark and said: “You three should desist from doing illegal things. Be useful and go back to your villages. But if the crimes you’ve committed wouldn’t allow you to go back to your villages, remain wherever you are, But you must quit evil if you must live long. It was the same Anunuebe that you came to steal its product that healed you. The eyes of the oracle are on you. Whoever sent you shall be brought to justice in due time. Nna anyi Nwokorocha, one day we must see face to face. Thanks for being around, but remember that you owe me many explanations; especially about how the skin of the rare animal came to be staying with me for many years. For now, let me go to bed because tomorrow is another day. Abani ewerego oji (the night has taken away the kola nut)”

Nwokorocha smiled and nodded with delight. “No kola nut is more important than the healing you gave to these men. If they have ears, let them listen to your advice and live,” After saying this, he started leaving.

Okiri, Ogbarankiti, and Egbe left the premises without delay. They felt so happy that they were spared instead of being prosecuted for their numerous atrocities. The trio made up their mind from that day to turn a new leaf and shun anything that has to do with evil.

***

King Onwuatuelo was very angry at his daughter but chose not to talk to her for a while. That night, he made up his mind to confront her, so he sent Imo and Paraudo to fetch the princess.

Ugwudiya was restless because of how angry her husband was even to have stopped talking to her for three market days. She knew that the blames was definitely going to be on her even when she didn’t know how her daughter disappeared.

Seated on his throne instead of being in bed that time of the night, the king continued to fan himself with his native hand fan and waggle his legs in anger.

The queen had to rehearse how to present her defense and plea to the king. She tried to find a way to appease him and have his anger abated but she was afraid too because of her obscured fate around him that period. The long silence from the king had been a disturbance to the wife, so she had to end it that very night.

After making up her mind to face whatever might come from meeting the king, Ugwudiya decided to meet with him. She went straight to the king’s Obi where he was seated and gnashing his teeth in anger. She walked around him seeking his permission to sit but the king who was deep in thoughts didn’t even have her time.

In no time, the princess came into the company of the palace guards. She didn’t even act as if she was moved by her father’s perturbation or anger. She was even happy about her achievement which she was ready to talk about when invited. She felt that the king’s invitation was the best opportunity to reveal what she came for. She believed that the king’s anger is immaterial compared to the dicey situation that would soon befall Oduma kingdom.

Ugwudiya suddenly went to the king to stop him from unleashing his anger on her daughter.

“May you live long, my darling king,” she said as she observed his mood, “she is just a child and must have acted foolishly,”

“I am not foolish,” Ugegbe said abruptly with untold audacity as she stood before them, “I went to rescue someone who was about to be sacrificed,”

“I have heard that from a little bird!” The king hollered, “what if they mistook your mission and got you killed?”

“My lord,” the queen said meekly with a curtsy, “we may need to hear her out to…”

“I said it!” the king shouted at her, “she’s following your footsteps, no wonder she was bold enough to embark on such a dangerous venture without batting fear. When the little bird is dancing near the bush, the drummer isn’t far off. I am very sure that she discussed that with you and you kept quiet all these while pretending to be tensed while we suffered emotionally,”

The queen felt bad with such an accusation but didn’t have to interfere when the king was talking. She simply went to her seat and sat feeling dejected.

“Count nne (mother) out of this,” the princess said looking directly into the king’s eyes, “she knew nothing about my exit from the kingdom. No one knew. I may have acted foolishly and impulsively. And for that, I apologize,” she said and genuflected before her father, “forgive me nna anyi, but there is something you may wish to know. Probably, the gods made me so stubborn and led me to Umudike kingdom for a reason. If you can lend me your ears, then I’ll deliver the message I came with,”

King Onwuatuelo was so surprised to hear that. First, he was astonished by the boldness of her daughter. Such courage made him happy. Secondly, his anger abated before of the humility embedded in the daughter’s speech. It calmed him down at the instant, especially hearing that his wife didn’t plan the escape with her daughter. Even with those considerations, he still had his pride to protect as the king, so he had to feign being angry still.

“No justification for your action!” the king growled, “You already knew your status as royalty, and have grown old enough to discern between right and wrong. Why then did you embark on such a journey out of this kingdom without taking even one guard with you? Don’t you know that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown? My enemies could ambush you and use you to get to me,”

“That was why I went there disguised as a blind beggar,” Ugegbe said triggering the interest of her parents.

It was then that Paraudo nudged Imo as a reminder of the story he told them concerning the little child leading his blind mother. He was wowed realizing that it was the princess that deceived them using that guise of the blind beggar.

“What am I missing?” The queen said smilingly pointing at her daughter, “you, disguised as a blind beggar? With whose cloth exactly because it must have been a rag that you’d put on to make such look real,”

King Onwuatuelo was just wondering about the wisdom displayed by the princess. He felt so proud of her but still didn’t want to show it. He then disguised his glee.

“Yes, nne,” Ugegbe replied proudly, “I went to the house of the madwoman at eke market and stole his apparel,”

“You did what?” The mother yelled surprisingly imagining the filthiness of the dress.

“But I washed it, nne,” Ugegbe said trying to let them know she made it clean at least.

The king couldn’t imagine her daughter going so low to have done such. With that, he became more interested to know about the mission.

“Hope you had a warm bath after that to avoid strange illnesses,” Ugwudiya said and came forward to observe her daughter’s body but the princess avoided that.

“I took care of myself, nne,” she said in defense.

“Now, tell me about this rescue and everything that I need to know,” the king said and pointed to the seat adjacent to his, “sit and tell us everything,”

The princess remained standing. “I’d rather stand because this is a serious issue,” she said raising some dust of speculation among the listeners.

“If that’d bring the best of your understanding and narration, you have my permission,” the king said and listened attentively.

The princess cleared her throat and said: “Father, there is fire on the mountain but no one is running,”

The king was thoughtful but wanted to understand what the princess wanted to clue about. He narrowed his gaze meditatively as he listened. “Go on, I am all ears,” he said ardently, “the last time I checked, there was nothing like a fire in Oduma,”

“There will soon be,” the princess said boldly making the king be appalled.

“Are you now invoking the curse of the gods on my kingdom?” King Onwuatuelo said feeling that someone must have fed his daughter with wrong information, “I hope no one heard what you just said,”

The guards who were around but facing the opposite direction pretended that they didn’t even hear what was being said behind them.

“We have a human deity in this kingdom,” The princess said unequivocally, “but no one knew about him; not even his mother. But the mother now knows. The mission to Umudike was his. I was just an escort because he is just a child,”

It became obvious to the king that the princess wasn’t just blabbing or playing with words. He needed to know what she knew especially when a deity was mentioned.

“Speak now!” he hollered, “and don’t keep me waiting!”

The princess was startled at her father’s hard tone making her mother look at the king as a caution to watch his tone around the girl.

Ugwudiya patted the king’s hand as a signal for him to calm down and listen.

Having noticed that he may have sounded harsh to his daughter, he smiled and said: “Go ahead nwam (my daughter)”

The princess almost cried because she wasn’t used to shouts and scolds; especially from her father that loves to pet her a lot. She took her time to stifle those impeding tears so that she could continue without sobs or being teary.

The queen wanted to go and comfort her but the king held her back. He already knew that if he knew his daughter well, she’d let loose those tears once her mom tries petting her. It was a way of making her be the strong woman she was meant to be; no wonder he felt happy with his daughter’s first and successful quest.

After a while of silence, the princess conjured such courage as if her fears and softness just vanished into the thin air.

“A girl known as Ojiugo was accused of aiding the escape of her cousin,” the princess started, “due to this, she was to be sacrificed at Ngene River of Umudike. This little deity in the Oduma kingdom got the revelation that an abomination was about to be committed in Umudike. He declared an interest to go for the rescue of the poor girl. I opted to join him. He allowed me. I never knew the gifts he had in him until we got there. The chief priest of Umudike said he’d been seeing the boy in the dream but never knew who he was. The entire fowls in Umudike suffered from wryneck until the boy freed Ojiugo and gave them the missing item needed for the sacrifice. The wryneck has stopped but the greatest danger is looming. The boy revealed that there is a calamity ongoing in different kingdoms but we are wallowing in ignorance. He said that aside from Umudike that is already facing some difficulties, other kingdoms would do too. Now, we don’t even know how to go about tackling it because the person to bring a solution to this isn’t known,”

The king felt as if her daughter was just narrating a fictitious story. He couldn’t believe that his daughter was saying the truth. It was hard accepting that. He still felt that Ugegbe must have been confused to believe what she was narrating. Even though he believed the rescue in Umudike, he never believed that there was an incoming calamity.

“Where is this so-called human deity that I never knew about in this kingdom?” The king asked as he fought hard to believe what his daughter said, “I need to hear from him. But forgive me if I execute him for misleading you. I won’t have such a small boy leading my entire kingdom into doom with falsehood. Panic can make cowards die many times even before their real death comes. I repeat; I hope no one heard this to avoid misleading the…”

“Igwe…Igwe….Igwe!” A woman shouted from a distance as she entered the palace running towards the king.

The king paused and watched to understand what was happening.

The guards rushed and stopped her but she kept throwing herself on the ground and crying. It was confusing to everyone.

“Bring her closer,” the king said as he tried to comport himself and understand what was going on, “woman be silent and speak!” he barked at her, “do not keep me waiting impatiently,”

The woman panted heavily as she gasped for air trying to catch her breath to talk.

The guards still held her because they didn’t know if she wasn’t bent on hurting the king.

“Allow her to be,” Ugwudiya said to the guards and went to the woman, “aren’t you Obidiya the wife of Akamegbunam,” she asked observing the bruises on the body of the woman, “what happened to you?”

“My queen…my queen…my queen,” Obidiya faltered trying to make a statement but her tongue was clung to the roof of her mouth making it hard for her to express herself.

“Take a deep breath,” Ugwudiya urged, “relax and talk,”

The woman took some time to be able to relax. Looking at the king and the queen, she said: “My goat gave birth to a dog,”

“What!” they shouted in unison.

“It’s beginning to happen!” The princess exclaimed, “You were in doubt but it’s already happening,”

The king couldn’t understand what he heard because it seemed unreal. He looked at the woman sternly. “Be serious and tell me what happened!”

“Not just it,” Obidiya continued, “my daughter-in-law who had been in labor never delivered since morning until now. This is unusual and she is losing strength. Even the plantain in my farm is conjoined,”

It became obvious to the king that the princess wasn’t joking when she said that calamity was brooding. “Guards!” he hollered making Imo and Paraudo genuflect before him, “let the princess lead you to the house of the little boy that revealed that there would be a tragedy. I need him here and now!”

“Igwe, I hope you won’t hurt him,” the princess said pantingly, “he’s just a child,”

“Until then,” the king said with fury.

As the princess and the guards were about to head out, many people started to throng the palace. There was strange news everywhere. The most common was that pregnant women that were due for delivery couldn’t deliver. About ten ladies were reported to be in labor without delivery. There was confusion everywhere which made seeing Ikem a priority to the king.

“And what are those bruises on your skin?” Ugwudiya asked feeling concerned about the entire news.

“On my way running to the palace,” Obidiya said sobbingly, “I slipped and fell. The stone got my body looking like this but I had no time to look at it. I simply had to start rushing to the palace,”

The palace guards and workers had to stop the people some distance away from the king to avoid mobbing him.

Soon, the cabinet members and other stakeholders began to gather at the palace. It was already time for everyone to be in bed but the situation on the ground made them all awake because they were concerned.

#OpraDre THE CURSED LANTERN THE CURSED LANTERN THE CURSED LANTERN THE CURSED LANTERN THE CURSED LANTERN THE CURSED LANTERN THE CURSED LANTERN THE CURSED LANTERN THE CURSED LANTERN THE CURSED LANTERN THE CURSED LANTERN

To be continued…

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