Authors: Njedeh Anthony
Chapter 27
The Hurdene entered the bushes with her Ikuvamees. Her heart was pumping, not because she was in the bushes at this time of night, but because of the person she was going to visit. Whether it be man or beast, she had full confidence in her Ikuvamees. She knew there was no room for fear with the kind of determination she carried in her heart. The Hurdene got to her destination and then started contemplating whether to return. It was bad enough if anyone found out she was going to the home of Agreshi the witch, though she was positive no one had seen her and her Ikuvamees’ loyalty was unshakeable. The Hurdene stood watching the house for a time she couldn’t estimate before she gained the courage to enter alone.
*
A beautiful teenage girl in a small village got married to a farmer and they had a daughter. When the girl was six months old, her father died at sea while fishing. The widow raised her daughter on her own, tilling the infertile soils. When the girl was about five years old, the mother took her to the major town in a province to see her sister. The sister welcomed her warmly, but was not enthusiastic about seeing her niece. With time, the sister introduced the mother to a very wealthy trader who wanted to marry her as his second wife. The only problem was that such men did not marry mothers, so she pretended she did not have a child. In a few months, they were married.
The new bride took her daughter to her grandparents but they refused to take her because she was a girl. The brothers and sisters of her late husband all refused to take the child. The widow was frustrated and the sight of her child began to disgust her. She imagined everything she had to lose if her husband knew she had a daughter, so she made a hard decision.. She took her daughter deep into the jungle blindfolded. She was about to stab her child, when she looked back and realized she was lost. She laughed realizing that it was easier to abandon the child. Her daughter, on hearing her mother giggle, also laughed, hoping her mother was happy. The new bride looked around and decided not to kill the child, but instead she left her in middle of the jungle and went back to becoming the new bride.
After ten years, she had five sons and two daughters for the wealthy trader. On a quiet night, the wealthy trader died mysteriously. As the days followed, her children died one after the other consecutively. People brought many sorcerers to see the evil in the deaths, but they all said she had entered cursed waters and there was no way out.. When all her children had died, her sister, who was by her side throughout her tribulations, woke up one morning with the face of a woman four times her age. The problem reached the ears of King Burobee who sent the Awnu priest to consult the Oracle. The Headman to the Oracle reported that the curse on her was from negative forces that she had given an entrance to reality. The woman did not understand what this meant, but all she knew was that the worst was done—she had no family left and death would be better than the destiny of her sister’s situation.
A teenage girl with eyes like fire came to the gates of the King’s palace and ordered the Omees to open the door because she wanted to see the King. They all laughed at her. She faced the Omee in charge and told him to open the door or he wouldn’t see the light of day. The man laughed louder and asked if she was going to make him blind. This she did by merely looking at him. Then she faced another Omee and told him to open the gate for her to pass, or her words would be the last thing he would ever hear. The Omee immediately opened the gate.
The young haggard girl with dirty dreadlocks and worn-out shreds of clothing covering her body passed the men who had nothing to say. She reached another barrier of Omees and one of them held her by the shoulder asking where she was going. The girl wiggled her way through without looking back at the Omee, who automatically became handicapped. The news about the girl in the palace spread faster than lightning; none of the Omees attempted to stop her again.
When she got to where the King was, she saw the Awnu priest standing in front of him ready for anything. The girl said she did not come for the King and even if she did, the Awnu priest knew she could not be touched. She told the King he had three days to banish the mourning widow from his kingdom. King Burobee refused to drive a woman under such pain out of the kingdom. She told him that he had three days to comply or else the curse would extend to him. Then she said when they banished the woman they should tell her that Agreshi placed the curse on her. The King, on heavy counseling from his high chiefs and elders, gave the order for them to banish the widow. When they told her that she was banished, she took it like nothing but a particle in contrast to monstrous punishment weighed on her, but when one of the Omees told her it was Agreshi who placed the curse on her, she killed herself. As time went by people went to meet her with different requests and she gave them all their desires, at a price. She always stated the terms before she provided what they wanted. She could give a person any material thing he or she desired: wealth, husbands, wives, love portions, children and a lot of other things in exchange for things like a short life span, sterility, a body part and a host of others things.
*
The Hurdene entered Agreshi’s home looking for an excuse to turn around and return to her palace. She would have announced herself, but the hut was wide open. She saw her host burning something in a fire and at that point she knew she was in the wrong place.
As she attempted to leave, the witch spoke with her back to the Hurdene.
“State your request before you leave or else you might regret this day for the rest of your life.”
The Hurdene was still contemplating whether to leave when the witch turned around. The Hurdene saw an aging woman who looked older than her mother. Agreshi got up and dragged a cut trunk and offered her guest a seat. The Hurdene tried as much as possible not to get close to her for fear of some evil contamination.
“You know we human beings are funny animals,” the witch said in a squeaky voice. “I heard they burnt a girl, claiming she was a witch. They keep killing those people who accept the white man’s god, using their horns and bellowing they are witches, yet no mob knocks on my door to tell me they want to burn me on the stake.”
The Hurdene still refused to sit and looked for the slightest chance to leave this place.
“Believe I am creating new havoc.”
The Hurdene could not take it any longer; she started to leave, but the witch spoke to her, still playing with the fire.
“You and I both know the son you gave birth to
, does not belong to King Obi.”
The Hurdene stopped and this time she went back and sat down on the seat.
“How dare you? My son is the child of the King.”
“Yes he is and my hut contains all the oceans.”
“What are you accusing me of?”
“It’s amazing, before I mentioned your son, you were consumed with fear and now your tongue is as sharp as a blade.”
“Why don’t you tell me what you want to say?”
“No, you are missing the issue. Why don’t you tell me what you came here to say? The question that has been punishing your soul all these years was never a question because you always knew the answer—the child is not King Obi’s son.”
The Hurdene was dumbfounded. No longer petrified, she wanted to grab the witch by her neck and strangle her.
“Don’t worry, your secret will die with me. Now we have gotten over that, state your request.”
“Since you seem to know everything, you might as well give me the solution.”
“You must ask before we proceed.”
“I want my son to be King.”
“Is it really about your son becoming King, or is it about you ruling the kingdom? It’s no secret that the Hurdene is the ruler before the child starts acting like a King.”
“Now that you have uncovered the depths of my nakedness, I would like you to help me …I want you to help me…I beg you to help me.” The Hurdene went down on her knees.
“Save your sympathetic gestures for a fool who has a weak heart. My rules are simple. For anything I do, there is a price. There are three chiefs who are your problem. So which one of them do you want me to get on your side?’
“Oludu.”
Agreshi scratched on her dreadlocks.
“I will make things easier for you. Let me make the other two chiefs come to your side while you take Oludu.”
“No, I have made my choice.”
“See your mouth move. Have I told you my price?”
“I am listening.”
“I want the life of your son when he gives birth to his heir.”
“Impossible, I want my son to live as King.”
“And so he shall until he gives birth to his son and then he will be mine.”
“You are acting like I am a fool. Why do you think I came here?”
“You came here because you wanted to be King.”
“Do I look like a man that I would be King?”
“Let me ask you a question. Is there any decision that an underage King can make without approval from his Hurdene?”
“None until he has seen sixteen feasts of Ezes,” the Hurdene answered. “You can have his son but not him.”
“That’s too small a price.”
“That would be the heir.”
Agreshi thought for a while. Her crimson eyes fell on the fire and she said, “Oludu it will be, but your son is who we need.”
“So let it be.” She sighed, got up and walked away, not attempting to look back.
Agreshi then told the Hurdene, “If you can’t convince the other two chiefs, and the high chiefs finally decide to choose the other child, I will come for you and your son.”
“That does not really matter to me anymore. The people always kill the Hurdene and the person who does not become King, so I advise you to be faster than they are.”
The Hurdene left, hoping never to return or to see the witch again.
*
Odagwe strolled into Abogima Province on foot with more than half of the Omees in his army on the day they were supposed to go to battle. He purposely entered the province on foot so everyone in the opposing province could see him walk in. As they marched, Odagwe could feel the sting of hatred that flowed through the eyes of the people and the feeling excited him. He walked in front of the battalions and was heading to the Haku that was formerly the home of Otuturex.
Some activists could not bear the thought of Odagwe taking control of their province, so they risked their lives attempting to kill the chief as he headed for the Haku. If only the men had known how useless their attempt was, they wouldn’t have thought about it.
Odagwe entered the Haku with his general, Anossai, by his side. He looked around the Haku impressed with it, especially the colorful fur on the seats and animal skins hung on the wall.
“I have to admit, Otuturex had exquisite taste for a man so young. I hope his taste extended to his wives,” Odagwe said to his general.
While the two men were laughing, Odagwe’s messenger came in and bowed.
“Great Chief of every kingdom, the elders and envoy of Abogima are waiting to meet you.”
“Let them wait. I want to drink wine with my general. By the way, bring that sweet wine I brought with us.” The messenger ran to get what his master asked. Odagwe sat on the chief’s seat and rubbed his buttocks on it.
“Come and try your seat.”
Anossai was reluctant to obey the chief’s command, but with a slight persuasion he sat on Otuturex’s former seat. Odagwe addressed him like he was his friend.
“Relax and put your back to it. You are now Chief Anossai of Abogima.”
The general flushed. It was hard for him to determine whether he was on the ground or in the air. The messenger came with the wine. Odagwe took it and served Anossai. The general took the calabash from Odagwe, looking at him as his equal and they both drank.
“You are a true friend,” the general said. “You kept to your promise and I was thinking you would give your son the position.”
“Apart from being a trustworthy friend, over a quarter of the Omees in the Ekpona Hills are more loyal to you than anyone else.”
“That’s not accurate, Odagwe…may I call you by name?”
“You may call me anything you want. Don’t forget, as of now you are chief.”
“They are loyal to me because of the times we have been together. Most of them know that I have been with you in combat since you were general at Ozuoba.”
“Their loyalty to you is deep. By the way, did I ever tell you what my father used to do?”
“Not really, Odagwe, all I know is that he was an Ikaza.” Odagwe put his head down and raised it.
Anossai realized he should not have reminded Odagwe of his father’s position.
I should watch my mouth. He did not offer me the chieftaincy in front of witnesses. I am impressed with the chief. It seems I have traitors amongst my men. Odagwe found out of the assassination we planned on him. I know the man well, he would never have made me even near the chieftaincy. But why did he all of a sudden come out as the chief who keeps to his promises? It could just be that he is afraid of my rapport with the Omees. He could be thinking that I will turn the men against him…That wouldn’t have been a bad idea, but it would have taken too long. Now that I am Chief Anossai, I wonder if it is still necessary to go on with the assassination…Why not?