SpyLoaded Forum
Health & Wellbeing => Relationship Board => Super Stories => Topic started by: Miss Ifeoluwa on November 01, 2019, 04:38:13 PM
-
[attach=1]
The Kingdom of Ezeudo lay between two great mountains and from the mountains came a water source, which gave birth to the Ezeudo River. Ezeudo is being ruled by the youngest king in history, Eze Ikemba Aguchi, who has married twenty women, but still doesn’t have an heir to the throne. He is under great pressure, and threat, as his cousin, Chinedum, whom the gods have blessed with two children could take over the throne.
The Kingdom dwellers are mostly farmers and fishermen, only few practice hunting and other sophisticated crafts like iron bending and woodwork. In the day time, they all depart from their little hut clusters and go about their businesses, and at evening, they retire and prepare for the next day.
On this particular night, the usual serenity of the Ezeudo Kingdom was being disturbed by the wailing of a woman. She wasn’t in labor or in trouble. But Oriaku was being subjected to a thorough beating by her husband, Anosike.
Anosike was one of the handsomest men in Ezeudo, aside his friend, Chinedum who was the finest man. He was a great farmer, and his barns boasted of robust and delicious yams. He had been married to Oriaku for many years now, but their union had not produced a child. How could that be-when they were always at loggerheads with one another?
Tears crawled lazily from her eyes; she was too weak to cry. The agony from her husband’s beating had left her dazed and confused. Her broken lips shattered, and her waist beads scattered on the muddy floor. Anosike had done it again. It had become a habit for him to humiliate her like this, and she hated him for it. But like most women in the Kingdom, she was too afraid to divorce him, because no man would want a tainted woman. And one who had failed to give her husband a child.
“What crime did I commit? I only asked you an innocent question and you violated my body with your crooked hands. May the gods judge and punish you accordingly!” Oriaku sobbed and tried to gather her beads.
The dark skinned man gritted his teeth as he stared at the annoying woman. He had gone to the Uriama market, which was the biggest market in the Kingdom. One of his farmer friends, whom he had helped with some yam seedlings, had decided to pay the debt with a bagful of cowries and a slave.
He had come home with both gifts, but he hadn’t unveiled the slave’s face yet. But from her physical features, he knew that the slave was female. Her mud-soaked legs were slender and very attractive. And the flesh on her hips was surplus. The slave had a fine figure.
On arrival, Oriaku had welcomed him with a bowl of Ukwa and shredded cassava, which he had eaten to his delight. When she had noticed the slave girl, she had immediately suggested that her husband present the slave to Chinedum, his best friend, on behalf of Okeke (another friend who was indebted to Chinedum) as payment for his debt.
“Okeke is your best friend. I think you should help him clear his debt with Chinedum, your other friend. Just as this farmer has given you a slave as payment, you should help your friend clear his debt.” Oriaku had advised.
The Kingdom knew that Anosike, Okeke and Chinedum were best of friends. They had been friends right from childhood and nothing could tear them apart. Out of the trio, Anosike and Chinedum excelled at what they did. Anosike was the greatest farmer in Ezeudo, while Chinedum excelled as an ironsmith and a hunter.
Okeke was the odd one out. Although he tapped palm wine for a living, he spent much of his days being drunk. Years back, he had borrowed some money from Chinedum to set up a snail farming business, but he had failed.
“That’s a good idea, but I don’t think Chinedum is in need of a slave girl.” Anosike had replied.
Oriaku shook her head, “I have been hearing gossips about Chinedum and his wife, Obiajulu…”
Anosike’s heart had skipped.
“What secret?”
“I heard that she is sleeping with another man, and she has been abandoning house chores. Perhaps if the slave girl was available, she would now be the one to handle the chores.” Oriaku explained the reason for her suggestion.
Her eyes had been full of mischief and jealousy, even as she had spoken to her husband. It was a truth that Obiajulu, Chinedum’s wife was cheating. And she was cheating with Anosike, her husband.
Without warning, Anosike kicked the gourd of clean water and the twin calabashes before him to the ground. He dragged Oriaku into the bedroom and rammed her face with fiery slaps. The beatings had lasted for many hours, until he was tired. But Anosike was satisfied with the beatings that he’d given Oriaku.
“You have no business with Obiajulu. She is everything in a woman that you will never be.” Anosike fired angrily before rushing out of the bedroom.
His words re-echoed in Oriaku’s brain. How could her husband say such words to her? It was evident that Anosike no longer loved her, but his heart was with another…Obiajulu. And it hurt her to know that her husband was sleeping with his best friend’s wife.
Okeke, the palm wine tapper had exposed them to her. Some days back, he had gone to his palm plantation, only to catch the two lovers in the bush. They had begged him not to say a word, but his disgust wouldn’t let him stay silent. He had no choice, but to alert Obiajulu of her husband’s amorous activities with Obiajulu.
At first, Oriaku didn’t believe Okeke. But everything about her husband’s hatred and neglect of her was beginning to make sense. And Okeke wasn’t the type of man that lied, or said something to divide a group of people.
Oriaku sniffed in and wiped her face with the edge of her wrapper. Her angular face was strong and determined.
“I will teach Obiajulu a lesson. I will make her unhappy, just as she has made me.” Oriaku ignored the aches in her joints. All she wanted was to check on the slave girl, whose face hadn’t been opened yet.
She licked her sore lips and grabbed her lantern, stepping into the uncertainty that lay in the darkness.
To be continued…
Source: Davina Diaries
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524;image)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 2
Two naked bodies clung together in the dimly lit room. Chinedum had just finished making love to his beloved wife, Obiajulu. But he wasn’t satisfied. He loved this woman with everything in him. From the first day that he had set eyes on her at the stream, he’d known at once that they belonged together.
“You’re so beautiful,” he pulled her closer and dropped a kiss on her lips.
Obiajulu smiled and stared into his eyes. She parted her lips and allowed his sweet tasting tongue to find its way into her mouth. Their lips mated for a while, until his hands strolled towards her back. Only then, did she stop him.
“You need to sleep my darling. You have to hunt tomorrow.” Obiajulu rolled out of the bamboo bed. It wasn’t the matter of his hunting that disturbed her, but her mind was with another. She missed Anosike and couldn’t wait to set eyes on him again. Anosike was the only man who understood and had mastered her desires. He was more handsome than her husband, and she cared deeply about him.
Chinedum wasn’t blind. Though the room wasn’t bright enough, he could sense unhappiness from his wife. He hated to see her this way. He always did everything to please her, including the house chores which she hated to do. He watched as she opened her metallic box, and pulled out a fresh wrapper that she clothed her body with.
“Are you alright?” Chinedum straightened on the bed as he watched her.
Obiajulu closed her eyes and pulled in a deep breath. She quickly reminded herself of the need to act her part. She couldn’t let Chinedum sense her distraction. He could never know that her love was for another man.
“Um, something has been bothering me,” she returned to the bed.
“What has been bothering you my love?” He ran his hands over her smooth skin.
Days back, Okeke had stumbled upon her and Anosike in the bush. They’d been making love without a care in the world. She hated the palm wine tapper, knowing that he could expose them both.
“Has Okeke repaid the debt that he owes you?” Obiajulu leaned against her husband’s chest. She knew that the palm wine tapper was poor and wouldn’t be able to repay the debt. Obiajulu wanted to oppress him, until he realized that she was in charge and couldn’t be dealt with.
Chinedum was surprised, as his wife never cared about his financial business.
“We both know the truth,” he moved his fingers from her body to her hair.
“And what is that?” Her eyes glowed in the dark.
“When I gave Okeke that money, I didn’t give it to him as a loan. Okeke isn’t as wealthy as me or my friend Anosike. I don’t expect him to pay back. But if he does, I have no problem with that. I just want him to take his time.” He replied.
Chinedum valued his friendship with the palm wine tapper. Although Okeke wasn’t a rich man, he was cheerful and full of spirit. And he offered the best advice in the whole kingdom. He couldn’t do anything to jeopardize his friendship with the man.
Obiajulu was annoyed that she couldn’t manipulate her husband to collect payment for the loan. Chinedum was weak and small minded. He loved to take things easily and calculated. Anosike was his opposite. His fiery approach towards matters attracted her to him.
“I hear that the king has just sent his twentieth wife out of the palace…” she quickly changed the topic, so he wouldn’t sense her annoyance.
The King was her husband’s cousin, and her husband was next in line to the throne because the King didn’t have children. She had married into a royal family, and soon she would become Queen of Ezeudo.
“I always pray for the gods to bless Ikemba with a son or a daughter. The King is a good man. I don’t know why the gods wouldn’t grant him a child.” Chinedum replied softly.
Obiajulu peeled herself from his chest when he had said this.
“Why would you say such a prayer? Don’t you know that his inability to have children will make it faster for you to become king? We know the laws in Ezeudo. The King has been given an ultimatum of five years. If he cannot come up with seed, then the throne will become yours for the taking!” She snapped at him.
Chinedum chuckled softly. He knew how much Obiajulu wanted to be King. But he wasn’t eager to sit on the throne.
“I am not the kind of man who wishes to succeed on the pain of others. If the gods have destined me for the throne, they will have to take the King away first. They will have to strike him dead. I will not become king while my cousin is still alive. I will not be the subject of his humiliation.”
“Very well then, goodnight,” Obiajulu scowled. She rose to her feet and rushed out of the bedroom. Chinedum had angered her, so she decided to sleep with her two children.
Once morning came, she would find Anosike and make passionate love to him. Getting married to Chinedum was the greatest mistake of her life.
The slave had been asleep for some hours now. Her legs itched. Her body ached. Her face was covered with a black cloth which made it difficult for her to see anything. All she heard were sounds of wailing, it seems a woman was in trouble. But the slave couldn’t do anything about it.
She had struggled and fought with her captors; she had cried and wailed bitterly after she was being taken from her village. But they had no pity on her. A group of foreign warriors had invaded her village and they had killed the older population, while taking the younger and agile ones as slaves.
Tears splashed on Adaora’s cheeks as she recalled her last moments with her mother. The warriors had placed a knife on her mother’s neck. They ignored her pleas for mercy. Adaora had rushed forward to kiss her mother, and hug her one last time, but she hadn’t been quick enough. Before her eyes, her mother’s head rolled on the muddy earth.
“No, no, no…” her shoulders began to tremble. And her teeth began to rattle. The fear of being killed like her mother overtook her like a flood and she found herself helpless and screaming for help.
She was lost to the world of reality, and trapped in another one, made by fear. A river of tears glided down her cheeks. And she failed to sense the entrance of a stranger. Adaora only quieted when she felt a soft and friendly touch.
“It is okay, you’re having a bad dream.” The wielder of the kind touch spoke. It was a woman.
Slowly, the black cloth came off her face, and her dark green eyes struggled to adjust to the light of the lamp. Adaora shifted away from the dark skinned woman. She would’ve run out of the room where she was being kept, but her legs and arms were chained together.
Oriaku’s eyes softened as she stared at the innocent girl.
“You’re so beautiful,” she dropped the lamp and ran her fingers over the slave’s hairy body.
The slave was extremely light skinned. She was as yellow as the sun and as bright as the moon at night. Golden hairs sprouted all over her arms and legs. She was almost an albino.
Adaora said nothing. Her lips continued to shiver as she glued her eyes to the woman.
“I am not going to hurt you. And I promise not to let anyone hurt you.” Oriaku settled next to the slave on the muddy floor.
Adaora cried silently. She didn’t ask for this. Days ago, she had been a happy girl living with her mother in the village. Now, she was an orphan slave who didn’t know where she was and where she would be headed. The stories she had heard about slavery terrified her. Sometimes slaves were turned into concubines and raped at will, by their masters and other male members of the family. Other times, they were sacrificed to the gods of the land.
Her heart ached. Which would be her fate?
Oriaku smiled as she stared at the slave’s beautiful face. No man in Ezeudo would stare at her twice without turning back. She was perfect for the plan!
“What is your name?” Oriaku asked.
At first, Adaora didn’t want to say a word. She was filled with hatred and bitterness for all strangers. But she realized that these people weren’t the ones that killed her mother. They had only bought a slave from the market without knowing her history. She couldn’t blame them much.
“Adaora…” she stuttered.
“Adaora is a fine name. Where do you come from?” Oriaku asked.
“Anyanwa,” Adaora replied.
Oriaku was startled. The land of Anyanwa was very popular in myths and legends. The people that hailed from Anyanwa were known for their spiritual powers. They had special gifts in soothsaying and healing, as they were blessed by the sun god, Anyanwu.
To be continued…
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524;image)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 3
“The land of the golden sun…” Oriaku gasped.
Adaora’s eyes glowed in surprise. Not many knew of the existence of her little village.
“Yes,” she nodded.
Oriaku rose to her feet and tapped the slave’s head.
“When morning comes, you will be delivered to your master and mistress. I promise that they will not harm you in any way. I must get you some food and water.”
Adaora said nothing. She simply watched Oriaku, as she walked out of the dark room. One thing was certain; Adaora had sensed Oriaku’s unhappiness. She now knew where the wailing had come from. Her husband was hitting her.
“May the gods protect me,” Adaora whispered.
It was time to accept her reality. In slavery, there was no turning back. Her village was completely destroyed. She had to accept her new land. She had to accept her new name.
She was no longer the priestess’ daughter. She was now a slave in a foreign land.
“Where are you coming from?” Anosike fired Oriaku a suspicious glare as she walked into the room.
At first, she’d wanted to ignore him but she wasn’t in the mood to receive another round of beating.
“I went to see the slave,” Oriaku murmured.
“How is she?” Anosike asked.
He had made up his mind to listen to Oriaku. He had a feeling that Oriaku knew about his affair with Obiajulu. Okeke must have told her something. If not, why was she so interested in giving off the slave girl in repayment of Okeke’s debt?
He would allow Oriaku to do what she wished. But Anosike’s mind was made up. He no longer loved Oriaku. He would send her away when the time was ripe.
“Fine,” her voice was cold and unwelcoming.
Anosike cleared his throat.
“I will take her to Chinedum’s house, first thing in the morning. I don’t ever want to hear you mention Obiajulu’s name in this house. Is that clear?”
A wave of excitement washed over her when she heard him say this. But she was careful not to show it. No one could know of her plan to destroy Obiajulu’s marriage. Oriaku was more pleased with the fact that the slave girl was more beautiful than Chinedum’s wife.
“I have heard you.” She nodded.
Morning had swept the night skies swiftly, ushering in a bright and golden day in Ezeudo. Chinedum had been the first to wake up, and with a song on his lips. It was the song of a happy man. He fetched a gourd of palm wine and prayed to the ancestors and the goddess of the earth, Idemiri whom they worshipped.
“May my day be bright and peaceful, just like today’s weather.” He prayed, after which he emptied the milky colored drink on the ground.
When he was done with his prayers, he decided to check on Obiajulu and the children. A devious smile danced on his lips as he marched towards the next hut. Obiajulu could be very dramatic at times. He knew that she had left their bedroom because he didn’t buy the idea of becoming King. That was enough to upset his darling.
He tapped the wooden door that protected the children’s hut twice, but there was no response. He pushed the door open, and found Obiajulu sleeping peacefully on the bed, with the children next to her. His eyes glided over her chubby frame, her silky ebony skin and the swell of her massive hips which rested on a pair of slender legs.
“You’re so lovely, even in your sleep…” he walked towards her and brushed her sleeping face with his palm.
Once his hands were on her face, Obiajulu’s lips parted into a smile. He could tell that she was dreaming as she muffled some words that he couldn’t understand. But the second word sounded like a name which he was very familiar with. He wasn’t too sure.
“I am proud to have you as a wife,” he continued with his morning musing.
He was about to say more when he heard some clapping outside. The clap startled him as he wasn’t expecting any visitor. The loud sound roused Obiajulu from sleep.
“My husband…” she yawned and stared into his eyes.
“It seems that we have a morning visitor. I must check who it is.” Chinedum was about to rise when the visitor announced himself.
“Good morning my dear friend, it is I, Anosike. I come bearing good news.”
Obiajulu’s heart raced and she straightened on the bed immediately. The voice of her lover had a soothing effect on her. Her heart spiraled on a wave of unending happiness. She missed Anosike. She had not felt his touch for many days; neither had she set eyes on him.
“You must go and check it out,” Obiajulu quickly whispered to her husband.
“You should come and greet him as well.” Chinedum rose to his feet and moved out of the hut.
He was surprised to see Anosike this early in the morning.
“My good friend, how do you do today?” Chinedum scratched his chin as he observed his friend. Anosike rarely visited him, so this particular visitation baffled him. Another thing that baffled Chinedum was the human behind Anosike. He could tell that it was a woman, but he didn’t understand why her face was veiled with a black cloth.
Anosike smiled, “I am very fine.”
“Let me bring you a seat.” Chinedum advanced towards his hut, but Anosike stopped him.
“I do not want to sit as I have some farm business to attend. This matter is an important one.”
Chinedum’s brows were elevated in surprise.
“Is there a problem?”
Anosike shook his head and pushed the slave forward. Though Adaora listened in on the conversation, she couldn’t see the faces of the men. But this she could sense; one man was harsh and stern, while the other seemed more relaxed.
The man who’d just pushed her had been the one that beat his wife all night. Adaora decided that she didn’t like him immediately.
Another person that listened to the conversation was Obiajulu. At first her lover’s voice thrilled her and moistened her thighs. But when she realized he had come with a slave, it confused her.
“Okeke is our friend, and he took some money from you. We both know that Okeke isn’t capable of paying back. I have come to pay his loan with this slave girl. She is very beautiful and hard working and she would be a good slave.” Anosike had taken Oriaku’s word for the slave. Not that he cared; he just wanted to prevent his secret relationship from spreading all over the kingdom.
Chinedum was a bit shocked.
“I and my wife had been discussing Okeke’s loan.” He chuckled.
Anosike responded with a dry laughter, “The time for repayment is ripe then.”
Chinedum shook his head.
“I don’t want repayment. Besides, I don’t like holding people against their will. I will never involve myself in slavery.”
At this point, Obiajulu was furious. How could Anosike repay that bastard’s loan without telling her? When did he start taking decisions without her approval? She hopped out of her hiding place and stood between the two men.
“Good morning my husband,” she bowed her head as she greeted Anosike.
“May you live long,” Anosike smiled and bowed as well.
Obiajulu then turned to her husband, “You are right to reject the slave. We do not need her.” She ran her eyes despicably over the cloaked figure.
Anosike sighed, “You cannot reject my gift. For our friendship to continue, you must take Okeke’s repayment. His honor will be regained before you and all men, as well.”
Chinedum ran his fingers through his thick hair. Anosike had a point.
“You are a good friend and you are a wise man. I will accept the slave, but I will not treat her like one.”
Anosike nodded, “You are free to do with her whatever you wish.”
Obiajulu eyed him in annoyance. How could he betray her like that? She couldn’t wait for their next meeting.
“You cannot leave without some kola. Let me get you some.” Chinedum thanked his friend for paying Okeke’s debt. He retreated into his hut to fetch some kola-nuts.
In that moment, Anosike’s eyes met with Obiajulu. His desire for her supple body was reawakened. He couldn’t wait to taste of her lips and her bosoms again. They continued to stare at each other, sending messages quietly.
They only broke their gaze when Chinedum had returned.
TO BE CONTINUED…
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 4
The King’s palace was the largest hut in the Kingdom. The King’s court, the place where he received tributes and met with his elders in-council was a conglomeration of fifty little huts, all joined together. While the rest of the palace was about five hundred huts.
The walls of the meeting room was adorned with paintings and inscriptions made from charcoal and white clay, nzu. The floors were adorned with periwinkle and oyster shells. A portion where the king’s throne was located was well polished with golden clay and charcoal. Upon the mighty throne were a skin of a python and the skull of a leopard. Both animals were totems of the Ezeudo Kingdom.
The King was three years older than his cousin, Chinedum, and they shared a powerful resemblance. The King wasn’t as tall as his cousin, but his hair was thick and dark. He had a light brown skin with a strong muscle build. His chest was covered with sprouts of black hair. And his dark eyes were hawk-like, penetrating and commanding. He had a straight nose and an angular face. The King was a very handsome man.
Sitting in the throne room were the elders and his mother, Ezinne, whom he had all summoned for an important meeting. You see, Ikemba was one of the best kings that Ezeudo would ever have. In his reign, the people paid less tax and the land flourished. The gods had blessed his reign, but had cursed his loins.
“I do not want to be King any longer. I shall pass the crown to Chinedum. He has royal blood flowing through his veins. He is an upright man with morals and values. And he has children, a son and a daughter…” The King said.
Ikemba backed the throne and his subjects. His heart was heavy. His spirit was grieving. In his thirty three years on earth, he had married twenty one women, but none could get pregnant for him. He couldn’t father a child and it distressed him greatly.
“You cannot give up so easily my King. We will find you a fertile maiden and your seed will grow in her.” The first chief spoke.
“My son, please do not say this. I know that you are hurt. But it took your father and I many years before we could have you. All you need is patience and perseverance. You must continue to offer to the gods and worship them.
In due season, they will bless your loins.” Ezinne, the Queen mother spoke.
Ikemba swirled round angrily.
“You still speak of the gods?” He scoffed.
“The gods are alive and will do their work when the time is ripe.” Ichie Izu spoke; he was the second chief in-council.
The King didn’t agree with them.
“The gods bless whom they wish to. They hate me for no reason. I do not want the crown anymore and my mind is made up. I will send word through the seven villages that make up this kingdom. In two market weeks, I will step down for Chinedum to ascend the throne.”
The King was about to reveal more of his plans, when the oracle walked in with a staff and a large calabash. The priestess was the messenger of the gods. She staggered in with a shrill cry from her nostrils and broke into a dance.
“What brings you here wise one?” Ikemba faced her. Perhaps, the gods had accepted his plans to abandon the crown.
The priestess stopped dancing at once, and raised the calabash into the air. Everywhere became quiet. All their eyes were fixed on her, for she had a message from the gods.
“You cannot step down from the throne. The crown is your beginning. It is your end. It is your destiny.” The priestess bellowed.
But the king doubted her words.
“The crown is my destiny yet I cannot father a child. The gods had created the laws themselves. Any King that failed to produce an heir was to step down. I cannot be exempted from this tradition.”
The priestess shook her head and spoke a prophecy.
“Until the midnight meets the goddess of the sun; only then can a prince of the morning be born.”
The King and everyone else in the throne room were about to ask the oracle for an explanation of the prophecy when she swirled round and staggered out of his presence.
The chiefs began to murmur among themselves. The Queen mother exchanged glares with her son.
“Until the midnight meets the goddess of the sun; only then can a prince of the morning be born…” Ikemba repeated the word, but they made no meaning to him.
Ichie Okwute, the oldest chief in-council rose to his feet.
“We only worship Idemiri, Ala and Amadioha. Perhaps the prophecy is about a maiden from the land of the golden sun. We all know how powerful and strong their magic is.”
The King said nothing. He would wait on the gods and watch them unfold their promises to him.
“The land of the golden sun is Anyanwa. It is mythical and does not exist.” He muttered before walking out of the throne room.
Just like before, her face was left covered while she had been dragged to a horrible smelling hut by unseen hands. Whenever the urge to cry came, as she thought of her past life in Anyanwa and the treasured moments that she shared with her mother, Adaora quickly forced them out of her mind. And quickly reminded herself of the need to let go of the past and move on. A new life had been forced upon her, and she had to take it, live it.
She had not taken food or water since her arrival and from the crowing of cocks, Adaora could tell that evening had come. She leaned her fragile back against the wall, and settled her legs on stagnant water, which she didn’t know was goat’s urine. It was Obiajulu, her mistress that had insisted that she be kept in the goat house.
Surprisingly, the slave wasn’t hungry. She was lost and trapped in a sea of despair. Her shoulders were weak from too much burden. Adaora realized that she hadn’t slept properly in many days since her capture; perhaps it was time to catch some sleep.
A wave of fresh air rushed into the animal house. At once, the stench of decaying animal dung and stale urine were resurrected and Adaora knew that she had been kept in a goat house for the first time. Instead of sadness, she felt amused. How could one treat another human so cruelly? Maybe she had offended the gods in some way. Maybe they had brought her to this strange land for her penance.
Her pink lips parted into a yawn. Soon she surrendered to the wave of dizziness and fell asleep. Adaora’s mind was swept by the power of dreams and her spirit transcended to a place that was once her home. This dream that she was having now would become consistent. It would plague her until she sought for the meaning.
She found herself on a little hill back in her village. She recognized the hill at once, for it was the sacred hill of the moon goddess and the place where she and her mother usually offered sacrifices on behalf of the village. The hill of the moon goddess was surrounded by yellow weeds and strange smelling flowers. It was a lonely place except for the squirrels and vultures that hung around; waiting to ravage the sacrifices of fruits and flesh that were being offered.
Adaora’s eyes ran over the field of grass and flowers as she found her feet on the hill. Why was she standing on the hill? It was an abomination for anyone, other than the priestess of the village to do so.
Adaora had not been consecrated to become a priestess as her mother, she had not been called by the gods. Fear gripped her as she stared upon the hill. But she couldn’t move. She noticed something strange; like in the physical, her legs were chained in the dream world. This hindered her motion and escape from the anger of the moon hill goddess.
While still pondering on the next action to take, Adaora heard a gentle song coming from a direction opposite hers. The song was rendered by a deep and rich masculine voice. And it was accompanied by the wind and the dancing of trees. She held her breath and focused her eyes keenly. Never in her life had she heard such a beautiful song.
It took away the pain that she felt. It lightened her burdens. It calmed her fears and made her forget that the hill which she stood upon was a Holy ground.
“My love…” A soft voice called to her. It was the voice that had rendered the beautiful song earlier.
Adaora’s heart melted at the amorous salute. Her eyes took in a tall and handsome stranger. His eyes were sharp and aggressive, but kind at the same time. The aura around him was that of hope, forgiveness, peace and love. Who was this man? Although he was a total stranger, she felt like she had seen him before. And what intrigued her most, was that he was dressed like a King.
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 5
He wore a white garment which covered his ankles. Seven reddish beads hung around his neck and his head was adorned with a crown.
“Who are you and what are you doing here?” Adaora asked.
The stranger didn’t answer. He continued to march confidently towards her. When he reached the hill, he stretched his hands and asked her to jump in. He had come to rescue her.
“I have to take you down from the hill. It is the only way that the curse can be broken.” He answered.
Adaora’s thick and bushy brows narrowed, “What curse? What are you talking about?”
The man smiled, “It is the curse of the golden sun and the curse of the silvery moon…”
“But I don’t understand…” Adaora wouldn’t move. She needed to be clear on what he was talking about.
The stranger was about saying more, when she felt a sharp pain on her face. Suddenly, her dream came to an end and she found herself back in the goat house where she had been kept by her new owners.
Adaora cringed as the pain of the hot slap stung her cheeks. Her face grew pale as she realized that the black veil had been taken off her face after so many hours. She bit her lip and tried to rise to her feet, but then she stopped as she remembered that her legs were being chained.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the chubby and dark skinned woman with fierce looking eyes. Adaora didn’t need anyone to tell her that the mean looking woman was her new mistress. She feared for her life. She feared for her sanity. How would she live with someone this aggressive for so long?
“Get up!” Obiajulu fired at the light skinned slave girl.
She was still appalled that her lover, Anosike, had failed to discuss this with her. What irked her most was the immense beauty that he gods had bestowed upon the slave girl. A feeling of jealousy eroded Obiajulu’s sense of reasoning as she stared at the girl. Adaora was far more beautiful than she was or would ever be…
And she sensed that many men would be drawn to her exquisiteness, including Chinedum…
“No, he cannot love another woman beside me.” Obiajulu shook her head. She had to find a way to get rid of the slave before it was too late.
“Did you think that you were brought here for leisure?” Obiajulu fired at her.
Adaora blinked away the tears that had gathered in her eyes. She didn’t have any words to say. She sensed that the woman hated her and for no reason.
“Answer me!” Obiajulu folded her fingers and readied herself for another punch.
Adaora cracked lips began to shiver, “I…I am sorry, I didn’t mean to get you angry.” Adaora was forced to speak.
Her gentle voice and the manner which they dripped like honey angered Obiajulu more.
“Oh, you think you can bewitch my husband and all the men in Ezeudo with your soft voice? Do you think that you are too good to be a slave?” Obiajulu changed her mind.
She was going to be cruel to this slave. She would break her bones and shatter her spirit and nobody would stand in her way.
Adaora saw the woman’s fist approaching her face, but her hands were bound. There was nothing that she could do to stop her now. Obiajulu’s fist jammed the bridge of her tender nose, and she felt her blood spilling to her upper lips. At first, she had wanted to endure the pain, but it only grew stronger as Obiajulu wouldn’t stop hitting her.
“Please, no…” Adaora squirmed and tried to get away, but she staggered and fell into the stagnant urine that had been for days.
Satisfied that she had put the slave in the right place, Obiajulu smacked her chubby palms together and made ready to leave.
“That is only the beginning of your suffering. When you are ready to be my slave, your chains will be taken from you.”
She was about leaving the goat house when she heard Chinedum’s footsteps. Obiajulu frowned. Her husband had left for the forest. Why was he back so early?
“I will be back for you!” She waved a finger over Adaora’s face.
She was about leaving the goat house when Chinedum walked in. Obiajulu’s husband had gone to the forest to set his traps for the day, he had felt s slight headache and had decided to return home. Before reaching the house, he’d stopped by the palace to greet the King. And there, he had learned of the oracle’s prophecy concerning the King. The words from the gods confirmed that he was not destined to be the ruler of Ezeudo, and that sat well with him. He was happy that Ikemba had been chosen to rule till his death.
As he approached his compound with some of the gifts that the King and his mother had offered to him, Chinedum had heard loud wailing and crying. Without waste of time, he had discarded the gifts of calabashes, bush meat and fresh fruits on the floor. His first thought was that Obiajulu, his wife was in trouble. Or perhaps, something had happened to one of the children, especially his son, Ikenna who suffered a lot of childhood diseases.
He ran as quickly as his feet could carry him. Sweat glided from the openings of his face as he followed the direction of the wail. He only slowed down when he reached the goat house, and realized that the person crying wasn’t his wife. It had to be the slave girl.
“What is going on here?” Chinedum brushed past Obiajulu as he stepped into the goat house.
Obiajulu was shocked to see her husband.
“Nothing, let’s leave her to her fake tears.” Obiajulu quickly grabbed his wrist and made to leave, but Chinedum wouldn’t move. For the first time, he saw Adaora’s face without the veil.
She was the most comely woman that he had ever seen. Her eyes reminded him of the bright coloring of the skies on a sunny day. Even as she cried, he couldn’t miss the beauty of her plump and bleeding lips.
Chinedum snapped out of his admiration as he quickly reminded himself that he was a married man and would never do anything to hurt his wife. But he had a little problem with Obiajulu, for she had been the one to take the slave away at morning when Anosike had brought her.
“Why is she in the goat house?” Chinedum asked in a very calm but dangerous voice.
He noticed that the slave was lying down in stale urine and her milky white skin was decorated by black pellets of dung. Anger shot through him that his wife would show another human being such cruelty.
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 6
Obiajulu hadn’t expected this question. How could her husband undermine her in front of a slave? She scoffed and continued o her way out, but Chinedum dragged her wrist roughly.
“Answer me!” He thundered.
The sharpness of his voice, and the sternness of his grip made her realize that he was angry. Chinedum wasn’t a man of swift anger, but when he was annoyed, it always ended up in a fit of rage. Obiajulu couldn’t believe that her husband would show his displeasure in front of the slave. She had said it! She had known it! The whore was going to enchant all the men in Ezeudo including her husband.
“I have no answer for you. She is my slave and not yours. I will treat her the way I like.” Obiajulu pulled her fingers away from him and hissed loudly.
Her response infuriated him the more, and he was tempted to pull her hair and destroy the golden beads that she wore around her neck. The beads had cost him a fortune and she greatly adored them. Obiajulu was a very materialistic woman.
“You insult me by not answering my question. What kind of evil spirits would posses you to keep her in the goat house? There are many huts in my compound, but you chose to keep her here? How cruel can you be Obiajulu? What crime did this innocent girl commit against you?” Chinedum couldn’t believe that his wife could be this mean.
Again, Obiajulu paid no mind to his complaints. She ran her eyes over him, knowing that Chinedum couldn’t do anything to hurt her. He was in love with her. And she had him eating from her palms.
“What are you going to do about it?” She eyed him disdainfully. She was angry that he had insulted her before the slave. He was going to pay for it later. She would starve him of his conjugal rights, until he begged for forgiveness.
As she stepped out of the animal house, her eyes met with the evening sun. Soon, night will fall upon Ezeudo and she would have the opportunity of meeting with her lover. A new desire started within her body. Anosike would never insult her before a slave, but Chinedum had done it.
“I’d rather spend the night in the arms of the man who respects me above all things.” She murmured and walked away.
Right from the moment that she had heard the man’s voice, Adaora had stopped crying. She didn’t want to be the fire that burned two lovers apart. She didn’t want to be the reason that the master would beat her mistress. She hadn’t deliberately cried out loud, the pain of a broken nose was too much for her to bear.
Normally, his anger would have escalated after Obiajulu hissed and walked out on him. But he felt lighter after she had gone. It seemed that a calabash of cold water had been poured on his head to calm him. He couldn’t explain this.
Chinedum pulled in a deep breath and focused on the beauty again. He regretted what his wife had done to her. He was different from Obiajulu in many ways. He hated to see people suffer or cry, and this was the reason that he was loved by many people. From each hunt, he usually gave to the poorer members of the community. And at first, Obiajulu had tried to stop him, but when she realized that her husband was meant on giving, she had no choice but to let him be.
He walked towards the slave girl and knelt in the stale urine, right next to her.
“I am sorry that my wife did this to you. But I promise that you will never go through this humiliation as long as you are under my roof.” He didn’t wait for her response. Chinedum quickly pulled a short knife from the little pouch that he always carried around. He destroyed the chains that bound her feet.
Adaora stared at him in surprise and wonder. Her lips were still shaking as she watched him cutting through the chains that bound her. Only two people had shown her kindness since she arrived.
Oriaku was one, and now her master. But the stories of slaves being raped by their masters replayed in her mind and she quickly moved away from him. If Chinedum was being nice because he wanted a piece of her flesh in return, he was not going to have any of it.
“Stay away!” Adaora shifted.
He raised a brow as he glared at her. One minute she had been wailing like a woman in travail, now that he had come to help, she was running away from him. Chinedum sighed as he sensed the reason for her reaction. He wasn’t the kind of man that would take a woman without her consent either.
He rose to his feet and stopped at her new position.
“Why do you think that I will hurt you?” He knelt next to her. With the knife in one hand, he found her soft cheeks with the other. The urge to touch her soft skin was too powerful and he couldn’t resist it. How could anyone even think of harming such a beautiful creature?
Adaora stilled as his warm hands found a side of her face. Was he going to hurt her? Would he keep to his promise?
“You are cold. You will need a change of clothes and some wrappers.” Chinedum quickly pulled his hand away from her, and proceeded in cutting the other chains that tied her hands.
When he was done with everything, he helped Adaora to her feet. His eyes scrutinized her bloodied face as he concluded that his wife was possessed.
“I will never allow anyone to hit you again. Is that clear?” He stared into Adaora’s sapphire eyes.
Adaora nodded. There was something about this man that made her trust him. She hadn’t met a man like Chinedum before, but something stirred within her as their eyes met. It wasn’t anything amorous. It was trust. She trusted her master.
“Good,” Chinedum flashed a smile and led her out of the goat house.
As they stepped outside, Adaora’s blue eyes narrowed as they tried to adapt to the sunlight and the turbulence of the evening wind. She couldn’t believe that the veil was taken off her face. She allowed the scent of clay to dance into her nostrils. Though she wasn’t free, this was the closest she would ever get to freedom.
Chinedum spotted the delight in her eyes as she stared at her new environment. He noticed that her eyes rested on a certain tree in the compound. Her gaze had lingered on the Udara tree, but she sensed that he’d been watching, so she had taken her eyes off it.
“What is your name?” He asked calmly.
“Adaora,” she replied instantly, now feeling comfortable with him.
He smiled and took one of her hands.
“You have a beautiful name and I can feel that you have a beautiful heart.”
For the first time since the men raided her little village, Adaora welcomed a smile. This man was too good for the kind of beastly wife that he had. She prayed that he had no ulterior motives for helping her.
“I am called Chinedum Aguchi and my wife is Obiajulu. I have two lovely children…” Chinedum was about telling them her names when they both rushed towards him.
Their faces were covered with sand as they had been playing. And it seemed that they were fighting about something as well.
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 7
“Nnam!” His first daughter, Adaugo called to him. She was younger than Ikenna.
“What is it dear?” Chinedum lowered himself, so his eyes could meet with hers.
With a bitter grimace, Adaugo reported her brother.
“Ikenna took all the fish that you had bought for me!”
Ikenna who’d been quiet all along decided to defend himself.
“That is not true. I gave her all my walnuts yesterday because she promised to give me all her fish!”
Adaora who’d been watching the exchange quietly, found the scene amusing. She admired the way Chinedum treated his children. And from their eager eyes, she knew that they loved their father.
“We have a new friend, her name is Adaora.” Chinedum straightened and began the introduction.
At first, the kids were shy to go close to the fair woman because they had never seen anyone like her.
“Papa?” Ikenna whispered.
“Yes?” Chinedum wondered what her son would say.
“I want to marry her. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
Adaora smiled, unknown to the little boy, his secret wasn’t secret after all.
His sister Adaugo kept looking into her eyes. The little girl moved closer to Adaora and hugged her.
“You look like the goddess that my mother usually tells me about in stories.” Adaugo smiled.
Though Adaora’s hands were weak, she couldn’t resist carrying this little one. She scooped Adaugo into her hands at once.
“Your mother is right. You are a goddess.”
A gentle breeze kissed the leaves of the mighty udara tree. The magic of Anyanwu, the god of the son, and Itiru, the mood goddess had found their priestess and the last person that could harness their magic.
Only Adaora noticed the powerful presence of the two deities. Their fires lighted the greenish udara fruits that hung solemnly from the tree. The god of the sun and the goddess of the moon were trying to send her a message; like they had always sent her mother. But she couldn’t understand.
“Let us go inside and prepare a fire for Adaora’s bathwater.” Chinedum announced to his children and they all rushed towards the kitchen excitedly.
The sun hadn’t gone completely down yet, so Obiajulu was able to locate Anosike’s biggest farm in the Kingdom. Luckily for her, she found him giving orders to his laborers. The sight of his hairy chest and his exhausted eyes intensified her lust. She couldn’t wait to feel him inside of her. She couldn’t wait for those hairs to prick her naked chest. She would revive him with her kisses. He would find rejuvenation on her breasts…
As she watched from a field of wild guinea grass, she failed to notice that Anosike’s wife was coming from behind. While in deep admiration of her lover, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulders. Her spirit almost jumped out of her body but she chose to remain calm.
“Obiajulu, what brings you to my husband’s farm today?” Oriaku asked in a condescending tone. Right from their maidenhood, Oriaku had never liked Obiajulu. Being the finest girl in the kingdom, Obiajulu had treated other maidens with great disdain. She was as proud as a peacock and she couldn’t stop ringing it in peoples ears that her husband was related to the King. After Okeke had exposed her affair with Anosike to Oriaku, the hatred increased.
But Oriaku was determined to destroy Obiajulu this time around.
Obiajulu’s heart missed a beat.
“Is it a crime for a woman to roam around the farms in Ezeudo?” Obiajulu hissed loudly. She hated Oriaku for being with a man that was supposed to be fully hers.
Oriaku scoffed and gently dropped the basket that she carried on the ground next to her.
“An idle man they say is the devil’s workshop. Aren’t you supposed to be cooking dinner for your children and tending to your husband’s needs?” Oriaku continued.
She knew why Obiajulu had come. But she would make sure that she didn’t have access to Anosike. She wouldn’t allow any woman especially someone like Obiajulu to destroy her marriage.
Obiajulu was surprised at Oriaku’s boldness. The ugly woman had never spoken to her like that and this new found courage bothered her. Unknown to Obiajulu, Okeke had disclosed their secret to Anosike’s wife and Oriaku was capitalizing on that.
“It is a good thing that some of us have children. What makes you think that I haven’t fixed dinner for my family?” Obiajulu taunted Oriaku’s barrenness, hoping that it would hurt her.
Oriaku was hurt by her words, but she pretended not to care. She had allowed Obiajulu to trample upon her in the past, but she wouldn’t let her win today. She needed to stand up for herself.
“Those that the gods have blessed shouldn’t be too comfortable. The gods can always take their gifts away.” Oriaku offered a mischievous response. Just as Obiajulu wanted to reply, she quickly changed the subject.
“How is your new slave? I told my husband that you will like her. And from your aimless wandering, I know who is preparing dinner for your husband. Adaora is the most beautiful woman that I have ever set my eyes on.”
The sudden realization that Oriaku had been the one behind the slave girl coming to her house, hit Obiajulu hard. She couldn’t believe her ears. Well, maybe Oriaku was only saying it to hurt her feelings. Anosike would never allow his ugly wife to push him into making decisions.
From the farm, Anosike had spotted two figures behind the tall grasses. A closer look revealed that the two women were closely affiliated with him; one was his lover and the other was his wife. He jolted from the laborers like he had seen a monster. He couldn’t let his stupid wife to say anything to Obiajulu whose anger he couldn’t contain.
“What is going on here?” Anosike’s arrival wasn’t delayed.
Oriaku looked her husband in the eye, before lowering her gaze to her basket. A painful feeling of jealousy and rejection ate at her heart. The unmistaken fire of love burned in Anosike’s eyes. It was clear that he had chosen to surrender his love and desires to Obiajulu. Everything now made sense. Her husband had not touched her for many months, because another woman was warming his bed.
Oriaku lowered herself and grabbed her basket. She walked away from Obiajulu and her husband without a word. Her silence troubled Anosike because he had a feeling that she knew about their affair.
Once Oriaku was far away, Obiajulu snapped at him.
“Did you tell your wife anything about us?” Obiajulu eyed him angrily.
Anosike smacked his palms together, an action that usually shook off the elements of soil that always gathered between his palms while he planted.
“Why would you even ask me that? You know me better than anyone else. I would never do something that will put us in danger.”
Obiajulu wasn’t satisfied with his answer.
“Oriaku was very rude to me. She has never spoken to me that way before. I just hope she is going mad and that her rudeness has nothing to do with our relationship.”
Anosike shrugged, “Indeed, Oriaku has changed. I have planned on how to divorce her soon, so we could be together forever…” he parted his lips into a smile and looked into her eyes.
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 8
Though her heart softened, she still wouldn’t look at him. She was still mad at him for bringing such a pretty slave to the house.
“Why did you pay Okeke’s debt? Why did you bring that vermin into my house? Are you aware that she is a home wrecker? I do not want her in my house!”
Anosike closed his eyes and opened them swiftly.
“It was Oriaku’s idea that Okeke’s debt be paid. And I think she had a point. I, your husband and Okeke have been friends for long. It is a bad thing for debt to destroy a relationship; better anything else, but not a debt unpaid.”
Obiajulu couldn’t believe her ears. Her fears were coming to life. She wanted to be the only woman in Anosike’s life; no other person, not even his wife could have a say.
“When did you start listening to that fool? How could you take her advice? Don’t you know that the presence of that slave girl could restrict my movement? She could even seduce my husband into her bed.” Obiajulu complained bitterly.
Anosike was surprised that she cared about her husband. He felt jealous.
“At first, I thought you upset that Oriaku had advised me but it seems you are still in love with Chinedum. And this makes me question your loyalty. I have abandoned Oriaku’s bed for many months like you advised. Why do I have a feeling that you are still warming Chinedum’s bed?”
Anosike spat on the floor and moved away from her but she quickly held his hands.
“It is different with me, my darling.”
“How is it different? How?” He scoffed.
“I am a woman! I am subject to my husband’s desires and he could be suspicious if I refuse his touch. But you are a man; Oriaku’s submission is yours for the taking.”
Again, her answers calmed him. Obiajulu wasn’t just beautiful; she was smart and extremely intelligent. She was good with words as well. Her advices in the past had helped his farm to bloom in season. Her great wisdom was one of the reasons that he loved her.
“I am sorry then. I miss the warmness of your body. I miss the smell of your hair and your breath…” his eyes travelled from the golden bead that kept her breast in place to her robust waist.
Obiajulu felt her thighs moisten. She ran a tongue over her lips.
“Tonight, we shall meet in this farm. I will ride you to the clouds.” She winked.
Anosike was excited beyond measure. He missed her touch. He couldn’t wait for the call of midnight.
“If you ride me to the clouds, I will buy you the most expensive wrapper in the market; one that your husband will never be able to afford.
She leaned forward and dropped a kiss on his lips. It was swift and unnoticeable. She waved him goodbye and began to stroll towards her husband’s house.
Oriaku had been watching the lovers. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she spotted the swift kiss that Obiajulu had dropped on her husband’s lips. The pain was too much for her to bear. The realization had begun slowly but she soon recognized that Obiajulu wasn’t in love with Chinedum.
“If she had an iota of love for her husband, she wouldn’t take the risk of coming to see mine.” Oriaku mumbled to herself. In that moment, she decided to expose the abominable affair between Obiajulu and her husband to the King.
Angrily, Oriaku grabbed the basket of yam seedlings and hurried out of the farm. When she met Anosike by the way, his eyes just roamed her swollen face before he averted his gaze. He walked away from her like she had meant nothing to him. Oriaku made her decision to destroy them both. And she wouldn’t change her mind anytime soon.
At twilight, Ikemba was allowed to rest in the courtroom, before receiving any visitors. He usually sacrificed to Idemiri and Amadioha in the evenings, and after praying to the earth gods, he would sit and rest on the throne. Ikemba was still plagued by the revelation that the oracle of the gods had made.
The words of the prophecy reechoed in his mind. They troubled him and he was forced to sleep to block them out. A wave of darkness supplanted his mind and killed the effect of the words. Ikemba was propelled to a new place on earth; a land where he had never been. And he found himself staring at the face of the sun, and a little hill where yellow flowers grew.
The place smelt of roast goat and spices. From the marking and dark brown stains on the hill, the King could tell that it was a sacred place. It was a place of the gods. It was a place of sacrifice. But why was he here?
He began to move towards the hill, slowly and steadily. He was about climbing the hill when he felt a presence. It was only then that he knew someone else was with him. Ikemba was a man of courage. He was a man of strength, so he feared nothing. He turned around at once, and found a woman behind.
Her face glowed like the sun, and her eyes like fire pebbles. Her hair was silver and reached her waist. She wore a pristine garment and two golden ankle chains. Three white dots made with clay were dropped on her forehead. He knew she was a priestess from her attire. But to what deity?
“Who are you and what am I doing here?”
The old woman smiled, “I don’t know what you have done to gain the favor of the gods. But my spirit tells me that you are a good man and you will be the only one to set my daughter free from the curse of the moon hill goddess.”
The King shrugged and stepped away from her.
“What daughter? What curse?”
The old woman advanced towards him with a calabash that had appeared from nowhere.
“My daughter is the priestess of Anyanwa. Take this calabash and drink from it. You will see more visions and you will be able to locate her for your destinies are entwined.”
At first, Ikemba hadn’t wanted to accept the calabash, but his courage propelled him to. The purple liquid inside the calabash resembled a mixture of herbs which had been crushed together. He emptied all into his mouth. The liquid was the bitterest concoction that he had ever tasted but he hoped it would be effective.
When he was done drinking, he realized that the woman had disappeared.
“Nnam, my King,” the Queen whispered into the night. She had checked the King’s chambers, but she hadn’t seen him. The Queen had come to discuss something very important with Ikemba, but she had found him asleep in the meeting room.
TO BE CONTINUED
-
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 9
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
The soft touch from the wrinkly hands stirred him from his evening sleep. Ikemba grabbed the dagger underneath his kingly garment at once. But the instinct to attack an enemy quickly vanished as he recognized his mother in the dimly lit arena.
“You look troubled,” His mother said.
Ikemba sighed, “What kind of man would sleep in peace knowing that he would never father a child?”
“Tufiakwa! You will have a son my child. Your loins will soon be blessed by the gods. All we need is to follow the direction of the priestess. The right woman will come and she shall bear you a son.” The woman tried to dissuade her son from having negative thoughts.
The King drew a sharp breath and leaned against his wooden throne. He was still perplexed by the dream that he had. Ikemba felt strange about it. The dream had seemed so real and surreal at the same time. And why had the woman faded? Was there really a land like Anyanwa?
“Mother, have you ever heard about Anyanwa in reality? Everything that I know about the land is from moonlight tales.”
The woman was skeptical about such a mysterious village.
“I don’t know much about it, but I have heard stories as well. There are good stories mostly. There are stories of a great people who were blessed by the sun God and the moon Goddess, both which they drew their energy from.”
The King rubbed his chin thoughtfully, as he pondered on the dream. He was to find a maiden from Anyanwa who was under a curse. How could he try this when such a land didn’t exist in the physical?
Unknown to the discussers, they weren’t alone. Just in time, Oriaku who had been filled with so much rage and jealousy had walked towards the meeting room. She had come to report her husband to the king, but the news she’d just stumbled on, was the perfect distraction.
I know someone from Anyanwa! She thought. Of course she did, the slave girl that her husband had bought from the market was an indigene
“I still find it difficult to believe that such a land could exist in the physical world. What if I never find her? I would have to turn over the throne to Chinedum.” The King sighed. Although he was the most powerful man in Ezeudo, he was a very sad man. None of the beautiful women that he had ever married could make him happy. He had reached a point where he considered his life meaningless.
The Queen inhaled a deep breath. She knew that her burden on her son’s shoulders wasn’t easy. She had no idea of what it meant to be King, neither did she had an idea of what it meant to be a barren man.
“It shall be well, the gods are wise.” She chose succor in the common saying of the villagers.
Oriaku was satisfied with all that she had heard and learned. A crooked smile danced at the corners of her mouth. Suddenly, the rage and jealousy that she had felt vanished into thin air, and she was left in deep thoughts about the slave girl, Adaora. Her husband had chosen Obiajulu over her and she had no choice but to let him be.
“I will no longer fight Obiajulu with my mortal strength. The gods would punish them both for their sin when the time is right.” Oriaku made this resolve, before she stepped out of the darkness, towards Ikemba with a basket of yam seedlings and other fruits, only fit for a King.
The Queen wanted to say more to encourage her son, when she noticed the shadow that advanced towards them.
“You have a visitor,” she turned to Ikemba.
The King was surprised as he hadn’t been expecting anyone.
“Who could it be?” He fastened his eyes on the approaching figure. When the figure was closer to the throne room, he recognized her at once. It was Anosike’s wife, the greatest farmer in all of Ezeudo.
“Oriaku!” The Queen smiled.
Oriaku bowed her head in respect to the Queen. When she neared the King, she fell on her knees and worshipped him.
“You may rise virtuous woman. You have done well by paying your King a visit.” Ikemba was pleased to see her.
Oriaku wiped away the dust that her knees had kissed. She quickly presented the basket that she had brought.
“I and my husband wish to donate this to the royal farmers. My husband stored the best yam seedlings for the King. I also brought some delicious coconuts…” Oriaku was lying, she had come for another purpose but she changed her mind.
Anosike was free to do whatever he liked. She no longer cared. She was more interested in finding out what linked Anyanwa and the King.
“You and your husband have done well. Thank you.” The Queen smiled at the woman. The Queen had always admired Oriaku from a distance. As the head of all the women that dwelt in the land, she was privileged to have access to information about every woman. From most women, Oriaku was considered a patient, loving and kind person. But her husband was an insensitive and unfaithful man.
There was a point that the Queen had wanted to suggest Oriaku’s sister for the King, but Oriaku’s barrenness discouraged her.
“I must leave now.” Oriaku flashed her teeth.
The King shook his head, “You cannot come into my presence and leave without a proper welcome.”
He called to one of his guards and asked that a meal be prepared for Oriaku.
“Be smart about it. Send the cooks to work at once!”
“As you wish my King,” the guard bowed. He raised the heavy basket and placed it on his hefty shoulders before leaving.
Oriaku wasn’t comfortable staying in the palace. What if Anosike discovered that she had gone behind his back to pay the King a visit? Her husband was a prideful man and he could get upset about this. Well, she couldn’t speak in the presence of the king without being asked. No living person in Ezeudo could challenge Ikemba’s authority.
“So, how have you been? How is the farm?” The Queen decided to break the silence that was building.
Oriaku was grateful for her intervention.
“Um, everything is fine.” Oriaku fiddled with her fingers. She found it difficult to look at the Ezinne in the eye. The dark skinned woman had eyes that were severely penetrating. They were small, round and blackish. They resembled that of an evil bird, and a glance at them always sent a shudder into people.
The Queen smiled, she sensed that Oriaku wasn’t too comfortable with her.
“I do not bite Oriaku; feel free to discuss anything with me.” The Queen cast a glance at her son who was falling asleep again.
Oriaku ran a tongue over her lips.
“I am sorry for what I am about to say. I stumbled on your discussion about Anyanwa….”
The Queen didn’t look upset or too surprised.
“I have heard many beautiful and magical tales about that place.”
Oriaku nodded, “I happen to know someone from there. She confessed that she is a native of the land but it was recently raided by some slave traders. Those who weren’t killed were taken into slavery. But as I speak, Anyanwa is no longer in existence because everything has been destroyed.”
At the mention of that name, Ikemba’s eyes popped open.
“How do you know this? Who is this person?” He asked.
Oriaku’s heart skipped, she hoped that she wasn’t making a mistake.
“A slave girl that my husband had bought for me,” she answered.
“What is her name?” The King rubbed his chin thoughtfully, as he tried to recollect the dream he had.
“Adaora. She is fair as the sun. Her beauty is like that of the moon. She has a gentle spirit. She is Chinedum’s slave now.” Oriaku continued.
TO BE CONTINUED
-
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 10
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
It didn’t take Adaora long to adjust to her new role as a servant. Her mistress seemed to have an aversion to house chores and home management, so she had to plan everything for herself.
She had bathed the children and washed some of their clothes. But she would have to locate the stream in a few days, because the massive water pot was almost empty. Adaora had swept the entire compound, including the rooms of her master and mistress.
Adaora pondered on the magical vision that she had seen earlier. She shuddered at the thought of the gods of Anyanwa finding her in Ezeudo. She almost sliced her finger along the Utazi leaves that she had been chopping for dinner. She kept the knife aside and stared at her hands.
She could never heed the call of the gods, because they had abandoned the people when they were needed most. If the gods were that powerful, they would have answered her mother when the slave traders had come.
“I want nothing from any of you! I want nothing at all! Stay away from me!” She pointed at the udara tree as she spoke. Tears dribbled across her cheeks. The pain of her mother’s untimely demise was still fresh. Never in her life had she imagined that she would work as a slave. But here she was, shredding leaves for the next dinner.
While she was crying, Chinedum had heard her wail. He had just returned from setting night traps. He had caught a big animal and he had expected Obiajulu to welcome him with her warm hug. But there was nobody to. As he advanced towards the kitchen area, he had heard the slave girl crying and it pierced his heart. Of all things that he hated, crying was topmost.
“Adaora?” He called her name for the first time.
Adaora’s spirit almost jumped out of her body when she realized that she had been crying, instead of preparing dinner. She quickly wiped her face with the end of the old wrapper that she had been given. She grabbed the knife and went back to work.
“I called you,” Chinedum dropped the dead rabbit on the plantain leaf where the Utazi leaves had been kept.
Adaora bowed her head, afraid to look into her master’s eyes.
“Welcome master, I am sorry that dinner isn’t ready yet. I will make the fire and boil yam as soon as I can.”
“I wasn’t asking after dinner. Why are you crying? What happened? Did my wife hit you?” Chinedum asked calmly. Briefly, he wondered where Obiajulu was. The moon had shown her beautiful face, and his wife was nowhere to be found.
Adaora was more afraid of Obiajulu than her husband. The woman was a complete devil and Adaora didn’t want to do anything to step on her toes.
“Not at all, I am very fine!” Adaora insisted. She couldn’t drag her mistress into this mess.
He knew that she was not being truthful. She wasn’t ready to talk about whatever it was that bothered her. And he didn’t want to press further.
“Where is my wife?” He lowered himself and fetched some Utazi leaves.
“I haven’t seen her since afternoon, but the children are sleeping. I have bathed them and given them evening food.”
Chinedum wasn’t comfortable with his development. He swallowed the bitterness of the leaves and moved towards his room. If Obiajulu didn’t show up in a short moment from then, he would know that she was in trouble. But for now, he just needed to take a bath and wait for his dinner.
A smile played on his lips as he thought about Adaora. The slave girl was extremely beautiful and homely. His children had warmed up to her, and that really pleased him. His only wish was for Obiajulu to treat her like a human being, and not a lesser person.
Usually, the lovers always met at the dead of the night, but Anosike had changed his mind about the whole thing. He had sent a secret message to Obiajulu to meet him. Now that Oriaku knew about their affair, they needed to be more discreet.
Obiajulu had noticed that her husband had given the dirty slave her new wrappers, she had been on her way to Adaora’s hut for another round of beating, when a little boy had showed up with a basketful of bush apples. Bush apples were little reddish fruits which could only be found in the deepest forest of Ezeudo, the venue of her meeting with Anosike. At once, she abandoned her plans to beat up Adaora. Her love for Anosike was greater than all.
As she walked deeper into the forest, she imagined what it would feel like to finally be the Queen of Ezeudo. Her husband wasn’t an ambitious man like Anosike, but she was going to push him to overthrow his cousin. Ikemba was a barren and cursed King. There was no way that he would ever father a child. It was common knowledge that her husband was next to the throne, Chinedum had to arise and take matters into his hands.
The blade of the grasses scratched her skin, leaving reddish marks which were hidden by the weakness of the moon. Obiajulu ignored the insect bites and the uncomfortable sting of some grasses. All she wanted was Anosike. She wanted to love him. She wanted to join her body with him.
Her heart raced as she spotted a tall figure leaning against an oil bean tree.
“My darling!” She beamed with excitement.
Anosike, who’d been waiting for her to arrive, peeled himself lazily from the mighty tree. He had missed her all day. He couldn’t wait to make love to her. At a point, he didn’t expect her to show up, but she greatly surprised him.
“I didn’t know that you would show up…”
Obiajulu framed his face in her hands and whispered, “How could I stay away from your touch? Oh, how I have missed you.”
The lovers adored their faces with their hands. Their eyes were glued together. Their heartbeats matched. They were destined to be together. Anosike pulled his best friend’s wife closer to his body. He wanted Obiajulu to feel his hardness. He was going to make passionate love to her, and he wouldn’t stop until she confessed that he was better than her husband.
“Do you really miss me?” His voice was seductive.
Obiajulu’s breath was rushed, she couldn’t wait.
“Please, don’t torture me tonight. I have waited enough,” she begged.
Anosike smiled. With a puckish light that danced in his eyes, his hands found the knot that held her wrapper pieces in place. He pulled it backward and the fabrics fell to the ground.
He swept her sleek body into his arms and carried her to a shade that he had erected for the sole purpose of their affair. He dropped Obiajulu’s naked body on the raffia mat. He allowed the moon and the stars to gaze upon her beauty.
“I am lucky to have your heart and body,” he dropped a kiss on her neck.
Obiajulu welcome his hard chest, which brushed past her nipple by holding his naked back with her hands.
His tongue was warm at first, but the warmth vanished as he began to trace a line from her neck to the rising of her breasts. Obiajulu swallowed. Anosike was a man who loved details. He hated rushing. He completely understood her body. But tonight wasn’t that night they would take things slow.
“Hurry, I didn’t tell Chinedum about my movement,” she whispered.
Obediently, his lips found the buttons on her breasts. He swallowed one swollen tip and fed hungrily like a little child. His hands caressed the flesh of her belly, the sweep of her hips and her smooth legs.
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 11
She couldn’t help but moan out loud her pleasure as he sucked her boobs which were fully engorged with blood. The heat from this passion melted every resolve in her, and she welcomed the moisture that pelted from the sacred fountain between her legs.
Anosike relished every bit of the pleasure he was offering. Her moans were his aphrodisiac. Obiajulu knew how to spur a man on, unlike his wife who would lie like a log of wood. Oriaku was a very boring woman, and he sometimes wondered what had attracted him to her.
“Are you ready?” He whispered.
“Please…” she moaned as his fingers began a journey to the middle of her legs.
Anosike found the golden spot where her nectar flowed from. Gently, he parted the petals of her flower, and began to caress the golden knob which was the centre of all her pleasure.
She writhed and screamed. His hands had found the place that she yearned to be touched. She cried out his name to the forest. Even the crickets and night birds were stunned by such a strange sound. Anosike smiled, Obiajulu really missed him. He could swear on his life, that this woman wouldn’t be able to live without him.
He felt the tension of her tender laps. Soon, her pleasure ride would come to an end, but he couldn’t allow that. He wanted them to mate at once. He wanted them to be complete together. So he untied the wrapper around his waist and parted her legs wider.
“I love you,” he said. But she didn’t respond because her senses were dulled by the intensity of the sexual delight.
He drove his hard shaft into her sharply. Obiajulu gasped and spread her legs to allow him full entrance. She cried his name all through the ride. Anosike was used to the feel of her soft core. But tonight seemed very different, the pleasure he derived from her softness was greater. If he didn’t know Obiajulu well, he would have accused her of making use of some magical plants to sweeten her womanhood.
Unknown to them, the goddess of the moon was about to bless them with a seed. Anosike poured out the seed into her, and her womb was filled with special warmth. Obiajulu cried out his name as she found her release.
“You were amazing tonight. If I didn’t know you well enough, I would’ve accused you of using a charm on me.” Anosike broke the comfortable silence that was.
She smiled and leaned closer to him. Obiajulu wished this was real. She wished Anosike was her husband in reality.
“You always make me happy. Why did we not marry each other?” A rueful smile curled her lips.
Anosike moved away from her and straightened on the mat. He had asked himself the same question all over again. At first, their relationship seemed more of lust, but he discovered that he shared many things in common with her. They were highly ambitious and ruthless. And they loved each other that way.
“Fate, the gods,” he shrugged.
“The gods be damned. The gods are dead.” Obiajulu scoffed, but he quickly corrected her.
“Don’t speak disrespectfully of the gods, my darling.”
She sighed, “I spoke to Oriaku today. I believe that you saw us.”
“Yes, what did she say?” Oriaku’s husband asked.
“Did she ask you to bring that slave into my house?” Obiajulu would take a decision from the manner that he would answer the question. Obiajulu had a feeling that Oriaku knew about their affair but she wasn’t sure.
Anosike could read her face like a book.
“I do not love Oriaku. It is you that matter to me. I had to let her bring the slave to your home else she would have exposed us!”
“Expose us? How did she get to know about us?” Obiajulu snapped at him. She was irritated by weak men who couldn’t take decisions on their own, and Anosike was one of such men.
“You are being angry for nothing. Oriaku is a halfwit. Just leave her to me; I know how to handle her.” He tried to sound convincing.
Obiajulu chuckled, “If you knew how to handle her, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Your wife knows about us and she is trying to ruin my marriage with that slave girl. Adaora is the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen, and no sane man will resist her if she is set to seduce him.”
“I can resist her. Her beauty does not match yours,” Anosike said this proudly.
“That is not the point. My husband is a kindhearted man and that fool may want to use that against him. Do you know that he gave her some of my wrappers to wear?” Obiajulu was still pissed as she recalled seeing her clothes on Adaora’s fair skin.
Anosike was upset that he had failed her, and it was all Oriaku’s fault.
“Do not be angry my Queen, I will handle Oriaku.”
“You better do, she is really getting on my nerves.” Obiajulu warned.
The lovers rose to their feet and began to dress. Anosike’s mind was saturated with anger. He would give Oriaku the beating of her life, until she learned to mind her business.
On the other hand, Obiajulu decided to ignore Adaora for now. She was more interested in convincing her husband to take the throne. She couldn’t wait to become that which she had always dreamt of- a Queen.
“Are you still angry with me?” Anosike pulled her into his arms.
Obiajulu ignored him, “Just handle that wife of yours.”
Oriaku had returned to an empty house, she wasn’t surprised. She had expected her husband to meet with his lover somewhere, as they had planned. The woman was no longer bothered by Anosike’s foolish ways. She had found something else to occupy her mind. The Queen mother had opened up to her when the King had vacated the meeting room. It was a matter of great confidentiality and she felt humbled to beg granted access to such information.
The Queen had given her a job, and she was going to work on that. She was to observe Adaora for some weeks, and give a report on the overall character to the Royal family. They weren’t sure if she was the woman that the oracle had spoken about, but they needed to groom her first.
“I can hardly wait,” Oriaku thought to herself. When she was done pondering on all the events that had taken place in her day, she decided to take some rest. Oriaku’s eyes were half closed when she heard a violent tapping on her door.
“Open this door you fool!” Anosike grumbled.
Only a foolish woman would be unaware of what was about to take place. Oriaku was no longer scared of Anosike. He could rot in the grave, for all that she cared. She had confirmed her greatest fears and she had accepted them. Anosike was no longer in love with her; he was also cheating on her with Chinedum’s wife. She knew Anosike’s secrets and she would use them against him.
Before now, Oriaku had confronted Obiajulu at her husband’s farm. She was quite sure that Obiajulu had put Anosike up to this. Oriaku decided to ignore his raging rants. When he was tired, he would retire for the night.
But Anosike wasn’t tired. His lover had put him up to a task, and he had to accomplish it. He needed to regain power over Oriaku, which was the only way that he would have a smooth relationship with Obiajulu again. He cherished his darling and wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
“Open this door right now or I will break it down and send you out of my house!” Anosike barked.
Oriaku scoffed. At first, she had wanted to ignore him, but his yelling only increased. Sensing that Anosike had come to beat her again, Oriaku rose to her feet and carried her lamp towards the corner where she kept some sharp objects. There was a pestle among the items, so she picked it.
“This would do,” she whispered. She had sworn on her life not to endure Anosike’s beatings any longer. If he was that brave, he should go and beat up Obiajulu.
Oriaku pulled open the door without hesitation, as expected, Anosike had come with seven long canes to whip her.
“My husband, you seem very angry…” she hid her weapon behind her.
“You dirty fool! What did you say to Obiajulu at the farm?” Anosike quickly shut the door and threw the canes on the ground.
Oriaku smiled and shifted back, “Whose word would you rather believe, the word of your wife or mistress?”
She wasn’t done with her statement when she felt a hot and burning slap against her cheeks.
“You have bitten more than you can chew. You have grown wings in my house but I would clip them today!”
He lowered himself and fetched a cane. But he wasn’t fast enough as Oriaku had seized this opportunity to render him powerless. She inhaled a deep breath, lifted her weapon into the air and let it crash on his left shoulder.
Anosike gave a loud scream. The pain was unexpected and deep. With his eyes, he witnessed the river of blood from his hands.
“What did you do?” He staggered and fell.
“I have had your beatings enough. If you knew you wouldn’t love me and be faithful, then you shouldn’t have married me. If you ever lay your filthy hands on me again, the whole land would know about your affair with Obiajulu!”
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 12
She marched towards the hut with gingerly steps. She moved like one who was about to steal something in the middle of the night and under the glare of the full moon. Obiajulu’s heart raced with delightful guilt. She smelt of another’s man’s sweat. She also smelt of sin.
Chinedum would want to know where she had gone to. Well, she had concocted a perfectly; one that he could never argue against. She was certain of her husband’s love, and no one could replace her. She had to find a way to convince him to snatch the throne from Ikemba. Once this was done, she would find a way to make Anosike the King that he truly was.
Chinedum had been waiting outside after his dinner. He had found it difficult to go to be without his wife. His eyes were on the stars. He watched as each did a majestic dance in the sky. The moon wasn’t shy tonight. Her light poured down on Ezeudo and his eyes fed from her beauty. It was on bright nights like this that men pondered on deeper things.
Chinedum was considering the words of Obiajulu before she had left the house. Obiajulu was right about the throne. He deserved it. He was a worthy son of the soil. The throne was his birthright, especially now that Ikemba couldn’t impregnate a woman.
“I have a son and a daughter, perhaps the gods had blessed me for a time like this,” he murmured. Before taking a decision, Chinedum did a mental check of all his memories. Ikemba was a good man and had always been nice to Chinedum. When his parents had died, leaving him an orphan, the King’s mother, Ezinne had taken him in. Ikemba had treated him like a brother. Ezinne had raised him like her own son.
Ikemba wasn’t perfect. He was a man of violent temper, but he had the heart of a child. Chinedum didn’t find any fault in him, so he decided to go against Obiajulu’s wishes.
“All my life, the King and his family have been faithful to me. I cannot take the throne unless the gods will it so. Ikemba is the chosen one and his reign would be blissful to the end.” Chinedum whispered the words of prayer as he stared into the face of the moon.
Obiajulu wasn’t going to be pleased, but he didn’t care. Some things were bigger than mortals. If they tried to meddle into the politics of Ezeudo, the gods would become angry.
His eyes were still on the silvery ball that lived permanently in the night sky when he heard a sound. The hunter spirit in him awoke immediately, and he grabbed his lamp. It was the sound of rustling leaves.
“Who is there?” Chinedum barked into the night as he noticed a movement.
There wasn’t any answer. Quickly, the man grabbed the machete that lay next to him and rose to his feet. He was a courageous man indeed. He could kill to protect his household.
“It is I, Obiajulu, the wife of your youth,” she announced her entrance.
Only then did Chinedum release the breath that he held. He was greatly relieved to hear her voice.
“You scared me. Where have you been all day? The children missed you. I couldn’t sleep knowing you were still out there.”
Obiajulu grabbed the bushy sides of his face between her tender palms. And with her seductive smile, she melted his heart.
“I am sorry my husband. I should have told you about my little journey to Ogboagu. I didn’t mean to startle you or get you worried. I had gone to pluck some vegetables from the farm, when a good woman sent word from Ogboagu. My aunt is very ill and I had to go see her,” she explained.
Chinedum wasn’t upset at all. He knew about Obiajulu’s barren aunt, Ifeyinwa. The woman loved his wife like her own child. They had a bond. He understood why Obiajulu had to travel to the neighboring village at such a short notice.
“You did well, my jewel. How is she now?” Chinedum asked.
“She has a fever, but she would be better by dawn,” she answered.
He was pleased by her show of kindness. He only wished that she showed the slave girl same.
“How are the children? Did they have anything to eat?” She released his face and decided to take rest on the stool next to his’. Her whole body ached from Anosike’s gruff lovemaking. She relished every bit of it. She couldn’t wait to meet with her lover next time.
Chinedum dropped the lamp and the machete on the ground before joining her on his chair.
“Yes, Adaora prepared a delicious meal of yam. Would you like to have some?”
Obiajulu declined, it seemed having a slave wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
“She did well.”
“Yes, she did. You must be nicer to her. My Spirit likes her, so does our children.”
Obiajulu would have been upset by his words, but for the burden that weighed on her mind. She was obsessed with royalty. All she ever dreamt of was becoming a queen and that’s the reason she had married Chinedum in the first place. She had thought that he would be the crowned prince, but her dreams were shattered when the oracle of the gods chose his cousin, Ikemba.
“I will be nicer to her if she does what is right,” she whispered.
The couple fell into a comfortable silence. The wind spiraled around them, raising a little dust. The mighty Udara tree swayed from side to side. These two were oblivious to the shiny bulbs that grew on the tree. Their spiritual eyes weren’t open to see the goddess of the moon leaning on the tree. She had come to see her own, and prepare her for the journey that was ahead.
“It is going to rain.” Obiajulu finally broke the silence but her husband didn’t offer a retort.
When Chinedum was done calculating the consequences of not fighting for the throne, he cleared his throat; in a manner that silenced his wife, for she sensed that her husband was about to say something important. He inhaled a deep breath and glared at her face. Obiajulu’s dark beauty was the same at night. The darkness couldn’t overshadow her loveliness.
“There’s something I want us to discuss. You may not like it, but as your husband and head of this house, my decision is final.”
Obiajulu ran her wet tongue over her lips. She wondered what it was that sat on her husband’s mind. She said nothing. She waited.
“I have no interest in becoming King. Ikemba is blessed by the gods. He is a man of the people. The King may not have an heir, but the dwellers of Ezeudo are prepared to be under his rule for a very long time. When I had nothing, my cousin was there for me. He loved me and treated me like his brother. I would not let greed and ambition get into the way of our relationship. I will not be the first to betray a King.”
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 13
As he spoke, the words cut deep into her flesh. Bile rose in her throat, but she clamped it down. She felt like slapping the weakling of a man that she had married. The throne was for the taking. The King had failed in reproducing; this meant that he had failed in every other thing.
Sweat trickled down the side of her face. How could he be this insensitive to her dreams?
“Why would you be throwing your birthright away? I know that you are a good man. You are afraid of your cousin but I can help you. I know some Chiefs that are approachable. We will bribe them and buy their hearts. You cannot let this go!”
For the first time in a long while, he was angry with her. His eyes flamed like fire. Anger coursed through him. Chinedum grabbed his machete and the lamp.
“Don’t you ever tell me what to do! I married you into my house. I warn you!”
Without hesitation, Chinedum marched to his bedroom leaving her in utter darkness as the moonshine was beginning to fade.
Obiajulu scorned at him, “foolish man. I curse the day I married you. If Anosike was my husband, all my dreams would have hatched.”
She pulled in a deep breath and wondered what she would do next. Before now, Obiajulu had heard of stories where the Kingmakers and the oracle were being bribed with cowries and Kolanuts. If she could find a way to convince Anosike about this, she would get rid of Chinedum and be with Anosike who would become King.
It wasn’t going to be easy, but she was determined to sit on the throne. Once morning came, she would find a way to meet with her lover. They had something new to discuss.
Adaora had found it difficult to sleep. Since the night of her abduction, she had been plagued by strange dreams. Sometimes, she had visions of the slave traders that had raided her village. Other times, she would see dreams of her mother warning her to be careful in the land that she found herself, for many enemies would arise against her.
“When will this torment be over?” Adaora whispered and closed her eyes. Her naked back was on the mat that she had been provided with. She was no longer in the goat barn that her mistress had forced her to sleep in. Chinedum had provided her with her own hut. It was just beside that of his children.
She opened her eyes again. Adaora wondered when her mistress would return. From her observations, Obiajulu wasn’t a lover of house chores. Her kitchen had been terribly scattered and she had left a lot of eating calabashes and gourds unwashed. She really needed a slave!
Adaora’s mind roamed back to the strange sight that she had beheld the other day. She had noticed some silver fruits glowing upon the udara tree. What did all these mean? Soon, her weak body gave in to sleep and she curled underneath the wrapper which her master had given to her.
Her mind’s eye was immediately open and she found herself standing upon a hill. She had been to this place before in her dream. The surrounding field was covered with colorful flowers. Everything was beautiful in this place. Adaora noticed that she was adorned like a queen. Her apparel was pristine, and she had a beaded crown upon her head.
“This is so beautiful,” her lips moved in admiration. Her wrists were adorned with golden bangles and bracelets. She had never seen this kind of regalia in reality. What did these mean?
Suddenly, she felt her leg slip from the rock. It was a slippery rock and she found herself falling. Just in time, two powerful hands appeared from nowhere and collected her. When she looked up, she was lost in his eyes.
“You?” Adaora’s eyes grew wide in surprise. This man was haunting her dreams.
“I should be saying the same to you,” he replied.
“Who are you and what do you want?” Adaora asked.
At first, he didn’t want to answer or so she thought. She noticed that his eyes were roaming the flower fields in wonder. Or was he worried that people were watching them?
“The sun God and the Moon Goddess sanction our union. We are destined to be together. You are the only one that can break my curse. And I am the only one that can break yours. You are the moon and I, the sun.”
Adaora wriggled out of his arms in confusion.
“What curse are you talking about? I have never been cursed. I am a child of Anyanwu and Ituru. I was blessed by my mother, the mood goddess priestess from birth. Why then do you speak of a curse?”
The man remained quiet.
“Speak to me!” Adaora placed her slender hands on his naked chest.
“If you do not find me and marry me, like the mood fades when the sun is about to grace the sky, so shall your days be short on earth.”
Adaora was about to ask more questions when the powerful whistle of the wind woke her from sleep. Sweat pelted from her forehead. Adaora peeled her body from the mat and rose to her feet. This was the strangest of all the dreams that she had.
“I keep seeing him in my dreams, who could he be?” She placed a shaky hand against her chest.
But there was no one to answer her question. She was alone in this and she needed to find her answers. Adaora’s heart was heavy. When her mother had served the gods, she had always followed her around. Adaora had learned a few things from her mother. She had learned how to collect the proper leaves from the forest.
She knew the leaves that could heal, kill, destroy pregnancy and make one go blind. Adaora knew how to contact the great goddess of the moon, the deity that her people chiefly worshipped. It was the moon that gave them all the magical powers they had possessed. But her mysteriousness and her so called all powerful nature couldn’t save them from the invaders.
“I am not cursed. Even if I am, I will never bend to your will.” Adaora grabbed the lamp in her room and rose to her feet. If the moon goddess was that powerful, why couldn’t she save her mother and the other villagers from the slave traders?
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 14
Since her abduction, Adaora had vowed never to involve herself in religious matters. She believed in the existence of the gods because she had seen their manifestations. But she could never align with them.
As she stepped outside, Adaora felt a cold chill running down her back. The little hairs that sprouted on her nape stood erect as her eyes fell on the silvery glow upon the Udara tree.
Tears stung her eyes as she noticed a figure dressed in white. The figure’s head was wrapped in a silvery crown. Her eyes blazed like a river of sunlight. Her face was neutral. She was neither happy nor sad, she just stood staring at the slave girl; the one whom she had been waiting for…
And Adaora recognized her at once.
“You! Go away!” Adaora fell to her knees as she reached the Udara tree. The moon goddess had manifested herself on such a windy night. The deity had come to her in human form. While her mother had been alive, it had usually appeared as a cobra with six heads.
The goddess didn’t flinch. She stared quietly at the weeping human.
“You must have a lot of questions for me, but this isn’t the time. Mortals do not have the right to question the ways of the gods. The gods are wiser and more powerful. They dwell in the past and in the future. Time means nothing to them.”
Adaora was weak from sobbing. The presence of the moon deity was strong. She was the source of light, the source of life and the source of power.
“My mother worshipped you and served you with all of my life, but you did nothing to save her…” Adaora’s back vibrated as she sobbed.
“Yes, your mother was my child and this is the reason that I have come to save you. Your bloodline is known for the curse of short days upon the earth. Your mother’s spirit called out to me when she died. She knew about the curse and she prayed for me to break it. That was her last speech before she died.
The only way to end the curse is for you to find him.”
The goddess’ words seemed to dissolve into the air once she spoke them. She spoke very fast and it was difficult for Adaora to catch some words.
“Who is the man that I see in my dreams all the time?” Adaora asked.
“He is a man of the people. He is upright in words and in deeds. He is called the Sun. Find him, for he is your destiny!”
The wind began to scream, howling and throwing everything that was on its path. Before she could ask the goddess another question, the deity was swept away by a violent whirlwind and towards the heavens. A rain of stars trailed behind her, until she arrived at her palace in the sky.
Adaora was greatly confused. She grabbed the lamp and scurried back to her room.
The King had found it difficult to sleep. He had pondered on Oriaku’s words all night. He found it hard to accept the truth that Anyanwa really existed. He had heard stories about the mystical land. The people were born of magic. They earned their powers from the moon goddess, Ituru.
As he moved towards his throne, Ikemba’s heart was heavy. Why would the gods put him through such a great test? If only they had granted him just one son, he would sleep properly at night, knowing that the throne was safe. The King’s countenance was solemn and gloomy. On days like this, the servants and guards knew better than to piss him off.
His body was covered with a special garment; the skin of many leopards had been sewn together to make a fine garment for the King. He was a great man. He alone, was befitting of such regal apparel. As Ikemba strolled towards the meeting room, the Chiefs who had been waiting for him all rose to their feet. They bowed their heads in majesty and awe of their King.
“Long Live the King,” they chorused.
Ikemba didn’t answer. He raised his staff in response to the greeting and settled on his throne.
“My King doesn’t look happy today. Is something wrong?” The first Chief asked.
Ikemba sighed, “If you were a man in my position and plagued with great burdens, you will not find joy always. Even the rich and powerful have fears.”
The Chiefs murmured amongst themselves.
“I called for this meeting because I had something important to share. Last night, I had a very uncommon dream. I believe that my eyes have seen Ituru. I believe the words of the oracle. I think I may have found the woman that would give me the son that I have always wished for.”
The men –in-council all rose to their feet and bowed their heads. They were simply overjoyed by this great news. If the King had found the woman from the prophecy, then everything was settled.
“Who is she?” One of the Chiefs asked.
The King was a wise man, and he was careful with the way he disseminated information.
“Soon, you shall see her,” he replied.
He would send for Anosike’s wife later in the day. Oriaku would lead him to the slave girl, and he would take her to be his wife.
“Don’t you think you should show the woman to us? The oracle is supposed to see her as well. We must guide you to make the right decision.” The eldest chief spoke.
The King chuckled, “I am your King. I make no mistakes. You are only eager to hear if it is one of your daughters. When the time is ripe, you shall see her.”
He couldn’t wait to set his eyes on the woman that would change his destiny.
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 15
Anosike’s head throbbed from the beating that his wife had given to him the previous night. He was still in shock that a quiet woman like Oriaku could behave like that. He fastened his lower lip between his teeth, while thinking of the next action to take. He was going to teach her lesson. He couldn’t let her get away with this.
“No, that useless woman must go back to her father’s house. I will not submit to a woman’s authority, not in my own house!” He groaned and writhed on the floor. She had it all planned along. Now he was sure that Oriaku wanted him dead, so that she could inherit all his properties and farmlands for the next man that would come along.
“Barren witch, I have tolerated you all along, but I will do so no more…”
He continued to wince while listening to the strange footsteps that approached the door to his chamber. When he heard the rap on the door, Anosike’s eyes snapped open. His eyes roamed the entire room for his cutlass. He was certain that Oriaku had come back to finish what she had started. That woman was full of evil.
“Is anybody in?” The stranger’s voice called out.
Anosike sighed with relief. He recognized the voice at once. It was the voice of his friend, Okeke; the one that had threatened to expose his affair with Obiajulu. Angrily, Anosike yelled at him to go away. He was certain that Oriaku had been in oblivion about his liaison with Obiajulu. It was Okeke who had caught them making love in the bush. And it was he that had told Oriaku about it, even after many pleas and offerings.
“Open the door my friend. You sound unwell. I know that you are still mad at me for what I did but I am still your best friend, Anosike.”
Okeke could feel the pain in Anosike’s voice. He knew that getting back into Anosike’s heart would be difficult. But he was willing to try. Everything that he had said and done was to preserve their friendship. Okeke had never liked Obiajulu right from the time that Chinedum had married her. The woman was trouble. She was greedy and materialistic and he had warned Chinedum about her, but his friends rarely listened to him because he was mostly drunk.
“Go away Okeke. The fires of our friendship were long gone. I want nothing to do with a spineless man, one who cannot keep his mouth shut,” Anosike replied.
But Okeke was adamant. He was not one to be pushed away so easily.
“I have something to tell you. It is about the slave that you had wanted to give to me. I want her back.”
Anosike rolled his eyes, “Wherever you go, trouble follows you. You are like a dangerous wind that carries sand in her dance.”
When Okeke heard this, he felt relaxed. Without any more exchange, he pushed the door to his friend’s room and stepped in. Okeke almost screamed at the sight of a big wound on Anosike’s shoulder.
“Did you sustain an injury at the farm?” Okeke’s mouth flew open.
Anosike scoffed, “It would have been better, the pain wouldn’t have been this strong compared to being brutalized by the woman I call wife.”
Okeke shook his shoulders, “I don’t believe you. Oriaku cannot harm a fly. A good woman can only…” Okeke bit his lip as he spotted an angry look in Anosike’s eyes. He felt slightly guilty for telling Oriaku about his friend’s affair.
“Did she hit you because of Obiajulu?” Okeke knelt beside his friend’s bed.
“Of course! You told her everything and she uses it against me. What did I do to deserve such great betrayal from you? I thought you were my friend,” Anosike groaned.
Okeke sighed, “I am sorry for telling Oriaku about your affair. Let us be honest with each other, you weren’t just cheating on Obiajulu. Most men take in concubines and sleep with women who aren’t their wives. But they still treat their wives with respect and love. You showed Oriaku none of these. You always hit her at the slightest provocation. A good woman can only take that much. So my friend, do not put all the blame on me. You call me a betrayer, but you are also betraying Chinedum by lusting after his wife.”
A wave of guilt washed over Anosike as he weighed Anosike’s words. They had a powerful effect on him as he considered him. Perhaps it was time for him to stop the affair, but he loved Obiajulu to death. She was his destiny and he had made a mistake my marrying another.
“Why do you come?” Anosike changed the topic.
“I should search the bush for some herbs. We will talk later.” Okeke couldn’t bear to see his friend in such a state.
Anosike grabbed Okeke’s wrist with his good hand.
“It is okay; just tell me what it is that brought you here. I don’t want to be alone, because I don’t know what Oriaku has planned next for me.”
If Anosike wasn’t in so much pain, Okeke would’ve guffawed at his last statement pertaining to his wife. The whole land knew about Oriaku’s goodness. She was a virtuous woman both in words and in deeds.
“I was coming back from tapping fresh palm wine when I bumped into some Chiefs. They were talking about the slave that you bought. I want her back.”
Anosike laughed, “You were eavesdropping again…why do you suddenly have interest in the slave girl? I remember that I had given the slave girl to Chinedum as payment for the debt you couldn’t pay. You have no right to ask for her.”
Okeke nodded in agreement, “But I never asked you to clear my debt. I was saving up enough cowries to do that. You only took the debt on your shoulder because you were afraid that I will expose you. It was a bribe. Give me the slave and I will pay you for it. I will clear the debt that I owe Chinedum as well.”
Anosike found Okeke’s suggestion very ridiculous. He knew that Adaora was extremely beautiful, but he wasn’t attracted to her. He also knew that Okeke wasn’t easily drawn to very beautiful women. What was this about?
“Have you heard of her great beauty? Is that why you want to buy her?”
Okeke chuckled, “You know the kind of man that I am. I heard Ichie Okwute talking about a new wife for the King. They were teasing Ikemba because he thought he could keep secrets from them. Unknown to the king, the Oracle had secretly met with the Kingmakers and had told them about a Slave of the house of Chinedum Aguchi. She was named as the next Queen.”
Anosike couldn’t believe his ears. He had a feeling that Okeke was drunk.
“So you want her to be your slave so that you will become the King’s In-law?”
“Exactly! Even in the sickbed you are still mentally sound,” Okeke nodded.
Anosike laughed, “Well, I cannot believe that a grown man would leave his manly duties and carry gossip. I do not believe you. From the beginning, slave and free-born weren’t allowed to mix. How dare you insult Ikemba by naming a slave as the new Queen?”
Okeke was infuriated that his friend didn’t believe him.
“I must take my leave now. It seems you think I am lying.”
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 16
As Okeke rose to his feet, Oriaku pushed the door open and stepped in with two calabashes-one was filled with herbs and the other with hot water.
“My husband, how do you feel this morning?” She flashed her teeth.
“Murderer, have you come to finish what you started?” Anosike shifted uncomfortably in his bed.
Oriaku ignored him, “You are welcome Okeke. I haven’t seen your face for a very long time,” she smiled.
Okeke returned her smile. He knew that it was time to leave. His next point of visit would be Chinedum’s house. He knew what he had heard the Chiefs discussing and he was determined to buy Adaora as his slave.
“Nwanyioma, good woman, may the gods continue to bestow their blessings upon you.” Okeke bowed his head in greeting and then turned to his friend who lay on the bamboo bed.
“Nwokem, I must take my leave. I will return in the evening with some fresh palm wine and gin that will help you recover. I would stop by Chinedum’s house.”
Anosike was happy to get rid of his irritating friend.
“Be on your way Okeke, take your trouble along with you.”
Okeke laughed and waved Anosike and Oriaku goodbye. Once he stepped outside, he closed the door gently behind.
Both man and wife stared at each other without uttering any word. Oriaku didn’t regret her actions. She was only defending herself from Anosike’s wildness. She had to teach him a lesson else he would continue treating her like an animal. Even animals deserved to be treated with kindness.
“Have you come to crack my skull this time around?” He ran his eyes steadily over her face.
Okeke was right about his wife. Oriaku was the best wife anyone could ever ask for and he had provoked her greatly. He had pushed her to the wall. This didn’t mean that he was ready to end things with Obiajulu. In fact, thoughts of their last lovemaking session plagued him. He was jealous of his best friend. How could Chinedum have all that to himself? He wasn’t even deserving of a woman like Obiajulu.
“You are my husband, I will never kill you except you try to kill me. I was only defending myself,” she replied.
Oriaku knelt beside the wounded man and gently dropped the calabashes upon the ground. She fetched a rag from her underarm and dipped it into the hot water.
“I know that you are sleeping with Chinedum’s wife. I am no longer jealous or angry. You do not love me, neither will I beg for your love. But if you ever lay a finger on me and on her account, I will do worse things to you,” she placed the hot rag on the surface of the wound. Anosike gave a loud scream.
He didn’t know Oriaku had it in her to be this wicked.
“Why do you torment me so much? Maybe you deserve being treated like an animal!”
Her lips itched for a smile, “You better be careful the way you talk to me. I only want the best for you. Obiajulu is not a good woman and she would lead to your destruction. If you must take another wife, tell me. I know young women who are humble and kind. They will bear you sons and daughters.”
Anosike was moved. He had never seen Oriaku this content and happy. It seemed she had resolved in her heart to forget him and move on. This would have made him happier on a good day, but it made him afraid. What was she planning next?
“I am not going to kill you,” Oriaku murmured as she worked on the wound. She had felt Anosike’s eyes boring into her face even though she couldn’t see him.
Anosike kissed his teeth as the pain increased, “I blame Okeke for everything. Now he has the nerves to ask for Adaora. Once I get back on my feet I will put Okeke in his rightful place.”
Oriaku’s hands froze when she heard the slave girl’s name.
“I don’t understand. What does Okeke want with Adaora?”
“He claims that the she would be the next Queen of Ezeudo.”
Oriaku’s heart almost jumped out of her mouth when she had heard this.
“Um, where did he hear that from?”
“He overheard the Chiefs talking about it.”
Oriaku threw the rag into the calabash and jumped to her feet. If this news was true, then the King had made up his mind to marry Adaora.
“What are you giggling about? How does this news concern you? We both know Okeke, he was probably drunk when he met the Chiefs.”
Oriaku flashed a grin, “No, Okeke isn’t drunk. I was the one that told Ikemba all about Adaora. She is destined to be his new wife.”
Anosike’s brows contorted together. What business had Oriaku with the King?
“What took you to the King’s palace?” He reached forward and dragged her roughly towards him with his good hand.
Oriaku’s face paled, “I went to give him some yam seedlings.”
Anosike laughed, he could see through her lies.
“You went to report I and Obiajulu right? You are such a foolish woman. You think you can ruin my reputation before Ikemba and be the favored one? You are nothing like Obiajulu and you will never be anything like her! Now get out!”
He barked at her like an angry dog. Oriaku had not prepared herself for this altercation. She couldn’t believe that the man she married could compare her to another man’s wife.
“You are a fool Anosike. Soon, you two will be exposed but not by my lips.” She hissed angrily and stepped out of the hut.
Oriaku spotted a tall and hefty man in the middle of the compound. From the way he was dressed, he was from the King’s palace. His eyes were roaming, but only settled when he spotted the woman that he was looking.
He marched towards her and bellowed, “The King demands your presence.”
Just in time, Obiajulu arrived at the compound with a basket of bush mangoes. She had missed Anosike and pretending to be on an errand for her husband was the only way she could see him.
“What are you doing here, you shameless woman?” Oriaku gritted her teeth angrily.
Obiajulu ignored her, “And good morning to you. My husband sent me to deliver these fruits to your husband. You can go and ask him yourself.”
Oriaku bit her lip in annoyance.
“I don’t have time for you. One day, the gods will expose you two.”
Once she left with the guard, Obiajulu carefully observed the compound. When she made certain that no one else was there, she dropped the basket of fruits and rushed towards Anosike’s room.
When he heard the sound of her voice, he knew that his healing was near, but first he had to tell her about Oriaku and how she almost reported them to the King. They had to do something before it was too late.
Adaora’s mind was clouded with confusion. She pondered on the words of the moon goddess. Everything now made perfect sense. The man she always saw in her dream and the mysterious dreams as well. Although she was still bitter about her mother’s death and the refusal of the goddess to save Anyanwa from the slave traders, Adaora decided to hearken to the words of the deity. If truly she came from a cursed bloodline, she needed to find this man before it was too late for her.
“But how do I find him? Where do I begin? I am but a stranger in Ezeudo,” she whispered as her hands plucked the leaves she held.
Adaora’s thoughts were far and deep. She had travelled to the deepest part of her mind. She didn’t notice that Chinedum and the children were behind. He had taken them on a morning hunt and they had just returned.
It was Ikenna’s soft touch that brought her back to the real world. Adaora screamed and hopped to her feet. The basket of oha leaves tumbled to the ground.
“You scared me!” She sighed when she realized the kids were the ones.
Immediately her eyes jammed with Chinedum’s, she averted them and bowed her head. It was an abomination for a slave to lock eyes with her master or her mistress.
Adaora quickly bowed her head, “Good morning master.”
Chinedum scoffed, “You can look at me, I won’t bite you.” Though Adaora didn’t speak much to him, he enjoyed her company and he loved to watch her play with the kids. He wasn’t attracted to her at all.
“Where is Obiajulu?” He noticed that his wife’s hut was tightly shut.
“She told me that she was leaving for the farm,” Adaora replied.
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 17
Chinedum scratched his chin, “That is strange. Obiajulu hates farm work. I just hope that everything is well with my wife.” He dropped the bush animal inside the tray and moved towards his chamber. He needed to take a bath and prepare to visit his cousin whom he had not seen for a long time.
He had a feeling that Obiajulu was avoiding him after their last wrangle, but he didn’t care. His mind was made up. He couldn’t betray the King for any reason. The gods had placed Ikemba on that position of authority and nobody could overthrow him.
“What are you doing?” Adaeze placed a tiny hand on Adaora’s lap.
“Plucking Oha leaves obviously. I will make a very delicious soup with these leaves. You are going to enjoy it.” Adaora smiled at the little girl.
“Can I join you in plucking the leaves?” Little Ikenna asked.
Adaora smiled and fetched him a branch.
While they all plucked in silence, a visitor came. They knew this because of the voice and the sound of a clap.
“Is anyone home?”
It was a female voice, strong and bold. It was unafraid.
“Get into your room. Have some rest. When I am done with the soup, I will call you to eat.” Adaora rose to her feet and moved towards the entrance of the compound. The truth was that she cared about the children, and she didn’t want a stranger to see them.
She was already too late, as Chinedum had gone to receive the visitor. Adaora noticed that the fat woman shared a facial resemblance with her mistress. They had the same brows, the same eyes and skin color. Adaora was certain that Obiajulu’s mother had come.
She was about leaving, when she heard Chinedum’s angry outburst. From the look on the woman’s face, Adaora spotted worry and surprise. She had told the master something that greatly upset him. Adaora peeled herself from the wall and returned to the kitchen.
Once she was done plucking the leaves, she decided to wash them. It was only then that she discovered that there was no drop of water inside the pot.
“I must rush to the stream,” she muttered under her breath. Hurriedly, Adaora fetched a water pot and took the bush path behind the compound. It was a shorter route to the stream. In no time she was going to return.
Chinedum’s face contorted into a deep frown as he stared at Oriaku’s aunt who’d come visiting. Obiajulu had claimed that Ifeyinwa was terribly down with fever and she had gone to rescue her.
“May the gods forbid fever. I am very healthy my in-law. I haven’t set eyes on my niece for a very long time. I had a terrible dream about her and that is the reason that I have come to Ezeudo. I plan to spend three days before heading home.”
Chinedum felt like a fool.
“I can’t believe that Obiajulu will deceive me like a little child. She must pay for her lies and she has a lot of explaining to do.”
The older woman placed a hand on his shoulder, “Do not worry yourself. Obiajulu is a good woman and she will tell you where she went. Look at how angry this news has made you. You haven’t even offered me a seat or kola.”
She said these words with intent, and they immediately worked on Chinedum.
“I apologize for my rudeness. Please have a sit. Let me call on my slave to prepare you something.”
“So many things are happening. I can’t believe that you of all people will have a slave,” Ifeyinwa chuckled.
Chinedum shrugged, “I didn’t buy her. She is a gift and she has turned out to be very nice. You must excuse me, I will be right back.”
“Take all the time that you need,” Obiajulu’s aunt nodded.
When Chinedum reached the kitchen, he noticed that Adaora wasn’t there. He called her name thrice, but there wasn’t any reply. He had a feeling that she had gone to the bush to ease herself or to the stream to fetch water. He had been the last person to drink from the water pot.
He couldn’t wait for her return. He needed to ask Adaora a second time about Obiajulu’s location.
When Oriaku had arrived at the palace, she noticed that the Queen mother and the King were at the meeting room. She ran a tongue over her lips and moved towards the throne room. Oriaku was pleased that the King had taken her advice to be with the slave girl. Adaora was humble and deserved to be Queen. This would equally spite Obiajulu. It wasn’t a hidden thing that she had always dreamt of being Queen. When they were young girls, Obiajulu had never been modest about it.
“Long Live the King, I greet you Queen Mother,” Oriaku bowed before royals.
The Queen mother was pleased to see her. Her wrinkly face split into two. She had heard about Obiajulu’s suggestion, and it seemed that her son had taken to the idea.
“You are welcome to the throne room wife of Anosike.” The woman greeted in return.
“How have you been Oriaku?” The King smiled.
“I am very fine my King,” she responded.
Ikemba wasn’t a man of many words. He had invited Oriaku for just one purpose. It was time for him to meet the girl. He knew that the steps he was taking weren’t proper. But he needed to see her first before telling the oracle all about her. His blood rushed. He hoped that the gods would pass through this woman to give him a son.
“I believe you know why I have sent for you,” he began.
Oriaku nodded, “Yes my King.”
“I want to see her face. Take some guards with you and tell my cousin that I sent you. Bring the morning sun to me. And if the word of the oracle comes to pass through you, you shall be blessed among all women.”
She didn’t waste time. Oriaku swirled round and stepped out of the palace. Three guards trailed behind her. By now, Obiajulu must have returned to her husband. She couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when Adaora would be announced as the next queen.
“Walk faster, we have a lot of distance to cover…”Oriaku bellowed to the guards.
Oriaku hadn’t walked too far from the palace when the oracle appeared in the middle of the throne room. The presence of the priestess startled the King and his mother, because they hadn’t expected her.
“Wise one, what brings you in such a hurry?” The King rose to his feet. He didn’t like the look in her eyes, they were fiery. The golden locks on her hair were rough and scattered. And she had black rings underneath her eyes. The oracle hadn’t slept very much.
She inhaled deeply and stared directly at the King.
“Days ago, I saw a vision of the woman that you are to marry. Though I didn’t tell you, I told all the Chiefs about it. But I made them swear an oath not to tell you or anyone else…” she started.
Ikemba scoffed and almost lost his stance. He couldn’t believe that the Chiefs would keep such a secret from him. It means that the priestess could conspire against him with the Kingmakers. He felt unsafe.
“I know you feel betrayed, but I didn’t mean to betray you. I was only working in accordance to the voice of the gods. They wanted me to name the next Queen for a reason.”
Only then was he relaxed, “What have the gods shown you today?” The Queen mother chipped in, she also noticed that the priestess was worried.
The oracle sighed, “You have many enemies. You must trust no one. A war is coming but you must withstand. You must fight with your whole heart for the woman that is truly yours. Without her you will fail for she is your moon and you her sun.”
The oracle began to spin, in readiness to vanish, but the King touched her shoulder.
“I do not understand your words. Speak to me in clear language. Tell me the prophecy in a way that I can understand.”
The oracle shook her head, “I speak what the gods ask me to. Be prepared for what is ahead.”
When he let go of her shoulder, she vanished right before his eyes. At first, Ikemba had felt confident that the gods had answered his prayers. He had been very certain that he would find the right woman that would bear him a son.
“It seems the gods are about to abandon me…”
He had a feeling that something terrible was about to happen in the Kingdom, but he couldn’t place a finger around it.
“Everything will be alright my King. We will continue to offer sacrifices to Ala and Amadioha. They will be pleased. They will grant you your heart desire.”
“I hope so,” he muttered weakly.
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 18
When he let go of her shoulder, she vanished right before his eyes. At first, Ikemba had felt confident that the gods had answered his prayers. He had been very certain that he would find the right woman that would bear him a son.
“It seems the gods are about to abandon me…”
He had a feeling that something terrible was about to happen in the Kingdom, but he couldn’t place a finger around it.
“Everything will be alright my King. We will continue to offer sacrifices to Ala and Amadioha. They will be pleased. They will grant you your heart desire.”
“I hope so,” he muttered weakly.
***
Obiajulu couldn’t believe that Oriaku had done this to the man that she cared about. Her hatred for the ugly woman was increased. How could Oriaku lay her filthy hands on Anosike? What was she thinking?
“You grow weaker by the day. You are allowing that witch to control you. If I didn’t know you better, I would have assumed that she had bewitched you.”
When Oriaku had left, Anosike had not been expecting anyone else. He had been terribly shocked when Obiajulu had walked in right from the door. His heart had leapt with joy, and she had felt the same way. But her mood changed when she noticed his wound. It wasn’t the injury that upset her. Obiajulu was mad that Anosike had allowed Oriaku to go scot free.
“I am not a weak man. You know me. Oriaku ambushed me in the dark and she will pay for it.”
Obiajulu spotted a glow in his eyes, it was determination. One good thing that distinguished Anosike from the weakling of a husband that she had married was his strong will. From the look of things, Oriaku had lost favor in his eyes. She needed to use this to her advantage.
“If you are not weak, why did you allow her to go free? You should have reported her to the members of her family. She deserves some beating as well,” Obiajulu hissed.
“She knows about our relationship. Okeke had told her everything about us. If I do not play by her rules, we could both get into trouble. There’s only one way to end all of this.”
Of course there was only one way, but Obiajulu didn’t want to voice it out. She wanted the man to take the lead, while she followed. Another person that deserved to be punished was Okeke. His nosiness had gotten them into trouble.
“That ungrateful fool! I find it difficult to believe that Okeke would fight you after everything you did for him. You bought a slave with your hard earned money and gave her to my husband as Okeke’s debt. Has he gone mad? Why has he forgotten those who helped him when he had nothing?”
To this, Anosike was quiet. He needed to tell Oriaku everything that Okeke had said about her slave.
“Well, you should be glad that you will soon be a relative of the King. Okeke came here with the most ridiculous information that I have ever heard.”
When Obiajulu heard this, her eyes narrowed. What was Anosike talking about?
“I don’t understand you.” She was yet to tell Anosike about her plan to take the throne of Ezeudo. Where was this coming from? Did Okeke get wind of her plan? If he did, how come?
Briefly, Anosike told his love everything that Okeke had told him and in details. At first, Obiajulu thought he was joking, so she guffawed. When Anosike didn’t return her guffaw, she realized that he was serious.
“That can never happen! The gods can never choose a slave to be queen of this land.”
Obiajulu gritted her teeth angrily as she thought of the prospect of the slave girl ruling over her. She had always known it.
“I knew there was something evil about that slave from the first day that I set my eyes on her. She wants to charm her way into the King’s heart!”
Anosike was surprised at Obiajulu’s reaction. Unlike him, Obiajulu believed Okeke’s story hook and sinker.
“Oriaku knows about it and she told me that she was the one that recommended the slave girl to the king. She was really happy about it.”
Obiajulu hissed, “She knows about my plans to become queen of Ezeudo. She only spites me. But I will teach her a lesson.”
Anosike raised a brow, “You want to become a Queen? I think we should find a way to deal with my wife, we can talk about your plans later,” he chuckled.
“I am not joking! Your wife must pay for all the evils she had unleashed against me. You need to put Oriaku in her rightful place or she would be the death of us. If she didn’t succeed in reporting us to Ikemba, she would the next time she pays the King a visit. Please do something about her.”
There was only one thing that came across Anosike’s mind right from the time that Oriaku had hit him.
“I want to sell her off at the slave market. What do you think about that?”
Obiajulu rubbed her chin thoughtfully, “That sounds like the perfect idea. I was thinking we could slip something into her meal, that way, we’ll end her forever.”
“No, I don’t want blood on our hands. Selling her off to another kingdom is the best.” Anosike countered her.
Obiajulu was pleased with her lover’s desire to get rid of his wife.
“When do we sell her off?”
He ignored the burning pain in his shoulder.
“Oriaku will pay for all her sins. I will arrange a kidnapping tonight. Be prepared.”
When Adaora arrived at the stream, she noticed that it was empty and lonely. This was the second time that she would be coming to the Ezeudo stream to fetch some water. The absence of people baffled her. She was about stepping into the clear running water when she felt a strange presence. She paused and ran her eyes over the thick vegetation that surrounded the stream.
Something was wrong. Somebody was here, but she couldn’t see or recognize the person with her physical eyes. The hairs on her back were rustled by the wind of paranoia. Adaora pulled in a deep breath and quickly dipped her pot into the water. The moon goddess had appeared to her the night before, but nothing of danger had been mentioned.
“She only said that I would have many enemies…” Adaora trailed off.
“But why will I have so many enemies? I am nothing but a slave. I am a stranger to these lands.”
With determination to reach home on time, she pulled the pot out of water and stepped out of the stream. She was about placing the pot on her head when a cold hand touched her shoulder.
“She is the one! The mark of the crescent moon is on her!” A gruff voice screamed.
Before Adaora could turn around and see the face of the man who had intruded the sacred silence that the stream spirits enjoyed, her water pot was pushed from behind. And her head was smashed with a club. Blood trickled down the sides of her face. Her slender body fell to the ground.
The strange men didn’t waste time. They lifted her body and scurried into the nearby bush.
TO BE CONTINUED
-
(https://www.spyloadedng.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=16067.0;attach=524)
"Adaora" Season 1 Episode 19
Amabara,
The ruthless king roamed the palace as he waited for the arrival of the men he had sent on an errand to the King of Ezeudo. For many centuries, the Kingdoms weren’t at peace with each other. There was a legend of two brothers, Ezeudo and Amabara who were once best friends.
They loved each other dearly, as they had drank from the same river of breast milk, Ala. But Ezeudo grew stronger and more powerful. He overshadowed his brother in all things. The earth mother spirit favored him, and the spirits of the valleys and mountains loved him. Amabara grew jealous and tried to kill his brother. When Ezeudo learned of this plan, he took his family and fled to an empty valley land which he called Ezeudo.
Since then, the people from these two kingdoms were always at war with each other.
“Why are you restless my son? The gods had spoken through their mouthpiece, the prophecy had been before you were born. Do not worry yourself. Ikemba does not know what will befall him soon,” Ehuru said.
Eze Chimelie was the youngest King in history. He was two years older than the King of Ezeudo, but Ikemba had achieved more than he did. Ikemba was the most powerful ruler in all of the Eastern Lands. He was the wealthiest man alive, and all the Kings surrendered to his authority.
Chimelie had grown jealous and insecure. Luckily for him, his mother, Ehuru, was still alive to guide him in all things. Ehuru was confident that her son would be the break the curse that bound all Amabara men from being prosperous as the men of Ezeudo.
She wanted her son to be the most powerful and revered King on the planet. But Ikemba of Ezeudo was standing in the way of that. However, the gods of the land had spoken through a priest. There was only one way to defeat Ezeudo. Only when the moon virgin was discovered and married to Chimelie would the curse be broken.
With the help of the priest and some wise men in the Kingdom, Ehuru had learned of a moon virgin that escaped the raid at Anyanwa. It was her men that had raided the village and slain everyone. They had gone there under the guise of slave traders. Unlike many people, she was a very practical and curious woman. Most people didn’t believe that the magical land of Anyanwa existed in the physical. She hadn’t believed it as well. But she had decided to risk the lives of her son’s warriors to find it.
She had been told from the men when they had returned that the moon virgin had been stolen from some bandits on their way back. She was taken to the slave market.
“What if this moon virgin isn’t found? What will happen to my throne? I cannot sit in the shadows for too long. I want to destroy Ikemba. I want to take his throne and all of his wives. I want to avenge my father’s death. I want Ikemba to be my slave!” The King barked at his mother.
Ehuru smiled, “Don’t you trust your mother? We have come too far to fail. I have spies in Ezeudo and they told me about a slave girl that their oracle had named as the next Queen.
It is a taboo for free born to marry slave, how much less, a King. I had to think very well. The only slave that was worthy of such a great honor would be this moon virgin. I believe that the men have seen her. They will bring her safely to you, and she will be your Queen. With the great powers inside of her, she will help you to conquer Ikemba and other Kingdoms as well.”
When Chimelie heard this, he welcomed the wicked grin that had been welling up inside of his heart.
“You are the best mother in the world.”
Ehuru nodded, “And history will remember you for being the most powerful King that walked upon the surface of the earth.”
END OF PART ONE
Goddess Of The Sun (Adaora Part 2) - Full Episode (https://www.spyloadedng.com/life-stories-board/super-story-goddess-of-the-sun-adaora-part-2/)