Episode 8
It was the early hours of the morning, the longest night ever; I have been waiting for the dawn. I needed an escape from my thoughts, I felt betrayed, Ochuwa couldn't have chosen the prince over me. On the second thought, I wondered why she would choose a commoner like me over a prince. Also her feelings towards me seemed sincere and real, all these flooded my mind. Probably she is from a wealthy family and the society we are, the rich wants nothing from or with the poor; I concluded.
I was still wallowing in my bitterness when Hannah my immediate younger sister rushed to my room to inform me that some palace guards visited few minutes ago and they said the king seek my immediate attention at the palace. Without hesitation, I ran into the bathroom, had a bath and dressed up. I felt happy with the assumptions that the state government must have written to the local government and the king over their unruly decision on receiving my petition. I left for the palace after informing my mother on the new development. She agreed but cautioned me to be careful on dealings and the politics of our land.
After half an hour, I got to the palace. I was allowed in without introducing myself to the guards, it was as if I was a special guest. I went inside the main palace where guest were usually attended to. I met the king sitting on his throne which was a usual scenario, also some men on cooperate dressing; which I would assume were from the local government, and then two chiefs which we knew had been the only counterparts in support of the Kings ruling.
I greeted the king , lying down with my chest touching the floor; which was the right way of our culture and greeted everyone before I was offered a seat by the king. The king requested I introduce myself.
I am Onomoghen, the first son of great Urata. I have been away for more than ten years in a foreign country to pursue secondary and tertiary education; I responded.
Son of late Urata, the king uttered, I replied yes sir in English language.
"I knew your father to be a great warrior and a wise man during his time, he led many battles and brought victory and hope to our kingdom, but why are the son's of great men filled with so much foolishness and lack cognosicitive virtues to learn from their father"?, the king asked . I wouldn't know sir, I am not a foolish son of my father, I may not live in his shadows but I will walk in the footprints of his greatness; I responded. The king started clapping and laughing same time, others who were present joined him and it was rather looking mockingly than being pleasant.
Few seconds went by, then they all stopped. "After studying abroad, you returned to Ebeni, instead of giving back to your Fatherland, you decided to use all you have learnt and inscribed your stupidity as a petition to the state government against the ruler of your land", The king uttered, but this time his voice seemed to be at the peak with a great fierce in his sight as he looked towards my direction. I shivered a little, then he laughed again, in his laugh it seemed like his voices were playing an ominous tune. He paused, cleared his throat and asked one of the guards standing there to get the little bag in his room as quick as he can.
After few minutes , the guard returned with a bag, tossed it towards me as he was instructed by the king. He said in there is the sum of two million naira, take it and leave Ebeni land for your own good. You are a young man with a bright future and I am sure that money is enough for you to start up a new life and end this miserable one I can see now, the king uttered.
I rejected his offer, I will not betray my people over two million naira. This is my fatherland and I won't leave here because of your threats and bad governance, we are your people and we don't deserve all these; I responded pushing back the money . I couldn't tell what actually gave me such morale or audacity to speak back to the king. No one has ever done that and not even in such tone. I stood up, apologized but insisted that I won't accept the offer and I walked away from the sight of everyone towards the exit.
I sat on my bed, my body aching and my mind was far from a state of inertia. I felt useless; I was like a bride that was rejected despite being gifted to a man without a bride price to be paid. In my heart, all I could beseech from God was austerity to implore vengeance on the people responsible for my mental solicitude.
After I visited the palace; was on my way out, I had rejected the kings offer, I couldn't betray my people and not especially the ally that I became a member of the party.
The palace guards obstructed my exit, dragged me back inside and forced me to be on my knees and plead for the Kings mercy. The king said I walked into the palace and insulted him, what gave me such audacious morale to stand up to him.
Afterwards, he ordered the guards to take me away from his presence and be dealt with mercilessly. I was taken to back of the palace, tied to a tree and flogged by two hefty guards.
I was on the eleventh stroke when I heard a voice , instructing them to stop and and let me loose. With tears in my eyes that I have been trying to hold, came running like a brook of water; I turned to see who it was, after I had been untied.
To my greatest surprise it was Ochuwa, and the guards addressed her as my princess as they argued it was the king's instructions. She instructed them to inform the king that they have done as he wished and thrown me out.
She came to me apologized and offered to take me to a clinic and drop me off at home. But with the shame, grief and anger, I shouted at her and I warned her to stay away from me and I don't want to have any business with anyone from the palace.
She hid her identify from me, definitely she is as evil as her father, no wonder she drove me into this, instead of the usual plan I had in mind.
She insisted trying to help me get up, I threw her hands away as I stood up with my body arched with pains and leaped away, she kept calling my name but I didn't care to look back.
I remained in my room nursing the grievance in my heart. The insults or ill treatment from the king was expected but I felt betrayed by the woman that have become my better half.