The sun shone brightly in the morning, the birds sang as the wind blew lightly, making the trees danced to its tunes softly. Mayowa was still sleeping soundly and lightly, when the disturbing sound from a fly, hovering over her ear jerked her up. She scratched her eyes, squinting to see where she was. For a moment there, she forgot that she was in the forest or let's say, she hoped she wasn't in the forest.
She pulled herself up to sit as she yawned deeply. Never did she think she would be able to sleep this well all alone in the forest. It took hours before she was able to fall asleep. The image of a snake or wild animal coming to bite her creeped into her heart that it took God's grace for her to sleep. She scratched her eyes again so she could see clearly. She was dirty and felt like taking a bath, but that wasn't the problem now.
She had to go home as soon as possible, at least before Bimbo finds and takes her to the ritualist. Oh, how that scared her!
Looking around, she stood up. There was no time for her to relax. She had to get home as soon as possible. If nobody would be looking for her, Denle probably would and besides, this wasn't funny anymore.
Oh God! Help me!
She looked left and right before she sprinted. Home! Home! kept ringing in her brain as she ran. She ran for sometime until her head collided with something. Of course, it wasn't the tree. It felt more like a human body. Since she wasn't looking up, she wasn't sure until she heard...
"Good morning Mayowa, did you sleep well?"
Her eyes widened in fear. "Oh no! It was Bimbo!" she thought loudly.
"Bi..mbo" she stammered in fear.
"Yes princess. Did you think I wouldn't find you? You of all people know how diligent I am in carrying out my assignment" Bimbo brought out her daggers "Now please, I am tired of cat and dog" she smiled wickedly making Mayowa gulp.
"Leave me alone please. I don't want anything to do with you" Mayowa pleaded.
"Don't you think that its boring already? Pleading isn't going to help. I was given an assignment by the very person who took care of me, when I was banished and I will get it done even if it is the last thing I do. Get that" Bimbo explained exhausted.
"Pl..please"
Bimbo sighed in anger. This was already enough. Without giving a clue, she hurriedly moved close to Mayowa, held her and bound her hands. Mayowa was crying and pleading for mercy, but Bimbo ignored it all.
Mayowa knew this was the end, there is nothing she would be able to do. No matter how she runs, Bimbo would always catch up to her.
Bimbo dragged her and she led her to a cage like carriage she had prepared. She pushed a reluctant Mayowa into it and locked it.
"Please Bimbo! Let me go, I beg of you!" Mayowa cried.
Bimbo didn't seem bothered at all. She got on the donkeys that held the cage together, and begun to ride.
"Now, let's ride east" she smiled.
****************************
Bimbo and Mayowa's rode for days; in the rain, in the sun, through the forest, desert, with Mayowa crying and banging the door of the cage every now and then. There were a few times when Bimbo stopped to get food that she tried to escaped. The whole thing was weighing a lot on Bimbo. But she had to get Mayowa to Bariga and know the reason why he wanted Mayowa of all people so badly. One thing was sure, he desperately needed her to be with him.
After riding for sometime, Bimbo stopped to get some drinks. She hoped to get to the mansion quick. She was running out of shells. Luckily, they had the reached the east. The only thing left was to get to the mansion and she could finally lay her head on her bed and sleep for eternity if possible.
Aaargh! I hate my life!
Bimbo walked into the tavern, with a solid face. She knew the people there and they were very intimidating. As a person, you needed to keep a straight face to get past them.
She walked fiercely to the counter. A young girl with black, curly and dark skin was the one serving. Her eyes were really black and mysterious. Bimbo understood that she was a ritualist, probably the small ones, looking for people's saliva to work on.
"Two bottles of palm wine" Bimbo said.
"Are you drinking it here?"
"Of course not, why else would I ask for a bottle?"
"Why? Are you in a hurry? I would love for you to stay and drink"
"Thank you, but I will pass. I am in a hurry" Bimbo knew she wanted her to stay so she could get her saliva. She must have probably noticed that she, Bimbo was associated with a higher ritualist. She would get so much power from using her saliva. Bariga had told her about these amateur ritualist so she knew how to go about them.
"Too bad. I could give you free cups if you do" the young ritualist insisted.
"Please don't add water. I want it fresh" Bimbo said, knowing that whatever was about to be added was not water.
"Water makes it sweeter"
"I don't like sweet"
The young ritualist was a bit disappointed. Seems like she noticed her true form, but she had covered herself so much so that no one would recognize that she was a ritualist. She handed the bottles over to Bimbo. Bimbo took out some shells and tossed it over to the ritualist. It was five shells but the drinks only cost two shells. She understood what Bimbo was trying to do. She didn't want her to cause trouble. Bimbo probably had no strength for trouble.
The ritualist took it and bade her goodbye. Bimbo frowned. That was all she had but she had to do it to stay out of trouble. One shell cost a lot so she would calm down. She noticed that the ritualist was alerting her guys to get her. On a normal day, she would fight them but she was exhausted.
Never had she been this exhausted.
On getting to the carriage, she saw that the door was opened and it only meant one thing, Mayowa had escaped!
Bimbo frowned.