King Dele's right hand man Seun walked into his chambers. There was a look of worry written all over his face.
"My king" he bowed
"Have you found him?" King Dele asked. You could see impatience dancing all over his body.
Seun still had his head down as he replied "No, my king. He seems to have to travelled east"
"East?"
"Yes my king. According to Baba, he picked his trace on a road going to the east so probably he went there. My men are on the move"
King Dele sighed "What about the girl?"
"I'm sorry, but for some reason Baba has not been able to track her. Baba says she appears abnormal that's why he can't track her"
"Abnormal?"
"Yes. He can't explain it but she isn't normal. It's like something is preventing her from being found. But we are hoping that if the crown prince went east, she also would have gone there".
"Have you directed your men to go east?" King Dele said, finally standing up.
"Yes"
"Let's hope they are found soon enough unless I will have to make Dayo the crown prince to save my neck. Now, we can't afford a war. I need one of my sons to assemble the throne, then I will be settled for any war. The time is due in a month and two weeks. Call Dayo"
Seun stood with fear. He wanted to call Dayo as instructed, but there was no one to call.
King Dele looked at the skinny yet very strong and wise man at his front. Why doesn't he want to move or didn't he hear properly? "I said call me Dayo!" he shouted.
"M.y..y" He stammered. He knew how hard it was on the king. No one knew when Mayowa would be found or when the crown prince will be back, so it will be better to announce a new crown prince before the day got closer. There could be war among the princes if the crown prince is not seen a week to the day.
Taking a deep breath, he finally said" My King, he left"
"Left?" King Dele looked flabbergasted. His eyes were wide open in shock.
"Yes my king. One of my men saw him leaving with a girl. He didn't try to stop him because he thought she was one of his many girls"
"A girl?"
"To where?"
"I don't know My King"
"Then find out!" King Dele shouted as he hit his both hands on the table.
"Yes my king!" He hurriedly moved out of the room.
King Dele had a look of annoyance adorn his whole face. What was going on with his sons? The very thing he had to been trying to prevent has come slapping him in the face. One went to look for a girl and the other left with a girl.
Aargh! This was so annoying! What was he going to do now?
**********************************************
Haggi and Funmi travelled day and night together. After travelling for three days, they found a small inn to stay for the night. Something about the owner of the inn made Funmi feel weird. They were travelling north and decided to rest in a nice place. Hopefully, Haggi had quite enough shells to use. Haggi had an uncle who moved north so he was expecting to perch in his place until he is able to get a place for him and Funmi to finally start their life together. Nothing mattered more.
"I don't like the way the owner keeps looking at me" Funmi told Haggi as he settled their things in the room given to them.
"Why? He likes you" Haggi smiled.
"Likes me? What if he's bad?" She frowns
"He isn't, don't worry I'm here. Nothing bad will happen. I will protect you" Haggi assures
"With that small body of yours"
"Small?" he looks at himself "You call this small?"
"I really have a bad feeling about this place. Didn't you notice the flower he was holding? When I came close, it blossomed and then he looked at me awkwardly. It sent shivers down my spine. Please let's leave this place" Funmi begged.
Haggi held Funmi's shoulders assuredly "It's getting dangerous so we can't keeping sleeping outside. Though I don't know which flower you are talking about, I promise you, everything will be alright. I have travelled through this place before with my father. You don't have to worry. Now take a deep breath. You are just tired. You need a cool bath"
Funmi decided to listen to Haggi. He was always right and yes, with him by her side, she shouldn't be scared about anything. Even though he looked skinny, he was very efficient in defence. She took a deep breath as Haggi said and went to where the small bath stream was. She had been dying to take a bath and really, this was the first time she would be entering a bath stream. They normally bath in the river when it's dark or in the public mud bathroom. Only royals and elites had access to this. She was eager to try it out.
Adjusting the wooden divider, she untied her wrappers and immersed herself into the stream. It was intoxicatingly beautiful. After some mintues, she got out and let Haggi take his turn. Then they ate before they decided to both go to bed. It was the softest bed Funmi had ever laid on. She marvelled at how the world was gradually getting sofisticated.
Haggi wasn't able to sleep. He could feel his body reacting. Noticing that Funmi hadn't slept also, he asked her stand up.
"What is it?" Funmi asked confused and scared. The whole place was scaring her but she was trying to calm herself down. She made this decision so she had to face it.
Haggi looked at the girl standing right in his front. She looked so good this night and he didn't know why. He felt controlled to do something. He asked "Funmi, have we ever kissed?"
Funmi was dumbfounded with the questioned. Of course, they had kissed before. Infact, many times. Why was he asking such a questioned and in a very eerie state? He was beginning to scare her.
"Yes" She replied confused.
"Then let's do it now" he said with no expression on his face. Was this a dream or what? Why is Haggi behaving like this? He never does, especially giving such a lustful look.
Gulping down the spit in her mouth, she asked "Do what?"
"Kiss" he replied, still with no expression.
"This night?. Don't you think its..."
Before she could complete her sentence, Haggi wrapped his hands around her waist and kissed her. Funmi's eyes shot wide open and couldn't close back. It's not like it was new but it was too sudden and the way he was kissing was unlike him. Funmi didn't stop him, infact, she reciprocated.
But after a while, she felt Haggi was becoming too wild. He was holding her butt tightly while kissing her with so much force. It was unlike him. It was when he was about pulling her wrapper, she tried to stop him, but he continued. It was like he wasn't in his senses.
To get him to stop, she had to step on his legs before pushing him away with all the strength she had and then finishing it up with a slap "What is wrong with you?!"
Funmi shouted on top of her voice. You could hear the pain in her voice. Haggi also heard it, jolting him back to his senses. He shook his head before looking at Funmi. She was holding her wrappers tight with annoyance scattered all over her face and a mix of sadness in her eyes.
"I'm..I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me" he apologized.
Funmi didn't want to let go, but knowing who Haggi was, she accepted. He wasn't that type of person and that just proved her assumptions right that there was something up with this place.
"You see, there's something here. Let's go right now. I prefer to sleep outside than stay here" Funmi urged.
"No..no, let's go back to bed. I just had a moment. I'm sorry" Haggi begged.
"But you never have this moment" Funmi continued.
"Trust me Funmi. And besides, I have told you it's too dangerous outside. It's just for one night. Let's go back please" Haggi begged some more. He came close to her but Funmi moved back.
"Ok, I will sleep on the floor while you sleep on the bed"
Funmi didn't object. She sluggishly went over to the bed. She hoped nothing bad happened and they came out of this place safely.
*********************************
Haggi woke up to a strange sound. The day was getting bright but you could tell it was still early. He stood up to check on Funmi but she wasn't there. His nerves immediately shot up in fear. Where was Funmi?
Just when he was about to go look for her, he saw her sneakily coming out of the divider. There was a window just by the side of the bath stream and it seemed like she had just seen something through it.
"Haggi, we need to go. I told you, that man is bad" she said softly.
"What happened?" he replied soflty
"There are some men outside. I saw them taking our donkeys. They are coming for us" she said almost in tears.
"Don't worry. Don't cry. We will find a way out" he assured. "Now, come with me"
He led her stealthily to the window. He saw the men just as Funmi said. They waited for them to go before he guided Funmi to jump through the window. Fortunately, the window wasn't far away from the window. Bending, the both of them ran away into the forest. Their donkeys had been taken, so they had to keep running on legs. Maybe, they would get a ride from someone going their way.
The owner of the inn knocked on the door but no one answered, so he pushed it open to find no one in the room "They are gone" he expressed shock.
"What do you mean they are gone?" A tall and huge man of no more than thirty - five walked in to confirm what the owner had just spoken. He was quite dark and had big spots on his face. He probably has been using bad herbs and staying long in the sun. His teeth, though dirty, were nicely shaped with his huge beards making him look dirty. His chest was broad and left open for the public view while a long wrapper covered him underneath.
"I thought you said they were here" the tall man spoke with growl. He was already getting annoyed
"Yes, they were. I don't know where....."
"Are you sure she is a virgin?" the man continued to question.
"Yes, yes, I'm sure. The flower bloomed just like you said. And when I came close to the room, I heard her talking about it which means she saw it. You said only a virgin girl will be able to see it"
The man growled. "Aargh! So annoying"
He then turned to the men behind him. There were four of them "You all, split up and go find them. They wouldn't have gone far". They nodded and hurriedly left.
Turning to the owner, the huge man said "You better hope we find her unless one of your daughters will pay for it. You know you have a lot of debt to pay" he threatened. The owner gulped in fear.
Haggi and Funmi ran with all their might. Haggi was confused. He had lost the map to the north so he didn't know where they were going, but they had to keep going. Hearing the approach of men, they decided to hide somewhere. They saw a large branch attached to a tree , so they agreed to stay there. They saw some men pass them and sighed in relief.
After some minutes, Haggi understood it was time to move, so he led Funmi out but unfortunately, they were met with the men whom they thought had left standing in their front. Without thinking twice, Haggi dragged Funmi the other way, though knowing they would be caught soon.
As expected, the men caught up to them "What do you want from us?" Haggi asked, confused why people would want them. They were nobody. What did they do? They had taken all their belongings so what more?
"You?" One of the men gruffed "Who wants you? We just want the girl and we will leave"
"Why?" Haggi asked annoyed. He could hear Funmi's heart beating loudly behind him.
He laughed hysterically "Because she is gold. Now, give her to us" he demanded.
"Never"
"Then, we will take her by force even if we have to kill you"
"No!" Funmi pleaded. Three men had already held Haggi while the man who spoke carried Funmi.
"Don't worry, we will return her to you when we have done what we want. Maybe after three months or a year depending on the journey"
"No, let her go!" Haggi screamed while struggling.
The man paid deaf attention to Haggi and took Funmi away. "No, please, let me go! please!" Funmi begged.
Just when the man was almost out of sight, an arrow came rushing which hit his hands. He dropped Funmi down due to the impulse, giving her the freedom to run to Haggi. The three men, noticing this unconsciously let him go. They wanted to get her and go help the injured man.
Haggi picked up a stick by his side and drove it into one of the men's mouth when he opened his mouth to talk. He started coughing and was suffocating. Blood was gushing out through his mouth. The other two tried to stop them but arrows were seen flying which stopped at their heart. They fell down due to the pain and after some minutes, just like the man who carried by Funmi, they all stopped breathing. The man whose mouth entertained a stick suffocated and died, due to particles of the stick that went through his mouth. Funmi covered her mouth with her hands. It was the first time she witnessed such deaths.
Haggi wasn't at least bothered about the men. What bothered him was the person who shot the arrows.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Haggi commanded
"No Haggi, let's start going. The gods have helped us" Funmi pleaded. She didn't want any more of this.
Haggi ignored Funmi "Come out! At least, let me thank you for saving us"
"I don't need you to thank me" a young girl of not more than eighteen came out from a tree, seeming to be the place she had been shooting the arrows.
Haggi was surprised to see who it was. He thought it would some strong man or someone skilled in shooting arrows. Though, she is skilled but she didn't look like one.
Even Funmi was shocked. Though, she was older but she was still very young and her small stature encompassed it all.
"You should be careful around these places while carrying a virgin" the young girl adjusted her wrappers. She was dressed just like the girls in Osu, like Funmi which made Funmi think she was from there. She had arrows at her back and a bow in her hand.
"What do you mean by a virgin? Do you know these people?" Haggi questioned
"They are virgin finders. They look for virgins to sell to ritualists and in turn are paid heavily for it" she explained.
Funmi wasn't listening to what she was saying. She was focused on how magnificent the girl in her front was. She didn't look normal. Her slightly fair skin was shining even though the sun was yet to come out. Her nappy hair was pretty full and tied in a bun. It looked like she was carrying the earth on her head. It really was full. She was chubby with curves like Mayowa but taller and more beautiful. Her slightly big eyes complemented her full lips and her chest was full. Now, Funmi was jealous. She studied Haggi expression towards the girl. Though, she didn't notice anything, she was insecure. They were around the same age so....
"What do they do to the virgins?" Haggi demanded more. Funmi snapped back to reality. She needed to know what's going on.
"They sleep with them"
Haggi and Funmi's eyes went wide open. So, they wanted her for prostitution. They thought.
The girl sensing their decoded meaning of what she had just spoken, decided to share more light on it "It's not prostitution. She won't be held captive for a long time, just until they are done with her. The ritualist will deflower the girl and therefore contaminate her womb and make her only bear young ritualists until she dies. It doesn't matter who the father is, the girl will always bear ritualists. Due to high killings of ritualist all around the continent, they thought of a way to keep multiplying and this way is really efficient if you look at it. The people who know about it immediately marry their daughters off or deflower them so they won't be liable for such" she explained in details.
Haggi tried to grasp it. It did make sense though and yes, the method will be very bad for all who hated ritualists. Being that people reproduce a lot, the continent will be filled up with ritualist very soon. Who knows how many young girls have been deflowered forcefully by ritualists without them knowing the real consequences.
"How do you know this?" Haggi asked, a little doubtful.
"I just do. Now, if you will excuse me, I will be on..."
"No, wait" Haggi softly commanded "Are there many of these virgin finders in the north because I know the ritualist are prevalent in the east?"
The girl sighed. She didn't know why she decided to help them "Yes, very many. I will suggest you don't go there"
"Where are you going?"
"East"
"East?" Haggi asked, shocked. That is where the ritualist were in large numbers.
"Why? Aren't you scared? They could use you"
The girl chuckled "You don't have to worry. I'm not normal"
"Then what are you?"
Won't he stop with the questions and why do I keep answering?
"I am a drained mador and I've been told that my essence is in the east"
"Mador? What's a mador?" Haggi continued.
"You don't need to know. Please, I need to get going. I don't want no one taking my boat"
She turned round to go but Haggi stopped her again "Isn't there a way we can get them to stop coming after Funmi?"
"Yes"
"How?"
"Deflower her"
Haggi's nerves went wild shock while Funmi blushed.
"But she is still..young" he gulped unknowingly.
The girl chuckled "Fathers are deflowering their daughters from six months after their birth and you call this young" she pointed to Funmi.
Haggi looked at Funmi and he observed that she was blushing. Why was she blushing? He wasn't going to do anything.
Haggi saw the girl leaving and he felt the need to follow her. She was really good at defending herself and someone with those arrows could do a lot He wasn't sure he would be able to keep Funmi safe and he also didn't want to deflower her now, at least until they settled down and made some more plans. Though looking at it, she was already his, by agreeing to go with him. So, what should he choose?
It kind of felt like it would be good to stick with her. Who knows what kind of dangers are out there? The world was becoming more dangerous than he anticipated. She looked like she knew her way around and also, she said she wasn't normal. Maybe, a mador means an angel. She might have been sent to stay with them. Who knows the state of his uncle? And besides, if the situation got tougher, he would do the needful.
"What's your name?" Haggi asked.
"I'm Arike"
"Can we come with you?"
"What?" Both Funmi and Arike asked in surprise. Funmi didn't want them to go with her. It wouldn't be bad if Haggi deflowered her. It isn't like he wouldn't do it soon enough so why not now? If she knew, she wouldn't have stopped him in the night.
"Yes, we want to go east"