Chapter 6 - Offer Night

That, what they asked was not an easy task was the answer she gave the eldest priest which in that prompt expanded the jaws of Osabiegun, the Chiefs and Elders and a sudden exclamation which accompanied their quick reaction.

In a song has the eldest priest used to make her understand the dept of their pit, and that they may not fall into it. For a solution to be provided that the witches will grant their wish and not cause havoc in the land was all that remained impromptu yet important was nothing than the sacrifice to be carried.

A long, deep audible breath expressing sadness, and at same time understanding was the reaction of the birth attender as she confirmed to see what she can do.

Hearing this, Osabiegun laced his horsetail whisk on both of her shoulders simultaneously as he prayed for her gently. He also bid her to make their discussion a secret as possible as she can that no other eyes should see or mouth should talk about this than the congregation present in the palace at that moment.

But if the birth attender was only a child would she do contrary to all the King has told her. Of course, it would remain a secret was what she immediately acknowledged to Osabiegun where he has prayed for her again as he heard that.

Osabiegun and the rest of the chiefs and elders expected the birth attender again when the night has finally been conquered and the sky became clear as a crystal. As according to her words, she was going to come back in the morning to bring them news of how it would be done.

Immediately as she left, Osabiegun and the rest of the chiefs and Elders felt a sign of relief as they can now expand their cheeks for a small smile that was written all over their faces. Not only would they have the sacrifice, they were going to please the witches, and they will grant them victory.

To be cautious, an eagle will sour to the highest sky with its eyes widely opened were the words in the poem the eldest priest warned them with.

A feast can only be the end reaction to every victory but even at that, the feast comes when all is definite. A message from Ifa the eldest priest said which in that motion swallowed the smile on each one of their faces including Osabiegun.

Oranmiyan there in his room has not worn off from his hallucination about Okiki-osupa. Definitely, he wanted her more than how he had even imagined and if she felt this same way about him would be the greatest love story in the whole of Ifa-ile and Efon.

He would not even think of any more action that he stood his legs on the ground and walked away from his chamber into the palace which caught him by surprise for the presence of everyone else except him.

If he was deaf or dead was the question Osabiegun threw at him which left him stilled. Osabiegun has never looked into his eyes with such fierceness before. His feet grew cold immediately and even an excuse to say why he hasn't heard the call from the king could not be answered.

He was sorry was the words he muffled out in a silent voice as he threw himself to the bottom of Osabiegun; quickly as he held his legs.

Osukapo who remained behind the mat served as curtain built her confidence again to step out from her shadow. Even as she heard everything which was discussed with the birth attender, she acted like she knew nothing. After all, a snail which declare its horn in the midst of cows would only make itself the subject of mockery.

Osukapo understood this fact that in the village of Ifa-ile, a woman was believed to know nothing than make their way to their mortal and pestle, and to give birth. Even the position of the queen hasn't changed this fact only that a queen will not be the cook but only be the virginal to give birth for the king.

With the presence of Osukapo, Osabiegun's question to her noting the fact that he had before asked her to go to her chamber wouldn't drop a sweat from her body as she confidently knelt before Osabiegun first praised him with eulogies before she would defend herself to have come out because she heard the voice of her son at such middle of the night.

Oranmiyan was still seen laid at the bottom of Osabiegun which the queen joined him and pleaded again for Oranmiyan to be pardoned. According to Osukapo, a father will not have a troublesome child and declare himself not to have a child again.

No matter how hard the rains has slapped the face of the grounds, it will still endure it, for the rains has no where to run to but the grounds were the words of the eldest priest said where in this manner made Osabiegun to welcome Oranmiyan and Osukapo back to their feet as he prayed for them.

Nevertheless, a strict warning was fired at Oranmiyan by the eldest priest for the king is the greatest of all and not his summons should a person ignore.

Osukapo without being told returned to her chamber for the sleep she denied her eyes and most importantly, that the arrow which was coming from the mouth of Osabiegun or the eldest priest in the midst of the Chiefs and Elders will not pierce her into an awkward self-consciousness.

Osabiegun rose to his feet with his staff which he held firm to the grounds as he walked in faster steps to his chamber after he declared the meeting dismissed and that all of them must be present in the morning for what the birth attender has to say.

One after the other has everyone began to leave the palace including the eldest priest who has now parked his divination stones and thread into a white pack and left the palace like the rest of them all.

The stones and the thread were not just ordinary stones and an ordinary thread but a means to talk to Ifa and a means to hear what Ifa has to say. Without these stones, it was always impossible in the village of Ifa-ile to hear what Ifa has to say.

The love from a mother comforts above all and the kisses of her trust romanced the heart of all as Oranmiyan advanced with a few slow steps into the chambers of his mother where he had announced his entry and the permission he was given to enter.

Oranmiyan poured down his heart worries like the spring water, gushing at the mouth of the rocks. Definitely, he has not seen a lady who captivates his attention like that of the princess of Efon and the fact that his father or the father of the princess will never consent to this due to the enmity between them was a greater heart break and what he will do was shrouded by dilemma.

Definitely, Osukapo was shocked by the words of her son which hit her like a rock. She wondered if it was really him or a demon possessed him.

It could be recorded that several marriages as been arranged between Oranmiyan as the prince of Ifa-ile and the princesses from other villages for peace settlement. But Oranmiyan would either disappear at the wedding or do something terrible to make the marriages not hold.

Example was that of the arranged marriage with him and the princess of Ayeolugbon where in the midst of everyone as they feast and dine, cheering to the drums of love, he had called the princess to notice in his loudest voice which caused everyone to listen and the drums stopped.

He started with beautiful words which described her feet as his words says her feet romanced the surface of the Earth with good earnest and her fingers felt in his hands like cheeries of sweet Prunus but if only her face would be beautiful as her feet and fingers this marriage wouldn't have to stop which left everyone wondering it all of these was a joke.

Their reality was realized after he left the princess and everyone else at the feasting house only to go away on his way.

Even as beautiful as every other princesses after this one had been, it was obvious Oranmiyan couldn't be deceived by the beauty of a woman.

Yet, how the beauty of the Princess of Efon had managed to make Oranmiyan an infant running to suck the breast of thought for a way to have the princess of Efon for himself left her still.

No longer than she was still, she became conscious again. To go against the will of Osabiegun was to invite death into her home as Osukapo had not provided Oranmiyan an answer to what he sought instead bid him to do as Osabiegun wanted; destroying all the land of Efon, all men and women including their horse and goats, dogs and fowls must be defeated.

Oranmiyan was not all disappointed in Osukapo for the words she voiced as it turned out that some part of him expected it.