That it was time, Osabiegun voiced out immediately as he jumped to his feet and began to saunter to and fro of the palace.
If the chiefs and elders and the eldest priest understood what Osabiegun was talking about would be a lie even so, if one of them excluding the eldest priest stood to his feet with the courage that begs a question for what Osabiegun was talking about would make the spirit of the blue sky descend on him and make him rotten in regret.
For this, the chiefs and elders acted in accordance with Osabiegun to which they lamented in their rumbling sound that no one could hear exactly what they said.
For a certain period, the chiefs and elders remained in total silence as they lost words to say and everything they did was to beheld the anger of Osabiegun which was emitted like heat from a furnace.
Only the eldest priest had not been moved by the daggers on the face of Osabiegun even still according to his modesty, would he speak whenever his words are needed.
The royal bard who paid attention to the silence known in the palace began yet again with a ballad; a song which tells the story of Osabiegun as a young prince.
His sonorous voice reminded them of a day Osabiegun was determined to visit the forest even though his father, the then king of Ifa-ile had warned him not to. He remained defiant in his confidence and to which he brought back the teeth of a Deer.
Certainly, his father who had warned him not to go was yet the first to welcome him as Osabiegun lifted up his hand which revealed the teeth which he brought back home.
That in the name of Osabiegun had the whole villagers and the palace of Ifa-ile welcomed a feast which they danced and drank for in Osabiegun they trusted to rule them.
For Osabiegun's bravery shall he become a good king and no other village shall encroach to bully them for their lands or their farms or their women if only they wish for their death to be plucked upon them from the hands of the gods which made Osabiegun their King.
A quick solace fell upon Osabiegun as he led his horsetail whisk towards the royal bard and a prayer that he may live long were his words. In this way, he gently revealed a small smile to which, according to him, remembered the good old days.
Even though the chiefs and the elders were not ready for a story, Osabiegun opened his lips for words and in detaIl as he described the day he had pulled out the teeth of a Deer.
If any chief murmured his discomfort shall Osabiegun uproar into his exasperation and have his head on a plate because it has always been a taboo for any person to lose interest in the words of the king.
With only a look from Osabiegun at the chiefs and elders, they revealed their set of white and brown teeth. For it was always better to pretend to be interested than to become a lesson for others to learn, was their intention.
The more Osabigun spoke about his day, the more they felt tired to hear and at the instance Osabiegun concluded his story had they all widen their lips once more for a big smile and laughter which now filled the whole palace.
A finger, Osabiegun then beckoned to one of the guards who immediately walked towards him and bent his ear to the mouth of Osabiegun who now issued him a command.
If Osabiegun realized the act portrayed by the chiefs and elders was what they wondered as they began shakened in fear and to each other they began to grumble.
Even as their feet had not confidently touched the ground, they could not open their lips for a plea and when a few of the chiefs and elders almost did, others obstructed them from it by the hand that pulled them back on their seats.
According to their claim, should they not usher themselves into assumption and only when they are sure shall they lay on their chest and of mercy they shall beg.
In a force, the mother of Atejoku was thrown forward, before Osabiegun and into the midst of the chiefs and elders.
Definitely, the chiefs and elders who were earlier frightened let out a sigh and to others who were, although in fear but with a little confidence, threw a look and nodded their heads at one another.
According to their words, if they had begged for the sin they have not committed, they would have been killed for a sin they have not committed.
Even in their silent words to one another, the only voice that conquered the palace was that of the mother of Atejoku who had not stopped wailing in her maximum tears.
That in the name of Eledumare, the supreme God of all, she begged. That in the name of the deities of their land she pleads. For only her life should be spared and every other punishment they saw fit, she will serve.
If the deities had not deserted them would have honored her plea and of mercy they shall bestow on her. But what happened when they were just another dirty water which was poured away after use by the deities?
That even if she pleaded in the name of the ancestors who had started this village shall they turn a defiant ear to her plea, were they words of the eldest priest who had now risen to his feet.
Even in the days of their ancestors such a sin will not be pardoned were the words he further stressed as he hissed on her and in spite of saliva he spitted closely to her on her knee.
According to his words to Osabiegun should no offenders be pardoned and if a child loves the life of his mother would he come out of his hide and save his mother from the death that clouds on her.
The words of the eldest priest, the chiefs and elders backed up at once and in their confirmation declared his words the only right to do.
In the same energy, Osabiegun shot a bad look at her and with a sudden hiss, he beckoned on a royal guard who in that instance executed his command and summoned the drummers and dancers of Ifa-ile.
Even the chiefs and elders before their arrival had wondered the essence of the drummers and dancers of Ifa-ile but to whom shall they direct their question?
For the face of Osabiegun was one of a cocked musket which was ready to shoot at anyone. Only for this had their calm state ruled over them. For a journey which seemed too far will one day end and a cave that seemed too long shall one day end in the light of the blue sky.
With sounds of drums and that of sonorous voices, the drummers and dancers announced their arrival to which they already began dancing into the palace.
Definitely, to sing and to dance was a part of the tradition of Ifa-ile and to which they have never taken lightly. In this same vein, many other villagers accompanied the drummers and dancers also in their dancing steps to the palace.
Though they knew not the reason why they had been called but it was certainly not a cause to which they shall not reveal their happiness and the eagerness only to dance for the king.
A lot of benefit had always come from dancing as these were the norms of Ifa-ile. As anyone among the prominent persons of Ifa-ile may decide to go back to his home with a new bride for the only reason he had loved how the buttocks and the bosom were shaking in rhythmic flow of the drums.
Another benefit was the king who could have presented those he loved with a lot of gifts based on the fact that he had enjoyed their dance, or even made them his concubines and a prince they shall never bear but a son or daughter.
Even though having concubines was not rampant behavior among the people of Ifa-ile or in the palace of Ifa-ile, the father of Osabiegun had separated himself with his concubine he loved like he loved his queen.
And many nights he would sleep in her chamber for the sake of love he did not lack from the bed of the queen and mother of Osabiegun.
Many days he would prefer to eat the food of the concubine for yet again the sake of love he had not lacked from the queen and mother of Osabiegun and only for this had the queen and Osabiegun as the then prince tagged her a witch.
For only this, in her hatred, Osabiegun grew older and at the death of his father, to which he became the King of Ifa-ile, he sent her on an exile to which remained a taboo for her to set her feet on the soil of Ifa-ile.