Evening came and there was still no news of Ganyo. Ametefe grew more and more impatient with every passing moment and when the moon stepped out from hiding behind Awato; the mountain that hides both the moon and the sun, He stopped shaking his clenched fists and the bare feet that were relentlessly slapping the earth. In the distance, the sound of drumming and singing could be heard from the village square and some young men and young ladies could be seen hurrying away towards the beautiful melody. He stood up, picked up his bow and a small sack filled with arrows and left for Ganyo's compound. When after a while of calling out to Ganyo in the unlit compound and hut he realized that Ganyo was not home, he decided to go to the palace and alert the king of the disappearance of his friend. Before he could step onto the main path however, a thought struck him like lightening. He felt a new kind of awakening and suddenly, the strings of his heart were entangled to a new kind of hope. With this newborn excitement, he turned around abruptly and hurried in the direction of Afi Gbaga's compound. "If the reason behind the sudden summon of the elders by the king this dawn has anything to do with the reason why Afi was sobbing uncontrollably to the palace this morning, then I will not be surprised if the same thing has anything to do with the sudden disappearance of my friend. Maybe mercenaries from one of our envious neighboring kingdoms came into this land to abduct my friend and someone close to Afi. But that would have been an act of war and the king would have sent for me instantly, why then have I not been sent for? Am I not the most skilled fighter in this land and beyond? Am I not the one Awudi; the mortal god of war travelled seven lands and crossed seven rivers just to behold? What in the name of the gods is going on in this kingdom?" Ametefe continued to think out loud.
Yawa was startled when she saw the figure of a man clothed in 'ade-wu' approaching the compound. "This kingdom is not at war, why then will warriors be roaming the kingdom? Or has the queen finally sent executioners to behead me?" She thought to herself as she hurried into Afi's hut and peeped from the doorway. As the figure drew closer, the unmistakable image of Ametefe could be made out and Fetri Yawa felt safe because even though Ametefe is a dreaded warrior, he is not a murderer. She stepped out of the hut and queried Ametefe angrily: "Why are you going round clothed in 'ade-wu' in the middle of the night? Are we at war? Even if we are at war, is this compound hosting any battle? Why do you have to scare me the way you did?"
Ametefe took a look at his own clothes and realized he was still wearing the ade-wu. How could a man who's house is on fire, chase the mice that escapes from that fire? Somehow, Ametefe managed to justify his attitude in his own mind and blamed it on the situation at hand. Has he not been too worried about his friend to be thinking of a bath, clothes or even food? Fetri Yawa however did not allow Ametefe enough time to think about how much he had been worried about his friend before she queried again: "There is no man in this compound and I believe you are very much aware of that, if it is men you are calling together, then you are at the wrong place so Ametefe, the hunter of the deadliest predators; the one Awudi travelled seven lands and crossed seven rivers just to behold; the son of Lavu, the only woodcutter to cut wood for the construction of an entire palace! What do you want?" this time however, she sounded calmer and Ametefe was a bit relieved.
"Yawa, I am not here to exchange words with you. Where is your grandmother?" Ametefe asked.
"My grandmother has gone to bed, can I take the message for her?" Yawa asked.
"Am I a stranger in this land? Why would I want to leave a message with you for anybody? Will it not be better if I just give that message to Alifo the town crier? Besides, why are you of all people not out there playing with your mates?" Ametefe retorted.
"Me, Fetri Yawa! Go out on a day like this when I barely escaped death. Hahaha even if that trap has the juiciest bait, it will not catch me again." Yawa said. Ametefe noticed that despite the sarcasm in her words, Fetri Yawa's face was as stern as ever. He asked her what she meant by what she just said but Yawa simply responded: "Please I beg you in the name of the gods, I don't want any trouble."
What do you mean by trouble?" Ametefe demanded.
"Had my grandmother showed up a little late, I probably would have been slaughtered like a fowl just as I am sure they would do to Ganyo. Please don't come here and ask me questions that will put me into any more trouble." She responded.
"Ganyo? Who wants to kill my friend? Where is he?" Ametefe fumed as he shook violently.
Fetri Yawa realized then that she had said too much. She threw sharp looks in different directions to be sure that no one else was listening before she continued: "I have said too much, please you have to leave now. I am going to sleep. Our elders say that a torn mat does not b…" she began before Ametefe cut her response short angrily: "The trouble is already here and you must tell me where my friend is or I will rip your heart out." He grabbed her by the shoulder and shook her violently until she screamed that Ganyo was being held in the royal dungeons.
"You are coming with me to show me where he is." Ametefe said and dragged Fetri Yawa out of the compound.
"Leave me alone Ametefe, you can't kill me because everyone at the village square will see us passing and they will follow us. You will be exposed if you don't leave me. I don't want to have anything to do with any of this again" Yawa continued to lament as her voice faded beyond the horizon. "Well then you will realize that I am not called the most skilled at war in this kingdom and beyond for no reason. Even the guards in the palace will not have a clue" Ametefe retorted faintly.
Afi Gbaga who heard Yawa's scream, got up from bed and walked out into the compound but there was no sign of her granddaughter. She noticed that the bowls and pots Yawa washed, were still outside and the large wooden bowl in which the other bowls are normally washed was turned upside down. There was enough evidence to prove to Afi that there was a struggle here. Without any second thought, Afi reached for the lantern that was standing on the lamp-stand and headed towards the palace. "I have protected them long enough and if this is how they are going to pay me back, then they should prepare for me. If they want war, then they will have it served hot. They better not touch a hair on my granddaughter else, this kingdom will be too small to contain all of us." Afi thought out loud while making her way to the palace. As she made her way past the village square, the drumming and dancing died instantly. One concerned young lady greeted Afi and even though she did not respond, continued to ask her where she could be going at that hour. Afi gave her a brusque response without stopping. This behavior shocked the entire gathering beyond reasonable comprehension. "How can an elder speak in that manner?" One young man who was bold enough shouted. Afi Gbaga moved her hand as if she was trying brush away what the young man said even without turning her head. Everyone at the village square somehow was awakened then to an understanding that something is amiss and that Afi must be going through something. The young man who questioned Afi's answer was quick enough to notice Fetri Yawa's absence at the playground and alerted everyone with a rather sarcastic tone yet no one laughed. "Who or what will prevent the Fetri Yawa I know from coming out to play with us on an evening like this when the moon is full and the stars flank her like a queen flanked by her sparkling maids? Has Fetri Yawa forgotten that today is Tuesday hence the zigi drums will be brought out? How could she miss a Tuesday night storytelling session or a riddles game? No! Something is amiss and I am following Afi Gbaga to find out what it is" a young lady said.
"Hey Atise! Don't even think you are going alone to catch all the fun without me. Besides, I will like to see if Fetri Yawa's mouth has finally put her in trouble. Let's be going now." Gatriku the popular drunkard retorted. Atise and Gatsriku left the village square and followed Afi Gbaga who's lanky old image disappeared behind the shadows of the Shea trees that line up the sides of the main path and suddenly, they are two wolves leading a pack of wolves. Everyone present at the village square stood up and without any question or second thought, followed them out of sheer inquisition. They did not have to hurry because despite Afi's fury, her pace is just a little faster that that of a tortoise. Even though this large group was walking towards the palace, one can hear the silent murmurs of the date palms, the hissing of the snails and the funny sound of the bats slapping the air. The crickets seem unperturbed by the procession and simply continued singing the beautiful melodies only them could understand. The procession finally got to the entrance of the palace where they were asked by a palace guard to state their mission at the palace. A good majority of the group was taken aback by the hoarse intimidating voice of the guard and some of them even thought of leaving to their various homes out of fear. There was a brief moment of silence in which the group was rocked by indecision. After a while, the guard ordered: "Leave before I…"
"Before you do what exactly? Kill us all or what? Just because you wear these bull skin and have a big body doesn't mean the rest of us who wear sheepskin can not enter our palace. Everyone here is a native of Adako and has the right to see his or her king whenever they so desire and that is exactly why you are going to watch us walk into the palace now. Youth of Adako! Have I spoken your minds? Gatsriku said with a palm wine induced ascent and walked past the palace guard. Everyone else felt emboldened by this drunkard and mysteriously, followed him into the palace.