The guards helped him up to his feet while he dusted off his body.
"Why wasn't I invited to this party? Huh?! And where are the dancers?! Someone play me a song, please!"
"Who's that?" Asa whispered to Yotifa.
"That's prince Awade from Ondo. He and the king are best friends and allies. He's worse than our prince so, let's just watch him for now."
"Chicken! I want chicken! Wine! Boiled yams! The girls and all have you! Drummers, please... Play me something!" Prince Awade ordered.
Some of the servants obeyed without second thoughts while the rest gave him a weird look.
"Slaves, dance for me!" He clamoured with his veins, sticking out of this neck.
Prince Awade and his two younger brothers who were firm and taller walked beside him. One would think they were his personal bodyguards. Disappointment plastered their faces as they noticed that most of the men were wayyy drunk. Especially Segun, who hardly smile. He managed to greet the first chief he met at the door but his brittle smile made it obvious that he wasn't holding up very much.
Asa wore a worrisome look while the men find their way to seat among the chiefs and prince.
"Are you staying the night?" Itile questioned.
"Probably..." He threw a kolanut into his mouth and chewed on it vividly. "We didn't come here for the gods so don't think otherwise. We had just fought a dangerous battle at Ijebu. We'd lost most of our warriors but we thank the gods for keeping our lives. We decided to stop by and pay the king a visit!"
"We can't call that victorious now, would we?" A chief with white full beards asked.
"Whatever you call it, we are survivers!" He tore the lap of chicken with his teeth and chewed on it, hungrily.
Just then, the king's informant whispered some words into the king's ears.
"Well, well well... Welcome to Oyo-Ile. You all are humble guests!" The king muttered. "So tell me, what brings you here?"
"All is being cleared, king Otun. As you can see, we've suffered a great loss. They are not dead, who live in the hearts they leave behind. This war isn't over yet, we would surely win only if we join alliance."
"My god! Is this all that's left of you. I never thought that the threat of
Ijebu was so serious." He snickered while his chiefs joined him in laughter.
Segun and the other brother felt disgusted by their reactions. Prince Awade felt no shame. He had pride and honour to protect but he hardly show it, unlike others.
"We were heavily outnumbered. All we need is some food and a place to rest." Prince Awade defended while still concentrated on the food.
"Do not be troubled. We shall be gone by first light." Segun, his tough brother muttered.
"Well then, my doors are open to you." The king smiled. "Good thing, you're just on time for the giant gods celebration. Welcome! Eat, drink and rejoice with us!"
***
Ajoke walked into the open hall where people where wining and dining. All of a sudden, the chiefs bursted out into an almost maniacal laughter. Feeling disgusted, Ajoke rolled her eyes and caught prince Awade and his brothers seated on the royal chairs. Asa went to meet her before anyone would find out the blood stain on her body.
"What's wrong? Where have you been."
"I've killed two chiefs already." Ajoke whispered while Asa grabbed her hand and pulled her to a dark corner.
Noticing the girls, Prince Awade looked around in curiosity. "Did anyone see my friend, Chief Akerele?"
The people sitting around stared at him vacantly. "Who knows? He was here just now." One of the chiefs replied and continued his drinking.
Meanwhile, Asa was at the corner with Yotifa and his sister, Ajoke.
"We might be able to kill a few chiefs but with prince Awade and his brothers here, it's changed everything."
"What do you mean by that, Asa! It's almost midnight and somehow, these men will leave. Look, I'm going to carry on with my plans if you aren't bold enough to face any of them!" Ajoke hissed.
"I don't think you're listening! Just hide yourself for now!" Asa quietly warned, not to be heard.
Both girls who are very close friends shared an eye contact while Yotifa stood between then, watching.
"I didn't plan for this to happen but right now, let me think."
Asa rolled her eyes at the both of them and walked away to the main hall. Yotifa, still pissed about Ajoke's sudden plan grabbed her hand.
"You're going to put all of us in danger if you take another foolish step!" He jerked off her and and walked away, still pissed.
Segun, Awade's brother who is known for his wisdom and braveness walked around while studying the people. For some reason, he felt strange and could sense something wrong about how the chiefs laughed and behaved. It wasn't normal. As if they were intoxicated with something strong. He walked around and sniffled the cups from which they drank from. He squinted his eyes and nose in reaction to it's odd smell.
"Get me more food!" Prince Awade instructed a girl but his eyes caught another girl standing behind him. She just rolled her eyes and walked away.
"What's happening here? Where did you get these girls from?" He inquired.
"That's how they are. So... How was the trip? Any good story to tell?" Itile asked.
"Nothing good but we saw this huge fire biting from a distance. I'm not sure what it is."
"What?! Fire?" The men seated around the table queried.
"You have eyes. Go outside to see for yourself. It's been a long ride, my brother and I had spend days journeying. I need to bed. I'm stupidly tired." Awade stuffed the meat into his mouth and gulped down the wine, hungrily.
The prince of Oyo-Ile, Jade and his personal bodyguard, Itile opened the door to check. Looking outside, about a myriad meters away looked like hell. Hot burning fire that surrounded.
Goodness, gracious! What's that?!" Jade gasped in fear.
"It's ennndddd tiimmeee." Itile whispered and let out a sarcastic laughter.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Jade raised an eyebrow and watched his friend as if an evil spirit had suddenly possessed his body.
"The giants.... Where are the Gaints?" Jade raised his voice and closed the door. "They'll definitely help us."
Meanwhile, somewhere not far away. A couple of men whom had been journeying to Oyo-Ile caught the view of the giant's shrine. The men where about 30 centimeters tall and had wide nose and full, thick beards. From the distance, they could hear the nice coming from the sacred hall but they were only twelve in number. Their low stature like pygmies moved swiftly in the space. Their legs looked curvy and bodies, heavy to move too fast but they stopped abruptly to the black cloud that hovered from burning sky.
"Are we sure to meet the giants there?" The shortest dwarf who was, the leader questioned.
"Yes, definitely. We've crossed through seven oceans and valleys to get here. We must hide the golden twin eggs and save the earth from perishing. Ninki-Nanka are dangerous monsters."
"Of course we would, don't tell us what to do!" One of the dwarfs with plaited beard argued.
A loud monstrous growl grumbled from aback. The seven dwarfs turned and wondered if the creatures were closer.
"They're definitely coming closer! We need to run faster. Probably we'd get a boat and leave after all is settled."
Just then, a terrifying, bizarre whimsical creature with crocodile, green body and long giraffe neck raised up from the blazing fire. It's head held three sharp, pointy horns that could make anyone pass out on the spot. About 15 feet tall and very wide, it's sound alone could drive man insane but apart from these, it breathed out fire and struck whatever comes it's way with it's poisonous claws.
The Ninki-Nanka's gruesome rumble stuck the earth like thunderstorm, while others followed. No body knew how many they were exactly, but one thing was clear. These devilish creatures caused the fire and they were coming.
Back to the giant's hall, merriment was still going as planned. Ajoke couldn't help but to lure herself with the thought that she's already taken revenge. Too bad, the unexpected guests interrupted but she wasn't done, anyway.
'Sooner or later, they'd realized something amiss but first. I need to wash this blood off my body.' she thought.
Walking towards the other side of the room to get water, Segun stepped in front of her with a spiteful stare. Since he entered the hall, he haven't eaten any food or taken any drink let alone, smile with anyone.
Ajoke walked out of his way but he stepped closer to her again, blocking her from leaving.
Anxiety clouded her eyes as she turned away. Knowing that he might have noticed something odd or perhaps, he's yet to notice.
"Wait!" His masculine voice commanded.
She swallowed her anger and turned to him at once. Taking a closer look at Segun, Ajoke realized that apart from his built body, his full beard and shaved head made him look fierce rather than charming.
"What are you hiding? What is this?" His eyes met the red stain between her breast and arm.
"Wine." Ajoke's eye shifted from his devil stare. She guessed he now thinks of himself high and mighty to have caught her.
She turned away again but he held her back, full fist. Close enough to read the anger in his eyes, Ajoke fought with the temptation of not using her knives.
"That is not wine." He replied her and she felt the splash of wine against her face. "This is wine."
Feeling exposed and trying to fight down the anxiety, Segun hit the cup against her face and it gave a bang sound.
A soft groan escaped her lips as Ajoke held her face in pain. Looking back at him, blood dripped from each of her nostrils down to her mouth. She tried not to show remorse of shed a tear. Even though she was the youngest, Ajoke was one of the bravest.
Segun's lips curved into a wicked smirk while he held her closely. His fingers gave a soft touch to the stream of blood dripping from her nose. He placed the tip of his finger to his tongue, tasting it. "This is blood."
The royal men glared at her with suspicious faces as Prince Jade walked closer to Segun. "This is the one. I saw her go downstairs with Chief Akerele and Darin followed. They never came back."
Itise took a closer look at at her. "It is blood on her garment my prince."
"Whose blood is this. I am very sensitive about being lied to." He warned.
Ajoke jerked off his hand but he held her tighter. She struggled to let go. The next thing she noticed was a thunderous slap against her cheek.
Pissed, she took out her knife at once. About to stab him in the neck, Segun held her second hand and grabbed it tighter. With all the strength in him, he twisted her hand backwards and her face, slapped on one of the artistic stand. A frightened gasp escaped her lips as she struggled but failed. Ajoke gave up on fighting with him as the knife dropped from her hand to the ground.
"This is indeed blood and one of our knifes." An elderly chief confirmed.
There's definitely more to this!" Itile "hissed with bile in his voice. "Spill the truth, whore! Who are your accomplice?"
As if the disgrace wasn't enough, they decided to give her a painful punishment. With the burning fire in the middle of the hall, the men tight her hands and legs apart with fire burning in the middle of her.
"Where are the others?" Segun forced her to mention names but Ajoke endured. She blazing fire made her produce sweat from it's her black, shiny skin. The more she felt the pain, the more she endured.
"Let's see how beautiful you will be in an hour time!" Itile snickered while prince Jade watched.
Next, there was blood spill on their faces. As the royal men turned to check who it was, Segun head dropped like a ball and he threw it into the fire.
It was prince Yotifa.