"You come into my compound spitting threats, woman?"
"I never apologize to anyone. A Priestess of Ufas being made to talk to a lowly human"
Effiong looked at her in surprise. [What was she talking about?]
"How are you any different from me? Because you see ghosts, we will not hear the word in this land"
The priestess felt insulted by that. She was furious and couldn't contain her anger. Priestess Umang had always held a grudge towards Edet Edet's wife and his arrogant son.
In Ufas, most people worshipped the ground she walked on because she was one of the people who conveyed messages from the god, Uti, to the people that served him. People would come to her shrine and offer sacrifices, and pay their respects, but not Item Edet and Effiong.
Umang didn't know why they didn't do what others did. It was as if they had their god somewhere. She had complained to the late Obong who told her to ignore them and Umang knew it was because he didn't want to upset Edet Edet, with him being so wealthy and influential. The priestess left the palace that day so angry that warts were almost visible on her face.
"You have been told to apologize to my mother whom you very well knew was not responsible for the death of her husband", Effiong said.
The priestess knew better than to go against the order of the whole cabinet of chiefs and kinsmen. But, Item and Effiong were going to suffer before they got an apology from her.
"You think you have riches? You think you control things in this land and no one can touch you?"
"I do not think so. All I want from you before I ask you to leave my land, is to apologize to that woman sitting over there". Effiong's mother was at a corner on a chair looking at the showdown between her son and the priestess. She had never regarded the woman whom she knew used her title and position for selfish reasons.
Item rolled her eyes at Umang, "Uduak!", she called out to the maid, "Get a chair for the seer of ghosts in case she wants to sit and tell us about her business because I do not know why she is still here."
Uduak was conflicted, she bent down towards Item's left ear and whispered, "Should I get her a chair, mama?"
"Get out of my ear, foolish girl", Item spat.
Uduak stood up abruptly as if she had just been slapped on the mouth. She remained by Item's side getting the message, finally.
"This wealth you have that makes you feel you are above other people will dry up one day, bet me", Priestess Umang said.
"Hahahaha. You can not do anything. It is the blood that runs in your veins, it is the blood that runs in my veins too. It is one brain you have, even though it looks like you do not use it, and it is one brain I have too. Apologize to my mother and please take your leave. This compound doesn't house any follower of yours," Effiong said.
He hadn't moved from the door mouth he had been standing in since her arrival. He stood firm and tall, carrying a small smile on his lips, appearing like an idyllic guardian.
Item was a bit worried at this point. Her son feared no one, she knew that. But she also knew that Umang was a spiteful person because of a case that happened years ago between her and a man when they fought over a piece of land.
The man had claimed that he had purchased that land from her late uncle, but there was no proof, especially with the uncle dead. Umang had said that the man was lying and the land belonged to her family. The dispute reached the ears of the late Obong and the tribal chiefs, who judged the issue.
They told both of them to share the land equally since no one had concrete evidence to stake their claim. On the day they were to share and mark their territories, everyone was present. The high chief, a few of the kinsmen, and some tribal chiefs. Priestess Umang arrived, and to everyone's surprise, the man didn't show up.
When they sent people to check what had happened to him, they found him dead and swollen on his mat (they slept on mats, not beds). A human being so swollen, that it looked like it was a hippopotamus that had died there. It was a horrid sight.
They knew... everyone knew who was responsible for the man's demise but how do they prove it?
Priestess Umang got the whole piece of land to herself.
"This is not the end. You will hear from me", Umang said... [People are scared of me, why are these not trembling in my presence? But they know what I can do…], she thought, immensely confused but keeping a strong front.
"All I want to hear is 'SORRY' ", his voice rising. Effiong was beginning to get impatient. He had work to do.
"Sorry", she finally said, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
That was enough for Effiong though, as he said, "Thank you and goodbye". He turned to walk back inside thinking she would turn to leave too. But seeing that she still stood there, he arranged himself and faced her again. Watching in silence.
A full minute passed without anyone saying anything, the priestess looking from Effiong to Item and back to him. It was a showdown.
Then, she hit her staff of authority on the ground and turned to leave, walking out of the compound, furious.
[Thank the stars. I thought she was about to stand here till dusk], Effiong thought. "Mama, are you okay?"
"Yes, I am. But you know I didn't need that woman's apology, right?", Item said with a mischievous smile on her face.
"I didn't too, mama. But the fact that she put you through that, I had to put her through something too", Effiong replied.
"You!. You are just stubborn... like your father". As she said that, the smile on her face waned.
Effiong came close to her and tickled her sides, "Do not get sad now, mama"
Item Edet was forced to let out a laugh.