ADEDAYO
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Noise begins to choke the hall as the Haaaas and Yeeeeeeees said by the crowd fill the air in terror of the place my uncle speaks of, but he shows no tolerance of their outburst as he shouts that everyone stays silent. With decorum established, he continues to speak.
" As you all know, the Orishas have been silent for more than a year now, every direct consultation with ifa has been met with silence."
" The only way we know we are still favoured by the Orishas is by their Ashe still being of use to us. Without guidance of the Orishas, the Olu Awo has deemed it right that we send the prince on a quest to Irúnmölé where he will aim at finding the very first shrine at which the Ashe was first offered to us....the Kin Of Oduduwa."
" Since it is sited at the doorstep of the Orishas, he can complete the last rite of his Ìrúbo Ashe and claim the truth to the Ashe given to him."
" If he should come back bearing the form and Ashe of the Olossi, then would he be executed. If he should try to evade his quest and come back without completing the ritual, it will be seen as an heavy act of treason and he will be executed."
I nearly give in to the thought of rejoicing and thanking the Orishas but the part where I would be going to Irúnmölé impales my will to celebrate. My death might have been suspended but if i am to go to Irúnmölé, it's pretty much sealed.
" Adedayo, this coming Ọjọ Àìkú will be your day of departure as to curry Eshu's favour since u will be travelling.....that's enough time for you to prepare. May the Orishas' favour be upon you as you face what is to come. Aim at returning to us with their touch upon you for your fate as well as that of the throne hinges on your success."
Feeling perplexed by all that has been said, i then attempt replying my uncle but an inquisitive cry from the crowd interrupts me saying,
" Kí Ní Yẹn~What is that?"
I observe the gaze of those before me, only to witness two tiny figures flying randomly above our heads. They then shoot down past me and take a flying stance before my uncle, flapping their tiny wings with the projectiles turning out to be the two blue headed wood doves of the Alake of Abeokuta, cooing with excitement. They then extend their talons bearing white ifa beads to my uncle.
Taking the beads, my uncle then orders the Olu Awo to collect them from him and derive the message it contains later. But the doves then start cooing and flying violently around him as soon as he said the words, drawing the attention of the crowd being ushered by the guards to leave the hall.Eyeing the birds, he then says to the Olu Awo as soon he gives the beads to the boy.
" Do it now.....seems it's a matter of urgency"
After summoning his ọpọ ifa, the Olu Awo then places the ifa beads on it for divination. He begins to move the beads on the wooden platter engraved with ifa symbols until an instance where he creates an unrecognizable form with the beads. With this eyes reeking of shock and discomfort, he looks at his boy escort so as to convene his message telepathically. A few seconds pass with both of them holding gazes until the boy exclaims.
" HAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
With few of the crowd that stayed behind and the rest of the unattentive Igbimọ members giving attention to his shouting, my uncle asks him.
" Kí ló ṣẹlẹ?~ what happened?"
"Wahala tí wá ooo Balogun~ There is trouble General...and my mother just went to Abeo-.."
Annoyed by his outburst, Uncle Ogundele shouts at him.
" E daun boboyii~ Answer me this boy....what did the Olu Awo see in his divination of the message sent?"
He became limp at the sound of my uncle's order and then answers his question saying,
" Balogun.....Abeokuta has fallen to the hands of the Olossi"
Oloye Aganjusola from the back shouts. " WHAT?!!!"
As everyone begins to dagger the boy wit attention, he continues.
" The message was sent by the Alake himself, he's safe in Olumo rock but his armies have been cut short....he says he's in need of assistance right now."
" Haa Haan.... What of the Akogun? Aren't they supposed to be fighting the Olossi's Vanguard at ilaro? How did they get past them without us not being aware of it?"
" That's all that was said Balogun, he made no mention of the Akogun"
My uncle then yells commands at the Iron Guard and Oloye Aganjusola that they organize our military units and contact the other state leaders for military support. With everyone running helter-skelter, i try to ask my uncle of a role but he grabs me and says.
" You better ready yourself for it what is ro come and be capable of ending it quickly.......the real battle has begun and no one seats the throne on our side Adedayo"
He then leaves me as he marches outside with the doves flying around him. As i stand amidst the moving crowd, a prickling sensation crawls up the back of my neck, an awareness that I'm being watched. I then turn to notice my cousin Láaróye staring at me with heavy malice in his eyes but in an instant he then appears to be talking to an olóyè of the capital with not impression that he was staring at me before.
With that in mind, i then head for my room for i have had enough of Eshu's tricks on me today.