"What's happening?" I ask myself, peering into the dense darkness of the forest. The rustling leaves, the whispering trees, and the mysterious sounds all around me indicate that I have ventured deep into the woods, but how? I spin around, and suddenly, silence envelops the forest. A familiar sensation of unease settles upon me, and I wonder what awaits me this time.
Emerging from the shadows, a pair of eyes pierces through the darkness, accompanied by the audible rhythm of its breath and the thud of its footsteps. I recognize them; the growls that evoke fear within me. Panic grips my heart as I realize the creature is drawing nearer, its terrifying form becoming even visible.
Cautiously, I begin to step backwards, I find myself backed against a sturdy tree. Seeking refuge, I quickly hide behind it, and desperately hoping to evade detection. The darkness shrouds the creature, making it difficult to see.
A gentle touch on my shoulder startles me awake. I struggle to open my eyes, disoriented from my sleep in the woven chair. "Another nightmare", I whisper. The warm sunlight streams in, and I realize that my baby sister is not by my side. Panic surges through me, "she's alright, she's okay. You were asleep by the time I finished the rituals, and you looked so tired, I didn't want to wake you", Iya Abiyẹ's soothing voice reassures me.
"It got so hot so I laid her in your room earlier," she says guiding me to the door of my room, both windows flung wide open, I can now see my sister's peaceful face, resembling our late mother. Though a tinge of sadness washes over me at the memory of our loss, I find solace in her presence.
"Are you alright princess? Is it the dream? Was it a nightmare?" She draws nearer, she must be taking the sadness on my face to be as a result of the nightmares, but that wasn't the first, not even the second. "You seemed terrified, i heard you whispering something, like a monster". She looks closely, "what monster?" She inquires.
Reluctant to discuss the nightmare and the monstrous entity, I shake my head. However, Iya Abiyẹ, her concern persists, as she wants to ensure my well-being, but she doesn't have to, I'm alright.
Distance sounds of drums and praises, voices of the palace bards fill the air, "my father has finally returned", i say in a hushed voice while Iya Abiyẹ heads outside. Conflicting emotions surge within me, I have developed a dislike for him, though the reasons evade my understanding. His arrival, which should have been a joyous reunion, now carries a sense of sorrow, his joy cut short, the bitterness within him seeping from the depths of his being.
This is not the version of him I wish to encounter at this moment.
"I'd just be here" I say in a hushed voice and close my eyes.
Footsteps echoes through the air, abruptly halting at the door. I instinctively open my eyes and find EMIRAN standing before me, the skin bag clutched in his left hand.
"A maid discovered your mother's beaded necklace in the yard, so I retrieved it," he informs me, extending the beads from his bag and tossing them gently in my direction. "It was her final gift to you, so be sure not to lose it," he advises before turning to walk away. I remain silent, realizing that I had completely forgotten about the necklace. A thought tugs at me, and I chase after him, "I'm starting to wonder if she had a premonition of what would befall her, you know, she could have given you something else and not the necklace," I say but he remains silent, offering no response.
As I come to a halt, my footsteps heavy with uncertainty, I sluggishly turn back towards my room. "What will you do now that your father has returned?" he inquires, his voice cutting through the silence, I swiftly pivot to face him once again.
"I don't know," I confess with a sigh, my words laced with conflicting emotions. "I want to continue my training, but you know he doesn't approve." The weight of my dilemma hanging in the air, he approaches me, pausing to consider his response. "Listen, princess," he begins, with his voice gentle yet confident. "You don't need to concern yourself with the opinions of others regarding choices that you make. It's about what truly resonates within you. My father once shared with me that our lives are like intricately woven threads, shaped by the choices we make and the paths we take. So, choose what aligns with your deepest desires, and trust that destiny will pave the way." He adds.
"Even if it means defying my father's orders?" I inquire, a mix of apprehension and determination tingeing my voice. "Even if it means defying the king himself, yes, even then," he affirms, his tone unwavering yet filled with empathy. Drawing closer, he continues, "In everything you do, remember, whatever path you choose, whatever decisions you make, the one who will bear the consequences of the mistakes you make or the chances you fail to take is you, not your father." Firm, yet gentle, he grasp my shoulders, "you hold in your hands the power to shape your own destiny, only you possess the intimate knowledge of what you truly desire in this life. It is not only your right but your responsibility to pursue it relentlessly, doing whatever it takes to bring your aspirations to fruition." Stepping backwards, "don't ever forget that." He says leaving me with his words resonating deeply within me, stirring a newfound resolve. The weight of external expectations begins to lessen as I realize the significance of honoring my own desires and aspirations.
Back at the door of room, I can't help but stare at her once again.
"I will do everything in my power to secure our place in this palace. Our names will be known throughout the kingdom, across the four corners of the world," I proclaim, drawing nearer to her. "Now, the picture becomes clearer, I must finish what I've started." I say.
Just as I am lost in my determination, footsteps echo behind me in the corridor. It's Iya Abiyẹ, accompanied by a maid. "Princess, here's FIKI, she will be your personal maid. She will take care of your sister from now on, and she will be staying here with you". She says, I just nod, and that's not because I don't know what to say to her right now, am just glad someone is here to watch her any time I'm not around.
FIKI enters the chamber to nourish her, and it dawns on me that I have not had a thing to eat since my return from the forest. "Food, I'm famished!" I exclaim, my voice resounding loudly. "Yes, food. I shall dispatch the maids forthwith to prepare something for you," Iya Abiyẹ responds hastily, rushing towards the kitchen. It feels as if I have expended the very last vestiges of my energy in uttering those words of hunger; every fiber of my being, from my inner core to my intertwined intestines, is yearning.
Swiftly, I hasten to the woven chair right beside the door. I marvel at the sudden changes overtaking my body, my vision blurs, and the approaching maid carrying a plate becomes a nebulous silhouette. I strain to discern its contents, yet the tantalizing aroma wafting from it hints at the presence of EGUSI soup.
The maid gazes upon me in astonishment as I begin to sip and with all five fingers, forcing everything into my mouth, and before long, others rush in bearing a platter of pounded yam and two calabashes brimming with water; one for purifying my hands and the other for quenching my thirst. But I pay no attention to these offerings; my focus remains solely on the soup and the succulent pieces of meat nestled within. As I reach for the final piece, I inadvertently drop the plate.
In this Kingdom, a princess cannot partake of a meal devoid of its meat, and so they scurry back to the kitchen, returning swiftly with another serving of soup akin to the previous one. A smile graces my lips, for I am already satiated, and the longing for further nourishment dissipates. I graciously instruct them to indulge themselves, taking only a small sip of water before reclining, allowing myself to relax.