It has been a long wait for Emissary Boateng and the two women, as they waited to hear the King summon their presence. The King have just finished discussing with his princess and they finally called in for Emissary and the two women.
King: Emissary, are you there?
Emissary Boateng: Yes, my king.
King: Let it reach the women that what they have said to me have been deeply discussed thoroughly, and also let this reach their ears, that, our elders say, if you give bad food to your stomach, it will drum for you to dance.
Emissary Boateng: As you command, my Lord. (Turns to the Amari and Zibo, then begins to speak)
Women, if you remember I asked if you know what awaits a slave that tries to slander royalty. The king says for you have lied to him about your mistress, the princess, and it is an abomination against tradition and custom…
Amari: (Interrupts in fear) But Emissary Boateng, we would never lie against our own mistress. All that we have said are nothing but…
Emissary Boateng: How dare you interrupts when I convey the message of the King. What gave you the temerity to do so.
Amari: Pardon my ignorance, Emissary Boateng. I am sorry for the interruption.
Emissary Boateng: You now fear of the abomination you have committed against royalty. You should have made your research responsibly before seeking for the Kings audience.
Zibo: My King may your reign be long. We will never lie against our mistress with false accusations. We are certain of all that we said to you, my Lord.
Emissary Boateng: (With exasperation) How dare you speak to the king before spoken to? How dare you speak directly to the King?
Zibo and Amari: We are sorry my King. We are ignorant and we seek your forgiveness.
King: Emissary Boateng, let it reach our women, that everything done or said comes with its own consequences, and it must be faced accordingly.
Emissary Boateng: The King has spoken. You have committed a slander not just against the only princess of the Kingdom, but also against the throne. So, I asked, are you ready to face the consequences of your actions?
Amari: (Starts to blame Zibo) My King, this was not from me. As I made mention earlier, I was sitting my sitting when Zibo came to tell me. I made sure I asked all necessary questions before making a step of believing her claims.
Zibo: (To Amari) But Amari, I thought we were into this together. You told me a slave betrays no slave. How was this my assumptions as you claim?
Amari: I never told you to tell me anything. If only I never listened to you but to mind my business by concentrating on my job as the maid to our princess, all these wouldn't be happening now.
Zibo: (Sounding very disappointed) Amari, you betray the trust I had for you. I thought we shared everything together. The gods of our land bears me witness that I would never betray my fellow slave.
Amari: The gods bear me witness I never requested you to say to me a thing regarding the princess…sorry…I mean our princess.
Emissary Boateng: (Raises his voice at them) Women, what do you think you are doing before the king? Are you arguing amongst yourselves, no? How foolish can you be.
King: Emissary Boateng, let it reach them that their crime is unforgivable and would be beared accordingly as custom and tradition demands.
Emissary Boateng: Your crimes are unforgivable, and you will soon be sent to the executioner to…
Zibo: Emissary Boateng, (Begins to sob) I plead for the king's mercy and forgiveness, I was foolish to have believed my mere assumptions and causing this mistake which is about to cause me my life. The king is all wise and I seek his mercy.
Amari: Now you begin to speak for yourself as if you didn't get me involved in this? How selfish can you be.
Emissary Boateng: I said to you not to argue before the king. Do not try to play blame games here.
King: Emissary, tell them I am going to let this slide for now, but on a condition. Their tongues be removed and then banished from my Kingdom.
Emissary Boateng: You are most noble my king. (Turns to the women) The King, in his ability and nobility, would like to give you your lives backs but only with the conditions that your tongues be dislocated from your mouths and be banished from the Kingdom. That if you accept, will be your only option to live.
Amari: My King, I have lived all my life serving you and the throne. Please pardon my ignorance and let me live with my tongue in its place and I will never show my face or ever step my foot in your Kingdom.
Zibo: My king, your judgement is the most noble and I accept my fate, as long as I get to live. I do not have to speak to live.
King: (Directly to Zibo) You are not scared of my pronouncements?
Zibo: I believe you are the most wise and noble and that is why the gods of our land have entrusted the kingdom into your care. I believe your pronouncement is thoroughly cogitated and I dare not stand against it. I am just a slave and I have no right to question your judgement.
King: (With a surprise face) You are truly a loyal slave to the kingdom. I wish to pardon and give back your life, while you still serve your mistress, but only if you will promise never to mention your foolishness to anyone in the Kingdom. For if it ever flies around the Kingdom, you will be executed with no mercy.
Zibo: (To the King) You shall live long, my King. And your reign shall be long.
King: And as for you Amari, I would pardon you just as I did to your friend. But thank your friend's loyalty to the throne, you would have been separated from your tongue and banished from the Kingdom.
Amari: May you live longer my Lord.
King: Emissary Boateng, tell them they are dismissed and should go back to their various station.
Emissary Boateng: You hear the king. For out of the king's wisdom, you both are spared your lives. Now to your stations before the king changes his mind. And… (Shouts at them to get back) no one should ever know of your silly mistakes if not, that would be the very last time your heads will know your shoulders. Now to your stations.
(Amari and Zibo quickly leave the King's chamber and run to the quarters)
The King and Emissary Boateng to continue to have a little discussion regarding the issue at hand.
King: Emissary Boateng, I doubt if you have any question with my judgement?
Emissary Boateng: No, my King. You are all noble and wise, and I believe its out of your nobility that you came to your pronouncement. The gods of our land shall never be displeased with it.
King: I gave that judgment because I tried examining my daughter, the princess throughout our discussions and I realized some similar changes mentioned by those two women.
Emissary Boateng: My Lord, I plead to differ that the princess will lie to you about your doubts. I believe she knows herself better than those women. Being a woman does not justify your assumptions.
King: You may be right, but I am not too convinced by all that the princess said. She could not look at me in the eyes when answering to my questions and that is so alike of her.
Emissary Boateng: She must be shy the King had asked such questions. It is normal because its shyness.
King: I am trying to be hopeful that it isn't what the women had said. I think I would keep a close look at her to see if what those women said is true or not.
Emissary Boateng: My Lord, I refuse to believe that you somehow consider what those women said about the princess.
King: That is not it Emissary Boateng. It is really true her complexion is changing and she is acting strange herself. She only said it is women stuff.
Emissary Boateng: Then I believe it is just as she said. Our princess will never bring shame to the throne or jeopardize with the sanctity of the throne.
King: I do not believe per say, but just want to keep a close check on her. The princess can not bring shame to the throne, and I will ensure that does not happen.
Emissary Boateng: As you please my king.
King: Let's get ready for our duties for the day. I hope the gongon beater has announced to the kingdom of what is expected of them today.
Emissary Boateng: Your orders shall never be left unattended. He has paid his dues for the day, my Lord.
King: That is pleasing to hear. I will get ready now.
(The King now enters his chamber, changed into something royal and calls out for his emissary so the deal of the day can begin)