Ọpadọdun Ogidiolu the Crowned Prince
Ṣeyi was dragged to the Ọba's palace by an extremely enraged Balogun; the villagers present, relieved by the intervention of the Balogun, began to rain insults on the boy. As soon as she reached the palace of the local king, the Balogun commanded Ṣeyi to sit down on the mat and await the presence of the king. Then she sat down on one of the stools specially placed for the chiefs of the village. Most of the market women are present giving Ṣeyi a reproachful look, and the Iya-lode, Otun-Ọba, Osi-Ọba, Akọgun, Baṣẹgun and the Iya-lọja are among the major chiefs of the village present.
"Hmmm! Is this the boy who ruined the market day?" the Iya-lọja inquired,
"Yess!!" the market woman replied with an irritating hiss.
"Stupid boy!" One said
"Ọmọ ọdẹ (Foolish child)" another roared
"Oloṣi (Idiot)" another market woman cursed
The next few minutes were a rain of insults; the market women simply surrendered to their angry emotions, aggrieved by the damage that Ṣeyi had caused. Ṣeyi, in response, simply bowed his head in false regret, but he had an insulting smirk on his face, a silent fuel to further enrage the market women. Over the years, he had learnt from experience never to reply to the insults of the market women of Ilu-ina. He knows that he has no hope of winning a verbal battle against a highly skilled market woman on her best day, so them being fuelled by rage is complete verbal suicide. The grin on his face is a way to tell them that the only reason why he's not giving them a reply is because of the Balogun's presence, he didn't care about the damage done because these same women would still curse him if he didn't do anything to upset them in the first place after all he is accursed. They had always resented him, always spitting on the ground whenever he passed by, and most of them refused to sell him anything whenever he wished to purchase something to eat; it feels good when you commit the crime that you're getting punished for, he taught.
The Ọba finally walked in and sat on the throne, looking at Ṣeyi with a face of disappointment; what has this problem child done now, he wondered. He only wanted to receive the Balogun's report of the meeting at Ọyọ and now the problem child has disrupted his daily schedule, well better to get it over with quickly so that he can finish up with the meeting.
"Ka bi a si Oooooo!" the people greeted.
Ọba Ogidioly Adedapo, the king of Ilu-ina village, walked in accompanied by his son Ọpadọdun Ogidiolu, a young prince of 11 seasons, and his elder sister princess Atinukẹ Ogidiolu, Ọpadọdun walked in with a heavy presence that demands as much respect as his father receives. He copied his father's swag and even replicated the same arrogant smirk that his father exhibited and an equal scowl on his youthful face. Akinukẹ, the princess, walked in gracefully, exhibiting the beauty of her mother and walking with equal grace; the king married her at the dawn of his reign. He didn't waste any time for courtship. He simply ordered her hand in marriage since she was the prettiest damsel in the village. Atinuke, since the time she was born, exhibited the same level of beauty as her mother, but for some strange reason, she proved to be a spoilt brat. Ṣeyi regretfully wished the Balogun wasn't so furious at him because he would have given a right arm just to switch a banana pill under the feet of the princess and watch her fall flat on her pretty face.
The Ọba sat upon his throne while his two children stood by his sides, his daughter to the left side and his son to the right side; the king didn't wear his ceremonial crown for this occasion, but his presence still commanded a high level of respect.
"Greetings, my chiefs and the virtuous market women of Ilu-ina. May the gods bless you all abundantly", he greeted.
"Aṣẹ! (amen)" they replied
"Now tell me my people, what brings you to my palace. No hunter walks into the forest without a goal; his purpose is to catch some game; you have come to my presence. What is your reason?" the king inquired.
"Ka bi a si ooo," The Iya-lode greeted, "It's like, I am here because of the hard-working market women of the village. It's like they have a report for you, that's what it's like"
The Iya-loja stood forward, and everyone could see the disdain on her face as she scowled at Ṣeyi. "Hmmmm! As we all know today is market day"
"Yes Ooooo!" they all agreed,
"Hmmm!" she continued "Can you imagine this boy Oluṣeyi running into the market with the forest guardian in hot pursuit destroying our wears and terrorising the entire village"
"Haaa!" the Ọba exclaimed "Was anyone hurt?" he inquired
"Thankfully, it's like nobody was harmed during the commotion." the Iya-lode replied, "but It's like the damage done and the cost …"
"I will personally handle the cost of both the damages and the compensation" The Balogun interrupted, "and I will see to the punishment of this disobedient Ẹṣọ" Then she faced Ṣeyi "Payment for the damages is coming from your allowance," she growled
"Ka bi a si ooo!" Ṣeyi exclaimed in despair; the thought of having his allowance slashed had become a serious issue "Have mercy on me, I was only running for my life, gbabe! Someone used the fire illusion chant on me"
"The last time you were here I pardoned you with the promise that you will not be presented here for an offence again," the king said with a stern face "You must be punished"
"But…" Ṣeyi said in a last desperate attempt to save his skin, "I wasn't looking for trouble; trouble just found me…" he was about to continue with a sad story to move the crowd in his favour, but he was caught short by something completely unexpected.
"Shut up, can't you see that my father is still speaking" Ọpadọtun roared, "Every single day someone brings one negative report or another about your stupidity, instead of you to change for the better, you continue to insult my father's hospitality, Are you the only fool in this village?"
The whole palace was silent, shocked by Dọtun's boldness, and even Ṣeyi found it difficult to believe his ears. The prince of Ilu-ina spoke out for the first time without any reservations.
"What did you just say?" Ṣeyi growled as he recovered from the initial shock, "The pigeon never interferes in an argument between the Hawk and the Vulture. Gbabe!"
"I said you are the problem of this village, and the least you can do is try to behave yourself," Ọpadọtun's reply could set anyone's blood ablaze with uncontrollable rage; Ṣeyi was no exception. To add insult to injury, Ọpadọtun walked boldly towards Ṣeyi with irritation written on his face; it seemed like he had the burning desire to slap some sense into him.
The laws of the village always state that all elders must be respected by the younger ones, and to some extent, Ṣeyi has tried to abide by this law, obeying the elderly greeting others as he passes them by on the wayside. The task seems harder than it sounds because most of the time as he tries to respect the so-called elders they treat him differently because of his social status an accused, 'Cursed child, Rejected Stone, Son of the Shrine' these are some of the replies that he receives for the so-called respect that he gives to others. This young prince had crossed a line and Ṣeyi had no intention to forgive such a transgression.
"How dare you?" Ṣeyi said in an offended tone reaching for the boy's buba to lift him into the air
"Haaaaaaa!!!" everyone exclaimed in shock, especially the market women; no one had expected Ṣeyi to discipline the king's son like this, especially in the king's presence.
"Ṣeyi," the Balogun commanded, "Put him down he is the prince of this village, show some respect to his father"
"He insulted me first" Ṣeyi retorted bitterly.
"It's like, Ṣeyi. It's like if any harm comes to the prince, the king could have your head," the Iya-lode said with a sneer in her voice.
The anger had not blinded Ṣeyi to the point of being foolish; he knew the consequences of his actions, but this spoilt brat was in desperate need of a good spanking, and no one, not even the present king, was brave enough to render such a punishment.
"I don't care," Ṣeyi said painfully
"Put him down, NOW!!" the king commanded and immediately Ṣeyi obeyed. "Now, apologise to my son," the king added with a serious tone.
"What!" Ṣeyi exclaimed
"NOW! And do it the same way you would apologise to me" the king pressed
Ṣeyi's face suddenly got twisted in pain as the gravity of the situation dawned on him. He would have tried to plead his way out of this, but he knew that the king would not repeat himself a third time.
"Ka bi a si oooo!" Ṣeyi said as he fell flat on his belly with respect. The humiliation of bowing down to a child 3 seasons or younger was quite disturbing; the market women laughed at his shame, and this made the wound get deeper.
"Women of Ilu-ina as you can see Ṣeyi has been shamed let this shame quench your anger and please return to your market stalls" the king said to the market women
"Ka bi a si oooo!" the market women greeted and left happily, still talking about the shame that Ṣeyi had just passed through. The prince placed his foot on Ṣeyi's back the same way a master placed his feet on the back of his slave, a sign of conquest. Ṣeyi was close to shedding tears in pain but held it in, and then the king spoke.
"Ṣeyi, promise my son that you will not cause any trouble in this village again," he commanded.
"I promise," he said with his voice trembling in suppressed rage,
"You're dismissed", the king said, and Ṣeyi responded by running away, covering his face in shame.
"I don't think he is going to change that easily, Father", Ọpadọtun said calmly, speaking as though he was one of the elders. The Akọgun growled silently; something didn't seem right with the boy. Most children tended to start behaving or, better yet, pretending to be older than their age.
"Dọtun, Atinukẹ, please leave us. Your father and the chiefs have an important issue to discuss," the Balogun commanded.
"As prince of this village and the future king, I will remain here to learn, and my word is final," Dọtun said with a straight face.
This is an arrogant child given too much authority for his age, such a child would soon greed for a power that already belongs to him by right, coveting his father's power and authority. The Ọba had given this little child far too much privilege.
The Akọgun gave the Ọba a stern gaze and crackled his knuckles as a warning sign for the king to keep his arrogant son in his place, Ṣeyi might be a lowly Ẹṣọ of the village, but the Akọgun was a different case. The Akọgun's status was equal if not superior to the rank of Balogun; the only reason why he turned down the vacant position of the Balogun was because his dear friend Balogun Alao asked him to, so he was not going to allow a little brat order him around.
"I am the prince and…" Ọpadọtun continued but his father cut him short with a sharp rebuke.
"Be silent, the two of you leave this place you are not ready for this kind of knowledge," the Ọba commanded.
"But father" Dọtun protested,
"Now!!" the king roared, startling his two children; without any more protests, the two royal children left the presence of the Ọba and the elders.
"Now let us begin" The king mentioned in a calmer tone.
The Covenant of Death
The official meeting had begun, and the Balogun was about to speak, but she was cut short by the king; during meetings like this one, the Ọba usually remains silent until she finishes her report, but he didn't allow her to even begin, so something must be wrong.
"Balogun, you have been challenged," the Ọba said soberly, "The Balogun of Kutuje village has issued a challenge, the same Balogun who ended the life of Alao, your predecessor."
"Balogun Ogunmọla," Ogunlara said with disdain.
"Seems like you will have your chance for revenge" the Akọgun observe,
"Not at all" she replied, "if I fight him, I will lose and might even get killed"
"Hen!!" everyone present exclaimed in surprise
"It's like, it's like, oooo mo pe alagbara ni ẹ (You have forgotten that you are powerful)," the Iya-lode said in surprise.
"No, I'm serious," the Balogun continued, "Balogun Ogunmọla was never a match for Alao until he obtained his new covenant"
"A new covenant?" The Ọba exclaimed quizzically.
"Hmmmm!" the Iya-lọja interrupted, "that is impossible, hmmmm! Ogunmọla is not that powerful"
"His covenant was once the covenant of fire after his third defeat at the hands of Balogun Alao he acquired a new covenant, the covenant of death." the Balogun pointed "The makings of such a dangerous covenant is beyond me and I lack the immunity against such a terrifying power"
That is the truth, the covenant of death is a great power that exacts a heavy toll on the wielder. Balogun Ogunmola, enraged by his continuous loss, decided to sell his soul to a demonic entity in exchange for victory; men of ambition are willing to sell their conscience for things that they consider more valuable than their lives.
"If he wins then he takes over the administration of this village" the Ọba pointed, "we cannot turn down this challenge because to turn it down means our loss"
"There has to be a way out of this" the Akọgun said more to himself than to the others.
"There is," the Ọba said, "Our provincial masters the Baṣọrun of the Adegunju province sent me a message concerning this matter"
"What did he say?" the Balogun inquired.
"He said that he has a solution to the problem" the Ọba continued.
"What kind of solution" the Balogun inquired.
"Hmmmm, remember Kabiasi during a crisis between two district villages the provincial masters are not to interfere in situations like this one" the Iya-loja pointed
"I know, the Baṣọrun of the Adegunju said that the solution would also ensure the future of the village," the Ọba said, "I might not know what he is planning but the Adegunju are famous for their superior knowledge on warfare so I will trust him"
"That's good to hear," the Balogun said with a sign of relief.
"Hmmmmm! We will discuss this later" the Ọba said dismissing the topic "The Baṣọrun will handle the issue with Ogunmola"
"So tell us, Lara," the Akọgun said "What happened at the meeting in Ọyọ, we need to know how the meeting among kings ended"
The Balogun signed in response, thinking of how to deliver the confusing news to her fellow leaders; she finally took a deep breath and began to speak. She told them about the brief audience with the Alaafin and the nature of his strange behaviour, she finally told them about the declaration of the Bẹbẹ festival.
"Hmmmm! The Bẹbẹ festival!?" the Ọba exclaimed "How can this be? Our Alaafin is not the kind of king that would allow such a festival"
"Like I said the Alaafin was not his usual self" the Balogun pointed
"It's like, it's like... what do we do now?" the Iya-lode asked
"We wait" the Akọgun replied, "the planning of the Bẹbẹ festival is the duty of the servants of the Alaafin so we wait"
"Hmmm!" the Iya-loja voiced, "Then let us hope that they make a better plan this time"
"Hopefully one that does not involve too much human sacrifices" The Oba observed "The Basorun of the Adegunju province would not be happy about that"
"It's like, It's like… even the Ijebus and the Ijeshas will not be happy about such an arrangement as well" the Iya-lode added.
Thus the meeting continued for the rest of the day.