They placed on the mindset of Abela warriors, unfortunately even Epiru who was once a great warrior in the reign of king Emorimori got his mind covered envy and ego that he didn't pay much attention to the geographical location of their ancestral kingdom.
Looking bat how arrogance had blinded them, but at some point everything become suspicious when again a shout was heard from the eastern side.
"What's going on! How fast were they that they reached the other side so fast? Though Odeke. Even he cmwas baffled on what was going on. They left some men trying to pull out the warriors who were slowly emerging into the swampy mud, the rest run after the she warriors again.
Immediately they were about to approach them the made a U-turn and went back to the forest, dispite knowing that last time they were traped, still they continued to Chase after them. They were welcomed with a buzzing and fizzing sound of the arrows the come like ran, by the time they come to their senses, it was to late.
"Protect the prince!....
At the end most of their numbers was already reduced without even combating. They retreated to the west side hoping to join the remaining warriors who were helping those who sunk in the mud, only to fill lifeless bodies laying down in the pool of blood, they were dead
Out of disappointment, the prince was so angry that his foreface wrinkled, eyebrows contracted together, his nostrils flared and throats become bitter. The real fight hadn't even began yet their men are dead living ahand full but still with much hopes they decided to attract the village, after seeing the gate open.
"They have many injured warriors, so they still can't win in combate. The prince said arrogantly forgetting the fact that she warriors ain't normal warriors rather professional warriors.
"Att..a..ack....
He shouted, they run so fast pass through the main gate only to enter into atrap that they can't live alive. Immediately the main gate was locked. And a voice af a woman laughing at them from the balcony was heard. Looking up to view who it was, only to suprise them, maria was seated comfortable on the chair.
"We haven't even started fighting yet your men are already dead! And you, your as well as dead. Cracking another laughter. They panicked and looked at themselves baffledly, yet there wasn't any solution.
And you! , l trained you, yet you still had the effrontery and the audacity to intrude and attack my kingdom. Maria was so disappointed at Odeke , for she made him the warrior he is today and even saved him and gave him a root on his head yet he paid back by attacking her.
Looking at how they were helpless and panting with fear of death, but that was far away from her mind . On the other hand it was like fate that had given her chance to vent her previous anger on Prince Odeke for his father's batrayal .
"Surrender, or be prepared to die, the choice is yours.
They ones they had come to take over, instead have taken over them. " Ain't you all a shame! We haven't even started the battle yet all your men are dead. She kept mocking them for their incompetence.
Left with no other choice but to put down their weapons and surrender to Maria. Slowly they were instructed to enter through the second gate with their hands up above their heads.
Slowly they treked but that one mistake made by prince Odeke made him encounter the worst punishment that he will live to remember.
All the rebel were thrown into the prison except prince Odeke . Stripped half naked, leaving him with only a short wrapper around his waist, then tied on the tree in the village square with no food and water.
" Do you remember this place? Maria asked arrogantly while looking at the prince who was being tied. " If you do remember, then let me remain you. In here your father summoned all the youth, whom some were taken as slaves and other killed.
But all she wanted was for him to realize his mistake and repen but as for leadership, it will always be a woman king and not men. Two days elapsed so did the third day, left alone amidst African mosquitoes at night and harsh radiation of the sun during day but he had to endure.
The gnawing emptiness of the pit in his stomach as the intestines seemed to be twisting themselves gave him much pain, for he was famished. His lips become arid, the unquenchable desire for a drop of refreshing cold water to satisfy his mouth and wet his tongue was killing him. Three days since his last substantial drink. All he could do was to daydream of water pond, rivers, streams, rain. The scorching on his throats was to much to bare.
Five days passed Odeke couldn't be identified anymore as other thought he was already dead, he becomes so slim at a point of being unrecognizable, with his neck bent in the ground, the skin on his body turned rough and very dry, with no strength to speak, with only one word in his mouth.
"Water...!, water..., he yearned. Yet nobody was willing to help since he destroyed their trust just like his father.
"I think it's a high time you let him go.
With sympathy, Okirror had to go and talk to Maria hoping she would change her seven days punishment for the prince and rekease him but ahh his efforts were vine.
"If l let him go, he will repeat the same mistake. Having given him the first chance in the jungle, she wasn't willing to let him go easily again. Seven days reached but the prince was almost dead with no energy, the life in him was just for pumping blood through his heart. Okirror took him to his home and got him some medicine and food.