Journey To The Unknown

Episode 6

The suspicious atmosphere in Anochie’s
compound released a little and the fast running heartbeats calmed down a bit. Anochie went out to fetch firewood from a bush not too far from their house, Mrs. Nworie was behind the house cooking with thoughts still flowing through her mind while Ada was at the front picking the melon she poured on a tray.

Moments later Ada looked up to see four angry
looking guards walking into their compound so
she dropped the tray of Melon immediately
and ran to the back yard

“Mama!! Mama!!!” She called as she ran to the backyard which alerted Mrs. Nworie and
eradicated all the thoughts she had in her
mind. Mrs. Nworie left the firewood she was
about to add to the fire and ran holding Ada
who was already shivering

“What is it my daughter” Mrs. Nworie asked
adjusting her wrapper

“Warriors are coming to our house” Ada said pointing at the door

“Warriors kwa? Is that why you are shaking like someone who saw a ghost?” Mrs. Nworie said to Ada

“Their faces are not good at all” Ada said
“Alright, Let’s go meet them” Mrs. Nworie said walking to the front door and Ada followed behind

“Great warriors of Umuanyanwu I greet you”

Mrs. Nworie on reaching the front view of the
compound said to the guards who already
where standing waiting for someone to come
outside

“To what do I owe this august visit?” Mrs.
Nworie added

“We are here to take your son” One of the
guards said

“What for?? What has he done?” Mrs. Nworie asked again more serious

“We are not here for questions and answers,
bring out your son for the Igwe wants him
now!” One of the guards said

“Please, biko nu (Please), tell me his crime, in
fact take me instead of him” Mrs. Nworie said kneeling down

“Woman, we are not here for tears patrol,
bring your son” One of the guards said rudely

“Search the house” The chief guard said
“He is not at home” Ada said interrupting their search

“He went to…” Ada tried to say but Anochie
emerged with a firewood bunch on his head.
On seeing his Mother kneeling down, he quickly dropped the wood and rushed to her raising her up

“What are they doing here and why is Mama
kneeling down?” Anochie asked

“My son, you should have stayed in the bush
ooo, let them take me” Mrs. Nworie said
“Anochie, the Igwe calls for you” The chief
guard said

“On what ground?” Anochie asked
“You dare not ask me silly questions!” The chief guard barked at Anochie

“Bring Him” He ordered two of the guards but before they could walk two steps closer to
Anochie, thunder struck in front of them
making a demarcation line between them and
Anochie and everybody including Anochie was
surprised

“Don’t be kids,bring him!!” The chief guard ordered again and immediately they crossed the demarcation to lay hold on Anochie, an unseen force lifted them meters above the ground and they hit themselves on the ground and everyone was shocked.

Maazi Ukadike and the others including Onowu
has arrived the entrance of the compound only to see what they didn’t expect.

The Chief guard and the other boldly moved to
lay hold on Anochie but a ball of fire struck
them, thereby disfiguring the left arm of the
Chief guard, so they ran immediately back to
the palace with two carrying the Chief guard
who was lamenting in pains.

“What was that??” Onowu asked as they walked into the compound. Anochie was still holding his Mother surprisingly and Ada freezed in shock and fear

“My elders, I greet you” Anochie greeted
“My Son Anochie, what was all that?” Uchendu asked but everyone kept quiet. Soon enough,

Anochie’s mood changed, he left his mother
and sat on the nearby bench playing his flute…
*
*
The guards ran as fast as their legs could carry them.

The Igwe and Lolo were already standing in
front of the throne chambers waiting to out
pour their anger on Anochie. Azuka stood
behind them still feeling the pains of the
bruises.

The guards ran in and dropped the chief guard
in front of the Igwe, all kneeling down
breathing heavily and painfully and the Igwe
was surprised looking at them

“What happened? Why is my chief guard
wounded?” Igwe asked

“Your Highness, Anochie”One of the guards said

“Anochie did what? You couldn’t get a common boy!!” Igwe barked at them

“Your highness, all this happened to us on our ordeal to get him” The other guard said and the Chief guard groaned in pain

“What!!” Igwe exclaimed

“Igwe I told you this boy was evil but you never agreed” Lolo Nwaaku said to the Igwe whose hands was already on his waist looking above..

“Igwe, the gods never seize to fight for the
innocent, caution your son” The voice of the
Onowu echoed from the entrance as he walked in with Ukadike,Okwanku and Uchendu
“Your Son Ukadike did this to my Son and now to my guards!! He must pay for this” Lolo said and walked out angrily

“The calamity in the Land is enough already,
don’t allow your son create another” Uchendu said to the Igwe and they all left the Igwe with their words ringing in his ears.

“What is all this??” Igwe asked himself
“I Ebubedike, this boy might one day come to
take the throne away from me” Ebubedike
thought in his mind and shook his head

“Guards!!” He called and two other guards
came kneeling down

“Make sure you take good care of Him and my Son” Igwe said pointing at the Chief guard and he walked back to his throne in thoughts..
*
*
“…This has been the only thing Our Great
Mother Osimmili says to me for the past weeks
now” Priestess Osimmili said to herself

“Hmmm.. More calamity befalling
Umuanyanwu. This is becoming too much.
Tears of Babies and their Mothers has never
ceased in this village” Priestess said to herself

“This is getting out of hand and I must meet
the Igwe to tell him this. I think from now
henceforth, some critical matters will be
brought to me first before being done to avoid
more calamities”

“Yes, that is what I will do” Priestess concluded, gripped her iron staff and with a backward movement went out of the Shrine and headed for the Igwe’s palace.