Journey To The Unknown

Episode 7

Priestess Osimmili walked froom her shrine as
fast as her legs could carry her. Indigenes of
Umanyanwu that saw the look on her face went out of the road for her to pass, some even jumping into the bush.

Priestess Osimmili at intervals stopped and look around sniffing the air and shaking her head.

“Who knows what is going to happen again?”

“The Priestess is not always like this”
“I smell more danger in Umuanyanwu”
“Hmmm, may the gods save us ooh” These and more were the murmuring of the people who met Osimmili on her way to the Igwe’s Palace.

Igwe on the other hand has been killing himself with thought on the incident that transpired between Anochie and his guards. The thought overtook his mind that he didn’t recognise Amaka, the maid who was greeting him until she touched him

“Greetings My King, what bothers you My Lord”

Amaka asked touching the King and kneeling
down

“Greetings to you, how long have you been
standing there?” Igwe asked
“Long enough to notice the never ending trance of which your mind was lost into” Amaka said

“You never seize to amaze me Amaka. It’s
nothing really, you may go now” Igwe said
“As it pleases my King” Amaka said and left.

“Hmmm.. Anochie!!” The King called into the thin air. Just then Priestess Osimmili arrived standing right before Igwe Ebubedike
“Greetings from the Shrine Igwe” Priestess said

“May the gods bless this day” Igwe said
“Has there been any answer to this calamity
from the gods. Have the spoken to Us?” The
Igwe asked curiously starring at the lips of the
Priestess but her face automatically changed
which baffled the Igwe

“Osimmili, please talk to me. What did the gods say?” Igwe asked and just then the Prime Minister (Onowu) and the other three elders in Council arrived to see the Priestess already in the Palace, so they listened to her words.

Lolo and her son Azuka hid behind a royal hut and peeped to see and hear the sayings of the
Priestess.

On seeing the mood of the Priestess, the Igwe ordered the guards and maids present
to leave the arena and the left immediately
“More calamity will befall this community
Igwe” Priestess began
“Tufiakwa!!” Udemba rejected
“Heeii!!” Okwanku exclaimed
“Instead of Solutions to the ongoing calamity,
you are saying that more will befall Us.” Igwe complained

“Alright, but how are we supposed to appease the gods or avoid further calamities?” Onowu
wisely asked

“Sure a wise man you are Udemba” Priestess said to Onowu

“But….!!” She added and turned around
keeping silent

“But what?” Uchendu asked curiously
“Osimmili, the mother of the Sun and Moon
did not tell me anything further” She said and
they all folded their hands in confusion
“Cheii! Why is our gods keeping us in silent
death eeh” Okwanku asked himself
“Priestess, you said they kept quiet. Are they
dead or what!!! If they say nothing, I will bring
other gods that will give us answers!!” Igwe
angrily said and went to sit on his throne
“You dare not say such things about the Great Osimmili” Priestess warned

“The silence of Osimmili is never a death
notice. Reverse your words or be struck dead!!”

Priestess challenged the words o the Igwe
“Igwe withdraw your statement please” Onowu pleaded as others watched. The Pride of Ebubedike sealed his mouth to the plea of the elders to withdraw his statement, then the
clouds began to change, forming thunder as the eyes of the Priestess changed to burning fire

“Alright, I am sorryt, I withdraw my statement”

Igwe said and the clouds brightened up
“Good” Priestess said

“And from now onwards, every critical activities and decisions in this Kingdom will pass through me, I think by that way we will avoid further calamities in the land” Priestess concluded and left without waiting for anyone to say anything.

Onowu and the elders in Chief left also with
their hands still folded in confusion and minds
full of thoughts…

Igwe Ebubedike still sat on his throne as he has hurt his Pride by pleading to the Priestess

“Nonsense!! This is nonsense!!” He said. Lolo and Azuka the Prince came to him, greeted and sat down close to him touching his thighs.

“I heard everything My Husband” Lolo began

“How can she say that she will take decisions in this land? Eeh Igwe” Lolo furthered her speech“I guess she is trying to overthrow you Papa”

Azuka added as Ebubedike listened to them
“The same gods made you the custodian of the law of this land. You can change and do
whatever you which with the law. Or are you no longer the King?? The custodian of our laws and traditions?” Lolo asked looking straight into the Igwe’s eyes arousing his pride

“Of course I am and no one will take that away from me. Not even the gods” He concluded

“Good” Lolo said
“They are all our enemies, all of them desires your downfall including the Onowu and elders in Council” Lolo added

“I have been perceiving that right from the
onset” Igwe said breathing out anger

“Let me go and finish what I was doing behind the house. Azuka let’s go” Lolo said and left with Azuka leaving the Igwe killing himself with thoughts.

*
*
“Haa.. Papa good Morning” Anochie greeted Maazi Ukadike who came to visit them but he did not reply

“Papa, why is your face like this?” Anochie
asked and Mrs. Nworie came out adjusting her
wrapper

“Nna anyi I gree…” She paused looking at the mood on his face and sat besides him

“Nna anyi, what is it?” She asked looking at
Anochie who looked at her with the face of “I
DON’T KNOW”

“Cheii! Umuanyanwu is finished” Ukadike
lamented

“Heii.. Nna anyi say no such thing” Mrs. Nworie said

“I am just coming back from the palace” He
began

“Ehee.. What about it” Nworie asked curiously

“We met the Priestess there and she said that more calamities will befall this land and all the Igwe could do was to challenge Osimmili our Mother. His Pride will really destroy this land”

Ukadike said and bent his head
“Calamity?? Pride??” Nworie wondered while Anochie stood up looking around as I he was monitoring something, later on he began
blowing his flute which marvelled Ukadike and
Nworie..