warrior mind

within us

ijele kept growing beautiful and stronger each passing day her father was always happy to have her around him because she was not just a daughter with was a daughter blessed with super natural power she can command the sky and water to do her bidding but above all she never looked at any one around any less all servants given to her to tend to her needs lived in the palace as free born she was kind hearted to everyone around her. she started training as a solider which by then was a taboo in the kingdom because woman was belittled in the kingdom of umuona they were seen as just wives and daughters that can do only things that can be done in kitchen or farm nothing more women was not allowed to speak back at their husbands or fathers or any man in the kingdom.

one day the princess was passing in the villages outside the capital she saw a young girl of about fifteen years sitting alone close to a bush crying it was already dark ijele was going to the last villages for official business for she now went to certain functions in her father palace she was in the company of nneka her head servant who she has also allowed to train as a solider too nneka was her sword carrier and two guards when they saw the girl crying at the bushy path she was sitting all alone so on seeing the princess and her entourage riding fast towards her she ran and fall on her knees on the road " your majesty help me " the horses was brought to halt at once causing so much dust and the guards came down from their horses and went to the girl "how dare you block the road of the future queen of this land the daughter of the gods themselves leave at once least we have your head young woman" the girl replied "your majesty have mercy on your servant the guards was about to drag her out of the way when the princess dismounted her horse and said "leave her be my friend what is the problem why are you here all alone is dark already " and the girl replied "your majesty I'm the daughter of mazi Uzi I have been thrown out of my father house because my parents wants me to marry ube the rich gold merchant but he twice my father's age already has twenty two wives and he came to do my marriage and I refused to give him the calabash of wine given to me to go and bring my husband I broke it everyone see what I did as an abomination and disgrace to my family my father throw me out and disowned me I was driven to the road side by my family and told to leave the village and the princess held the girl by hand and said "what is your name " and the girl replied "azuka your majesty " and the princess replied go and ride with nneka I'm going to the miner villages to settle a dispute you will go with us when I'm coming back we will go to your father's house and see him azuka knelt down and thanked the princess and went to nneka horse and mounted it and they rode away and when the princess returned from her official business in the miner village on her way back to the palace she paid azuka family a visit azuka father welcomed the princess he bowed down and said your majesty you are welcomed please come and have a sit though I'm a ordinary blacksmith what brings the daughter of the gods to my little hut and the princess replied "azuka come inside " for she was still outside with the guards only nneka and the princess walked into azuka father house and azuka came inside the father stood up "almost immediately let this girl leave my compound now or I will sacrifice her to Ekwensu this every minute " he was visibly shaking like he was going to fight someone but the princess replied "you don't respect the crown is that what you telling me you see me here and still you want to hit your daughter what is this you are doing in my presence" and immediately he calmed down "your majesty this girl has made me and my ancestors a laughing stock in this village even my chi has been made a thing of mockery I don't want her around me or my family before she corrupt the rest of my children or those around her" azuka father replied meanwhile azuka was already on her knees begging papa "please have mercy I'm still your child please I'm ready to do anything to make amends" and her father replied "then go and bring back chief ube back to my compound and let him do the marriage ceremony again or forget you have a father like me I cannot give birth to a daughter that would bring shame and disgrace to me and my house hold" and azuka replied "but papa he twice your age and has a lot of wives I can't never be happy in his compound" the father replied "may the gods strike you dead this minute who taught you all this you are saying happiness!!! you are to put your family first if I'm in-law to chief ube do you know what I stand to gain what your family stands to gain" enough! said the princess "so you will sacrifice your daughter happiness for wealth what kind of father are you from I brought her here thinking we could find a common ground with you on this matter but I see you are just greedy from today azuka is now in my custody when ever you feel you want your daughter back you know the road to the palace" and azuka father replied" I don't want her she is no longer my daughter" and the princess got angry immediately "for you to be apologetic for the pains you caused this girl your own flesh and blood you are saying all this" as the princess speak her voice change and her eyes brighten like lightning the sky change almost immediately azuka father fell on ground and bowed and said daughter of the gods have mercy please I'm sorry I heard all you said and the princess still angry replied azuka "let's go" azuka was still kneeling and crying saying "papa please I'm still your child have mercy" the father did not say anything for fear of angering the princess the more the princess has gotten almost to the entrance of the compound turn back and saw azuka still kneeling and begging her father and the princess said azuka "I say let's leave this minute" then azuka got up ran to the princess the father stood there without saying anything the princess went back to the palace with azuka and gave her a place in her mother compound in the palace because that's where the princess still lives .

one day the princess was called by the king on a cabinet meeting and she went and on getting their she knees down and bowed and said "long live the king my chiefs and fathers I greet you all father you sent for me" and the king replied" yes ijele I sent for you I have had a discussion with my chief and decided that has the heir to the throne is time you start joining us when we have our meetings so you will learn how to rule your people when I leave from today every meeting day you must be here" and the princess replied "thank you my king I'm honored to be part of cabinet thank you father" and she was shown to her sit close to the throne and the meeting continue meanwhile azuka has been introduced to the queen ijele mother and was now part of the queen servants one morning while azuka was busy sweeping the compound the princess came and "said stop what you are doing and follow me" and azuka followed the princess they mounted on a horse and drove to the were the warriors were training and the princess said "I didn't bring you with me to the palace to make you a servant I brought you to make you a warrior but you have to choose are you ready to work hard and become a warrior because it not easy especially for a woman or you want to go back working as a servant" and azuka replied "your majesty I will work hard I will do anything to make sure I become the strongest and fastest warrior umuona kingdom "the princess gave her some warrior clothes and told her go and change for this is what you will use to train and azuka thanked the princess and left azuka made the numbers of girls the princess brought for training total to seven and the were trained by obiagu he was a young handsome man of about twenty two years he was physical built as man fine cut face broad shoulders and fine masculine physic every young woman wanted him to just look at him the way he looks at them but obiagu was a determined young Man he started training to be a warrior as early in his life as early as when he was nine years old and has fought many war since he joined the king army he grew up fast through the ranks because he was fearless and always fast during any fights he was good when handling a spear or sword he was the one that trained the princess and her girls and new warriors that want to join the king army the princess took azuka after azuka finished changing her clothes and when azuka saw the princess he said "long live the daughter of the gods heir to the throne of umuona kingdom what do I makes you grace us with your presence this morning" and the princess replied obi "good morning I'm here in your camp this morning because I brought this young woman so you can turn her to a good warrior" and obiagu replied "say no more your majesty I will turn her into a fine warriors like I did to the rest girls you brought to me" and the princess thanked him and mounted her horse and drove off.