Chapter three
1435 Words
King Afamefuna's POV
As the first rays of dawn crept through my window, I stirred from my slumber, the chirping of birds and the gentle patter of footsteps below signaling the start of a new day.
The birds sang with a vigor that belied the darkness of the previous night, their melodies a melodic chorus that resonated within my heart.
I sighed, my mind already turning to the challenges that awaited me. The argument with the elders left me feeling troubled.
Their stubbornness made me realize how deeply rooted some traditions are in Nri. I am determined to fight for justice and to do what is right for my people.
“Greetings your majesty, the head warrior is waiting outside”. My personal maid Nkechi said as she bowed before me.
“What brings Ikenga here so early in the morning”. I asked Nkechi in confusion as I stood up to stretch my limbs.
“My king, it appears you have forgotten that you employed him as your personal guard”. She said to me,
Shit, I have forgotten all about our arrangement. I cannot send him in when I look like a mess.
“Take him to the guest room, make sure he's comfortable”. I told her as I waved her off to leave.
I quickly stood up to tidy my bath and take a bath. I do all this myself contrary to the belief that I let maids do it for me.
The peaceful melody of the birds, coupled with the sweet aroma of flower-infused waters, soothed my tired body and eased my mind.
Ngozi, my maid, had prepared my bath with care, as she did every morning. As I submerged myself in the warm waters, the tensions of the previous day melted away, leaving me feeling renewed and calm.
The tranquility of my bath was disrupted when the door creaked open, revealing Ikenga standing at the threshold.
His eyes widened in surprise as they fell upon my bare chest, their intense scrutiny causing my skin to flush with heat. I quickly looked away, a cough escaping my lips as I tried to regain my composure.
"I am sorry, my king, for interrupting your bath," Ikenga murmured, his voice barely audible over the sound of his own breathing.
I smiled, a flicker of warmth radiating into my chest.
"It's okay," I managed to say, my voice sounded husky.
"Since you're here, why don't you scrub my back?"
Ikenga gaped at the request, his body rigid with shock. "Your Majesty..." he stammered, his gaze shifting nervously between the sponge and Afamefuna's bareback.
Ikenga's hesitant steps betrayed his inner conflict, each moving a delicate dance on the razor's edge.
As he settled on the stool beside me, I extended the sponge, our fingers brushing ever so slightly. The heat of his hands seared into my skin, and I could feel my arousal growing. The warmth of his breath on my neck was like a smoldering ember, sending a rush of heat through my body.
The moment lingered like a hot summer's day, the air thick with unspoken desires, the tension between us tangible.
“Enough”, I growled, my voice betraying the turmoil within me.
“You may leave now” I said in a husky voice.
With a final glance at me, Ikenga bowed his head in deference and swiftly retreated, his steps echoing down the hall as he left me alone to contend with the warring emotions within me.
I quickly finished up my bath as I dressed, I heard a knock outside.
“Your Highness, it is me Ezzine”. Ezzine said in a soft voice.
I wondered why she was here. I could never understand why my father betrothed me with Ezzine, our family had always had issues for centuries.
My father was a coward, so he probably used this engagement to secure the throne.
I opened the door with a blank stare.
“What are you doing here?” I grunted out in a malicious voice.
Her eyes widened at my tone. “I came…to see my brother, so I decided to … come…say…hi” she stammered as she stared at the floor like it was the most interesting thing.
“It's okay, you may leave”, I dismissed her. She looked conflicted but decided to leave because of the consistent glare.
I breathed a sigh of relief as I walked into the hut Ikenga was sitting in.
"Have you eaten?" I asked in a light tone, knowing the earlier moment had yet to fade from Ikenga's mind.
"Yes, your Highness," Ikenga grunted, his gaze fixed on the wall, his discomfort palpable.
"We're going to the market," I announced, leaving no room for argument.
"My king, you're a target!”
He was alarmed by my sudden request.
“That's why you're coming with me, Head Warrior”, I smiled at him as I signed him to follow me.
“You have a death wish” he murmured as he followed me silently.
The walk to the market was fraught with tension, the only sound to punctuate the silence being the rhythmic clicking of their heels on the cobblestone streets.
I could not help but chuckle at our stilted attempts at composure, both of us drowning in unspoken emotion.
As we traversed the stalls, I caught sight of the flirtatious glances directed towards Ikenga, yet the head warrior remained stoic and steadfast, his cold demeanor emanating a sense of professional detachment that amused me.
I watched my people from a distance because we disguise ourselves as commoners.
“Do you come here often?” he asked in curiosity.
"Yes, whenever I want to make an official decision. I watch my people so that I can know if they love my decision”. I said, staring deeply into his eyes.
He looked confused, “what do you mean?”
“These commoners are the people our decisions affect the most, whether good or bad, so I come here to observe their behavior towards certain traditions”. I replied to him.
He nodded his head as he looked at me, “Is that why you want to remove slave trade?” He asked me with a glimmer in his eyes.
“The slave trade is not a tradition but an inhumane act”, I stated.
“A lot of elders want you dead. I don't know why I am telling you this”. Ikenga told me as he looked at the trees.
“I know” I breathed out in defeat.
“And you're still standing by your words? ” he scoffed in disbelief.
“Yes” I breathed out.
The weight of the words hung heavy in the air between us, the truth of the danger, a palpable presence that we couldn't ignore. I gazed into Ikenga's eyes, willing him to see the conviction that burned within him, the determination to see this through.
“Are you not scared”, Ikenga asked in a muffed tone, staring down at me.
"I understand the risks," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "But the path to progress is rarely easy. I would rather die trying to forge a better world than stand idly by while injustice reigns. Join me, and together, we can create a legacy that will echo through the ages.”
He stood up from the tree branch we were sitting where he looked conflicted.
“I will do my duty as the Head Warrior of Nri, but I will not join you on a suicide mission”. He spat out in rage.
“It's not a suicide…” I was cut out by him.
“To seek societal reform means going against different forces, which automatically means death. This isn't bravery but stupidity” he grunted out to me.
I bore the weight of Ikenga's words in silence, their bitter truth settling like lead in my heart. But even as the darkness loomed ahead, a flame of hope flickered within me, a light that would not be extinguished.
"Nri will rise stronger," I vowed, my voice resolute in the face of Ikenga's skepticism.
"Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the strength to stand firm in its face. I will not flinch from this path, even if it means walking.
g to my death.” I said to him,
He nodded while looking at me. I know he thinks I am crazy, but I know deep down I can do this.
- Writer
