Princess from the past

Episode 12

The sun was bright and warm that afternoon, Ego had trekked a good distance to see her mother, queen Agbomma, who lived in the neighboring village. She was escorted by two of the palace guards.

The compound was very wide and neat, with only two huts. A goat was tied to a short tree behind one of the huts, hens and it chick's were moving all around the compound in search of food. It was quite a lonely place. Agbomma had lived alone for years and barely had visitors.

She sat on a mat with palm fronds scattered around her. She was making broom that afternoon. She wore a wrapper tied to her chest, covering down and extending to her knees.

"Isn't it sunny to be outside" Agbomma startled at the sound of a strange voice. She turned to see Ego standing behind her, she was ashamed of herself that she couldn't recognize her daughter's voice.

"Go and wait outside" Ego commanded the palace guards, they left. Agbomma turned back to what she was doing as Ego approached with a scowl on her face.

"Go inside the hut at your left and bring out a stool you will sit on, if you are too princess to join me on this mat" Agbomma snapped. Ego knew her to have a supercilious demeanor.

"I am surprised you remembered who I am already" Ego said again but Agbomma ignored her.

Ego hissed inaudibly, entered the hut and came out shortly with a stool. It has been long since Ego visited her.

Ego placed the stool beside her and sat facing the same direction. Agbomma tossed a palm fronds and a blade infront of Ego.

"Find yourself busy"

Ego irritatedly snapped out "you think I came all the way here to dirty my hands".

"Oh then tell me why you are here" Agbomma said in a firm and haughty tone.

Ego was already on her last nerve. She squinted at Agbomma, feeling of contempt gripped her. She started to regret why she came but atleast she got her answers already.

She wanted to wish for her mother to return to the Palace even though she knew it was not a good idea, but coming to see her now showed she was right.

People had gossiped about how she and her brother inherited their bad characters from their mother, Ego herself believed that too. But looking at Agbomma now, she began to have doubts.

"I guess I will just leave". Ego said and stood up.

"Okay if you want to, do well to return the stool back in the hut where you brought it from" Agbomma snapped.

Those words really angered Ego, she couldn't help it but shouted at her

"What kind of a mother are you?".

Agbomma blurted as she stood from the mat to face Ego, adjusting her wrapper, so they don't slip off.

"Oh please don't you dare raise your voice at me inugo. "Maka nga eji iwe ma wa gi nti". "Because I will slap you with anger" Ego was shocked at her reactions. "Kedu onye iche na ibu" " who do you think you are" " You don't dare try nonsense with me. Royalty my foot" She snapped and hissed out loud.

Ego was speechless, the stories she heard about her mother were true. She can't believe how temperamental anyone could be at a petty situation. Now she knows better. She gently began to take some steps out of the compound to avoid another wrath because she also heard Agbomma fought alot.

"Will you stand there osiso. Fast" Agbomma commanded

Ego halt and turned back to her.

"Nne" Ego stuttered

Agbomma ran her eyes disdainfully over her, hissed and said

"Chere ka mbia" "wait I am coming" she entered the back of her hut. Ego was marveled at the speed she used to walk. She wasn't limping at all like most women of her age. She still had the strength and vibrancy of a young woman. Agbomma came out shortly holding a live Guinea fowl, handed it to Ego.

"Nne what do I do with this?" Ego asked curiously.

"You don't know what to do with a guinea fowl, okay since you don't know. Carry this Guinea fowl home it is for you and your brother. I doubt you can cook but you have your maids, let them prepare this for you both" .

Ego felt this cold chill, she could perceive love and care even from those ventings

"But nne we have a thousand and three Guinea fowls in the palace. We don't need this" Ego said calmly, hoping she won't trigger a reaction.

"Ina apu ala, biko were iha zuzupu mu na iru" "Are you mad, please take this and get out of my sight". Agbomma blurted angrily.

Ego shivered in shock and hurriedly walked out of her sight without uttering another word to avoid further provocation.