Princess from the past

Episode 13

Ugomu just returned from the stream with the clothes she washed to sun dry. She had joined a rope to two small trees to spread her clothes. She held footsteps coming towards her, she turned to see Prince obiako and his guards passing by. She quickly turned not to make eye contact with him but he had already caught her gaze.

"ugomu kedu" "ugomu how are you" He said. She turned back shyly and greeted

"Adinma" "I am fine".

His eyes like they were going to pierce her. He tweaked and asked his guards to leave. He then came closer to Ugomu.

"I am not stopping you, keep doing what you are doing nne" he pulled the rope gently and said again "Are you sure these ropes are tied firmly to these trees because they seem lose". He said, then loosened the ropes and tightened it for her. Ugomu just stood gazing at him. His body was attractively masculine. He watched his hands as he tied the rope.

"It is good now" he said smiling at her

ugomu shyly withdrew her gaze and thanked him. "Imeka". She could still feel his gaze on her, she wondered why he was staring at her and what he was thinking. She bent over picked some clothes and began to spread them one after the other.

"Do you know any man called Ugbe" Prince obiako said to initiate a conversation. ugomu was shocked to hear that. She paused to answer him.

"Yes he was the man that took me in, the first day I came to the Palace, my guardian"

"I see" He smirked "No wonder. He was the man that trained me to be a warrior, my very own coach".

"Okay"

"He never stopped talking about you. I remember when you first entered the palace. The little girl. You were about this height" he teased and demonstrated, causing ugomu to laugh. Looking at her face, he felt this surge of passion that he couldn't help but admire her face. ugomu caught his gaze, she stopped and they both stared into each other's eyes before he withdrew his gaze. He looked away and said.

"Ugbe is a good man. He has the most honorable retirement"

"Retired? I thought they said he went to live with his family" ugomu asked curiously.

Prince obiako laughed "which family? Ugbe never married".

Surprised, ugomu replied

"I thought he...."

prince obiako snapped "No he didn't. He believed family makes you weak and as a warrior you shouldn't be weak. I think I agree with him".

ugomu facial expression changed immediately

"Oh" She said faintingly and looked away.

Prince obiako regretted letting those words out. He knew he had messed up, but admitting will pinch his pride. He bit his lower lips and said.

"Nodu ofuma" "be good" he tapped her on the shoulder gently and left.

ugomu paused to listen until she stopped hearing his footsteps, then she continued what she was doing. She suddenly felt wobbling in her stomach, she hissed and in anger, she screeched.

That evening ugomu had persuaded Ego to go for evening tale on a promise to look after uchayi. After much persuasion, Ego finally accepted to go.

The old woman told many stories that night; why pawpaw has black seed, tale of a cunning tortoise and a story of a stubborn princess.

After the tale, they gathered woods, ignited it and began to sing and dance around the wood.

Ego watched with so much amusement as they danced. Then she saw ugomu running towards her. Ego's mood changed. She wondered why she left uchayi alone by herself.

"What are you doing? Who did you leave uchayi with? Ego blurted out in anger. ugomu was fighting to catch her breathe cause she had ran.

"Princess" she said panting heavily "uchayi ucha..." She stammered

Ego snapped curiously "ogini" "what"

"She moved"

"What?" Ego baffled "what did you just say?".

ugomu nods "yes yes. I think she is awake".

Before she could finish, Ego clapped her hands excitedly and ran off.

ugomu stood for a moment to regain her strength then followed back.