The second son

Chapter two

The Ochia sat at dinner with his family in a cozy little dinning room. The intricately carved dinning table had only six chairs, four of which were occupied. Iloruku sat at the head of the table with his first son by the right and Ejiofor, his younger brother, a general in the East Hendosian army by his left. His Queen, the Odoba sat opposite him by the end of the table serving out delicacies from china bowls as a servant speedily cleared off used plates.

       "If my first son always mirrors the emotions of his father, am I not to believe they posses troubling information I am not aware of?" The Queen said as she passed desserts around. " Even my brother in-law seems aware of this".

        Ejiofor smiled. Even at 55, he was still very handsome. With his movie star looks and well planned dress sense, it was easy to dismiss him as being shallow but a careful observation would reveal his absolute selflessness and caring nature. He hid it well though under a veneer of care free witticism. "What?" He asked, eyes smiling but lips solemn " aware that Nikku and my brother not only look alike but draw from the same emotional well?"

       The Odoba started to speak, she paused with a forkful of avocado half way up to her mouth but ate the avocado instead when she heard her son speaking. "I think Uncle, the question should be why my mother" he shot her a smile " thinks this - classified information is troubling".

       Rota knew the light banter was a facade. What could be the problem again? She wondered. It was no use trying to get information from the men at dinner she decided. She would find out all she needed to know from her husband later. After all, an Odoba should always know how to unlock her Ochia's heart. This decided, she relaxed and started enjoying the banter." So what's this 'happy' classified information I'm not allowed to hear?"

     " I think what Nikku and Ejiofor are trying to say is that for once we are not hiding anything from you." The Ochia did nothing to mask the stress in his voice, everyone on the table was aware of this and Rota wondered again just how serious the issue was.

     " Well I for one have news that would cheer the sad and make joyful the happy". She paused and smiled, waiting till she had everybody's attention. "Jaachi and his team just won the quarter finale match against the almighty Brazil."

      "Ah! The Fly boys," Ejiofor said even as he felt the tension in the room thicken. He had made a mistake by not not copying the Queen's example and evading the mention of the word 'Fly boys'. A reminder that many talented East Hendosian footballers still played for the West. Jaachi had played in the under seventeen team that got to the under 17 world cup finals in 2009 and had also played for the Westernthe western under 21 team. When in 2014, he was invited to join the West Hendosia National team, the Fly boys, the then young East Hendosian National team had also called him. Jaachi surprised his loyal subjects by declaring that though he was from the East, he would never really be able to belong in any other national team apart from the Fly boys. This decision warmed the hearts of many West Hendosians but in his home, he earned the unfavorable Nick name of ' the Fly boy '. His people regarded him as a jinx since the Red foxes of East Hendosia had neither qualified for the World cup nor the Nation's cup since Jaachi's rejection. Other players in the Fly boys who were from the East simpathizied with the Red foxes, wondering at Jaachi's in patriotism especially since he was a prince, even as the FIFA law bound them to West Hendosia as they had played professionally in Fly boys before the secession.

      "No doubt a victory Jaachi has been looking forward to" Ejiofor finished uncomfortably.

     " Yes he has, " Rota forced a smile. " Jaachi retires after this season, it is his utmost desire to have his name written on the world cup before he professionally hangs his boots."

    " It's about time". The Ochia muttered. Seeing everyone was done with desert, he stood up. " Come my Odoba, let's take a walk." He offered his arm as she walked up to him. " I trust you'll have a lovely night Ejiofor, you would be sleeping here no?" He smiled when his brother nodded. " Good night then."

    " And Enjoy your stroll my brother" Ejiofor answered as he reached for the bottle on the table

     "Goodnight Didi " Nikku said to his father. Walking up to his mother, he kissed her cheek. "Ine", he said simply. " Good night Uncle." He said finally as he walked off. He had a date with Nmaka, his betrothed and not being able to skip dinner, a family tradition, he hoped to heaven whatever Nmaka had planned had nothing to do with food.

     " If it is not the cares of this mighty kingdom that weighs my husband down, am I to believe he no longer takes pleasure in my company." As the words registered with Iloruku who had been staring ahead, deep in thought, he turned to face his wife. Lifting his arm, he allowed her to settle against him before he answered. "Even the cares of this mighty kingdom cannot keep me moody for long when I'm with you." He watched her smile even as the corners of his mouth tugged in response to her wide childlike smile. After so many years, she hadn't lost that smile of hers that captivated him long ago, when he was just Iloruku. It still did now.

     "What then is troubling my husband, for how can I rest seeing you so worried."

      The King sighed releasing her as he once again stared out, this time at a deer skipping about in the game reserve that was in the palace. " The West attacked." He did a double take " Off cause we are at war but this time, this attack could......" He let his voice trail off.  " The West sabotaged our artificial intelligence at the borders, the drones were reading enemy fighter jets as our own. They were not spotted on time, it was a m******e". The King drew in a sharp breath. " We lost 15 fighter jets and their pilots. The drones, that's not the problem. We can replace them after we find an anti virus. It's the people living at our borders with the West I'm worried about. A great number of Families from Glava have migrated. The rich buy land but the poor are reduced to refugees." 

      "We can start an emergency housing program for these...." Rota gestured mildly, at loss for the right word "refugees."

       Iloruku sighed. "Again it's not the cost but the gesture, should I encourage the Glavans to flee their home city, to what end. This country depends greatly on Glava for fish, nationally and internationally."

    " Now I see the problem King of my heart."

Iloruku smiled ruefully, "again not the cost but the gesture." He turned in time to see the bewildered expression on his wife's face. " Revenue allocation is seventy percent by derivation. If Glava cannot contribute to this kingdom, she would fall back on her development. And I would have failed a promise I made myself he added softly."

     "Which is?" Rota asked softly, too afraid he might decide not to tell her.

      " That this uncivillization on the part of the West would not affect the development of East Hendosia."

      "What of their oil, Glava that is?"

       "Oil!" Iloruku laughed. "This entire kingdom is built on oil, Pryier has it, the entire north has it,  Ugwu, Radapam and by the 2017 natural endowment act, Pedam's coal is as good as oil."

       The Odoba drew in a breath. " Do you think they had help when they attacked?"

       Iloruku shrugged. " England is still reluctant to invest her resources in the West, but her majesty's government is in full support. The fighter jet.... They were old western ones. With our intelligence disterbilized, the West is getting bolder. This is turning into a full fledged war and our people think their prince would soon be caught up on the other side."

      "Jaachi." It wasn't a question.

     " He's a computer engineer ", the Ochia said a little too forcefully. Forcing himself to calm down, he continued " The best I know. He's needed back here. AL's disterbilized, highly strategic computers have been hacked, the Cyber military is in chaos......if the West attacks again....." He allowed his voice to trail off. "Yet Jaachi chases a victory for our enemies in Germany."

                                                                                             ***

Nikku uncorked the bordeux, he was sitting with his fiance, Flora in her balcony. The flower trees planted below rose up to the height of the roof, making that spot cosy, filled with the smell of flowers and Nikku smiled, romantic.

     " This is my favourite place in this house you know." Flora said as if reading his mind.

     " And this is my favourite time of the day." He replied smiling as he poured the wine. "My favourite woman." He said as he handed her the glass.

     "Favourite?"

    " Well, there are a lot of women in my life." Nmaka could not hear the laughter in his voice, did not know he was baiting her. "But only one would wear my ring...."

    " And...."

    " My crown."

    " And....."

    " And only one would own my money.'

Nmaka turned her face slightly so that he would not see her expression. He hadn't said she had his heart. She felt his hand on her face as he gently turned her face towards him.

    "Nmaka, I would never be unfaithful to you." She felt the force of his words even as she heard the sincerity in his voice. "I love you." He continued. "In case you don't already know."

   " Then set a date." She was surprised by the vehemence in her words. He had moved ever so stealthy to her back so that he now massaged her shoulders, slowly kneading away the tension of the day.

   " And you think I do not want to make us permanent, make this," he pressed a kiss on her shoulder "official?"

   " What's stopping you then? .... I... I'm sorry."  She blinked as if trying to get control of her fears. " Of cause, this was uncalled for - "

   " Don't."  He stood up leaving her shoulder and she missed him already.  "You need never apologize to me my Lady." 

     She studied him as he leaned on the balustrade, everything was going well between them but she couldn't shake off the feeling that something big was about to happen that would send the course of their lives in different directions. The force of that feeling scared her.  "I shouldn't have gotten carried away like that, it's just that there are many women out there and - " 

     "Sssh! "  He had come in front of her, kneeling down, he put his finger in her lips.  " We would get married as soon as this war is over. My mother's in love with you already, my father is smitten by you. The people of East Hendosia have accepted you - heck! They adore you and Jaachi, well Jaachi is Jaachi. Don't worry it would all work out right" he said earnestly willing her to believe him. " I and my father would be flying to the United kingdom tommorow for diplomatic relations with the Prime minister. As soon as we are accepted or rather recognized as a country by the international world, the West would be forced to stop warring with us or at least would face serious sanctions if they don't." He paused and drew in a long breath. " It would be alright, I promise."

    "  Well when Prince Nikku talks like that, who is Nmaka not to believe him." She teased  and she did believe him, she finally allowed her fears to wash away as she swallowed the wine in her glass in one last swirl. She couldn't wait for the war to end.