The survival

Chapter Two Obiora Kingdom

Chapter Two

Obiora kingdom.

Obiora kingdom was once a very peaceful kingdom fulfilled and blessed with a lot of goodness and thus makes people think that the goddess and god were believed to have been visiting them from ancient times.

It has never been heard in the history of Obiora or record of battles that were defeated; they always emerge victorious.

This made the neighboring community, kingdoms fear them some subjected themselves under its control, it had the total number of twelve communities under them and five hundred slaves acquired from war they fought.

King Charles tenor the communities and kingdom was really blessed has he was the first king to bring and introduce medical treatment into the kingdom and often grant freedom to most slave as thus making his name and generosity popular, made peaceful treat with other kingdom and acquire more subject by the means of granting honorable freedom and huts to some slaves.

King Charles was thus nicknamed "Golden Heart" king Charles ruled for nothing more than Ninety years in peace and harmony.

During his late years on the throne he foretell the future of Obiora in pain and tears, Not having a child of his own he decided to adopt the child of a slave whose mother had die few minute after formally called by the Ibos as "Ohu" rumor as it that the child was secretly called "eze ohu" king of slavery, during his dying time king Charles gather to himself all his kinsmen along with the heir apparent to his throne John as he manages to sit straight on his sick bay.

"My people I greet you" he says as they respond to his greeting with a bow and a few prayers "Igwe may you live longer than forefathers" they answered, he cleared his throat before he began his statement.

"Am very disappointed and hurt by the fact that there is an enemy in the kingdom.." he coughs, observing his people's reaction as he continues.

" In all my years of the regime, have I ever wronged anyone of you ?"he asked, staring from one to another as they responded " No" .

" Very good …why are you people plotting against the royal family …let me tell you this one thing if anything happens to the royal family, I won't ever forgive these lands nor its people" He coughs and continues he asks the prince out of the meeting before he continues. " I want you all to listen carefully to these 'signal them to come forward' you all know that the bowl and arrow was passed down to me by my forefathers … so now make it a tradition that whoever may ascend on my throne must kill antelope two of different genders! "He says breathing heavily after a while he asks if anyone had a question as one of the maidens raised her hand.

" My king, how do we know the… signs of the enemy within ?" The maiden known as Ngozi 'Blessing' one of the slaves who had found favor in the sight of the king asked. "When the enemy come except no sign or any difference, for good will multiply with bad and the prince child born of a l…o.. w.. " he could barely finish is words as he starts sipping out blood, with this the meeting was dismissed by c**k crow the king summoned Ngozi and the crown prince secretly.

"Ngozi chetara na I nwekwaara m amara?" The king asks, reminding her the day he rescued her from a fierce antelope she swore upon her life to serve the king both in the current and afterlife.

"Yes my king … anything you want my king name it… and I shall gladly do it. " She replied, bowing down, the king studied their expression.

" You have been faithful to me during the difficult and peaceful time, I am sorry I can't do anything to reward you but rather am giving you another task " he says seeing the expression on her face.

" It's not a must you fulfill it, I am only saying it because you are the only one I can trust." He added, she bowed humbly before the king pledging her loyalty, the young prince not knowing how to contribute to the matter sat quietly observing them.

"I want you to journey into the evil land … to the deadly forest, I'll send the onye-isi-nchu-àjàto journey with you, can you do that for me? " The king asked, knowing within him that it was a dangerous journey likely to cost her life.

" My king … then it… how come…" she stammers not finding the right word or question, as if knowing what she was thinking about the king answered

"My son is too young to rule and my brother will ascend the throne after me … Obiora is likely to suffer crisis … women will be raped, slavery will be the means of livelihood" the king says looking at her hoping she understands the message, she reject and tell the king not to utter such words again.

" What will happen to me ? " She asked

" I can't promise that … your life is in the hands of the gods " the king answered, gave his blessing and placed it on his forehead as he slept on the maiden's leg.

**. **. **. **.

After narrating the story of the once peaceful obiora kingdom by an elderly woman. The children clapped for her,from afar a loud scream could be heard.

"They have come again oh !!!.... Everybody runs ohhh !!" Says the screaming voice approaching, where the kids are gathering around the old woman.

Obiora had lost its peace … the once peaceful kingdom has become violent, the heavens have refused to pour rain at this season and the soil isn't yielding to the farmers command, the god and goddess of the land seem to have departed or turned deaf ears to the cries of its inhabitant.

The maidens are being molested by neighboring warriors, some raped to death, community send young adolescent to slavery to stronger kingdom to make peace, pregnant women killed and thrown into the evil forest, royal families often kidnapped are bailed with huge ransom if not met on time are killed if found thriving to escape.

With each passing day Obiora becomes weak and fragile, many who tried to escape the community barely make it alive to the border before they are termed dead.

Late midnight the king gathered together all the elders and chief priests in the land to the palace, and as soon as they sighted the king all aroused to their feet and bowed in respect.

" Long live Igwe Udochukwu IV may you live longer than your ancestor and the Chi of our land grants you more wisdom" greetings even though knowing the king won't respond to their greeting they all sat down on their various seats as soon as the king sat.

"I called you here, at this hour so we can rub minds together, my heart is heavy with pain and burden by the calamity befalling our land." The king expressed with a sad voice narrating and comparing all late rulers with his regime.'The tears, agony of both young and olden keeps tormenting his sleep the protest of the youth all this was never in record of my ancestor but why is my different' the king heavy a sign as the chief priest called Ezemu the consultant of the Oracle cleared his throat "Igwe I greet you … this is Issue is giving I myself a sleepless and restless night as the god and goddess of the land as refused to speak!" He explains in response to his words murmuring filled the atmosphere, the king gazes down they were busy arguing among themselves when a drunken man entered the gathering while the guards lay asleep.

"I don't have much to say to all you old fools… !!! " By this said they turned around to face him with an angry expression as he began to clap and laugh at them in a mockery tone.

" Who allowed you here? " One of the elders ask

" Did you see your drunken fellow here? "Ask the other

" Is this a drunkard joint to you! " Remark another, the king and the onye-isi-nchu-àjàsays nothing as the drunkard sips from his drink before giving hearts to their question and starts answering them one after the other.

"Your question shouldn't be about what I am or who opened the door for me, don't I have manners … Now listen ! " The drunken man exclaimed as he raised his head, clearing his throat before speaking.

" What do you have to offer us ? " The king asks,ignoring the question at first he sips from his jack of wine before answering.

" I don't want to answer you but because you asked nicely I'll answer. '' He says smiling as he sits facing the onye-isi-nchu-àjà and other young mmụọ collect the cowries and start consulting the Oracle.

"Send ten great warriors of your people… ten of Obiora warriors to embark on a journey to the deadly land … anyone that survives will live to tell the story … prepare your maidens for upcoming purification ! " He orders before anyone would speak he stutters outside the onye-isi-nchu-àjà 'Ezemu' 'Chief priest' rushes after him to question his identity .

Witnessing the transformation of the great grand chief priest of Mubalato … without looking back the great chief priest said to Ezemu who was still in shock at what he had seen.

According to history and stories being told no one has ever seen the great priest as he was believed to be ọkara mmadụ ọkara mmụọ 'half human,half spirit' an hybrid, he chat with the gods and goddess with or without the cowries, he has traveled through the goddess river and the seven colorful sea where no man had dimmed fit and returned with a maiden later discovered to be a river goddess afterward she left Mubalato for Obiora kingdom rumor has it that she had seen the great king Charles before dismissing. Many maiden and women were said to have fallen in love with the priest each time he visit in different forms,the famous tale was that of the king's daughter who had fallen in love upon seeing him in his charmer face and swears never to marry even after being denounce by her father only to find out the charmer was the great priest .

"Why do you follow me ?" He asks the ezemmụọ threatened to strangle him to death.

" Am marveled " he answered after finding his voice moment of silence .

"If that be all …return but never seek me … disobey me and your kingdom will become like that of the Ezeagukingdom !!." He warns the priest before vanishing into thin air quickly running back to inform the king what he had seen in the whisper, gathers his bag and orders the other priest to dismiss along with this the king suspends the meeting till the next moon.