The only child

CHAPTER 10

"Good day, my Queen. See, let me tell you. Kune is not innocent. She poisoned the Prince. She was the one who killed him. I saw her with my two naked eyes. If I had a phone, I would have made a video of her putting in the poison. So, after putting the poison, I saw her give it to him. Immediately he drank it, he died. I confronted her when I saw her pouring the poison into the Prince' medicine. She warned me never to voice it out to anyone. She added that if she hears it from someone that she poisoned the Prince, she would have me pay for it. I got scared, so I did not voice out," Homa blatantly lied.

" Homa, get out of my room, out!!!," the Queen screamed.

Homa ran out of the room terrified. When she got to the kitchen, she let out a wicked smile because she had successfully poisoned the Queen's mind. So, she thought of going to Koge to inform her.

At the Butu forest, Kune has already crossed her heart for whatever comes her way. They all got to a spot where Kune would be killed. The place looked so scary. Kune glanced through the spot where she would be killed. She bursts into hot tears. She could not believe her eyes. She pleaded but the men paid deaf ears to her pleas. Kune patiently sat on the floor waiting for her death to come. The men were busy mounting some logs of wood. After they were done, they dragged Kune and tied her to the log of wood. She laid down in tears. The first guard took the sword he wanted to use to behead Kune. But, an argument bursts out.

" Look, you will not be the one to behead her. Must you be the first in everything? You led us here. You still want to do the job yourself. What's your problem?" a guard challenged.

" Come on, give me the sword now," another guard commanded.

Meanwhile, Yeyemi just stood staring at them. He said nothing to any of them.

"See, let me warn you for the last time, you and I are mates. I am older than you with seven good years. A whole seven years. When you were born, I was already in primary school. I was among the people who carried you. Be very careful ," the first guard warned.

See, let me tell you, common sense has nothing to do with age. You are too fast forward ," the second guard queried.

" If you insult me again, I will beat you black and blue," the first guard warned angrily.

" Shut up, you can do nothing. You are just running your mouth," the second guard shouted. Immediately, they started exchanging blows. Yeyemi saw this as an opportunity to release Kune. He gently loosed the chains on her hands and feet. He held her hand and took her some few meters away. He then told her to run as fast as she could. Kune ran with all her might. She gathered all her strength to make sure she survived. Yeyemi went back to join the fighting men. Soon, one of the guards realizes that Kune has been set free.

" Where is this girl? Who released her?" he queried.

They all looked very confused.

"Come with me to this direction, I'm very sure she went this way," Yeyemi said to the rest of the guards pointing in the wrong direction.

The men followed him. They searched for Kune till dusk without finding her. They got tired and sat under a tree.

"Hmmm… I don't think I will go back to the village. I will just relocate from here," said a guard.

(Laughs)" You are so funny. So, because she ran away, that's why you want to leave Akumi to another village?" another guard asked.

" Where do you even want to run to? It's very simple. We will just tell the people of Akumi that the task has been completed. Simple," one of the guards suggested.

"Just listen to yourself, what if she comes back?, another guard asked.

" No, I don't think so. She escaped so I don't think she will ever come back," a guard mentioned. They all agreed to tell the people of Akumi including the King that they've completed the task they were assigned. They followed a straight line to Akumi.

Meanwhile, in Akumi, Homa leaves the palace to inform Koge of how she had successfully poisoned the Queen's mind. On getting there, she meets Koge's mother.

" Well- done, ma," Homa greeted," please, is Koge at home?" she asked.

"Yes, she is inside ," replied Koge's mother. Homa quickly ran inside to meet Koge.

" Koge, I have good news for you. Come, let's go outside ," Homa said. They both went outside to talk under a mango tree.

" Homa, what is it?" Koge asked.

"I have successfully poisoned the Queen's mind. In no time, I will persuade her to permit you to come and work in the palace," Homa said.

"Ohh, my dear friend, I really appreciate you. Thank you. So, that means that I will soon be a maid in the Palace. Let me quickly go and tell my mum," said Koge.

"Come on, come back here," shouted Homa, " what's wrong with you? Have I told the Queen? Be very careful ," she sternly warned.

"Okay, I'm sorry, my friend. Don't be annoyed," Koge pleaded.

" It's fine. I'm no longer annoyed. Let me be going. I still have some work to do," Homa said. So, Homa went back to the Palace.

The King was patiently waiting for the guards he sent to the Butu forest. Immediately he saw them, he was relieved.

"Ohh, at last, you all are back. You took so long, why?" he asked.

" We went deep into the forest to do the job ," the first guard replied.

"Okay, that's good ," the King said, " You all may leave now ," he added.

They paid obeisance and left.