Wale and the Little Moonlight

CHAPTER TWELVE

It was time to leave for the great kingdom of Ojola. From calculation and experience, the journey would take seven days and the contest would be in the eighth day. The entire Ogunta had gathered at the Oba’s palace as Wale and his entourage were about to be bidden a farewell to Ojola. Wale had an army of hefty men in his company and these were la crème de la crème of Ogunta warriors and soldiers whom the Oba had commissioned to journey with Wale for protection and any unforeseen circumstance either in the course of the journey or in at Ojola. Yes, everyone, every community, every kingdom knew Ojola could not be trusted even in times like this. Wale and Ogunta were much more encouraged and strengthened when some warriors from neighbouring kingdoms volunteered to journey with them in support for their noble course. These set of warriors, their kingdoms had resolved that it was better to support Wale and Ogunta to defeat Zubola and Ojola than to continue staying in the snare of Ojola paying painful tributes to them and losing their young men and maidens to the greedy hands of The Great Oba and his son. They preferred paying tribute to Ogunta that was less demanding and more of a sister kingdom.

Wale had seventy-one men accompanying him in the name of Ogunta. But Akin stayed back. He had to stay back to watch after Ogunta with other warriors and palace guards available. Biodun took his place. Biodun whom everyone had hoped would be the next great warrior after Akin was almost given up on and somehow was towing the path of oblivion in peoples’ mind. He had failed his people; he showed no bravery to stand up for Ogunta. But here he was this day as the commander of the host of sixty-nine warriors and the chief priest’s son in the Ojola expedition. Perhaps, he would redeem his reputation by giving his all to ensure a safe wrestling expedition, and possibly a victory for Wale and Ogunta.

They took along with them enough food, water, and herbs which the chief priest’s son would administer on them when and if needed. They had no horse, no donkey or any beast of burden. Their feet were fit for the journey, their bodies strong for the burdens. Only a few livestock were taken for homage to The Great Oba—and possibly for their food. As they matched through the crowd of elders, young men, women and children, with their straight faces, their minds kept seeing Ojola while their ears kept hearing “Ogunta! Ogunta!! Ogunta!!!” The crowd kept chanting Ogunta to cheer up Wale and his entourage. The sight of it was like that of war times. But this was not a matching for war; it was for the wrestling contest at Ojola. And this heavy preparation was necessary for anything that involved Ojola.  And if events were going to turn into war, “so be it”. The Oba had made up his mind.