THE CROWN - EPISODE 36

The atmosphere was tensed and anxious but I was more concerned about the heat within me.

I wanted to go take a shower or run off to the stream.

I stood in the middle of the Royal family and the full cabinet like a commoner waiting for persecution.

We actually awaiten patiently, the chief priest’s arrival and I was not having the delay.

If his visit is indeed trivia then he wouldn’t delay so much.

I looked at Ikenna’s eyes, Why does he look worried?

I am fighting for my people not killing them so I will stand before anybody or any deity without fear.

I clicked my left feel on the floor and attempted to move to my seat, my legs were getting tiring and I wanted to sit.

“Stop right there..”

I stopped and turned my head with everyone else. It was him, the chief priest

“The only daughter of the Royal family”

He added walking in. I turned fully to him.

He greeted and was greeted.

“Eye of the gods, you’re welcome. What do we owe your visit?” Igwe asked in grace

The chief priest gave me his attention

“The gods are being challenged your majesty. They’re being questioned” he stated

The elders gave what I regard as “silent expressions*

I looked away from his eyes.

“Hmm, Go straight to the point. I’m not in the mood for zigzag statements” the king said, sitting out.

“Sacrilege! The Ikeanja sacrifice is a sacred tradition and the liberty to talk about it is curbed but for a woman it is forbidden and considered an abomination but recently….”

He stopped Shook his staff and moved from me

“A woman of this land has been going around talking about the Ikeanja sacrifice publicly, freely without fear and influencing other women and maidens to talk freely on the topic… Hmmmm ÀRU!!”

He yelled the last part.

I flinched not from where I stood, my feets clicking on the floor and my teeth biting lightly on the inner skin of my lower lip.

“Not just any woman but the next Queen of Umuagwo, the very crowned Princess of our land”

He widened his eyes at me and almost spat at my feet.

The elders mumbled and I could feel the eyes boring into my skin.

“Your majesty, I’m afraid to say that the crowned princess will have to be executed by the very tradition that she curses”

“You’ll do no such thing!” Ikenna said.

I looked at him, he stood up

“Nothing of such will happen as long as I remain the crowned prince”

He added

“You’re the crowned prince not the gods. ị nọ n’okpuru chi dị ka ndị gị na -edo onwe ha n’okpuru gị”

The Ezemmuo counted on his disapproval.

The Queen touched him to sit and he did.

“Ezemmuo, eye of the gods. I am sure the crowned princess realizes her oversight and mistakes. She is sorry”

Igwe averred on my sake.

Ikenna’s eyes were daring yet scared. The look in his eyes weren’t enough to stop me

“I…”

I turned back to the Ezemmuo. The anticipation of what I wanted to say was blaring in the air

“I..am not sorry!” I voiced loudly.

I heard them mumble and mutter words almost under their breath.

“I am not sorry for everything I’ve done and yet to do, either am I going to stop”

I moved pass him to walk freely around everyone present

“We can’t talk about it yet we’re the sacrificial lambs. We’re not allowed to speak of it but we’re innocently killed for it. You want your sons to get married to pure untouched maidens yet you sacrifice maidens who keep themselves”

I stopped to express my disgust at them. My heart was sour at the god-damned tradition and customs.

“The Ikeanja sacrifice!”

“Ah! ÀRU!! ABOMINATION!” He shouted like he was in sight of a murder being done

“oh please! This is an abomination yet killing young innocent girls isn’t? Who are you kidding? Me? The villagers? No! We’re done with that and I promise you that very soon everyone will see reasons with me”

I said boldly.

“You’re just a little girl lost in fantasy, you’re on a hopeless mission” he laughed in mockery

“Ọmọde ko sare lọ si ṣiṣan ti o ba mọ pe kii yoo we” I stated before realizing I was in midst of a different speaking people

“Ehen eh, what will a Yoruba girl understand concerning our customs and traditions?”

“I wonder, nani nwata maara mkpa nne ya”

“Exactly, only a child knows his mother’s needs”

The elders threw at me. I moved forward

“Nwatakịrị anaghị eme ọsọ ọsọ gaa na mmiri iyi ma ọ bụrụ na ọ gaghị egwu mmiri. Whatever language I say it, the fact doesn’t change. The
sacrifice will be abolished”

“mechie onu Biko!”

The Onuwu shunned me. I turned to him

“Onuwu! She is still the crowned princess and you’ll speak to her properly or get out of my palace”

“I’m sorry my king” he apologized and bowed to me.

“Your majesty, in two eke market days I will return for execution if the crowned princess doesn’t end her parade”

The Ezemmuo announced, took a bow and left in a hurry.

I turned back to the king, he stared at me and sighed.

The care and worry, I could see in his eyes.

The Queen looked too relaxed and I wasn’t surprised.

“My King, we can’t lose the Next Queen of Umuagwo over nothing.. please do something”

One of the elders said.

“I want to be left alone” he responded instead .

We all took a bow and left to our various destinations.

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Ikenna (POV)

I watched her roam about the room, she was obviously restless.

I was scared, yes! Scared of losing her but I knew in my heart that I was going to protect her even with the last drop of my blood.

She stopped walking around, stood still and began tapping her left feet on the floor.

I think she does this when she’s angry or probably restless and thinking.

“What should I do now to strengthen my case on the heart of the villagers?” She questioned and brushed her hand into her chest.

She looked at me “what do you think?” She questioned

I stood from and walked to her, I took her hands

“I think you should relax and have a shower, you’re sweating so much”
she nodded

“Should I undress you?” I placed a kiss on her neck and whispered into her ear

She pushed me off

“don’t be silly” she smiled and walked into the bathroom.

I smiled and walked to the shelve, I picked out a light two piece set of wrapper and dropped it on the bed.

Mother really did a good job in picking out this wrappers, there are so beautiful.

She was so excited to welcome her daughter in-law, I wonder what suddenly made her change her heart towards Adenike.

My mind flashed to Chioma, the thoughts of her turned my smile upside down.

Whenever I sight my eyes on her, the pains of knowing how much u hurt my wife sweeps right through me.

I don’t know if to be happy that she’s carrying my child or to be sad that the child will be born by a concubine and not my wife.

Adenike walked out tying her bath wrap. I laid on the bed beside her wrappers.

She gave me a look and all my troubled thoughts disappeared

“Hmmm.. I want to get dressed now”

She said shyly. I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly

Why does she still act shy, we’ve had several encounters together.. even though she’s never let me touch her beyond that

“Ikenna” she smiled sheepishly.

I made no attention to her request. I desired to see her

I placed my palm on each other and under my head. My chest was broad and lifted, I yearned to see her in her glory.

Her face went plain, her eyes gazing deeply into mine

My eyes moved from her eyes to her hands.. she untied the wrapper and it fell to the floor.

I swallowed nothing down my throat and slowly felt my grains yearning for more.

From her full bosom down to the curves of her waistlines.

The span of her hips made her waist almost too small.

Her pubic bones were a sight and the silkiness of her skin.

I was tempted to dive into the ride of my desires.

She is too beautiful a woman, I was beguiled. Just staring at her aroused me, I folded my fist tightly and squeezed my guts.

She bent over to me, her bosom dangled over my chest.

I gasped for air with the sudden heat I felt

she took the wrappers and stood up. I smiled and she chuckled

She tied the waist piece carefully. I watched her, I think I am the first man in this land who hasn’t crossed his wife yet allows her tease me.

“Your wife is to be executed and this is the only thing you can think of” she said walking to the shelve. Picked new set of beads.

“And you think I will let that happen?” I stood up to her.

I took the bead and fixed it on her

“So you are against me too? Ikenna, you nor anyone else can stop my quest for what is right. My sisters are being killed innocently for some silly ancient tradition and everyone else except me thinks that’s okay…”

I watched her talk, her lips looked so wet

“I will not stop this fight against whoever is involved in this selfish act. I will make good use of my title as the Crowned Princess. The Ikeanja sacrifice will be abolished even if it takes the last drop of my blood”

I placed my index finger on her lips, nodded my head in disapproval.

“Don’t! Nothing will happen to you and the Ikeanja sacrifice will be abolished, that’s a promise”

She smiled out tears and grabbed me in a hug. I kissed her head.

May the same gods help me fulfill this promise to my wife, I don’t want to fail as a husband for a second time.