CHAPTER 13

Leaves and twigs crushed under the weight of the men who traveled along what should have been a sandy path, only that it was covered now with folios of dead petals, whose depth almost drowned the joints of their ankle. The noise complimented the scary screams of the wild birds and buzz of the insects, which meander in the dry hot air.

"My bones are crying out, can we just rest for–"

"–Not again Okwunta," Mbakwe bellowed. He paused in his wake and averted his blazing gaze to the stout man who was sitting on the leaf bed, with legs spreading out. Despite the shade provided by the numerous trees, Okwunta was bathed with the salty liquid, which was oozing out from his skin. "I have had enough of this. What lazy fellow are you? We rested our limbs not long ago."

"But I am exhausted. Please, who has water left in their water skin? A little drop is all I need, to quench my desert throat."

The bile that coursed through Mbakwe's body made his head burn. His jaws shook and his breathing accelerated. He narrowed his eyes and studied the potbelly man. Just a little spank with my sword and his head will fall. One smooth move was all he needed. Mbakwe bit his lips and tightened his knuckle. He realized then that his hands were already on the hilt of the sword, which rested on his belt. As much as he would delight to see the red fountain, he restrained himself. He would tolerate them for the time being. Yes, these two companions are nothing but trash; they are just a means to an end. He would be done with them once he gets the Ofor.

"Let's rest for a while, Mmadu aburo nku" Ibe added. He shot Mbakwe an apologetic smile and sat down on the carpet of leaves, head tilted backward to lean on the tree and eyes closed.

"Sleep," Mbakwe gnashed his teeth and slapped the scalp of his head, resisting the urge to pull his sword. This one is the worst. Chukwu okike (God) created sleep just for him. Mbakwe shook his head and tried to relax. These two rascals would stop at nothing but to slow him down. For all he could tell, he could be close to actualizing his dreams. His first plans with Ikedi have fallen through. They stole the Ofor together and had made plans to rule Alaocha once the king gave him the power to wield the Ofor. Nevertheless, the bastard of a boy had disappeared with the Ofor, leaving him the dust of his trail to pursue. The gods save his soul. If I lay my hands on him...Mbakwe swallowed. That boy had bitten more than he can chew. He was bold enough to play dice with the devil. Let him keep running, because, when the father calls for the son, he should get ready to answer. I would have been on the throne at this hour if I had done this all by myself. Mbakwe signed. The myriad thoughts of regrets did nothing in his attempt to relax. The fact was that he barely tolerated other people's ill behavior. He preferred working solo, without the annoying voices of company.

"How long this time?" He asked the two men who were almost at the valley of sleep.

"Until we are rested up," Okwunta said and scratched his unshaved mustache, with a noise similar to the hands of a sweeping broom. Flies chorused in harmony as they revolve in circles, the lemon stench of his body, which the hot afternoon sun had already amplify.

"Relax Mba, we have been on this trail for moons. How sure are you that we are on the right track? Your head is spinning. Rest a little, then you can think clearly."

"You are a fool Ibe," Mbakwe pursed his lips and spat when he tasted blood. His brow furrowed as the bile surfaced again. "Who suggested we trust that lowlife son of Alaocha called Ikedi?"

"Yes, I accept the blame. It was the right plan until it got stupid." Ibe opened one of his eyes to weigh the features of Mbakwe. He shut it close almost immediately when both gaze met. His slim features seemed calm despite the regret in his voice.

"Until it got stupid," Mbakwe repeated, I would kill you first. I promise you, Ibe, It will be excruciating and slow. He raked his dreadlock with his long fingernails, unsure of what to do now. Ibe was a fool. He had been so sure about the plan that Mbakwe had forfeited his. Anyway, that was the lesson. His father had always told him never to trust people. 'In the quest for greatness, use people but trust no one.' Those were his father's exact words. The father he killed in his sleep because he refused to let Mbakwe lay with one of his mistresses.

Smiles broke his lips as the memories came flooding. He could still remember the surprise looks on his father's face as he struggled with the twine around his neck. The greatest warrior in Alaocha, killed by the hands of a boy. Weak old man.

Mbakwe rested his weight on the leaf bed, under the canopy of an iroko tree, opposite his two companions. His thought wanders as he tried to think of something else to aid his mission. Ibe was a stone head, but he had voiced Mbakwe's thoughts. They were following the trail blindly. It has been moons yet they cannot fathom where the trail leads, or where they are. For all he could tell, they were far away from the comfort of home, but nowhere near the forest of... Wait a minute.

Something pinged on his stomach and Mbakwe found himself on his feet. His pulse raced but this time, with the same feeling he felt the day he killed his father.

"I can't believe it!" The urgency in his voice dragged his two companions to their feet. Both men drew their sword with infallible alertness, stance ready to shred any danger. Those traits were rare. It was something about them Mbakwe admired. At least, they were not useless after all.

"What is it great Mba!" Ibe quarried. They call him great Mba when danger is around the corner, another character Mbakwe liked. It was like calling your maker when danger is inevitable. Perhaps he would trim their fingers off their body afterward, instead of killing them.

"Can someone guess where we are?"

"In the forest of course," Okwunta said not letting go his guard, "What is it?"

"I can see it's a forest, am not blind, but do you know what forest this is, who can guess?"

"We have not traveled this far north in a lifetime, so tell us" It was Ibe who spoke. His guard was down as he sensed the noise might be a guessing game.

"Look at it," Mbakwe picked up a brown leaf from the ground, "Broadleaf, tall trees, and shrubs all around, moist soil. If this were to be a wet season, this place would flood with water."

"You are still not making sense"

"Of course I am Okwunta, you are too blinded to see." Mbakwe laughed, "My father told me stories of the never-ending-war, how they once pursued barbarians of Ndiocha far north into the rain forest and out in the mountains. I think we are close to the land of Ndiocha."

"I won't bet my life on it. If it was correct, then the trail must be inaccurate, Ikedi couldn't have summoned the courage to venture into the land of giants and flesh-eaters"

"You forgot, Ibe, that Ikedi wields the power of the Ofor. What possibly could have stood on his way? It all made sense now." Mbakwe rubbed his hands with excitement.

"This should be the broken bridge then, we don't have the Ofor, we should be heading back home." Okwunta returned his sword to the scabbard and started the way they had come.

"Are you coming?" Ibe asked Mbakwe as he followed Okwunta.

"Why have the gods given me short-sighted companions. Look, it is true Ikedi can travel through the land of giants and flesh eaters. But I think he didn't, am convinced, he couldn't have, not while a greater reward awaits on the other side."

"Where could he have gone?"

"That's the right question Ibe until now I couldn't have thought it possible." The happiness in Mbakwe's eyes reflected in the face of his companions "I think Ikedi went northwest, to the home of Leviathan"

"Amadioha!" Both Ibe and Okwunta shouted and covered their ears with their hands.

"Don't say his name aloud," Okwunta whispered. Something dangled in his eyes, something that looked like fear. "Do you want to die mysteriously? If you must call his name, it is right to say Levi or Ekwensu"

"Don't tell me you intend to travel that way?" Ibe asked almost shivering with sweat.

"I do. It is my destiny. My father told me that the Ofor came from the breath of Levian...from the breath of Levi. If Ikedi traveled that way, he must be trying to return it. Stories have it that anyone who returned the Ofor to Ekwnsu would be granted any wish"

"Continue the journey alone, a single breath from Levi and you would wax into ash. I won't follow you to an untimely death," Ibe said. He turned slowly and walked away with Okwunta hot on his trail.

"It is my destiny," Mbakwe muttered to himself as he watched his followers leave. He didn't regret it. He was glad. Their departure was a sign from the gods. For this very reason, he was born. It was time for him to be great.