Chapter 12

Away from the gods and goddesses in the human realm, drama is brewing;

''Your Highness, we have just received word from the Kuantonga tribe down by the western river. They have confirmed that the trees are no longer growing in the middle of their huts and palace. They also said that they don't have to go that far to hunt anymore. It seems that everything has settled, my Lord.''

It had taken the soldier even more nights to return from the Kuatonga tribe. Time had played dangerous tricks on the humans. People rose with the moon and slept with the sun. The days stretched more than usual, and at times the sun and moon would join and become one. On his way back, he realised that his inner clock seemed to have gotten used to the new time. Though most would be happy, he couldn't wait for the old to come back.

''Your Highness, the Maroniatu tribe has sent word that the strange animal phenomenon has stopped and everything is back to normal.''

The king can't help but chuckle when he recalls the messages he received from the Maroniatu tribesmen when they came visiting. Apparently, their animals had begun talking and criticising them for their eating habits. A strange thing indeed, a rabbit making you feel bad just as you're about to kill it. Luckily for us, we hadn't had any of those.

And the last report, ''My Liege, the tribe at the west of the Boriat people are still complaining that they haven't seen a solution to their problem.''

'And what might that be?' I asked simply because I was dying to be done with this and couldn't be done until I heard every update. ''Their problems have multiplied, my Lord. Instead of seeing no animals, now the animals they are seeing are a mixture of humans and animals.''

He paused here, probably waiting for his king to lay his wisdom, but his king and the chiefs all burst into uncontrollable laughter.

''You said their animals now come in mixtures of humans and animals? Tell us how.'' The king urges his soldier.

''My king, no one knows. They say it started when they saw a young man. Thinking he was part of another tribe who came to visit, they went to him to welcome him. Lo and behold, the bottom half was all horse. A half-man, half-horse creature who spoke like a human but behaved like a horse.

Ever since that day, more popped out, in varying genders and proportions. The people have given them part of their land so they can live in peace. But after hearing that other peoples' 'abominations' were disappearing, they're quite fearful of their situation.''

''Thank you for your hard work, you may go back to your hut. I hear your wife will soon deliver. So, tell the man outside you'll be taking time off to be with your wife and baby. Hopefully, it would be a safe process.''

The guard was shocked. He couldn't believe that the king knew who he was not to talk of his family situation. He thought with all the problems of the tribe and the other tribes, the king was too busy, but upon hearing his statement, a few tears dropped. He saluted and ran as quickly as his legs could take him back to his heavily pregnant wife. The affairs of others would be on another guard.

''My chiefs, you heard what he said. Do we call on Lukiiyat, or do we fold our hands and bury our faces in the sand? After all, it doesn't concern us, neither is it near us. Before this plague reaches us, it would have to pass through three, four or five settlements. Speak now before I silence you all.''

It was as if the king's words had opened the flood gates of heaven. Each chief had something to say; whether their words were helpful or not, each wanted to be heard. But, after spending a long time shouting over one another, they still couldn't reach a conclusion. So the meeting was adjourned to the following market day.

Ogwodu's name, meaning 'the one who never falters', dreads going to his hut. Ever since that time many moons ago when only Lukiiyat was the only one able to see their child, his queen had shut her door on him.

She had hated him ever since he made her give their child to the gods but had found peace knowing that he also wasn't happy. But since that day, it had been testy and quite draining to get her to talk or listen to him.

Lately, she had taken to running to the evil forest at the dawn of day and only coming back when it suited her. Everything he ever said fell on deaf ears, and it was his fault. From the moment he gave up our daughter, Ogwodu knew she hated him, but what else could he have done?

The queen, his wife Aqwera, how Ogwodu loved her, so he did not take any concubines after her. She was still the love of his life even when she couldn't carry a baby to term and was deemed infertile. She was always Ogwodu's love, even with all the disturbing things she said to him. The love he had for her was higher than anything, and Ogwodu wanted her to be happy.

Unfortunately, the only thing that could have ever made her happy, their daughter, was far away from them in a land where he couldn't visit or protect her. Ogwodu had come to accept that their love had fizzled out, and there was nothing he could do about it.

''Aqwera, my love, are you there?''

Waited to hear something, but it was radio silent. That was a good sign nowadays. Quiet means Aqera was listening, crying means she's sad and breaking the calabashes meant only one thing, rage.

''The guards are back, and they brought with them beautiful fabrics as gifts from the other tribes. Would you like to have some?'' And once again, Ogwodu hears nothing. Looks like he'll go to bed back on another day without hearing the sounds his wife's lovely voice makes.

Ogwodu wished every day to see his daughter for the first time, but even in his dreams, Ogwodu has never seen her. Ogwodu asks Lukiiyat every day if the gods speak or if he has heard from Nuala, but it's nothing still.

He grows tired of waiting, but it's all Ogwodu can do. Ogwodu has nothing but hopes that his wife will smile at him when they're in secret and that their daughter would be by their side, happy and alive.

And most of all, that this war would be over so they can all rest.

Ogwodu can only but hope.