CHAPTER 9

How long had they carried her? Ejima whizzed, fighting through the rope that gaged her mouth. It was hard to get enough air, especially since her hands have been tied backwards. The firm grip of the guard which locked her to the body of the Ostrich did not add any ease at all. She tried to struggle but realized just then that there was no strength in her. The weakness of childbirth was kicking in and it was taking all of Will's power not to drift into the world of serenity.

The pace of the Ostrich eased as they came before two burning torches. The Palace guards alighted, and one of them undid the rope that held her to the Ostrich. She fell heavily from the animal and cursed, but the gag in her mouth would only let a gibberish undertone.

She coughed and sat up, trying to suck air into her burning lungs, but all effort was like water poured on a stone. Where were they taking her?

Ejima's coppery eyes searched the night. The creeps of the cricket could be heard as they announced the death of the sun. Nothing stood for miles, just the hood of darkness and the silhouette in the shadows. Silence spoke, its voice was loud enough to drive fear into her stomach.

She tried to swallow, but her lips burned. The gag was beginning to tear her mouth. Thirst, sweat, and pain were the only loyal companion she had at the moment. She could also use a warm bath, but that was a luxury for a wishful mind.

As if sensing her pain, one of the king's guards opened his water skin and splashed the content on her face. Ejima was grateful at first, but horror struck her when the water stopped coming and her throat burned as they yearned for more.

"Move it, woman. We don't have all day," The other guards said and tugged the rope.

Ejima hurried to her feet, despite the pain that enveloped her body. The looks on the men's faces said that they were ready to drag her if she protested or showed any sign of resistance.

They walked deeper into the night, but the place lightened up when they came to a cave that was candled with torches burning on their stool.

"Kneel," The guards with her rope commanded, and Ejima complied without complaint. Some village elders were there. She could tell from the red beads and the red caps they wore. They hid their faces under some masks, leaving their dark, soulless eyes to the mercies of the dry, stuffy air.

"Udele na agwuba. Mba, ha enweghi njiko obula (There is no relationship between a Vulture and a shaving blade)"

Ejima lifted her head to the voice of the Dibia. The woman had not changed since the last four months they met. Her features were still small and gnostic. Tattered hair and clothing, with white cowering hanging here and there, matched the colours of the skulls on her staff but contrasted the dark-hooded eyes. The only significant thing that seemed to have changed in her appearance was the white ceremonial chalk lines that masked her face.

"Only the stubborn fly follows the corpse to the grave." The woman continued. She held a clay pot in her free hands and her back was turned to Ejima. She must be in some kind of prayer or something dark because she didn't act as if she felt the presence of anybody. Even the whispers and side talk from the elders were not enough to break her from the trance.

"Kwube. Nwaodibo gi na-anu (Speak for your servant listens)" The Dibia said after some time.

The silence continued to declare its presence as the woman spread the white powder on her shrine-which was a bird, carved out from a stone. She finally turned back to the King's emissaries after spreading the power three times.

"My fathers," The woman said. Her expression was a mixture of confusion and sadness. With the chalk lines on her face, it was impossible to read the expression correctly. "Chi ejila na eghighie. (An abomination has happened)"

"Wise one," One of the five men spoke. His voice, deep and cold, under the bird's face whose lips were unmoving. "We've come to find answers from the gods. Why has a cock laid a white egg?"

The Dibia dropped the pot in her hands and leaned her tattered features on the staff standing by her right.

"I see evil and days of famine. I see war and war. I see tears and the screams of agony are like a blade in my ears. I see the blood of children, the anguish of mothers, and the hearts of fathers hanging on spikes."

"Tufia, Chukwu aju (god forbid)" The elders rebuked.

"Yes. We must act fast or our daughters and children would die of starvation. We must act fast or the cloud will shut their windows forever."

Ejima scoffed. What the woman had said might be false. She could not say for sure, but something within her rebelled against everything the woman had said. The land had been blessed with goodness and fertility. How then was it heading to destruction?

"How do we circumvent this calamity?" The man opposite to the diviner asked, "The eyes of the gods have seen our downfall, yet their mouth has not told us the problem."

"It is only a fool that goes looking for rats when his house is on fire. Only the gods know the problem that will lead to our demise. But in their mercies, they have proposed a suitable solution,"

"Say the words wise one, and we would do as you say," The bird's face man spoke again. The others only nodded in agreement, as if the man had voiced the unspoken words.

The Dibia dropped her head as though the men were coercing her to say something she wished to keep to herself. Ejima could not see her face, and she was glad not to. It was a comfort she was grateful to enjoy, for the first time that day.

"She must not return to her husband's house." The Dibia pointed towards Ejima without lifting her head, "She must stay in the shrine and serve the rest of her life in reverence to the gods"

"Wait, what..." Ejima wanted to say but the gag made her gulp the word. She struggled, however, and that seemed to attract the attention of the Dibia. The older woman nodded to one of the guards, and they untied the gag, giving Ejima room to express her frustration.

"You do have water in your mouth when you said that? Because I think you are joking."

"Do I bear any resemblance with the king's jester?" The Dibia said, tucking the shaggy hair on her ear. Those dark glares of hers cloaked Ejima's skin, sending a chill to every part of her body and making the hair on her body stand on their feet "The gods, out of mercy and their loving kindness has chosen you to serve the rest of your life in this shrine."

Ejima's stomach knotted

"Tell your gods that I would only serve them over my dead body. Yes, they have fed me with pain and disgrace. They have broken my limbs and had bound my wounds with the ointment of affliction. How can I serve such cruel gods?"

"It was not a request, child"

Ejima bit her under lips. Tears blurred her vision again. She hated when the Dibia calls someone child, as though she was some immortal being that has seen time in its fullness.

"It was never a request." The Dibia reiterated.

"If you think you can force me to concur, then you just hit the wrong stone," Ejima screamed. She had broken into tears and the bitterness coursing through her soul made her sweat, "Perhaps you haven't heard of the proverbial horse that was forced to the stream. I will serve nobody. I will serve no one. You took my husband and my home. You took my children and now you want to tie me with the threads of the shrine? Over my dead body."

"I am but a messenger." The Dibia picked up her staff and stamped it on the stone. It gave out a rattling sound as some metals and other objects hanging on it, rammed on each other. "The gods have spoken, we are the clay and they are the potter. Who am I to undo what the gods have said?"

Ejima's frown deepened when the woman turned and walked into the darkness of the cave.

"You have nothing to go back to." The bird's face man said. Ejima tried to make out his features from his dark eyes, but it was just impossible, "Your husband has divorced you and has picked up a new wife. The only thing you have left is the mercy of the gods. Use it wisely, for the betterment of the entire community"

"But, I don't want this life. The mercies of the gods are tormenting my humble soul. I would rather run away to the neighbouring village than withstand servitude to a god that is cruel and unjust," Ejima sobbed.

"Watch your tongue, woman." The man warned, "You think running away will save you? That would only worsen the matter. Nemesis will follow you wherever you go. Stay here and redeem yourself, then you can run to anywhere you want to afterwards."

"Stop acting as you care," Ejima screamed, "You are no better than the rest."

"Then run away. Your blood will be upon your head." The man hissed and walked away. The other men also followed him, still locking their lips under the mask that covered their faces.

Ejima wiped her eyes, trying to see through the blurred vision. But for the bird-face shrine of the supposed gods, she was the only one in the cave, and her sob and silence was the only sound that could be heard for miles.

I will never serve you. Ejima thought when her eyes finally rested on the shrine. I would rather spend my days in the underworld than fellowship with you.