CHAPTER 21

“What nonsense. Who gave this dog the right to speak in this gathering?” Ichie Echefu stood, giving no thought to his wooden stool that flew backward. More crease covered his brow, and the skin under his jaw twitched. All those anger. All those hate. Were they for Jide alone or was the man using this as leverage? “How dare you speak to your elders with such insolence? Ara ana apugi (are you mad)?"

Jide looked away, knitting the helm of his pelt with his fingers. He wished he could tell the man to go and wash his filthy mouth in the river, but that would only give him a bad name. Pride is the grease track to the hands of failure, his father normally says.

Jide was willing to follow his father's instructions. Out of respect. For all he could tell, Ichie Echefu was nothing but a wealthy old fool. He was prominent among the people. He was one of the wise men whom the villagers bow to, especially when the king was off duty. It was a dangerous game. Yes. A very dangerous one. But right now, what goes on was far beyond anyone in the room. It was bigger than them, adult or not, they can only beat the other village if they work together. That was the only way to win this war. The only way to save lives.

“Sit down, sit down right now," Maduka said. His head was swelling with outrage and the heat in his gaze pricked Jide's skin, almost driving out his spirit. Jide had seen those looks before. Nothing pleasant.

Reluctantly, he returned to his seat, muttering the resentment. If anyone should be forced back on their seat, it should be Ichie Echefu. The man was blind by his wealth. Not that he would fight in the wars himself.

Jide hissed but his frown deepened when he read the expression on his father's face. Even though the man had not said it, Jide could see it hovering all over him. That disappointment. It was as if his father wanted him gone. Far away from him. Anywhere but this place.

Looking away, Jide yanked roughly the loose thread on his animal skin. He had crossed the rubicon this time and his father was going to deal with him, even before the king hung his head on a spike.

“Tufia. Children of nowadays." Ichie Echefu weighed on Jide, daring him to speak, "Is this how you insult your elders? Will you ever find peace in your husband's home when you get married?"

"I am not a girl" Jide snapped and met the older man's eyes.

Ichie Echefu hugged himself as if cold. He was angry, but the surprise in his eyes was all too obvious. The likes of Jide often do not cross his path.

“I am not a girl. I am a boy." Jide repeated and broke his gaze with the man, opting to obey the 'toe talking' tricks his father had taught him.

A small silence passed among them, with Ichie Echefu still trying to regain the shock. His daughter had brought back his seat and was sticking out her tongue at Jide in defense, for insulting her father.

“Obinigwe (Heaven dwellers)” Ichie Echefu hissed and dragged his stool but dropped his cap on them. Turning back he said, "Maduka, are you certain this child is your blood?”

Maduka slammed his hand on his lap and jerked from his seat. “And what is that supposed to mean? Are you accusing my wife of infidelity?”

“Who wouldn’t,” Echefu chuckled, “I mean, take a look at that child. There is no resemblance, in words and attitude, and certainly not in appearance.”

“Igwe!” Maduka called. His hands were resting on his belt, and for the first time that day, Jide saw the sword that was hidden under the man's waist. His father was angry, and the respect for the king was the only thing preventing him from drawing out his sword and attacking Ichie Echefu. A closer look too and one would see the blush of embarrassment that also rounded his cheeks.

This was all Jide’s fault. If he had kept his wagging mouth shut, perhaps none of this would have happened. If only he had obeyed his father’s instruction…

"You should have kept his family out of this," Ichie Dalu, a dark skinny man said, "You should have kept the argument within the problem, instead of dragging Maduka's family into this. Na waoo!!"

"I disagree with you," Ichie Umenna said. He was sitting by the right, close to Ichie Echefu, and his staff held the same design as those of Ichie Echefu "this meeting is for elders. Children should know their place and anyone who fails to teach their children should have themselves to blame,"

"That's insulting. And coming from a puppet like you, I expected something better." Sume, a tall and fine-looking man said. He was the youngest in the village to ever make it to the council of elders in a short amount of time.

"Who are you calling a puppet?"

"Maduka deserves better from Ichie Echefu." Sume said, ignoring Ichie Umenna who was gnashing his teeth now, "This is beyond the scope of this meeting. I think Ichie Echefu should apologize to Maduka."

"May that smelling mouth of yours never see the light of a new day," Ichie Echefu cursed.

"Your words do not affect me, sir. After all, every man is entitled to their own opinion," Sume took his seat and rested his attention on the wooden door. Meanwhile, the room had divided as the hassle continued. It was the chatter of market women in the square of meaningless talk. Maybe there were different kinds of adults. Jide could not tell for sure. His parents were the closest adults he had ever lived with and while his mother’s mouth was like a grease track to the valley of perpetual talk, his father usually maintained a calm, listening nature. He talks so little and tends to listen more. He was not like these elders whose words were the scabbard that houses the stash of their blabbermouth.

“Enough!!” The King shouted.

That was the signal, perhaps what everyone in the room was waiting for. The noise dwindled to nothing as some of the elders returned reluctantly to their chairs. They were all sweating now and panting heavily.

“Children.” The king spat, “So, you've all returned to sucking your mother’s breast? What a shame. I thought this was a company of elders. We came to discuss the progress of our Kingdom, yet here we are, behaving like dogs struggling for a piece of bones. You have all violated the conduct of these genteel proceedings. You know the law. The penalty is five tubers of yam, and anyone, I repeat, anyone who fails to submit theirs by nightfall...”

The King stroked his nose and leaned back on his chair. None of the elders moved a muscle. None was brave enough. It was out of fear rather than respect.

“What is your name child?” the King asked.

Jide was slow to respond. He held gaze with the floor now, trying to obey his father’s instruction. The damage he had caused was already making his father blush with embarrassment. He would keep to himself now and obey his father’s instruction. The only problem now was his mouth. Will it also obey?

“My name is Jidennaya. Son of Maduka. Son of Obi, of the tribe of Obigwe and from the clan of Obigwenigwe.”

“Good,” the King nodded as if impressed by his boldness. “Are you a girl or a boy?”

What? Of all the questions to ask me? Ah, when will this drama end? Jide rolled his eyes.

“I am a boy and will be an adult soon.”

“Interesting.” The King nodded and stroked his mustache, “So tell me, Jidennaya. Have you ever seen wars before?”

“Must I see a war before…” Jide trailed off when Maduka nudged his side. It was a signal. He was messing up again.

“I am sorry, your highness.” He swallowed, “I have not seen wars before but I have heard tales from my father. I don’t think I will want to see one myself. My father has done all the seeing for me.”

The King chuckled. “That fact is obvious. That is why you are kicking against Ichie Echefu’s idea. But, what do you propose we do. Since you don’t want the battle to hold. You must have something hidden under your sleeves.”

Jide wiped his brow. He was sweating now. Yes, the sweat was coming out in a pool. The King just wanted to make a jest of him. Perhaps that would be his punishment for challenging his elders.

“Em…” Jide swallowed and shifted his weight to the other feet, “I think…em…I think we should”

Ichie Echefu burst with laughter, but it ceased almost immediately when the King started speaking again.

“Ichie Echefu, you have violated the constitution for the second time. For doing that, you are to provide the council with a black ram and five tubers of yam.”

“As you have instructed, your highness.” The man said proudly and grew quiet but Jide could imagine the smirk that kept his face aggliter.

“You haven’t said anything, child.” The King returned his attention to Jide.

Jide took a deep breath in. The idea had just flowed into his mind. He was not a warrior or a war strategist, but he knew what they were going to do. It was just simple.

“Your highness,” Jide said and lifted his eyes to meet the King’s. He was breaking his father’s instruction by doing so, but he didn’t care.

“There is only one thing we can do. Here is the plan. The other village has the weapons and the number. Their soldiers are well skilled and trained in the art of war. So if we want to win, then I suggest we evacuate the people in the village and run away as far as we can, now that we have the chance. Ka anyi chuo ewu oji mgbe chi ka bu nwata (Let us make hay while the sun shines).

There was a long pause and the jaws of some of the men seemed to have dropped as if they did not believe their ears. Some of them were trying hard to suppress the laughter on their faces. Jide did not care though. The life of the people was at stake. This was the wisest decision.

“This is madness, your highness. We have lived in this land for centuries. Running away will be cowardice. Our land will be taken from us and so will our name. Umudike will no longer stand.” Ichie Echefu said.

“Even the brave know when to retreat.” Jide bit his lips, “Even if we fight, Umudike will still fall. Running away is the only option. And our name,” Jide smiled as the words of his father seemed to pop into his mind, “Umudike is not a place. Umudike is the people.”

Maduka's eyes widened. He had not thought about it before and the fact that Jide had reminded him brought a sudden calmness to his soul

“Ichie Tunanya” The king called.

“Yes my Lord."

“Hurry to the town crier’s house. Give him this message. He is to announce. Everyone in the village is to evacuate. On the fifth day of the next full moon, on the Nkwo market day."

“Yes my lord.” The man said and hurried out.

“My lord this is—” Ichie Echefu wanted to say but the King cut in.

“This meeting is adjourned to the next Afor market day.” The King stood up, “Jidenaya. I will like to have a word with you and your father.”

"Yes, your highness," Maduka said and shared a confusing look with his son.