CHAPTER FOUR

Ada woke up to the realization that the dreadful day had started already. The memory of that morning flashed before her, and like the god's would watch humans live their life's; she relieved the memory of herself as she tried to escape and failed. Her heart felt like breaking through the invisible prison bars of Afudo to escape the life sentence which awaited her.

Getting up from her mud bed, she examined her legs to see the scratches she had gotten from her failed escape. She walked outside and winced in the scorching heat and the sun which normally smiled at her seemed to have lost it's joy.

Ada mother Nne odiochor stood in front of her father's hit smiling proudly at Ada as the women of Afudo apportioned the kolanuts into different Calabashes for the elders that sat daily in the court of the king. The women spoke on the price of the latest wrapper and clothes and gossiped about other villagers. Once in a while they would stop and stare at Ada, making comments on how lucky she was.

Ada's father had gone to the palace for a meeting with the king on his new role as the king's representative in Ibochi a neighboring village just conquer by Ikenna (the handsome prince) the crown prince and the warrior of Afudo. Now her family would live a long distance from her. This made no difference to Ada because their daily proximity never filled the emotional distance, she had always felt like the odd one out.

She remembered how the girls had look at her after she had been chosen. How Sara would snatch her water pot, break it and laugh at her, wondering loud how the god's had chosen Ada instead of all the other beautiful normal maiden's of Afudo. Now the same girl chattered up and down her family compound smiling and giggling like a cock had just crowed for the first time this morning.

Ada wished they could take this Calabash she force to drink from. She would give it freely to the last drop and go her way. Her father (Nnayi Ikemefuna odiochor) thought it was an honour and the best thing for the family to be associated with the royal family through marriage. Nnayi did not have a make child to carry on his name, but Ada's marriage to the prince would bring blessing worth more than ten son's to the family. 'Funny how destiny offered a drink that gives bitterness to one and sweetness to another,' Ada thought.

They smile at her, cousins hovering around the pot covered with leaves for the royal family. She looked at them and knew within her that she had no connection with these people.

Adamma oh...eh...Adamma Nne Akuzo shouted as she started to walk towards Ada. She touched Ada's skin - her shoulders, her hair, cheeks and busts, looking enquiringlu at Ada like she was trying to read the young woman's mind.

She hummed softly, as she fussed over the reluctant bride. We have to make the wrapper very tight today. And your hair will be braided into eight parts then she stared into Ada's eyes, Are you not just lucky? Today you would take the place all the maiden's of Afudo will give a leg for Adamma oh.....eh.....Adamma the other women came in to join as they sang together