Let the Scales Fall Off (1)

She could not make out the face covered by the headcloth, but apprehension bubbled within her as the pair of hazel eyes looked down on her. The man reached down to touch her head, and she flinched.

“Do not fear,” he said. “You are safe here. This is your home.”

Emeravwe lurched up in bed. Her chest heaved rapid breaths, and her skin was damp with cold sweat; her head pounded with a headache. She moaned, laying back on her sheets.

She closed her eyes as she held her head for several minutes, until the pain lessened. When she opened her eyes again, she saw the room she shared with Akpokene was still shrouded in darkness, Akpokene soundly asleep on her bed on the other side of the room.

She sat up and took deep, calming breaths. For several weeks now she had been having the same dream, and it was always accompanied by a resounding headache and sense of apprehension. She did not know why the dream recurred, or who the man in it could possibly be.

Those hazel eyes… They reminded her of Aslan’s attendant, Eunuch Iroro, who she met two months ago. But why should he appear in my dreams? She wondered, … What home?

She reached for the small container of medicine and cup of water she kept on the table beside her bed. She acquired the prescription for her headaches from the Royal Pharmacy and prepared it each night before going to sleep. As she opened the bottle, she remembered how strangely she felt when she met Eunuch Iroro. It was since that encounter that her dreams began.

Perhaps I am having these dreams because of my strange impression of him? She sat a while in consideration, but could not think of another explanation, and would have to report to the Bureau of Court Affairs in another few hours. So she took the medication and tucked herself in again under the sheets.

When she reported to the Bureau of Court Affairs later that morning, Emeravwe saw Eunuch Otase’s beady brown eyes looked more troubled than usual, and Aye Chioma wore the same look of concern.

They called her, Mudiaga, and Agaenaye Fatima to their desk, and Eunuch Otase surlily informed them, “Our office has received a new case from the director of the bureau. Consider it your bad luck to be assigned something so unsavory.”

Seeing the group’s skeptical looks, Aye Chioma assured them, “There is nothing to worry about. It is very unlikely that the Bureau of Investigations will leave this in our hands for very long.”

“What kind of case is it?” Mudiaga asked.

Aye Chioma said, “It concerns the disappearances that have occurred in the capital.”

“Oh.” Mudiaga frowned.

Agaenaye Fatima faced him. “Oga Mudiaga, you know of the matter?”

He crossed his arms, shrugging, “Everyone outside the palace knows about it, Fatima. Though no one’s been up in arms—not even the Onorogu.”

Aye Chioma continued, “Only Lesser Onorogu have disappeared so far, but recently some palace personnel were also reported missing.”

Mudiaga scoffed, “Typical. No one gives a damn unless really important people start disappearing.”

Eunuch Otase narrowed his eyes. “That is enough out of you! The Capital Police and Bureau of Investigations put considerable thought into these cases. It is not something an Ehwoéki is expected to understand.”

Emeravwe shifted uncomfortably. This would be her first assignment outside the palace, and the tension around Eunuch Otase and Aye Chioma made her restless.

“It is precisely because this is such a sensitive case that I do not think it will remain in our hands for long. The circumstances involved are complicated and precarious.” Aye Chioma lifted the related documents from the desk and walked over to the long table in the office. “Come sit.” She and Eunuch Otase settled on one side of the table, while Emeravwe, Mudiaga, and Agaenaye Fatima sat on the other. Apart from the five of them, the office was empty.

Aye Chioma briefed them, “As I was saying, this case involves the disappearances of Onorogu in the capital. Up to now, only Lesser Onorogu have been reported missing. But among them are palace personnel. The Bureau of Investigations, with reasonable doubt, surmised that a group known as Okémeh is behind the disappearances.”

“Okémeh?” Emeravwe asked.

“It is a group that appeared in the capital about a year ago,” Eunuch Otase explained. “They were initially involved in small protests in the marketplaces. Giving speeches and passing out handbills. They empowered many of the lower castes, and soon more groups like them cropped up.”

“What were they protesting?” Agaenaye Fatima inquired.

Eunuch Otase and Aye Chioma exchanged wary glances.

Aye Chioma pulled out a slip of paper from among the documents. “Mainly, the Insurgence of Onorogu, which occurred ten years ago. This is one of the handbills they used to distribute.”

She placed the slip of paper on the table for them to see. It read:

CRY OUT FOR JUSTICE!

Hear the cries of your fallen brethren and

DEMAND

the

TRUTH!

Do not be fooled by the

LIES of history!

Demand rectification

for the tarnished names of our fallen clans and

pray that Oghene forgives the sins of our

blessed kingdom.

Emeravwe looked up from the bill. “What was the Insurgence of Onorogu?”

Again, Aye Chioma and Eunuch Otase looked uneasily to one another.

Eunuch Otase replied gruffly, “It is just as it sounds. A group of Onorogu contrived treason and were quickly suppressed before any harm was done.”

Mudiaga tapped the bill. “But it seems harm was done.”

“That is not for you to speculate!” Eunuch Otase rebuffed. “If you value your miserable life, you will do well to heed me!”

“Oga Mudiaga, you should know that topic is a delicate one. Moreover, this case should not be taken lightly,” Aye Chioma warned. “It is the Bureau of Investigations’ intent to determine Okémeh’s motives. Your task is to interview the families of Okémeh’s victims. With the information you gather, we may be able to learn something more about the group and predict their next moves.”

“Here. You have been issued these passes. They will allow you to leave and enter the palace during your assignment.” Eunuch Otase tossed three round, palm-sized bronze plaques with red tassels onto the table. Emeravwe, Mudiaga, and Agaenaye Fatima each took one.

Aye Chioma held out a piece of paper. “Here is the list of homes you are to visit.”