To the Turmoil of Beings (3)
Odafe frowned.
He did not know the full details of the events leading up to his aunt becoming Ovyeraye. However, he had heard enough from his father to know it was not a happy tale. What made it even more ironically tragic was the fact that Orodje Otaroghene, himself, had been in love with another. A Maiden who he promoted to the rank of Honored Lunar Petal and, eventually, Grand Royal Consort, not long after wedding his queen. The Queen Dowager had lived essentially in desolation for nearly three decades as a result.
Odafe paused, thinking, Well, she is not entirely without blame in this matter. But even so, she remained a pillar to the Efetobo clan through it all, covering it with her umbrella of power and authority. Odafe had the utmost respect for his aunt, but he often felt pity for the Queen Dowager, who seemed to replace the love she lacked with power.
Whenever he was in her presence, however, he found this feeling immediately dissipated. Her bearing made no allowance for pity, and her amber gaze blazed with both allure and superiority.
As he rose and faced her, this gaze narrowed. “Have you seen to the matter?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Odafe affirmed, “They will breathe not a word. I personally made certain of it.”
“Do not be so cocksure!” the Queen Dowager’s voice rose, her eyes taking on a cold and domineering glint. “Okémeh should have been eradicated two years ago, yet they have managed to spread into the capital! Just how is your father overseeing the province?”
Odafe blanched. Though the Queen Dowager often addressed her officials with sweet tone and feminine attitude, it was well known that her temper was something to be reckoned with.
“Dearest Aunt, please be at peace,” he supplicated, climbing the steps to sit on the dais. “Father did, in fact, uproot the essence of Okémeh in the Efekodo Province, but it seems some members survived.” He took up the fan the Dowager’s Chief Maiden left among the pillows and gently weaved it through the air, hoping to cool both her body and her mind. He put gently, “Father is doing all he can to find the remnants of Okémeh in the province and would be grateful if Your Majesty handled things in the capital.”
The Queen Dowager’s glower was one that could send wildebeests into stampede.
Odafe bore it with brave perseverance, lowering his head beneath the daunting stare. “I intended to escort the military provisions to the Efekodo Province this time, but I shall remain at court and aid Your Majesty with this matter.”
“Your aid will be of no use once Ovye learns of this! You have seen at court how he resolutely dismisses anything we propose regarding the Efekodo Province. He intends to wipe our clan’s influence from the court; must we personally give him the means to do so?”
“Dearest Aunt, none but Okémeh dares to speak against the Efetobo clan. But this immediately ceases to be an issue,” Odafe’s light green eyes looked purposefully at the Queen Dowager, “if they are all dead.”
The Queen Dowager was silent a moment, and though her red lips remained pursed in a frown, her amber eyes softened. “How will you make this come to pass? There are many fractious groups among the lower castes within the capital. Ferreting out Okémeh will not be an easy task.”
Odafe smiled devilishly. “Why ferret? We shall simply cleanse the streets of the capital.”
The Queen Dowager’s expression was inscrutable, but she nodded her approval, then stretched out a manicured, jewelry-bedecked hand. “Come, Odafe, escort me to the back atrium. The show cannot begin without me, and you know how Mine hates to be kept waiting.”
Odafe took her hand, helping her rise. “Oh, yes. I daresay she takes after her Sovereign Grand Aunty.”
The Queen Dowager smiled, for though she maintained familial relationships at a distance, Odafe knew she favored him and his endearing child.
****
“I beg Ovye,” Eunuch Iroro besought, stepping between Aslan and the door to one of the underground chambers of the Bureau of Interrogations, “may he return to the Inner Palace!”
“Yes,” the director of the Bureau of Interrogations concurred in a timorous voice. A squat man with a broad nose and thick beard, his eyes darted anxiously between Aslan and the entrance, his demeanor flustered. “Such squalor is unbefitting of Ovye! May he return, and I shall come directly to report at the Hall of Solar Reflections!”
Aslan intoned, “How bold of you, Iroro. Do you block our path?”
Eunuch Iroro bowed his head. “May Ovye forgive me, but I am charged with safeguarding his well-being.”
“And we are charged with safeguarding Xxene’s citizens. You know this case is of interest to us. Now, we shall not repeat ourself. Step aside.”
Eunuch Iroro reluctantly obeyed, and Aslan descended the stairwell into the underground chamber.
He entered a dingy room lit by torches, the ceiling hung with chains and instruments of affliction. On one wall blazed a furnace from which sultry heat smothered all. A tub of water rested before the far wall, and on the wall opposing the furnace was a line of chairs with restraining devices. The air was permeated with the onerous smell of iron, which was exacerbated by the oppressive heat and atmosphere of trepidation.
Six men sat bloodied and inanimate on the chairs lining the wall, their hands and feet bound, their heads lolled heavily upon their shoulders. An officer was removing stacks of asphyxiating wet paper from the face of one of them, while other officers worked on unbinding the deceased men.
Aslan stopped short at the horrifying sight. His stomach lurched, and he whirled away, covering his mouth and nose with the scented handkerchief Eunuch Iroro quickly handed him.
When he recovered, he fixed a fierce glare on the director of the Bureau of Interrogations. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded. “Are these not the members of Okémeh who were recently captured?”
The distraught director dropped to his knees and bowed deeply. “May Ovye forgive me! Onótu Odafe came to the bureau while the officers conducted the inquisition and insisted on undertaking the task. I could not resist him. The prisoners were unable to withstand his methods and…” The director deepened his bow, hands cupped before him. “May Ovye have mercy!”
“Ovyeme, please, let us leave this place,” Eunuch Iroro pleaded.
“Be still, Iroro!” Aslan commanded, his temper lapsing at the mention of Minister Odafe. He looked ruefully at the bodies, his spine chilling at the cruelty those of the Efetobo clan were capable of. He turned gravely to the director. “You have failed your responsibilities, Onori Gbeta. You cannot escape the ramifications. Minister of Justice Onomine will see to your discipline accordingly.”
The director looked stricken, but humbly bowed his head, “Ovye’s servant dutifully receives his judgment. Miguo, Ovyeme.”
“Rise,” Aslan commanded, asking once the official straightened to his feet, “Tell us, did the prisoners disclose any information?”
“No, Ovyeme. They revealed nothing regarding their organization, but maintained throughout the inquisition that they must have an audience with Ovye.”
Aslan’s brow rose. “An audience?”
The director scoffed scornfully, “Yes. Quite ridiculous, really, for such rabble to think they might gain an audience with Ovye. The fools might have spared themselves from being captured.”
“What do you mean, Onori?”
“Yes, Ovye. It was noted in the report of their arrest that during the confrontation with the officers they showed little resistance, nor did they try to flee.”
Aslan pondered the man’s words. Okémeh were criminals guilty of kidnapping Onorogu. Surely, they knew what the consequences would be if they were ever captured. Yet, they came willingly? He glanced at the six men whose bodies were now laid on the ground.
He wondered, Why has Onótu Odafe concerned himself with this matter? Emuvoke had reported to him that Okémeh also showed signs of activity in the Efekodo Province…
Aslan turned abruptly, storming to the stairwell. “Iroro, summon Emuvoke! Inform him that it is regarding his father.”
Eunuch Iroro was close at his heels. “Yes, Ovyeme.”
“And immediately send messengers to inform the ministers that we command their presence in the Great Hall! We shall reconvene the court!”