And The Gears Turn (3)

“Why the Efekodo Province?” Agaenaye Fatima questioned, “Is Okémeh also active there?”

“It seems that is where the group originated. But more to the point; the task force learned that the leader of the group is a man who goes by the name Achojah. The Bureau of Investigations has requested our office’s assistance in gathering information on him while they continue their inquiries in the province.”

“But how are we to do that without knowing exactly who this Achojah is?” Emeravwe asked.

“Let me finish,” Eunuch Otase scowled. “The Bureau of Investigations believes that Achojah is the man’s clan name. And from the descriptions they were provided in the province, it appears he is an Onorogu. Thus, Onori Ejerute petitioned the Department of Records of Xxene’s House of Nobles to grant you access to the archives.”

“Oh, I see,” said Agaenaye Fatima. “Since he is an Onorogu, and we know his clan name, we can easily find information on him by looking through the records.”

“It may not be so easy, as we do not know his tribal name, but yes, it is better than nothing. Take these,” Eunuch Otase handed them a couple of brass tags. “They have been issued to you by the Department of Records of Xxene’s House of Nobles for the duration of this assignment and will grant you access to the records.”

“Yes, Oga.” Agaenaye Fatima received the tags, handing one to Emeravwe. “Let us go, Agaenaye Emeravwe.”

Emeravwe absently reached for the tag, and it slid from her grasp and clattered to the floor. She stared vacantly ahead, heedless of the slip.

“Agaenaye Emeravwe!” Eunuch Otase called sharply, startling her to her senses. “What is the matter—and do not tell me you are falling ill again! Must I assign someone else to this task?” He looked to the long table in the room where only Eunuch Akpome sat working on reports.

Emeravwe quickly snatched the tag from the floor, gripping it anxiously. “No, Oga, I am well! I shall take the assignment!”

Eunuch Otase narrowed his eyes but said only, “Then be on your way.”

“Yes, Oga,” she and Agaenaye Fatima answered and exited the office.

Emeravwe’s heart pounded as they left the Bureau of Court Affairs. The Department of Records of Xxene’s House of Nobles kept records of all the noble families of Xxene and of their descendants. Though she was aware of this, Emeravwe never put it into consideration because access to the records were strictly controlled. But now…

She looked at the tag in her hand, her heart swelling with apprehension and hope. Her eyes prickled, and she blinked furiously, breathing deeply to calm her nerves. The experiences she had had the past few months, the visions and headaches, had all unhinged her, opening a floodgate of questions she barely kept at bay. But now…

This may be my only chance. Her only chance to get answers to her questions, to understand her visions—to discover who she was.

****

The Department of Records of Xxene’s House of Nobles was an extensive gray-stone building in the Compound of the Royal Secretariat. It consisted of several offices and assiduous, stoic-faced Eunuchs and officials who performed their tasks with singular attention.

When they arrived at the department, a Eunuch led Emeravwe and Agaenaye Fatima to the rear of the building, where they entered a series of vaulted chambers lined with columns of great mahogany shelves containing large bound volumes. The rooms were moderately permeated by sunlight and much cooler than the front offices.

In the first chamber they stopped in, the Eunuch led them to a podium which stood at the head of the room. Atop it sat a massive leather-bound text, the words printed across the front in glittering gold leaf reading: Guide to the Chronicles of Xxene’s House of Nobles.

The Eunuch, a slight official with a round face and paper-thin voice, explained, “The records are organized hierarchically by clan and according to the Four Tribes. There are several rooms dedicated to the records of each tribe, and you will know which tribe’s records you are working with by looking at the plaque hung above each room’s entrance,” he pointed to the archway through which they entered the room. The wooden plaque above it read O-Jiban, the pseudo name answered by descendants of the Mik-Jiban Tribe who were not of the Royal House.

“You can use the guide to aid you in your search," the Eunuch continued. "It details in which room, what shelves, and which rows each clan’s records are located. The records in these rooms contain only the recent hundred or so years of the clans’ histories. It should not be necessary, but if you need to go back further, return to the front office and I shall assist you. Keep in mind that you can only be in these rooms for a restricted period, so do be attentive to the time.”

“Yes, Oga,” Emeravwe and Agaenaye Fatima answered, and the Eunuch turned to leave.

Agaenaye Fatima moved to the center of the podium, exclaiming, “Ogheneme!” Her eyes were wide as she brushed her fingers across the golden letters of the guide. “The Royal Secretariat is amazing. To think that all the Onorogu clans’ histories are recorded and stored here. Where shall we begin?” She flipped the guide open, leafing through the pages.

As she looked through the massive volume, Emeravwe strayed a few steps forward, her own eyes wide, taking in the tall shelves laden with hefty leather-bound texts, the endless rows lining those shelves, the columns of shelves that lined the cavernous room, and the series of archways leading further within. Her stomach clenched. Somewhere among these many histories was her own, yet there were so many, and she had no idea where to begin.

“We do not know which tribe Achojah belongs to,” Agaenaye Fatima was saying, “but there must be at least a couple Achojah clans in each tribe. I suppose we have no choice but to look through each.”

I do not even know what clan I belong to. Where can I start? Emeravwe froze before the shelves, cold anxiety penetrating her. She felt as overwhelmed as a pet fish released into the ocean, with no stripes and nowhere to go. They were only allotted a period of one hour a day in the record rooms and were given access for only ten days. If she could not find her answers by then…

“How will we know which Achojah is the right one?” she wondered quietly. How will I know which is my clan?