We walked on to the village Ije claimed to be closer to the mountains.
The more we walk, the more denser the forest around us becomes, until we arrived at a fenced town.
"If I wasn't let here, I wouldn't have known of a village this far in the forest."
If I was the only one seeking for the town, I wouldn't have gone this far deeper into the forest, neither would I have known of a village this far.
"This is one of their protective measures. That's why they lived this far. No one will think there's a village here if not escorted. " Elit answers as they continued walking towards the fenced town.
Seeing as others have resumed walking, I joined them.
We walked for a short time till we got to the wooden gate that was placed in front of town.
"They only have one gate in this town, meaning people leave and come in through one means. This was done to prevent thieves and the ills of the society to sneak in undetected." Ije walked up to the gate, and knocked on it.
" Who knocks? " came a voice from inside.
" Ije, one of the disciples of the great priestess Kalika, " Ije answered the voice.
" What is a disciple of the priestess doing so far from the mountains of the gods? " the voice asked. Reluctant to open the gate.
"Our Mistress is dead, and we seek for solace in your humble town as we were instructed by out priestess to do." Ije smoothly answers, not a moment of hesitation was Heard.
"The greatest woman who ever lived is dead?" the voice behind those gates sounded skeptical " who will believe that young lady? the priestess lives, never to die."
" She died during the great earthquake those moons ago, and we've been at the mountains since awaiting for her return, but she never did," there was a catch in her voice.
I don't doubt her words and the emotions she expressed. They truly did love their priestess more than they let on.
"Wait here Miss. I will be back," he says before we heard the sound of his retreating steps.
"He's off to call their village head, all we have to do is sit tight and wait for him."
"Sit tight?" I raised a brow at her words " where do you intend we sit? on your head?"
I look round the cleared portion near the gates. Even if we were to spread my blanket on the ground, it still won't be comfortable for me to sit down on.
She rolled her eyes at my words "you could have at least pretended to accept my words. Must you point out my words to me?" she scoffed.
" Pretend? am gone past the stage of pretense Ije. I say and do things That befits a daddy. Gone are the days where I pretend about things. Right now, there's nothing like pretending."
I walk over to my mates who've been looking at us banter.