The weeping Girl in his dream

Her sister assured that there would be servants all over the palace to ensure she didn't feel alone. However, as Asha looked around, she noticed only a few servants moving in and out. She sighed heavily as she continued deeper into the palace, where she found a seat and waited for Prince Mayo.

The servant accompanying her to the palace paused when she saw Asha sitting and cradling the calabash of food. "What?" Asha asked when she noticed the girl's eyes on her.

"I think he means I should escort you to his chambers!"

"His chambers!" Asha asked, alarmed. "I certainly cannot go into his chambers. Please, go into his room and inform him that I am waiting in the palace for him, which is a neutral and open place for a male and female to meet!" Asha stated sharply, trying to control her rising temper.

As the maid headed to Denna's room, Asha grappled with unsettling thoughts about Prince Denna's true intentions. She couldn't fathom why her father had agreed to this arrangement. Was he blinded by loyalty to the king, or was he a coward unable to speak up for his daughter? Unable to blame him, she pondered running back to the celebration ground, away from Prince Denna.

"He wants you to come to his chambers. He gave no explanation for that, mistress."

Asha hesitated, opening and closing her mouth to respond, but the servant had already departed. Determined to wait in the palace until Prince Denna came for her, she received a warning from another servant about the consequences of disobeying him, her father, and the king.

Still feeling shaken, Asha reluctantly made her way toward the Prince's chambers, hoping to spot a servant who could offer some sense of security. After taking a moment to survey her surroundings, she realized there was no one around—just her and Prince Denna. A heavy weight settled in her heart as she lifted his curtain beads and stepped into his chambers.

A mischievous smile played on his face as he lounged lazily on his bed. "Oh dear, Asha, I can see you've come to plead with the toothless dog. Hopefully, it won't bite, just like you claim it doesn't." He shifted slightly, and Asha nearly jumped in fear. Prince Denna laughed, clearly amused by her uneasy demeanor around him

"My prince, I must return to the celebration. It's not acceptable for a man and a woman to be alone in the same chamber without others present!"

"Of course, you'll go back to the ceremony after appeasing me as the king ordered you to do. Go down on your knees and beg me, dear daughter of a chief."

Despite the anger and fear boiling inside her, Asha knelt down on both knees, presenting her calabash of food to Prince Denna.

"So, what have you made for me?" he asked, strolling casually toward her. He retrieved the plate, opened it to inspect its contents—large, well-roasted meat and vegetables. He scoffed, dropping the plate carelessly.

"You actually thought a few chunks of meat would somehow appease the son of a king! How foolish you must be to think even a whole cow could make me forgive you for hurling insults at me!"

"What do you mean?" 

"It means you'll have to do more than just cooking to make me happy. Are you ready to offer your body to me? I hear you're a rather free lady when it comes to that!"

"Where did you hear that? That's a grave lie from the pit of hell. Please, let me go, Prince Denna, for I can't offer what you want!" Asha's voice shook with fear.

"If you can't offer it, then I must take it myself. How about that?"

"You cannot do that to me!" Asha rose on her two feet, contemplating dashing through the door and out of the palace. However, Prince Denna towered above her, and she knew there would be no easy escape.

"Even if you scream, no one will hear, Asha! I will have you today for my satisfaction and discard you when I'm done!"

"Please don't! I am truly sorry for the ugly words I called you!"

"Too late for that!" He screamed in her face, his fingers running through her delicate skin, causing her to shiver uncontrollably. How could her father have sent her on such a wicked errand? She thought angrily, contemplating how to extricate herself from the situation. Knowing nothing about defending herself, she remained glued to the wall while he ran his hands around her bosom.

She slapped him suddenly, pushed him away, and tried to use that opportunity to escape. However, he caught her almost simultaneously, delivering an equally forceful slap that left her dazed. He threw her on the bed, watching her cower in fear from where he stood.

"It is time to pay for crossing me! And when I'm done with you, you will be forever broken!"

Prince Mayo had no idea why his mother was disturbing him to go into the palace to check on his brother, but he did so when he couldn't take her disturbance anymore. The palace was quiet, and he wondered where his brother was and what he was up to. When he got to his brother's room, he couldn't believe his eyes—a weeping girl was entrapped by his brother while he violently pulled her robes.

"Denna, what do you think you are doing?"

——

The young girl pleaded with him again and again to save her from the kingdom of Maribah, but he couldn't do anything. She wept uncontrollably while a wicked man tried to harm her. No matter how hard and far Elim stretched his hands to save her, he couldn't reach her. It was as if his hands were too heavy for him to carry. Her shrill cry woke him up from his sleep, and he suddenly jerked awake.

"You should rest some more. You have taken quite a beating from the fight with Odomudo's men and who knows which other battles you must have fought," he heard Ada's voice, the daughter of the man who had saved him from Odomudo. He avoided looking at her pretty face, wondering why he was still in the village of Akwara.

"I must go. I have overstayed my welcome."

"No, you haven't! You can stay as much as you like. And besides, you are still healing from your injuries," her soft voice sang in his ear.

"I have suffered worse!" He tried to rise, but his injuries sent pain coursing through his body.

"Rest, please!" She rushed towards him, placing her warm hands on his body, sending delightful shivers down his spine.

Calmly, he removed her hands and stood up. "You seriously can't go now. I heard that Odomudo stationed his men not far from our village, ready to take you by surprise whenever you come out."

"I thought they didn't know I was still here?" he asked, catching her in a lie. Wondering why anyone would be attracted to someone as tough and brutal as he was, he couldn't understand her desire for him to stay.

"I don't know, but even if you wish to go now, you should at least eat!" She urged him back to his bed. Close to him, the urge to kiss her lips arose, but her eyes reminded him of the girl who had begged for his help. So, he promised to eat before starting his journey that evening.

"He wishes to leave, mother... What do I do now? I feel like I have found the man for me, but he doesn't see that yet. How do I make him stay?" Ada cried to her mother upon reaching the kitchen.

Her mother, understanding her feelings, advised her to add some palm wine and tonic to his food so he would sleep and forget about his journey to Maribah.

"But how long do you think I can make him stay and eventually fall in love with me?" Ada asked, but her mother had no answer to that question.