He’s Gone

It had been weeks since the king had banished them from their home and reduced them to servants in Maribah. Nena was slowly growing accustomed to her new life, despite the curious gazes and whispers that accompanied her every errand for the royal household. However, the queen's kindness offered some comfort in her troubled situation. Each morning, Nena would rise early to gather leaves for the queen's medicine before joining the other servants to prepare the queen's room and breakfast. In these moments, she often found herself lost in memories of happier times with her sister Asha and their father, a bittersweet mix of tears and laughter playing across her face.

Asha, where are you? She asked herself as she walked back to the palace that very morning. Suddenly, the thundering of horse hooves and a swirling cloud of dust jolted her back to reality. With a yelp, she jumped out of their way, injuring herself in the process while the men on the horses sped past her. 

The men! She had seen them before but she couldn't figure who they were exactly. Ignoring the cut on her arm, she hurried into the palace to find out who the men were. She mingled in with the other servants dusting the far end of the palace when the men strolled into the palace. 

"Odomudo! I trust you've come promptly at my men's call. After all, I am your most esteemed employer!" the king declared as Odomudo and his men respectfully bowed before him

"You don't seem too pleased, my king. Who has incurred your wrath? Just say the word, and I'll hunt them down and present you with their head!" Odomudo offered, noticing the king's troubled expression.

"That's precisely why I've called for you. For days, I've been tormented. Someone infiltrated my home and nearly ended my life, yet I couldn't apprehend the culprit. How can I claim to be a king if anyone can breach my household while I do nothing?" the king lamented.

"Great king, I am certain that such an attempt couldn't have occurred without aid from within your kingdom, perhaps even within the palace itself! Just give me the order, and I'll fish out the traitor and subject them to torture until they confess the truth!" 

"You speak wisely! There was indeed an intruder, but she's vanished! Gone! Can you understand my rage, Odomudo? That's why I've called upon you. You must locate her and return her to me alive!" the king commanded, his frustration evident in his voice.

Nena trembled as she overheard the conversation between the assassin, whom she now recognized as Odomudo, and the king. They were plotting to find and harm Asha. She fought back tears, trying to keep her composure in front of everyone. Resolving to return to the queen's room, she began to make her way when she spotted her father, looking exhausted and disheveled, being forcefully brought into the palace.

Though her instinct was to rush to him, she knew the guards were eager to lay hands on her, so she restrained herself. "Here! He's the father of the girl, and I suspect he's involved in the scheme. But despite my efforts to extract information, the fool claims he knows nothing"

"Maybe, I should take his tongue since it is of no use!" Odomodu threatened, brandishing a small knife from his waist. 

"No, he used to be my most trusted man. You can torture him into talkin but don't do any permanent damage!" 

Before the king could finish, Odomodu was already pummeling Japthan to get him to tell him anything about Asha and where she might be. Nena watched from where she was, frozen and unable to control her tears. It was Nemere who touched her and slowly dragged her to the corridor. 

"Why do you keep following me?" Nena asked as she wiped her tears. 

"Your sister was my friend! I want to make amends. I feel so guilty!"

"Look, my sister may have been your friend but you are not mine. No one here is . So leave me alone!" She barked, running into a corner to cry. 

She wasn't there to see when her father was taken back to prison looking battered or when Odomudo was taken to his room to rest before he would set out on his quest to find Asha and her accomplice. 

——-

Despite his desire to stay until Asha felt completely at ease, he knew he had to leave. After spending weeks with her, observing her from a distance, he realized she could become his weakness if he allowed it. There was something about her that made him want to forget his past and start afresh with her…. To believe love was possible for him. However, remaining by her side would only weaken him. He refused to succumb to love and neglect his duty to avenge his father…. To avenge his family.

He climbed his horse after speaking to Ada's father who assured him he would take good care of Asha and rode off to complete his mission. He was returning to the village he had fled, where he had encountered the wealthy man from Maribah. He needed to inform him of his failure to kill the king. But even as he hurried away he carried the thoughts of Asha and their kiss with him. And it only annoyed him. He must push every thought of her aside and focus on what's ahead, he told himself. 

When Asha heard the neighing of a horse and sounds movements as she took a walk outside the house, she knew Elim was going. She rushed quickly to where his horse had been tired to beg him not to leave without her but he was gone! He was gone just like that without even saying goodbye. He was the only person she knew in this unfamiliar place, the one who had saved her, yet now he had abandoned her to her fate. None of it made sense to her. Lost in confusion, Asha was startled when she heard Ada's voice.

"Now that he's gone, it's time to face reality," Ada remarked.

"What do you mean?" Asha asked, puzzled.

"You thought you were special, that someone like him would stay for you. But if he couldn't stay for me, why would he do it for you? Well, it's time to get off your high horse! Your work begins today!" She said with so much delight on her face like she had been waiting for that moment.

"What work? As far as I remember, Elim paid your father handsomely to keep me hidden and safe!" Asha retorted, unafraid of Ada. She refused to let anyone mistreat her the way Zeep had, a promise she had made to herself since Elim's insult.

"Hmm, you speak as if you're entitled to privileges. But is Elim here? Is my father here? No! I know nothing about any money. If you want to stay in our home, you'll have to work like I've been doing since I was a teenager!" Ada declared, handing Asha a rag and a bucket.

"What is this? You expect me to walk into the palace filled with drunken men to clean?" Asha protested.

"My daughter has been doing it since she was a young girl, and you can do it too! You're not more special than her. Now, go and get the work done quickly!" Her mother added, suddenly emerging from the kitchen. 

"But your husband promised..."

"Keep quiet! My husband may oversee things indoors, but he knows nothing about maintaining cleanliness here. And if you think he can protect you from me, you're mistaken!"

Left with no other option, Asha entered the drinking parlor. The smell of wine and sweat assaulted her senses, even though it was still morning. Expecting the room to be crowded with men, she was surprised to find only a few, their faces filled with desire and amusement as she cleaned each table.

"Put some effort into it! Scrub harder if you want those stains gone before more men arrive. You won't enjoy it when this place is packed with drunken men who can't keep their eyes or hands off you," Ada warned as she circled around Asha, sending shivers down Asha's spine.

She chuckled as Asha hastened her scrubbing, keeping a wary eye on the men across the room to ensure they didn't approach her.

"Mother, this is the best thing that fool Elim has ever done for us. A personal maid. Now I can finally rest," Ada remarked.

"Not just a personal maid. She can also cater to the desires of some of the men, if they wish," her mother added.

"But father will never approve!"

"I can handle him!"

 They laughed and Asha turned to see the evil women talking about her and she wondered if she had not been better off in Maribah enduring the king's punishment. Suddenly she began to feel hatred not just for the king but also resentment towards Elim for abandoning her there.