Time to Fight Back

"Why are you here? What do you want?" Asha demanded, her eyes blazing with anger. She couldn't comprehend why Elim had such power over her emotions. Just moments ago, she had been content, but his unexpected appearance stirred up a mix of fury and joy within her.

"I'm here to remind you that no matter how comfortable or happy you feel here, you don't belong. Have you forgotten who you are?" Elim retorted.

"Forgotten? Don't you think I know that already! Every day I remind myself that I'm not from here, and that my family is in danger because of me and because of you!" Asha countered, her voice dropping in intensity. "I fear for them each time I think of them….hmmm"

She moved closer to him, her gaze piercing. "I thought the king would be dead by now. Wasn't that your promise when you left? Why are my enemies still out there, waiting for me? I should be heading home, shouldn't I? After all, the renowned assassin Elim couldn't wait to eliminate his greatest foe!"

" see your mockery, but it's okay. That's precisely why I'm here. The affluent man I encountered made me realize I can't overthrow the king alone, and he was right. We need insiders to aid us. We need your family and my mother, the queen," Elim explained, his tone carrying a hint of bitterness as he uttered the last words.

"I'm uncertain. I want to help my family, but the dangers out there are overwhelming. I don't want to expose them to any more risk than I already have," she replied, her mind still consumed by thoughts of her family's safety.

"Together, we can find a way. You and I," Elim proposed.

"You and I? How can I trust you again? How can I be sure you won't abandon me in another village, where I'll be treated like a slave and nearly sold to my enemies?" she questioned.

"I'm ashamed of myself. I promised to protect you, yet I only ended up putting you in harm's way. But I can see that being on your own has changed you somehow."

"Who wouldn't change after enduring what I've been through? From being falsely accused of attempting to murder the king, to fleeing for my life, to being thrust into a place where I was treated like a slave. Of course, I've changed. I crave nothing more than to take control of my own destiny. And honestly, I want nothing to do with you," Asha asserted.

"You don't mean that. I'm your only chance to escape from here. I know your past, and I alone can shield you from your enemies. You know that," Elim insisted, rising from the bed to approach Asha. His heart raced at the prospect of her rejecting his protection.

"Why? Just give me one reason why you've made it your mission to protect me," 

"Because it haunts me every night. I couldn't save my mother, so I must protect you and eliminate all your foes, including the king. You have to trust me," Elim implored, reaching out to touch her face. She recoiled from his touch.

"You've given me no reason to trust you. Why should I trust a man with no principles or ambitions beyond killing the king? What comes after that for you, Elim?" Asha questioned, her body trembling not with anger, but with the longing to be close to him and feel his touch. Yet, she vividly recalled his behavior after their first kiss. She would never allow a man to belittle her like that again.

"The questions you're asking are irrelevant. We need to leave Aku village and devise a way to communicate with our people in Maribah. They must remain vigilant and pave an easy path for me to infiltrate and kill the king," Elim asserted.

"Fine! I've heard you. What role do I play in your plan, and when do you want us to leave?"

"Soon, but Asha, I've observed that you've changed, and I've played a significant part in that. It's not typical of me to apologize, but I was mistaken in leaving you in Akwara village. However, I never deserted you... I could never do that," he confessed softly, standing mere inches from Asha. She could feel his breath on her face, almost certain he was about to kiss her. However, the door abruptly swung open, and Nse entered, disrupting the tension between them. Asha swiftly moved away from Elim, while he frowned at Nse for interrupting what could have been an intense moment with Asha.

"Asha, I'm sorry, but I must speak up. If your enemies are indeed searching for you, then Aku is the safest place for you to remain. You can't leave with him, and besides, you don't know if he's collaborating with your enemies," Nse advised.

"Do not make unfounded accusations just to turn her against me and gain her favor," Elim responded calmly, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"I don't fear you! This is my home, and you have no right to take her away from here. Who are you to her, and where were you when Ada's family was plotting to hand her over to an assassin? I saved her, not you!" the young man exclaimed.

"You know nothing, young man! Stick to selling the goods you know about! Don't meddle—"

"Stop it, both of you!" Asha interjected, stepping between the angry men, her hands pressed to her temples as if she was having a headache.

"Elim, Nse is correct. If my enemies are as close as you say, leaving Aku village would only lead me into their arms. We should stay here until they're no longer a threat," she reasoned.

"He makes a good point, but leaving now could give us our best chance of escaping while they're focused on searching for you here!" Elim countered.

"That's a risky move. Stay here, where you're safe," Nse insisted, holding Asha's hands in solidarity.

Asha felt torn between following Nse's advice and complying with Elim's wishes. She bit her lip, about to ask for a moment to think, when Elsa rushed in.

"There's trouble at the gate. Intruders! They're trying hard to breach Aku village! It's been years since this happened," Elsa reported urgently.

" I warned you that your presence here would only endanger them!" Elim admonished Asha, while Nse attempted to soothe his sister.

"Come, Asha. We must ensure your safety. Trust me, nothing will harm you. We have skilled warriors who will defend you against your enemies," Nse reassured, taking Asha's hands. She followed him reluctantly, her gaze lingering on Elim.

"As for you! You are not welcome in our home. You'll have to find somewhere else to stay until Asha is ready to leave with you!" Nse declared, pointing at Elim.

Elim felt the urge to retaliate, but he knew it wouldn't be wise to harm the people who had kept Asha safe when he couldn't.

"Whatever happens, remember that the people in Maribah are counting on us! Reuniting with your family depends on you!" Asha heard Elim's words as she was slowly pulled out of the room, while Elim also made his exit.

Odumudo was here! Elim was certain of it, and he had no sword to defend himself. What an infuriating place, this Aku village! He grunted angrily as he marched back to the inn, determined to find out if the Aku warriors could truly fend off Odumudo and his men from entering their village.

——

"I need it now! You can't refuse me! I'm your only sister in Maribah. Asha is gone because of them. Look at my body. He whipped me all night for his pleasure, and then he had his way with me. I feel worthless and dirty. This isn't how father raised us. I was meant to be a wife, not a slave! Help me, Nena! Give me something to end his miserable life, and it will be a victory for us!" Zeep pleaded the next morning, as Nena fetched water from the stream for the Queen's chambers.

"Fine. I'll help you. This... the queen told me it can cause a man to bleed from his mouth to death after consuming it. Slip it into his food and ensure no one suspects a thing!" Nena agreed reluctantly.

"Thank you!" Zeep exclaimed in excitement. Nena was relieved that Zeep would finally be free from her tormentor. However, as she handed the lethal substance to her sister, she could swear she saw a figure darting behind the trees. She scanned the area again but found no one.

"Make sure no one finds out!" She cautioned Zeep once more. Zeep nodded and set off to carry out her mission. Yet, a lingering feeling gnawed at Nena that she was making a grave mistake and putting her sister in harm's way. But she brushed off the feeling.

The following morning, a piercing cry echoed from the prince's chamber, and upon opening the door, they discovered the lifeless body of the prince sprawled on the floor, blood trickling from his mouth as his wives sat nearby, weeping inconsolably. With just one glance at Zeep, Nena knew that their plan to poison the prince had succeeded.

"This is no natural death. He was poisoned, wasn't he?" the king turned to his wife, who nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Which of you is responsible for this? You treacherous women!" he thundered.

"I had no part in this, my king! I swear it upon my life. But the other day, I witnessed Zeep conspiring with her sister. She is the one who killed the prince!" Soma screamed 

"I did not! It was your food he consumed, not mine. You are the guilty one!" Zeep retaliated.

"I have no patience for such nonsense. Guards, seize them both and bind them to the stake. They shall both face beheading!" the king commanded.

"No, my king! Please! I cannot meet my end in such a manner!" both Zeep and Soma pleaded as the guards dragged them away.

"Please, my queen. Surely there must be something you can do. Help me! Save my sister!" Nena begged, bowing at the queen's feet as her sister was forcibly taken away.

"She killed my son. We both know who provided her with her poison. What do you think would happen if the king found out?" The Queen shook with emotions before marching out. "My son is dead!"

Nena showed the other servants to rush to the village square where Soma and Zeep would be beheaded. Her sister called out to her, begging for her to save her and that was when she woke up.

" It was all a dream! Oh! It was all a dream!" She shook as she rose from the bed only to find out she had been sleeping for a long time. It was already midday and she was supposed to be in the queen's chamber attending to her. She dashed quickly to the queen's room and only changed direction when she remembered Zeep had died in her dream. 

"Was her sister alright?" She cried inwardly as she dashed towards the palace, only slowing down when she saw the king eating quietly. She walked closer to bow to the queen and her husband, but was shocked by the horrific sight that greeted her. It was Zeep crawling on her knees and feeding the prince while he ordered her around. Soma sat beside him smiling. 

"That's what you get for threatening to knock my teeth!" She heard Soma say to Zeep who kept an emotionless expression on her face as she continued the humiliating work.