Destroy the Dramidis

Odmudo shook his leg impatiently as he waited for the king once again after he left clutching his stomach and groaning in discomfort. And he was getting tired of waiting…. He paced around and peeped from the doorway into the palace for any sign of the king arriving but there was nothing.

"Doesn't the king know they had gone through a stressful journey to find Asha and needed some food and rest?" He grumbled inwardly as he swooped back into seat, losing his patience gradually.

He heard some footsteps approaching from inside the palace and he stood abruptly, thinking it was the king. But instead, it was the queen walking majestically towards the throne. He grumbled inside as he reluctantly bowed to the usually quiet queen. Why was she here instead of the king? He thought arrogantly as she sat on the throne.

"To what do we owe this visit, Odumudo?" The Queen asked, her gaze scrutinizing the formidable warrior. As she observed him, she couldn't help but wonder if he was part of those who killed her late husband. He was after all one of the king's oldest assassins. 

"My queen… it's nothing to disturb your pretty head about. It's a talk between men… me and the king" Odmudo spoke with an air of superiority, his smirk only serving to further infuriate the queen.

"I see! Odmudo, do you realize whose presence you're in? No man in Maribah is greater than me apart from the king! I am the queen of this great land!" The Queen flared up in anger, her face flushed with fury, causing Odmudo to hurriedly bow in respect.

"I apologize, my queen. I'm a bit cranky from being on the road for so long in search of the girl, Asha, whom the king asked me to bring back to Maribah."

"Hmm, really? I understand. But have you had any luck finding her?"

"No, my queen... I regret to inform you that she has eluded me. That's why I've returned, to report my failure to the king and request more men. But I was shocked to find him... he looked so frail..."

"The king's health is nothing to concern yourself about. You have brought your news and I will make sure the king attends to it when he's well. For now, I'll have my servants prepare a room for you and your men and provide some food," 

With that the queen stood to leave the palace and Odumudo watched her from his side eyes when he remained bowed as she walked away. He had never seen her glowing that much. It was no coincidence that she was looking radiant while the king was diminishing in strength. Something wasn't right! Something wasn't right! He repeated to himself 

——

"Will Odmudo be a problem my queen?" Nena asked as she escorted the queen back to her chambers. 

"Honestly, this is the worst time for him to be in Maribah. He might pose a challenge to our plan but we mustn't allow that." The queen thought, as she paused at the door. 

"Or we can use it to our advantage. Now that he is here we know that no one is pursuing Asha, wherever she is" Nena continued as they entered the room

"Yes, but we must be smart about whatever we wish to do to him. Odmudo is violent man and he has any idea that we are working to overthrow the king, he will come after each of us. I must think carefully about what to do next. But we must ensure he doesn't get to meet the king. Let me think for now" the Queen said, lost in thought. 

"It's been five days since Nemere left. She should have returned by now. I need you to go to the riverbank and check if she's made contact with Elim and Asha as we planned," the queen instructed Nena as she stretched her legs on a stool.

"Yes, my queen," Nena replied, hurrying towards the riverbank, hoping there wouldn't be too many people around to witness her climb the cliff to meet Nemere and possibly Asha. Her heart swelled with anticipation at the thought of seeing her sister again.

But as she left the palace that late afternoon she had no idea Soma was watching from a corner. She had seen her talking to the queen! The queen and Nena had such a good relationship that she, her daughter-in-law, didn't even have with the queen. It pained her deeply. 

Later in the evening, Soma spotted Odmudo heading to his quarters, and an idea dawned on her. . The king was feeble and suffering from the same illness her husband was suffering from. Something told her that the queen and the Dramidis were working together and she needed to tell someone about it. She needed allies to stop the Dramidis, her sworn enemies. 

"Odmudo, the great man… I have heard a lot about you. But that's not why I am here!" But that's not why I'm here," she said, her eyes wandering over the imposing figure, imagining what it would be like to be held in his arms.

"What brings royalty to someone like me?" Odmudo's rough voice snapped her back to reality. She glanced around the hallway to ensure no one was listening before stepping closer to him.

"I believe there's a plot against the king and only you and I can stop it!"

"A plot against the king? By who? Speak their names and I will have their heads!"

"Easy now! It's only a speculation. I know nothing for certain but I think the queen is part of the plot. You understand what would happen to me if I say this to anyone hearing without being sure. But I have reasons for my suspicions. You see my husband is suffering from the same illness the king is suffering from. I have reasons to believe they were both poisoned!"

"I knew something wasn't right" Odmudo grunted 

"And I think this is just a small part of their plan. We must do something to stop them and save the king and his sons"

"I must speak to the king"

""And that's not all," Soma continued, her voice tense. "I sent my servant to the riverbank to spy on Nena, Asha's sister, and she's nowhere to be found. I believe she discovered their plan, and they silenced her."

"This is more than enough. You must go to the riverbanks and see for yourself. And I need to find a way to speak to the king about all of this"

"But why do I have to go… what if they are waiting for me?"

But Odmudo didn't answer her questions. He simply turned his back and headed towards the king's chambers to speak to him. But when he got there, two guards were standing at the door and they denied him entrance. 

"The queen was truly part of the wicked plot" he thought angrily as he headed back to his room to think of his next action. Maribah won't be safe for him anymore if he doesn't do something now. 

And where were Asha and Elim? They weren't even in Maribah. He had thought he would find them here! He squeezed his hand into a ball as he thought of everything. He was frustrated that they were all playing with his patience. 

——

"You must go ahead of us, tell the queen you've made contact with us, find out the exact day we are to strike and make sure Maribah is safe for us to return to. We will be a day behind you." Elim instructed Nemere after they had finally spoken and found a common ground. 

"Thank you. I'll do everything you've asked. And my friend, I truly hope you forgive me. Your family misses you," Nemere said, causing Asha to nearly break down in tears at the mention of her family. Elim gently held her hands, offering silent consolation.

"Thank you, Nemere. You're the bravest of us all. And please, tell my sisters we'll be reunited soon. But above all, be careful," Asha replied earnestly.

Unable to contain her emotions, Nemere threw herself into Asha's arms, and Asha welcomed her embrace. As they held each other tightly, she felt so close to home and she wanted nothing more than to meet her father and sisters and beg for their forgiveness. 

Nemere mounted her horse as her protector rode off, relieved that she had been forgiven by Asha and that she had agreed to join the mission. She bade Asha goodbye and they began their journey back to Maribah. It was already the fifth day and she was supposed to be back by now but it wasn't possible since she was already leaving so late. 

Meanwhile, Nena rushed to the riverbanks to search for Nemere once more, but she was nowhere to be found. Feeling disheartened, she watched as people carried their pots filled with water and departed. Climbing the cliff, she hurried towards the abandoned house, hoping to find any trace of Nemere, but the place was empty. Sighing, she entered the house to give some food to the servant they had left tied there. She felt sorry for her but knew she couldn't let her go just yet. She left some food for her and left after browsing the riverbanks one more time for any sign of Nemere. 

But Soma had watched her climb the cliff and she wasted no time to rush back to Maribah where she intended to tell Odmudo everything. They must stop the evil plot of the Dramidis and the queen by all means, she thought to herself as she ran back to the palace while her beads jingled around her neck and waist.