CHAPTER 3

The king's brow furrowed in concern as he paced within the palace walls.

Two days had passed since the king sent Ezemuo to inquire from the gods, and the silence was oppressive.

The king's mind raced with questions, his thoughts a jumble of worry and frustration.

"Why is Ezemuo taking too much time to come and tell me what the gods said?" he wondered.

"Does it mean that the gods have nothing to deliver?

Why can't Ezemuo come and tell me what's the problem, since he knows how urgent it is?"

The king's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on some invisible point as he struggled to make sense of the delay.

His hands clenched into fists, as if grasping for answers that refused to come.

The air was heavy with tension, the king's unease palpable as he continued to question the silence.

"What could be holding Ezemuo back?

Has he encountered some obstacle on his journey? Or is the gods' message so dire that he fears to deliver it?"

The king's thoughts swirled, a maelstrom of uncertainty that threatened to consume him whole.

The king's face set in a determined expression, his mind made up.

He summoned three of the palace guides, trusted and loyal men who had served him well.

"Go to the shrine," he instructed them, his voice firm and urgent.

"Find Ezemuo and deliver a message from me.

Tell him that his presence is required immediately.

I need to know what the gods have said, and I need to know now."

The guides nodded, their faces serious, and set off towards the shrine.

They moved swiftly, their footsteps quiet on the palace floors as they disappeared into the distance, bound for the sacred place where Ezemuo stayed.

The king's message was clear: time was of the essence, and the king would wait no longer.

The guides approached the shrine with a sense of trepidation, their footsteps slowing as they drew near.

As they entered the sacred space, they were met with a grisly sight:

Ezemuo's lifeless body, his chest cavity empty.

The guides' eyes widened in horror as they took in the scene, their minds racing with the implications.

They remembered the guide who had been killed in the forest, his heart similarly removed.

A chill ran down their spines as they realized that the same fate had befallen Ezemuo.

The guides exchanged fearful glances, their thoughts consumed by the terrifying possibility that a monstrous lion was on the loose, striking at the heart of their spiritual leadership.

Without hesitation, they turned and fled the shrine, their footsteps echoing through the silence as they desperately sought to put distance between themselves and the gruesome scene.

The image of Ezemuo's mutilated body seared into their minds, they ran with all haste, driven by fear and a sense of dread that threatened to overwhelm them.

The guides burst into the palace, their breathing labored and urgent.

They hastened to the throne room, their faces ashen and their eyes wide with fear.

As they neared the king's throne, they dropped to their knees, their heads bowed in a gesture of submission.

The king's gaze narrowed, his eyes piercing as he demanded,

"What is the problem? Why do you return with such haste and terror in your eyes?"

But the guides remained silent, their mouths agape as if the words were stuck in their throats.

The king's expression darkened, his patience wearing thin.

"I command you to speak!"

he thundered, his voice echoing through the hall.

"Tell me what you saw, or face my wrath! I will not be kept in the dark any longer.

Speak, I say!"

The guides trembled, their bodies shaking with fear as they struggled to find the courage to reveal the horrific truth they had witnessed.

Just as the guides about to speak, Ugochi burst into the palace, her cries echoing through the throne room.

"Igwe!! (King) my husband is gone oo, Igwe I'm dead oo, my husband oo.

The king quickly rose from his throne and approached her, his arms open in a gesture of comfort.

"Ugochi, my dear, please calm down and tell me what's wrong," he said softly, his voice filled with empathy.

But Ugochi was beyond consolation, her body shaking with sobs, her eyes streaming with tears.

She clutched her chest, as if her heart was breaking, and wailed again,

"My husband is gone, my king! What is happening in our land? I'm dead, I'm dead!"

The king's face fell, his eyes filled with sorrow and worry.

He glanced at the guides, who looked on helplessly, and then back at Ugochi, his heart heavy with the weight of her grief.

He knew that he had to find out what was happening in his kingdom, and fast, or risk losing more of his people to this senseless violence.

Ugochi's words tumbled out between sobs, her voice cracking with grief.

"We prepared to go to the farm to harvest our yam... my husband went first... and asked us to come later... We went to the farm soon... only to find him dead... with his heart removed..." Her voice trailed off as she collapsed into a fresh wave of tears, her body shaking uncontrollably.

The guides and attendants looked on, their faces somber and sympathetic, as Ugochi's cries echoed through the throne room.

The air was heavy with the weight of her sorrow, and the unspoken fear that gripped the kingdom.

Another life lost, another heart torn from its chest... the horror seemed to have no end.

The king's face turned red with rage, his eyes blazing with fury as he turns and ask the guides.

"Where's the Ezemuo that I sent you to call?"

The guides saw the anger in him and one of them managed to speak out.

"My lord, we went to the shrine only to found him dead with his heart removed from his body."

"What?! Ezemuo, is dead?!

And his heart removed, just like the others?!"

He slammed his fist on the armrest, making the guides jump.

The guides trembled, fearing the king's wrath.

"Y-yes, my lord,"

one of them stammered.

"We found him at the shrine, his body mutilated beyond recognition.

It's as if the same beast that killed the others has struck again."

The king's anger turned to shock, his mind reeling with the implications.

Ezemuo, the trusted chief priest and eyes of the gods, was gone.

The king felt a sense of loss and vulnerability wash over him.

He had sent Ezemuo to the shrine to seek the gods' guidance, and now... now he was dead, victim of the same horror that had been terrorizing the kingdom.

The king's thoughts raced with questions and doubts.

Who or what was behind these brutal killings?

And why were they targeting the heart, the symbol of life and vitality?

The king's determination hardened into a fierce resolve.

He would find the answers, and he would make sure justice was served.

He went close to Ugochi who's still crying and rolling on the ground.

"Woman, stop crying, I will pay you a visit, and I promise to put to an end of this." The king said while consoling the young latest widow.

He then turn to the guides.

"Escort her to her house and make sure that nothing happens to her."

The king's throne room was quiet once again, the only sound being the soft sobs of Ugochi fading into the distance as she was escorted out.

The king's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, his brow furrowed in deep concern.

He paced back and forth, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for answers.

"Where is this beast coming from?"

he muttered to himself.

"And why is it targeting my people, my advisors, and now even the chief priest?"

He stopped pacing and looked up at the statue of the gods in the corner of the room.

"Why have you forsaken us?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Ezemuo was your servant, your messenger.

Why did you not protect him?"

The king's questions hung in the air, unanswered.

He felt a sense of frustration and helplessness wash over him.

He was the king, the protector of his people, but he was unable to stop this horror that had befallen them.

He slumped back into his throne, his eyes fixed on the floor, his mind racing with thoughts of how to end this senseless slaughter and restore peace to his kingdom.

Few minutes later, he called some of the guides outside.

His voice was firm and resolute as he addressed the guides.

"Go, summon the warriors and hunters to my palace.

We must put an end to this senseless slaughter.

I want that beast brought to justice, and I want it done now."

The guides nodded and quickly departed, leaving the king to his thoughts.

He sat on his throne, his mind racing with strategies and plans.

He knew it wouldn't be an easy task, but he was determined to protect his people and his kingdom.

He thought about the warriors and hunters, skilled and brave men who had defended the kingdom against many threats.

He had faith in their abilities, and he knew they would stop at nothing to bring the beast to justice.

The king's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps outside the throne room.

He looked up, expecting to see the warriors and hunters arriving, but instead, it was one of his advisors, looking worried and nervous.

"What is it?" the king asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

"My lord," the advisor began, "we've received news from the village.

The beast has struck again.

Another victim, another heart removed."

STORY CONTINUES.

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