LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

Meanwhile, the Asafo company(league of Warriors) were preparing their equipment and began to assemble at the village square to carry out the assignment before them.

According to traditional customs, they must accompany the elders, the chief priest and his entourage on the trip to the evil forest where the young child was to be dumped. First to prevent unwanted interruptions from opposing forces and second to fulfil their traditional duty to the Kingdom.

They would dance and chant war songs, invoking the presence of the gods. This was the norm and they had to play their part. There would be the firing of muskets as a way of sending the spirit off into the world beyond.

The family had also assembled their sacrificial items, including a ram, tubers of yam, palm oil, two white cocks, a keg of palm wine(a type of wine harvested from palm trees), and bottles of Schnapps among other assorted items

These items were to be offered as a sacrifice to wash the sin of the family away and also as an appeasement offering to the gods. By fulfilling this obligation, the family and the young girl would be cleansed from her error and the wrath of the Gods against the Kingdom would be qualified thereby averting impending calamity and disaster.

The whole village was filled with a sorrowful atmosphere, as all women cried for the innocent baby who is about to be thrown into the evil forest to be condemned even before she spent her first day on earth.

Even more pained was the woman who had been looking for the fruit of the womb for many years without any success and with o hope of ever being a mother. They were heartbroken at the seemingly cruel ways of the gods.

They have been running helterscatter to conceive a child after so many years of marriage yet were denied. Yet the moment two juveniles slept with each other; they were rewarded with a child. Even though considering the circumstances calling it a reward would seem to be a wicked sense of humour.

One of such barren couple, we're in their hut and the wife was seriously pleading with the husband who was one of the chief warriors. "My husband, this is an opportunity for us to have a child. You a are fearless warrior. You can..."

"Watch your mouth woman, be careful what you say before you bring disaster unto this house. Do you know the implication of what you are about I say??.." the husband cut her off with anger evident in his voice.

Nonetheless, she was not intimidated and neither was she scared of the anger the man displayed and continued. She walked and inserted herself in his embrace and continued.

"My lord, the love of my life, my undefeated warrior, my pride and the king of my heart. Please hear what I have to say. I plead to be my king to give me a chance to speak". She coerced the man with accolades, he in turn softened up and held her closer. It is indeed true that women possess the unimaginable power of their husbands and those who know how to use it would always use softness to overpower the strongest of men.

"You know we have sacrificed a lot over this childlessness, we have gone to all manner of medicine men, herbalists and shrines to no avail. My husband, I am now passed childbearing age, all I yearn for is to be called mother in this lifetime." continued to appeal to him.

"My lord, you have fulfilled all my heart desires and have made a happy woman out of me. You have given me comfort and love. But the only soreness in my heart is the issue of gardeners." at this point, tears began to flow freely from her face.

The man had no choice but to hold her tighter and softly console her. This lasted for a few moments before she pulled herself together.

"That poor child is about to be thrown away into the evil forest, that innocent child who deserves to live a happy life, to be cherished and adored. To be nurtured until she grows into a beautiful woman. That same poor child is about to be fed to the beast in the forest".

The husband sighed deeply and asked her what she wants him to do. All the anger displayed earlier was gone, for the same feelings were running rampant in his heart all morning. The child is indeed innocent and does not deserve that fate.

"My husband, you would go with the warriors and after everything, you would make an excuse to go back for the child. I would pack my things and wait for you on the outskirts of the village. We would then go to my brother who lives in the Ashanti Kingdom and raise this child us our own." she laid out her plan.

"What about the wrath of the gods my dear wife, what would be the fate of the Kingdom? What of the goes strike me down in the evil forest?" he asked

"The gods didn't want the child in the kingdom, right? Then we would help take her off their hands so they can rest." She answered. "

The wife smirked and chuckled, "The impotent gods who could not give me a child can not be able to stop me from reading this fate. They wouldn't dare" she continued with full conviction.

The man looked at her with pride in his eyes and embraced her once more. " My wife is not only the most beautiful woman in this Kingdom but also the bravest." He praised the wife and let her go.

"Start packing our things and when we move out to the evil forest sneak out of the village and wait for me. We would surely succeed.". He said looking at his wife fondly and then exited to go gather with the rest of the warriors.

............

In the chief compound, there were crying and sorrowful dirges being sung as the women began to gather to perform certain rituals for the soon-to-be bereaved mother and also to comfort and console the family.

Everyone had succumbed to the inevitable fate of the baby, the gods have spoken and who was the man to interfere or change their verdict?

The only thing they felt could be done now was to console the family and moan with them. They had used this as a cautionary tale to profusely rebuke and advise their children over the past month. But no one knew the outcome of today's event would have been so devastating.

The midwife was examining the mother and child in one of the rooms and no one else was allowed to enter. She consoled the crying mother who was breastfeeding the tired baby.

After checking on them she called over the queen's mother to narrate what was going on. After hearing the tale she was sure the best thing to do is to take the mother and child out of the village.

The girl had threatened to harm herself should they take her child away and the child's life was in danger regardless of what she said. The midwife beckoned the mother of the young girl over.

After having a deep discussion with her, he chastised her for not doing anything before this. If she had brought the child to the local hospital earlier this, it would have been far easier to save them both.

The queen expressed her helplessness in the situation as it is the men who have the authority over such issues. The midwife then called over her driver and sent him a secret message.