章節 32: Journey of the Emissary and the Hung

On a horse, Okiki-osupa went with troops to her father's land. Not only that, with other emissaries in accordance with the command of Osabiegun.

Definitely, the essence of the troops behind Okiki-osupa was for her own safety because at the moment the chiefs of Efon will hear what she had done would easily break her calabash and what will remain of her will be her lifeless body on ground.

In the midst of the people of Efon, Okiki-osupa continued to walk and even the people of Efon had not covered their surprise as they expressed their shock that they already believed Okiki-osupa to be dead as others in the war that happened between Ifa-ile and Efon.

The gossip flying from mouth to mouth of the people of Efon continued as even some remained pointed at her if indeed it was really Okiki-osupa their princess?

Her outfit says to them she had just returned from a war but the troops and other entourage who accompanied behind her even on a horse left them doubting their thoughts.

Okiki-osupa had not gone to Efon with a two layer of attires nutted around her bosom and around her waist but she returned in a war hunt outfit just in the same manner she left to the river of Olomitutu and to war after the river.

Definitely, even Okiki-osupa had not shy to check on the faces of the people of Efon as she stared at each one even as she remained on her horse to which she sat gently, moving past each of them slowly.

The troops who were closely behind Okiki-osupa were ready for any attack that could metamorphose from anywhere as they continued to look deadly at each person they found on the road even as they now walked among the people of Efon.

In their silence, their words were written on their faces as each person of Efon who beheld the looks of the troop found a reason to quickly grow cold on their feet.

The troops had not dressed any different from Okiki-osupa as they were all in a war hunt outfit and their musket by the side of their horses. Each of their arms were nutted with the cut tip of a calabash which was meant to prevent them from any altercation against them.

Around their heads was a red rope which was nutted with cowries. This was also a charm of different function and if anyone dared them shall the person witness his doom at once.

The Emissaries behind the troops were those who remained smiling to the villagers of Efon. Definitely, it was always their concern to go from villages to villages to deliver the message of the king and for only this were they the set of calm people with such power of their tongue to dialogue.

In their own appearance they had been seen in a long attire sowed with a different fabric which was rare in Ifa-ile. A different attire which covered from their shoulder to their waist and another attire sowed into a trouser.

On their heads remain another attire for a cap and beads resting on their necks and around their wrist to which the people of Efon had not but wondered what kind of people they were.

At the palace of Efon, every member of the palace, such as the chiefs, royal slaves and royal guards gathered at the entrance of the palace at the announcement of Okiki-osupa.

That they thought she was dead, one of the chiefs stressed the instant he beheld the presence of Okiki-osupa and let out a small smile from his cheek.

That a lioness was also a fierce lion and not even the hands of death would grab their princess easily was the words he said which in this way was backed up with other chiefs hailing her name.

In the words another of the chiefs said was that the throne of her father awaits her as she will rule after her father Oluborode and her children shall rule after her sprout out jubilation from the mouth of every of the chiefs and the royal guards and royal slaves and the people of Efon who had walked behind her down to the palace.

At that moment the beating of the drums exploded into the air and a melodious voice from one of the people of Efon accompanied it.

Each person's presence began moving in rhythmic steps as their body began to flow in the direction of the drums and their white set of teeth revealed itself in their total happiness.

Even with this, Okiki-osupa and the troops and emissaries behind her remained in a position as none of them paid a wave to the song and drums which penetrated into their ears.

In this way, her silence conquered their songs to which caused everyone their surprise. That she remained steadfast on her feet and if any of the chiefs of Efon expected her to say something that confirmed their hope for her to sit on the throne of her father, they were further disappointed.

As their anticipation grew more intense, with the act that portrayed them gentle they asked Okiki-osupa what would the matter seem to be as the silence she chose over words has a big meaning.

If the death of her father Oluborode still shocks her as the cause of her long quietness, the throne was not running away and she could go into her chamber and have a good rest before they spoke about it again.

Her sigh was meaningful as the troops behind her immediately gathered around her that she now remained in the middle.

With only this had Okiki-osupa opened her mouth for words they had not expected which called the chiefs and the people of Efon to attention.

According to the words of the king, king Osabiegun of Ifa-ile who had defeated Efon shall Efon remain a territory under Ifa-ile with no King, nor a queen nor a prince to rule them but a Chief who shall be chosen among them.

For the king viewed with favour the spearing of the lives of the people of Efon and so shall any disobedient to the command of the King pour Efon away like a polluted water which remained contaminated for drinking.

That Efon shall pledge Ifa-ile as their lord and unto generations upon generations every king that ruled Ifa-ile also ruled Efon and any step against this shall Efon understand the reason why a fire always festers in the presence of a sack of coal.

That if Efon proves stubborn and not succumb to their words shall they be slaughtered one after another like the fowl they eat at their festival of Olomitutu. For a favor Osabiegun viewed them and in an instant the favor could change into a massacre.

Even the news had not shocked the chiefs of Efon and the only shock that was expressed was from the exclamatory sound from the mouth of the people of Efon who could not believe what they heard.

For the chiefs already knew they lost the war and to rule over them, the chiefs of Ifa-ile shall come in their multitude but the reason why it has to be Okiki-osupa delivering a message for the King of Ifa-ile left them confused and in this light had the question asked by one of the chiefs.

But before Okiki-osupa would have answered, one of the emissaries opened his mouth for words that pierced their hearts and accompanied it into their sad and disappointed state.

According to his words Okiki-osupa became a queen of the future and over all of them shall she rule. That she was no longer of Efon and became one and prominent of Ifa-ile and unto her shall they all pay their homage each moment they behold her majesty.

The move against Okiki-osupa by three of the chiefs of Efon couldn't have been successful as they were stopped by the guards surrounding Okiki-osupa and if any further threat was made shall they be slaughtered one after another, one of the guards warned.

A shame the chiefs of Efon called her with the question that poked at her conscience: what kind of a daughter betrays her father to help the enemy to their own downfall.

For her father shall be disappointed in her in the sky where he watches over them all and if she ever thinks of how bittered he will cry whenever he beheld her ugly face like that of an imbecile?

That she followed her heart was the words she raised back in her highest voice at the chiefs of Efon even as she had not moved a position from where she stood. That she loved Oranmiyan right from the time she set her eyes on him at the bank of Olomitutu and yes, she would rather have him than be a queen of Efon.

If her reason was enough to kill her father, the king of Efon was the question another of the chiefs struck back at her. That she had no hand in the death that killed her father was the words she barked at them.

But if she thinks they ate her words she only decieved herself as all that fell from their mouth at this moment was a curse upon her.

That it was in her interest to have the crown prince of Ifa-ile but a cobra can only swallow one time for a very long period and so shall she be. For only the prince she shall have and shall not be able to please him. For a queen she shall become but no one shall recognize her because she is only a tattered garment which no one can choose to wear.