The Usurper King

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The Usurper King: By Lene Ododomu

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters and events depicted in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persona living or dead, incidents or localities, is entirety coincidental.

 

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Published in 2022 by (your company's name)

Cover illustration by Ben Oje (University of Abuja)

All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, whether electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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Printed in Nigeria by (your company's name, including phone number)

For enquiries /supply, contact (my phone number)

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                   Dedication

This book is dedicated to the source of my greatness: 

-to my late grandfather, the king of zion Dr. H.T. Ododomu (JP)

- and to my father and mentor, High Chief Karina Tunyan, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

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                      INTRODUCTION

           The story, The Usurper King is a 2015 novel but published in 2022, to bring  my dream into the limelight as a writer. It was written after the conceptualization of my literature text book titled "Literature Without Tears" which was written with the logical purpose to help the students of literature who bitterly complained about the difficulty of learning  literature, and this problem was discovered when I was lecturing as a student teacher of literature in  secondary school, and it is a book that is yet to be published. The creation of the book was reinforced by the inspiration of Elizabeth Prey's English Without Tears which gave birth to the title of the book. Also, I have written in other branch of literature  like poems which includes: The Saint and the Sinners, The Palmwine Tapper, The Strike, The First Class Citizens, etc.

              The book has eight chapters, and the chapters are short and understandable because I want my readers or audience to always have interest by reading the book and also save them from stress. 

                The story is a magical realism. Magical realism in the sense that it is a work of art that depicts the real world as having undercurrent  magic or fantasy because there is use of supernatural powers by some characters. 

             Also, the story is written in a  second person point of view. I preferred to use the second person narrative or point of view because it pulls the readers into action. Using the pronoun "you" or "they" and describing action as it happens supplies a personal sense of urgency, propelling the story- and the readers forward. The second person point of view brings the readers closer to the narrator, making the reading experience more intimate and less detached. By turning the readers into one of the characters, the story feels immediate and surrounding. I reminded the readers that the story of the book cannot be told accurately through the voice of one character, that is, the use of a person's point of view with the use of "I" or "me"  to tell the story. By making it as an omniscient figure, it focuses on the voice from the royal throne but switches from character to character to detail the thoughts and motives of various individuals.

              However, the book is a fictional story that talks about a warrior who was pushed by pride and greed to overthrow the rightful king. The story then revealed how a throne was usurped because secret of the former king and the queen was kind of betrayed.

             There is this proverbial saying......"Your best friend is your worse enemy" so trust him not with your secrets, who, when left alone in your room, turns over your paper. Almost everyone is like a moon, and have a dark side which he never shows to anybody. This is what happens, when you tell your friend your most personal secret, and he use it against you. The biggest guru-mantra is: never share your secrets with anybody because it will destroy you.

             The worst pain in the world goes beyond the physical. Even further beyond any other emotional pain one can feel. It is the betrayal of a friend and confidant. When the vapor or gas of pollution is coming out from the anus, you still have the chance to control it.....so that it won't make a noise. But when you carelessly allow it to pass the stage of it's explosion, you cannot control it to explode, and it will result you to public  disgrace. That is the foolishness or mistake of being harmed by the secrets you shared that resulted you to a victim of circumstances. However, the center-piece of the theme of ignorance in the novel,  king Ola and his wife, the queen made a mistake that they could not control  which resulted to the dethronement of the throne.

               The novel is purely based on imagination, and it is a didactic story that teaches moral lessons about the danger of sharing secrets with friends. It is difficult for the devil to take control of your valuable life when your weakness is masked by the power of God. But once you place him high and allow him to be in share of your secrets, he will use it to capture you.

              In relating on how to balance the social vices in our contemporary world, a question was asked that should we keep anger and malice against wrongs forever or we should be have a positive reflection? Then in my response to the question; for  the sake of the suffering of Jesus, the son of God who sacrificed his blood to save all mankind, that it is a capital letter NO. Even as Jesus suffered on the Cross, he bore no malice against his persecutors, but prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). It is difficult to emulate, but we should try to copy the step to enslave sin. To avoid being harmed, it is good to keep pace with them by using a long spoon while eating.

            However, there is use of biblical allusion by alluding how Jesus was betrayed in the Bible and the reaction he gave by forgiving all his offenders. Also, the  story  allude Daniel in the Bible of how he was put into the lion's den through the accusation of his enemies.

Lene Ododomu

(BA English, University of Abuja)

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                    CHAPTER ONE

            In the multiplying of the righteous, the people rejoice. And in the ruling of the wicked, the people cry. When the day is bright or shines, the people sing a song of merriment. But when darkness comes, it drives all joy away. Ebikiri kingdom was so blessed with a righteous king called Ola who followed the foot steps of his forefathers to rule his people lawfully. 

        King Ola was the people's king who never failed to reconcile peace among his people. He placed all the widows in the village on monthly allowance, whereby they would be paid by his foundation to feed their families. He also gives a free farm lands to the vulnerable who cannot cater for their families. He was a man of truth and an  enemy of bias and injustice.

         One day, a couple brought a case of domestic violence whereby the husband was alleged of irresponsibility and maltreating of his wife. King Ola was silence for awhile and after  some minutes, responded after hearing from both sides.....

       "Who cooks in the house? Woman, I need nothing but the truth before the eyes of our forefathers" the king asked and he was eagerly waiting for her reply.

        "My husband does, my king" the woman replied with a weak voice.

         "So who is maltreating who? I need nothing but the truth, woman" asked the king.

          "I am, my king",  replied the woman.

            "Who support the family financially? I need nothing but the truth, woman?" asked the king.

             "My husband does, my king", replied the woman. She turns back her face because she became ashamed to look at the husband in the face.

            "So why did you accuse this man?", asked the king.

            "I was influenced by my friend, my king. I don't know what came over me", replied the woman, and she started shedding tears as she regret her mistake.

             "So are you guilty or not guilty?" asked the king.

         "Guilty my king. Please tender justice with mercy and help me to talk to my husband to forgive me. I betrayed him because I wanted the so called good life by leaving him for another man, not knowing that I was wrong. My friend persuaded me to set the plan for making him as a cook in the house so that he will give up on me for divorce" replied the woman as she begged.

 Surprisingly, the king did not deliver his judgement by the unjust act of the woman, but insisted on knowing the husband's mind.  And the man forgave her which the king used to finalize his judgement and the couple regained their marital peace. Then the king advised the wife......."Life is a stage and a ladder which you will climb by starting from the down before getting to the top. Don't be pushed by the advice of your friend because he or she wanted you to have a good life. That life could be a mysterious one because you don't know the outcome of it. So be content and  grateful for what you have today, instead of constantly trying to live up to some unrealistic standard set by movies and romance novels. Meanwhile, your husband here is financially equipped and he is a person that shows concern and care for his family according to you." 

               Another day came whereby a case of oppression was brought before him by a servant and his master. The servant had served the master for so many years which the master promised to settle him when due time came. The master  failed his words and threatened to kill the servant. After king Ola listened to both sides of the story, he insisted on the master to give the judgement.

           "Will you be happy after working in someone's farm and denied payment, I need nothing but the truth before the eyes of our forefathers?" asked the king.

           "Capital letter NO, my king" replied the master.

          "So why did you choose to deny this innocent young man's right?" asked the king.

           "I am so sorry, my king. I don't know what came over me" replied the master as he was shivering when the interrogation was on.

        "So do you deserve good judgement?" asked the king.

          "I don't, my king. Please, forgive me. I will settle him. Infact I will give him half of my wealths" replied the man .

         King Ola didn't command the servant to pardon the master but rather begged him to  accept the apology  and that brought reconciliation between the two.

         Having  everything in life, king Ola still lacked something. He was becoming of age but  the throne would empty if he dies, because he had no child.

          Pride begets greediness and greediness begets evil. Ali Omotoso was a powerful man and chief of Ebikiri's warriors who is well respected by the king, Ola and the people of Ebikiri kingdom. 

           Ali was undefeatable in every battle and he  brought victory to his people always. He conquered all external aggressions.

         "I came, I saw and I conquered" Ali boasted as he was praised by the people while dancing and jumping for his victories.

He became more known and famous when he conquered the unconquerable kingdom called Ugudi where cannibals live. 

          King Ola respects him so much that he made him as eye and judicial head of the kingdom whereby he was given a personal chamber to execute judgement to people.       

        King Ola trusted Ali that there is no secret of him that he did not know about. This made him so proud to put himself equal to the king. He came up with a plan to overthrow the king. 

 "The king had no child and this meant that there is no heir to the throne. The throne is mine, no man born of a woman can stop me from succeeding my plans" said Ali.

          What a man cannot see, the gods sees and hears. The princess became pregnant and this was not known to many, including Ali.

         The baby in the womb talked to his mother while still in the womb that she should not be showing herself to the people but stay indoors. This happened like a dream, but she adhered to the instruction given by the unborn baby. King Ola is an understanding man though stubborn to accept advice, but he believed and followed what the princess told him about the voice of the unborn baby.

               As the custom and tradition demand, the queen is always expected to sit in the right side of the king in the throne to show that the sit of the queen is not empty. But over many months, the sit of the queen was empty, and the elders in council were so worried. So one day, they came to the palace to find out why the sit of the queen have been empty, but the king gave them a satisfying reason of her absence which they didn't bother  to interrogate further. 

             It is mysterious that a normal pregnancy is nine months but the unborn baby spent more than the expected months. So the queen was secretly taken to Biniere, the goddess of the sea for consultation and she told them that the baby in the womb is a special child sent by the gods. However, he spent fifteen months in the womb.

             Many months passed and when the expected time came, the queen gave birth to a boy  which made her and the king so happy that the gods have given them  the heir apparent to the throne. A baby is like the beginning of all things: wonders, hope and a dream of possibilities. The king thanked the gods......."O god of our ancestors, creator of our land, and our creator: I give you thanks and praises for the gift of this child. I thank you for creating him in your image and breathing into him the breath of life. I thank you" and he started dancing and singing.

           A great thing occurred during the birthday of the Prince. The midwives saw the sun travel across the sky. Also, the thunder roars three times which caused a great fear in the land.  Then, appeared three old men with white horses and the midwives could not look at them because they were terribly  looking sunning like a fire in the furnace. The old men turned to  human form which made the women to summon courage to listen to their message. 

        "Fear not mothers of Ebikiri kingdom. We are sent by the gods to announce the coming of the crowned prince who is embodied with lionheart. He shall emancipate his people from the incoming mystic oppression of this kingdom." said the three old men. Then where they were standing  became empty after delivering the message.

            During the child birth, Ali was in the battle field with Kuru village. He was having no knowledge of the child's birth neither the queen pregnancy. Apart from the midwives, no one in the village was in picture. So the king warned them to keep it in secret until he decide to announce it to the people.

           One day, king Ola summoned all the people of Ebikiri village. 

         "The good people of Ebikiri land, I greet you all" greeted the king.

        "We hear you our king. May you live long"  the people chanted as they happily welcomed the greetings of the king.

         " My people, I have a very good news for you! A precious hot cold stone is closed on my palms.To save you from curiosity, it won't be opened now but promise to do so when the warriors return with victory over our enemies. You may all go back to your humble homes to wait for this joyous day to come. Thank you" said the king.

          

            What an elder see while sitting down, a child cannot see it even though he or she climbs a tree. Also, a woman who began cooking before another must have more broken intestine. Nobody is rich enough to buy tomorrow but the gods do. Douye, the hunchback woman who was ostracized for Ukpeke forest had a sign of the incoming doom of Ebikiri kingdom through the closed stone on the palm that is about to open. She went to the king to warm him not to open the secret of the born  child. 

       "Who are you, woman?" asked the king.

        "I am Douye, my king. I am a native of Ebikiri village, but I was ostracized for allegedly Killing my step son" replied the woman.

       "Then I am waiting forward for your mission in my palace" said the king.

         "Thank you, my king. I am honored to speak to you. I had a sign  of doom around this kingdom. I was so pressurized in my poor home. My heart flies like the birds around me in the beautiful forest. My king,  a hook with bait is struggling to catch the most valuable fish you are keeping in the pond. My king, the man you respect with high esteem and giving all your secrets, is planning to overthrow you, and if you open this closed stone on the palms before his eyes, your death would be sudden. The gods showed me that you and the princess will be killed by this man, but it is impossible for him to destroy the prince because he is on earth to fulfill greatness and destiny.  My king, the peace is in your hands. The only option left for you is to adhere the advice of the gods." said the woman.

      "A hunter who knows the value of his hunting gun can never throw it in the river. Now tell me woman, how can I eat the food of a leper and reject the one without leprosy? Or how can you expect the hunter to throw his hunting gun in the river when he knows that he can never succeed without the gun in the forest?" asked the king.

       "The opinion of a poor man cannot be recognized but the birds know the reason why they build nest in the tree.  I understand you very well that you are a generous and righteous king. But doing excess would result to your doom," said the woman.

        The king was so impressed with her courage. Since it is beyond his jurisdiction and power to go against the tradition and  to order for her return to the land, he offered to give her gifts such as: clothes, foods and money but she humbly rejected the offer. "The bullet that is triggered from a gun does not return to the fling for appreciation" said the woman and left.

The king ordered two of his guards to see her off but refused to accept her advice.

                  

                   

                                                                                                 CHAPTER TWO

         (The awaiting of the warriors)

               Crops need water to grow . Rain is water and the crops can't survive without the drop of the rain. The farmers could not sleep because their eyes were always on the sky........watching the moon. When the moon bright, it drive their joys away because they want it to rest so that the rain can be freed by the sky to water their crops. So the more the moon bright, the more they loose their patients. Then they have no option than to wait for the rain, but the time seems to be long awaiting.

the farmer needs rain for the crops to grow, but the rain refused to come. To the joy of the farmers, the thunder started talking and this reminded the farmers that the rain will soon come.

       It's over seven days of the awaiting for the warriors to return with victory story, but no sign of their return and the people were so worried. To give hope to the people, one of the warriors was sent to the village to announce their progress in the battle.

           Kuru has eight connected villages and the warriors of Ebikiri have succeeded in capturing seven. According to the warrior, their return is delayed due to the fact that the warriors of Kuru land are well fortified and difficult to conquer. But there is progress as they have been able to kill almost half of the Kuru warriors, including the commander. They are expected to return in few days  time after destroying the whole kingdom. Also, Ali promised to return with two heads which includes the king and the chief priest. 

          The queen had a terrible dream of the incoming danger and doom of the kingdom by Ali, the chief of the warriors. She narrated everything to the king, but he ignored the dream and said that it is just a dream, and dream is created by imagination, not by the dream itself. 

  "It can be created by imagination, but the same dream also creat itself for reminding the reality. It is said that dream is bigger than vision. So put that in mind, my king. As you play with a mad man, remember that the mad man will end up putting a mark on you. The mad man would not be blamed for doing that to you because he showed you his appearance as a mad man. Also my king, a man who carelessly  lost his golden ring in the river would not blame the river but himself. I beg of you, my king, let's keep the golden ring safe to avoid losing it in the river, and also let the cat remained in the basket"  the queen begged with a worried voice.

 "How can a monkey be forced to abandon banana for kolanut as favorite food? Ali can never betray me, I trust. Everything is in the hands of our forefathers" replied the king. 

           Having rejected the first dream of the queen, she had another dream, the following night which was full of disaster. She woke up screaming and shivering ....."What is it, my queen?" asked the king. "It was a nightmare, my king. The same dream I had which I told you about. But this one is more horrible. I saw two beasts that invaded this kingdom. They didn't just kill people but ate them like fried beaf. One of them sat on the throne and I saw Ali's face on him" replied the queen. 

"The gods of our ancestors would protect his people. Meanwhile, it is just a dream" said the king. 

             This  became so difficult to convince the king because he believed that Ali can never betray him. He accepted every prophecy or dream as ordinary imagination formed by human, not the gods.

        Emilia was a bossom friend to the queen and fiance of Ali which the queen was not aware of. Just like king Ola and Ali, the queen does not keep any secret from Emilia because she trusted her so much and this had becomes like a covenant between them. For avoiding to be a traitor, the queen told Emilia about the closed stone on the palm as ignorant controlled her mind. 

            When you carelessly hit a egg on the stone, you can never expect it to be saved but regret that you have lost it because it is too late. Also, when the vapor or gas of pollution is coming out from the anus, you still have the chance to control it.........so that it won't make a noise. But when you carelessly allow it to pass the stage of it's explosion, you cannot control it to explode, and it will result you to public  disgrace. That is the foolishness or mistake of being harmed by the secrets you shared that resulted you to a victim of circumstances. However, many people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late which becomes nonrenewable resource that can never be changed. The queen made a mistake that she could not control and change just like the broken egg. 

            One day the queen went to a river  near the village. However, the river goddess appears before her standing on the water............"The throne of Ebikiri is on fire. It left with just two days to exist. I pity you and the king for being controlled by ignorance. The  woman you trusted with your heart is part of the enemies. You and the king have put sand on your soup", said the river goddess. After the warning, the appearance of the river goddess show off and the queen was trying to explain herself but  she couldn't get her listening. She returns home so worried and the king was not comfortable about it. So he asked what the matter is and she told him about the warning by the river goddess.

  

         

     

                        CHAPTER THERE

            (The arrival of the warriors)

         

                    A day to the arrival of the warriors, the king went to the shrine after he was told about the warning by the river goddess. Before his arrival to the shrine, the chief priest called Ikuku has already seen everything. He was also warned by the chief priest  not to open the closed stone on the palm. The chief priest told him that his life is like an egg on the  palm. That once he let it fall down,  nothing can save it from breaking.

          When the king got home,  it was  difficult for him to rest. Every night that passed was hell for him because he became sleepless. He recalls the advice of the chief priest a thousand times. He recalls the one of the hunchback woman and the dream of the queen, but he still kept the stone in his heart. 

"Like a sacrificial lamb, I shall sacrifice for the pain for the sake of my words. This is not bigger than what Iroroku did to save  his people. The people of Umuafo were suffering from the sins of their forefathers which was killing them every day and night in the land. But Iroroku was sent by  the gods to sacrifice himself for the sins, but some people were not happy with him because they envied him by saying that he was claiming to rule them as their king.

 Yes. I have been told that Ali would betray me. Yes. I have been told that Ali would overthrow me. Does this not sound interesting? I would be a hero. I will become a symbol of truth. Besides, I will be remembered like Iroroku.

 Iroroku knows the traitor that created the mystery of his dead just like me, but he pretends that, he does not know the traitor. History is a mighty drama, enacted upon the theatre of times, with suns for lamps and eternity for a background. When you have knowledge of history, you

 will be able to make more sense of the past and the current world.  I can vividly tell the full history of Umuafo kingdom  that after the New Fish Festival which is done on the second week of September every year, the messenger of the gods , Iroroku was betrayed and buried alive. Then assembled together the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people into the palace of the high priest who was called Nwa-anyanwu. And consulted that they might take Iroroku by subtilty and kill him. But they said, not on the feast day, lest there will be an uproar among the people. Then Judia,  one of the friends and confident of Iroroku went to the chief priest and the elders of the land and said to them, 'what will you give me if I will deliver him to you?' And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. 

Iroroku felt it in his heart and  said to his friends, that one of them  will betray him. The friends were exceeding sorrowful and began every one of them to say to him, ' 'Messenger of the gods .......is it I?' And he answered and said, he that dippeth his hands with him in the dish, the same shall betray him. The messenger of the gods goes as it is written of him by the gods: but woe to that, man by which the messenger of the gods is betrayed. It's had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judia, whom betrayed him answered him and said,  'Messenger of the gods is it I?' But he answered and said that the culprit knows himself. When the friends were eating, Iroroku took fish and blessed it and cut it, and gave it to the friends, and said, 'Take.....eat, this is my body .' Iroroku took the cup and gave thanks to the gods, and gave it to his friends. Saying,..... 'Drink this palmwine and it it called Ijaw wuru in ordinary language and eat the fish; for this is my blood for the new generation who will be forgiven and saved from the sins committed by their forefathers, and I am giving to you to preserve for them, so keep it safe for them.. But I say to you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the Vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in the present of the gods.'

 After that they began to sing the songs of Egbesu  to make him strong and courageous. He took them to the mountain of peace and then  left  for  the tree of  wisdom to beg the gods to give him more life to live on earth, but his request was declined. He came back to his friends and met them sleeping. He woke them up and said, 'sleep not now friends: behold, the hour is at hand for for me to separate from you, and the messenger  of the gods will be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. Behold, he is at hand that doth betray him'. And while he yet  spake, lol, Judia came with a great multitude of people with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him and gave them a sign, saying, whomsoever I shall kisses that same is he: hold him fast. And forth he came to Judia and said, Hail, Master, and kissed him. Iroroku said to him, 'friend, wherefore art thou come?' Then came they, behold, one of them who were with Iroroku stretched out his hand, and drew his sword and struck a servant of the high priests and smote off his ears. But Iroroku  reput the ears. 

When Iroroku was buried alive, what did he do? He prayed to all his  enemies to have peace.  Is this what we suppose to expect from him, upon all the sufferness the enemies gave to him? O.K. Why  did he do that? Because he has no enemy. Even to the fact that he knows his betrayal, still he loves him, and this is to fulfill all righteousness. I have no enemy. Even though I died in the hands of Ali, I won't regret it.  Like Iroroku, the saviour of Umuafo kingdom did, I shall  pray peace for my enemies" said the king .

He thought of talking within himself but the queen was listening to him because his voice was audible. 

         When the arrival day of the warriors came, a local gun was shot......booooom, and it was shot three times.....booom.....booom.....booom. Then a crowd voice came to the palace. The king came out to see that the palace was full with the people of Ebikiri kingdom and the warriors were singing songs of war. He saw Ali carrying two human heads which was later said to be the head of the king of Kuru kingdom and the chief priest.

         The king raised his right hand to show a sign of honor to stop the warriors, and they stopped singing. Then Ali bows  before the king and greeted the people of Ebikiri kingdom. He was given a go ahead by the king to give the good news brought by the warriors of Ebikiri kingdom. After the news, the people began singing, drumming and dancing over the victory.                   The king commended the warriors, especially Ali for always bringing victory from their enemies. He promised  the people that there would be a special day to celebrate their victory. Also, the closed stone on the palm will be opened on their very day to honor the victory. 

         The late king of Ebikiri kingdom who is the father of king Ola appeared to him physically. King Ola could not look at him in the face. So he nodded his head to listen to the old man's voice. It was the same warning given by the old man about the closed stone on the palm, which he warned that king Ola should not open. He didn't hear the voice of the old man after he gave  the message. He raised his head to look where the old man was standing, but he could not find him.

            King Ola became so afraid because he  has not seen his late father since his departure, even in a dream. For his father to warn him physically, which means this is no longer human imagination, a dream or vision. So king Ola changed his mind not to open the closed stone on the palm.

          The people of Ebikiri kingdom gathered in the palace with singing of traditional songs, dancing and drumming as the day of celebrating their victory and opening of the closed stone on the palm came. Guns were also fired to awake the spirit of their forefathers to appreciate them for the victory. Then the peretuwawei, meaning (the head of the chiefs who installs the king), stood up to welcome the people........"ahaaa izon, izon keme imiaoo, ose kule moooo, odoooo" greeted the peretuwawei and turned back at the king. He stopped his greetings and told the people to wait for the king's news about the closed stone on the palm. Then, king Ola stood up and greeted same way traditionally............"ahaaan izon, izon keme imiaoo, ose kule moooo, odoooo" then he holds a breath and face the congregation. He first of all thanked Ali for  being a defendant to the people of Ebikiri kingdom. He also thanked all the warriors of Ebikiri kingdom ,but he did not announce the news which the people were expecting of him. He disappointed the people for not fulfilling his promise.

          Ali went home worried and wondering what  could be the secret that the king refused to share with him. He became too disturbed, that it was very difficult for him to sleep. He felt in his mind that the king had betrayed him by keeping a secret from him. He thought of making it sudden to overthrow him because he doesn't know the content of this secret.

        Ali's fiance, Emilia came to him one night and she met him walking around his compound. She  noticed that he was worried about the secret that has not been opened to him but she had the opportunity through the foolishness of the queen to be aware of. So she hug him but he tried  pulling her off but she calmed him down by saying that she has the secret in her palm. 

       

 Ali became surprised and at first he did not believe her until she told him that the king had a child. The king was warned by the gods  not to let the people know about the baby inorder to avoid the incoming danger in the kingdom. He believed her because she is very close to the queen in same way he is to the king. 

          The prince is three months old but was hidden in a private room. This room has become a secret room which everyone in the palace is restricted to open except the king and the queen. But Emilia knows about this secret room. She also told Ali about it. She monitor the queen anytime she enters the room to breastfeed the prince.

                           CHAPTER FOUR

               (The invasion of the throne)

             Darkness came over the kingdom of Ebikiri, that the people were afraid to walk out from their houses. It happened so horribly that the day became night and the night became dark all through without bringing a light for new dawn. Darkness dominated  the kingdom and enslaved those who refused to worship it. But granted freedom to those who obeyed to worship it.

            Ali summoned all the warriors of Ebikiri for a secret meeting. But, he first had one with his second in command named Sagayi  before the general meeting that involved all the warriors. He planed with Sagayi that if he stayed on his side to overthrow the king, that he would make him as peretuwawei of Ebikiri kingdom and give half of his wealths to him. Sagayi accepted the offer due to his greed and love for material things. 

             The outcome of the meeting with the warriors is that they all approved the plan of Ali because he promised to reward them. But one of the warriors named Garba disapproved it and this made Ali so furious that he thought to also destroy him.

            In second thought, Ali also seeked the support of the elders in council, some agreed and some declined. In same way, he  planed to destroy them when he finally succeeds with his plans.

          Ali, to succeed with his plans, he also went to the chief priest for support  by giving a false message from the gods that he should be made the new king of Ebikiri kingdom when the incumbent king joins his ancestors. But the chief priest declined the idea......."paju ipai"...... meaning, may the gods forbid: said the chief priest. He then warned Ali not to throw  egg on the stone.  

         This caused  Ali no fear because he is fortified with a supernatural powers through his late mother who was a powerful witch that controls  darkness and rain. He killed the chief priest after he disapproved his request. 

              A cry of the sky walked round the kingdom and every drop of rain was like a blood flowing in the river.  A man ran into the palace with injuries all over his body and he was shivering like one who is tied in snow. It was difficult for him to talk because he was half dead. But he managed to speak......" Your majesty, there is fire on the mountain. As I am talking to you right now, Ali with the warriors are killing the  people of the kingdom . I was involved in the attack, but I narrowly escaped and now they are coming to the palace" said the man with hyperventilation breath.

            This did not take time when an arrow was shot, and it landed in front of the king where he was standing. Immediately the king saw it, he knew that the enemies have come. So he looked up to the sky and prayed to the gods to protect the people of the land. Then he looked down and saw the warriors at the gate of the palace and Ali was in front leading them.

          The palace guards tried to attack them but  because they  lacked fighting experience, the warriors killed all of them. Ali then approached the king and stabbed him with his fighting sword and he died instantly. He removed the crown from the dead king and put it on his head. And he entered the king's chamber and sat on the throne.

            Ali ordered his fiance, Emilia to kill the baby in the private room. But as she  got there, she could not find him. She noticed that he has been removed by the queen. So she came back to Ali to tell him about the unsuccessful killing of the baby. He then ordered the warriors to go round the village to search for the queen and the prince.

             The queen dropped the baby in a forest near the river where the river goddess appeared to her. She believed that he would be saved by the gods, so she dropped him and left. But on her way back to the palace, Ali shot an arrow on her which she also  died instantly.   Ali then saw a baby crying around the bush that he killed and thought that he is the real prince. He became so happy thinking that he has succeeded overthrowing the rightful king. He made himself king without undergoing the  ritual processes.

          When night came, the baby was still in the forest crying. However, a lion came out  and saw the baby, but did not harm him, and  the baby stopped crying when he saw the lion. Then the baby started smiling which the lion joined him to do the same.

         One day after, the forest animal...... both lion, tiger, elephant , snake, monkey and more others came to play with the baby in the forest. They were singing, dancing and drumming to make him happy. But a hunter saw these animals playing with the baby and he hid inorder not to be killed by them. He said to himself that they are not an ordinary animals but it is the gods that changed into animal form.

         When the animals noticed his presence, they disappeared and the hunter came out to meet the baby who was still smiling. He looked around to check if it is someone that dumped him or the baby is a spirit, but he couldn't find anyone and the baby remained constant. He threw sand on him to confirm if he is a human, and the result shows that the baby is a human not spirit. So when he wanted to carry him, an old woman appeared to him......"Fear not my son. I came to give you the voice of the gods. Take this baby home and take good care of him like your own blood. He is an hero and part of the royal blood. He is sent by the gods to be the king of Ebikiri kingdom and emancipate his people from the wicked hands of their  king and he shall be named Koyla. You shall be great through him" said the old woman.

After the message, the old woman disappeared and thunder blubbered three times. Then he carried the baby and ran home.

           When the hunter got home, his mother was at the point of death. The baby brought out tears without any sign of crying which became strange to the hunter and his wife. But something came to his mind and he cleaned the baby's tears and rubbed  his sick mother's face with the hand which surprisely his mother regained her health.

          Ali has finally installed himself as the new king of Ebikiri kingdom and appointed Sagayi as the new peretuwawei. But the okpo, which is  the staff of the king is missing. They searched the whole chamber but couldn't find it. This made Ali so worried because he cannot fully be king without the staff.

             Being a dictator, king Ali forced the people to worship him. He enslaved those who refused to respect him as the new king. He also turned the kingdom into Sodom and Gomorrah where homosexuality was introduced among the men. The people that rejects this sinful and immoral act were killed by him. He killed some of these people by hanging and buried others alive. He also  started sleeping with married women and killed their husbands who  refused to release their wives to him. 

             Inside of a plant's seed there is an embryo, which is called baby plant . The embryo has a stem, leaves, and roots. When a seed gets planted into the ground, it will go through a growing process called germination. Germination happens inside the seed, and with just the right combination of soil, water, and sunlight (warmth), the embryo will start to grow.

Once the seed has germinated, the embryo will sprout and pop right out of the seed. The roots will grow down into the soil and start absorbing water and food from the soil, and the stem will shoot right up towards the sunlight. Once the leaves grow, the plant will be ready to start making food on its own. Twelve years after, Koyla was already becoming of age and started doing the duties of adult. He accompanies his adopted father to the forest for hunting though has  has not mastered how to hunt yet, but carried the father's quiver. 

          Koyla did something mysterious when  he used a small stone to kill a wide animal while the father was in another direction checking his traps. But he used knife to stab the animal so that the father would not suspect that he killed it with the small stone. He called the father......"Father please come over, the gods have given us a meat.....a very big one" said Koyla with a bold and happy voice. Then the father came over to him and saw the big dead animal. He asked Koyla how he did it? But Koyla deceived him that the animal was at the point of death. That is, it was attacked by its fellow animal, so it became dizzy and weak and  that was the opportunity he used to stab it to death. The father was convinced even though he knows that Koyla is not an ordinary child. 

             The animal was so heavy that they could not carry it home. So they went home to call some men  in the village to help them carry it. After it was brought home, the father summoned all his neighbors and gave them their own share, but still there was enough left for them in the house which they took to the market to sell and earned thousands of naira. 

             After more years, Koyla started going to the forest alone for hunting and brought home bush meats each time he goes to the forest. He also mastered how to set trap for big tilapia fish and cat fish. So anybody that enters the mother's kitchen always come out with dry fish because the eri, the fish drying part of the kitchen will be filled up with different kinds of fish, including bush meats. 

            Koyla and his sister named Isabella, the biological daughter of the hunter were playing in the forest. Then he saw a danger in the village. So he told Isabella about it and insisted that they should go home. She did not take it serious but insisted that they should continue their play. Koyla put more pressure to let her know that he is serious.........."Am feeling danger around the kingdom and it is a situation that needs an urgent attention. So let's go home now" said Koyla.  So Isabella became convinced and approved their return home.

           When they got home, they were informed by their mother that the prince of the kingdom is at the point of death. So their father has left for the palace.  Then Koyla rush to the palace and met the whole villagers crying as if they want to cry down the sky.  

           Different habalists were called to save the dying prince, but they could not save him from the sick bed. The king became discouraged and hopeless when all the trials of the great habalists from the kingdom failed. So when Koyla asked the king, chiefs and the princess to leave him and the prince in the prince's chamber, the king doubted him but had no option than to grant him his request. Then Koyla cried to the gods to restore the prince' health. He called his name three times, and a heavy wind came and started blowing. Then the prince started shaking his hands and also opened his eyes to see Koyla standing before him. Koyla smiled and thanked the gods for given him the power to save the prince.

      When Koyla came out with the prince, the king and the congregation outside became surprised. Then the king asked Koyla......"Who are you, young man?".

" My name is Koyla, son of the great hunter, Alani" replied Koyla.

 "So what should I pay you back for this wonderful help: is it money, land, gold or silver just name it?" asked the king with eager voice to get Koyla's response. But surprisely, Koyla did not take any of the named gifts but instead asked that he should be allowed to leave which the king approved to him and he left.

                          CHAPTER FIVE                         

             The drummers, singers and dancers, and the people of Pinikiri kingdom  gathered in the king's palace while the drummers drummed , the dancers started dancing and the singers started singing their traditional songs. Then the king stood up and greeted the people. He looked round the congregation but he could not find Koyla. So he ordered two of his guards to bring Koyla before him. Immediately, the guards went to his house to bring him as the king ordered, but they didn't find him. They met his mother who told them that he went to the forest to check his traps.

           Koyla had the sign of the message, so he decided to return home, and on his way home, he met the two guards. They wanted to give him the king's message but he stopped them saying that he is already aware of what they want to tell him. Then he followed them to the palace where he met the whole people of Pinikir kingdom singing and dancing.

            This made the king so happy that he has finally seen Koyla. So he ordered Koyla to stand before him and then appointed him as the eye and priest of Pinikiri kingdom.  But this was not  the satisfaction of a man called Ikuru who was aspiring for the position. 

              Ikuru is a powerful and wealthy man in Pinikiri village. He is bold and called the owner of words, that is, a wise man, and many people expected him to occupy the position as the eye and priest of Pinikiri kingdom. He has supernatural powers which he got from the queen of Idemili, the queen of python. He was so annoyed when the king denied him this position and gave  it to Koyla. So he planned to destroy Koyla by setting up a trap for him.

           The first plan  Ikuru experimented was to send a mysterious python to kill the people who goes to the village stream to fetch water. He did this to distract Koyla and claim that he is not capable of the position as the eye and chief priest of Pinikiri kingdom. But Koyla destroyed the plan by killing the mysterious python in the stream, and this made  his first plan to fail.

         Haven failed in the first plan, Ikuru came out with a second plan by sending a mysterious lion to kill the people who goes to farm and Koyla's cousin was also among the people that were killed by the lion. Going to the farm was like going to the land of death, so the people decided to stay indoors inorder to avoid death, and this caused serious hunger. And  those people who did not save enough foods  started dying of hunger.

           Ikuru summoned all the youths of Pinikiri village and  ordered them to protest for the removal of Koyla from his position as the eye and chief priest of the kingdom. He convinced the youths that the gods are angry about the appointment of Koyla, that is why they are  killingng the people for just a warning. And if they still allow Koyla to remain in the position, that the gods would be more furious and destroy the entire kingdom. Also, Koyla is evil,  that is why the gods don't want him

               The youths became convinced and then went to the king to protest for the removal of Koyla. But the king declined their demands and told them that the gods are not the ones responsible for their problems. So he ordered that if such action is taken  next time, it will lead to their last day on earth.

           Koyla visited the king and gave him hope that the mysterious lion will not be seen in two days time from today. That  he has been keeping quiet due to the fact that, he was waiting for the voice and order from the gods to evacuate the evil lion.   

             So when the day came, Koyla went straight  to the usual spot where the lion is killing the people. Immediately he got to the spot, the lion appeared and attacked him but, he eventually killed it. He cut off the lion's head and brought it before the king. He told the king to hang the head on an iroko tree in the evil forest. So the king ordered two of his guards to take the head to the evil forest and hanged  on the iroko tree as instructed by Koyla, and the bees came out and built hives on it.

             Ikuru felt so disappointed after failing in the second plan but that didn't discourage him from getting to the destination of his plans and ambition of becoming the eye and chief priest of Pinikiri kingdom. So he went to the great Igudu, the priest of the forest who controls the mini priests like Koyla and others in the kingdom. He communicates with the gods  face to face. So whatever thing or prophecies he gives, the people  believed him, including the king, and he is a godship whom the people referred as human god.  

           He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. Ikuru went to Igudu and controlled him with money to proclaim a false message from the gods that Koyla is evil, so he has to be killed which Igudu agreed with him due to his greed love of money. Then Ikuru set a plan that for them to succeed with the plan, that he would create a realistic allegation to against Koyla inorder to convince the king and the people.  But the corrupt act of Igudu became a sacrilege and taboo before the gods which he knew, but he pretended to be blind and deaf to his corruptible act. 

              Koyla has seen the sign of the  incoming danger, but he pretended not to be aware, instead he wished the WILL of the gods to be done.  

              One day,   Koyla went to the forest to get a leaf for a sick man. While plucking the leaf, he heard a voice of a lady who was singing in the forest, and he noticed that the voice was not a spirit voice but the voice of  a human. So he traced where the voice was coming out from and he saw a lady lying down on the ground and she was at the point of death due to hunger. He gave her water to drink and rushed her home to feed her.

              As he got home with the lady, he asked what brought her to the forest where dangerous animals and evil spirits reside? Then she narrated her story that she was banished from her village with her parents who were allegedly accused of  poisoning the village stream which killed almost all the people. She was seven years then and unfortunately she lost her parents but later met an old woman who saved  her from being homeless and hungry in the lonely forest.  But more sadly for her, she lost the old woman. She was named Ininifi (Endurance) by her parents but the old woman changed the name to  Ebierimini, meaning ( I will see fortune). The old woman died after brief a illness. 

          Koyla told Ebierimini that the old woman saw her future that is why she changed the name,  and now the future has given birth. Meeting with him means that  her future is destined by the gods and as her name implies she has seen her fortune. Then he laid her on a mat to have a rest and instructed Isabella to prepare her evening meal.

           

           

                        CHAPTER SIX

    (The dream of Koyla  about the two beasts that appeared with the  face of Ali                          and   Ikuru)

                Koyla had a dream, a terrible deadly dream. At the first light of the dawn, he got up and hurried to their Isabella's hut and told them about the dream....."I dreamt last night and  I saw two mysterious beats. The first one carried the face of a lion which I later identified as Ikuru's face. While the second one carried the face of a dragon but I could not identify the face because it was  very strange.  They both had wings and iron teeth. Then they attacked me in the dream, but they could not defeat me, so they disappeared.  A voice came through my ears said to me that the second face that I could not identify is from the land of Ebikiri kingdom who killed their king and imposed himself as the new king. According to the voice, that the people of Ebikiri kingdom are under captivity by this wicked usurp. So they are in a deep need of my help to emancipate them" said Koyla.

              Ebierimini had a dream that Koyla was put in a lion's den. So she told him about the dream but he ignored it. Koyla always wished the will of the gods to be done.

           Hell is empty and all the devils are here. They are on earth punishing and killing the good people to achieve rewards. But the earth is silent because hell is not  ready to call them back and let them know that they belong to it. Ikuru sent three men to kill Koyla's adopted father and mother, so the hunter and his wife were killed. They cut off the hunter's right hand and  pluck out the wife's eyes including her tongue as ordered by  Ikuru and they ran away. 

              Their assignment was not complete without killing Isabella, but they were not aware of Ebierimini living in the village. So they went to Koyla's house where they saw Isabella sitting outside the hut. At this time, Ebierimini was not around because she went to the stream to fetch water. To complete their assignment, they killed Isabella and also cut off her head to join the parents' and put them in  Koyla's room. They put them in a way that looks like they are meant for evil sacrifice by Koyla. For Isabella's corpse not to be discovered, they buried her in a shallow grave at the back of Koyla's house.

             

               But as when Ebierimini was returning from the stream, she saw these men from afar and  hid  behind a big tree so that they would not see her. She saw bloods in their hands and they were going towards Ikuru house, so she felt that they were sent by him. Getting to the house, she could not find Isabella and Koyla was in one of the connected  villages of Pinikiri called Pougbini where he was called to treat a man who fell down from a palm-tree. She did not know her way to the house of the hunter, the late adopted father of Koyla to look for Isabella because she is a stranger in the land. So she decided to wait for her like a farmer waiting for rain, maybe she went out with her two friends, Ebierin and Powei but she couldn't get her return.

             Ikuru became very happy because he  had gotten the climax of his plans. He went to Igugu......"We have finally succeeded with our plans. Nobody will listen to him this time including the king. So it is now the appropriate time for you to tell the king and the people that Koyla is evil. Tell the king and the people that Koyla have been perpetrating evil in the land by sacrificing innocent souls to his evil god which is an abomination and taboo to the tradition of this land. Also tell the king that his failure to  adhere to the tradition of this land would, result to his dethronement. Therefore, he is expected to do the needful" said Ikuru. Then Igudu agreed to the plan and appeared before the king.

           However, Koyla returned home and met Ebierimini crying . So he asked what the problem was and she told him that Isabella have been missing for three days. He saw a sign that she has been killed by the enemies and he quickly rushed to his adopted parents home and met them dead with incomplete organs. He also knew this as the work of the enemies, so he was afraid and then took Ebierimini to a woman called Diminini who he trusted that cannot betray him. He put her in the woman's custody so that the enemies would not come after her.

               It was too late for Koyla to reveal the mysterious death of his adopted parents because Ikuru and Igudu have already appeared before the king and the people of Pinikiri village to announce their false message. Though the king did not believe Igudu despite the fact that he is a priest that communicate with the gods face to face. Because he trusted Koyla that he could never have been  involved in such an act. But Ikuru clears the king's doubt that there is a clear evidence to prove.

              When Koyla returned to his house, he met crowd of people including the king gathered in his compound. Then the king saw Koyla and ordered him to stand before him. He could not say a word while questioning him because it is against the tradition to defend one who is in question. But he only asked for permission to search his room which Koyla approved because he knows that he is innocent.

           Two of the guards were ordered to search Koyla's room and they found the human organs in the room. They were able to identify Isabella through her face on the head but the others were just the hand of the hunter and eyes and tongue of the wife. Quickly, Igudu told the king that they should check the back of Koyla's house, that he buried Isabella there. So the king ordered three of his guards to check and they truly discovered the corpse of Isabella which was already decaying and rotten. 

             The king could not say a word, but ordered that Koyla should be taken to the evil forest  for three days. Also, after spending the three days in the forest, he would be put in underground where different kinds of snakes and other mysterious beings live for another three days and they believe that he would not succeed. But nothing happened to him. So Igudu said that Koyla is using his evil power that is why he is not dead yet. So, he told the king that he should be put in the lion's den at Amukuku forest where they believe that he cannot survive. The king agreed and executed the order and Koyla was thrown into the lion's den in the Amukuku forest.

           

         

                         CHAPTER SEVEN

  (Koyla and the old man in the lion's den,                        and the  invisible staff)                              

              There is no worse pain of feeling than being unable to assuage the suffering of the innocent. And there is no worse pain than when you hear them calling you for help, but you could not offer the help. When the king returned home after putting Koyla in the lion's den at Amukuku forest, he could not sleep comfortably because he was so disturbed about the situation of Koyla because he knows that he is innocent. He woke up in the middle of the night  and went straight to his chamber to open the local cupboard which is  made with bamboo ( ogbolo, in ordinary language)  and brought out the traditional book to know the days Koyla will spend in the den. His hands were shaking like one who put hands on ice block while opening the pages of the book. He passed the mean page without noticing because he was so much in a hurry. But he later relaxed his mind to get the page and confirmed  that Koyla would spend three days in the den .

           The king became more worried because who ever is put in the den cannot survive or come out alive.  He could not eat  and talk to people, and he even stopped having meetings with his chiefs.

            One night, he cried  all through and called Koyla's name.  Then a voice  came through his ears and sounded exactly like Koyla's voice. He followed the voice down to the forest without fear. When he got to the gate of the den, he called Koyla again with shivering voice......."O! Koyla, the servant of the gods, please..... forgive me. It is beyond my power to save you. But is your ancestors whom you serve able to save you from the sabre-toothed lions ?" asked the king with a sorrowful voice.

"Live long, your Majesty. The gods are with me, so I am safe, besides I'm having fun with the lions  because they are friendly with innocent souls" replied Koyla.

When he heard Koyla's voice, he became strong and hopeful that Koyla would be free one day. So he returned home and had a comfortable sleep.

             He used to wake up before everyone in the palace due to his worries about Koyla, but he became the last to witness the light of the dawn since he heard the sound voice of Koyla in the den. He began to eat like one who was just released from the prison and started attending meetings with the chiefs. It became surprise to all the chiefs, including the queen because they don't know the person that set the fire that is bringing out the smoke.

         An old man appeared to Koyla in the den and  told him that  his days of returning to his father's land are numbered and he had just few days to spend. He became confused but the old man showed him a mirror through which he saw his background and how his biological parents were murdered by the usurp king, Ali. He also discovered the truth that he is a stranger in the land of Pinikiri.

          The old man gave him the missing staff......." This is the royal staff of your late father which was inherited from his forefathers. King Ali is not a full king because the gods did not accept his kingship, that is why they took this staff and kept it for you. The staff is invisible. No one can see it in your hands until you get back to your kingdom, Ebikiri to claim your father's throne. Nothing would happen to you because the gods are always with you" said the old man. Then the old man disappeared after giving the staff to Koyla.

              Ikuru noticed that Koyla was not harmed by the hungry lions in the den, so he went to the den and changed himself into a lion and tried to convince the other lions to eat Koyla, but he could not posses them. They fought him which almost took his life.

            Ikuru returned home with severe injuries all over his body. Allowing Koyla to come out safe might end his life, so he went to Igugu for assistance to kill Koyla in the den. 

           Igudu demanded for more money to carry out the assignment......"My friend, Ikuru, you can not go to a stream which is not well clean to fetch a water without cleaning it up with your water jar. So  clean before fetching me. I have helped you to put him in the den where we all believe that he cannot come out alive, but still he is alive which means he has great powers" said Igudu. Ikuru agreed and gave him more money and promised to reward him with two pieces of land after he succeeds killing Koyla.

           Igudu appeared to Koyla in the den and changed himself into a beast. He tried all he could to kill Koyla, but he failed. When he managed to escape  death, he told Ikuru that Koyla is over protected, so they cannot bring him down. He also warned him that they should give up on him and wait for their fate to decide, that's if he comes out alive. 

              

                     CHAPTER EIGHT

     ( The release of  Koyla and his  return                           to   Ebikiri  land)

        A day to the release of Koyla and his return to Ebikiri kingdom to save his people from the wicked hands of their evil king, Ali, the old man reappeared to him in the lion's den at Amukuku forest. The old man reminded him that he should get prepared that the time is almost at hand to return to his land to save the people.  Then the old man disappeared immediately after giving him the message.

          Koyla was no more ignorant but fully  aware of himself that he is part of the royal blood and a stranger in another land.  Becoming an outcast was the purpose of the gods to preserve his life to fulfill his destiny. 

         Koyla thought of his woman, Ebierimini and wondered what could be her situation in the hands of the old woman. Then he said to himself that nothing would happen to her because she is in the safe hands of a kind and trustworthy woman. 

           The day to  Koyla's release from the den, the king and the people of Ebikiri kingdom stood before the gate of the lion's den, including Ikuru and Igudu. For being hopeful, the king called to Koyla in a joyful voice......."Koyla, servant of the gods, did the gods, whom you claimed that you serve  able to rescue you from the lions?" asked the king.

Then a voice came out......"O Your Majesty, live long and may your blessings from the gods have no boundary. The gods are with me. They shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, instead I am having fun with them, because I was found innocent in the sight of the gods. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you and the people. Also, the beasts of the forest did not harm me but instead they accommodated me as their own because I was found innocent before them" replied Koyla.

         The king was overjoyed and gave order to lift Koyla out of the den. And when he was lifted from the den, no injuries were found on him, and even his cloth was as clean as sparkling diamond. This was a  surprise to the people, and those who did not trust him from the beginning of the accusation  started asking for his forgiveness. Then the king said......."Never judge someone's character based on the words of another. Instead, study the motives behind the words of the person casting the bad judgment. An honest woman can sell tangerines or ordinary water all day and remain a good person until she dies, but there will always be naysayers who will try to convince you otherwise. Perhaps this woman did not give them something for free, or at a discount. Perhaps too, that she refused to stand with them when  they were wrong — or just stood up for something she felt was right. And also, it could be that some bitter women are envious of her, or that she rejected the advances of some very proud men" advising the people for jumping into conclusion without knowing the beginning. 

           After Koyla was brought home, the angry thunder blubbered three times, and fire came from the sky and burnt down the house of Ikuru and the strine of Igudu, but eru, the oracle was untouched. Then a mysterious cane started flogging the two men mercilessly and they were shouting for help but no one come for their rescue.  So they both ran to the village square and confessed to the king and the people that they are the ones responsible for all the evils in the land. 

                 The allegation on Koyla was set by them and Ikuru specifically confessed that as a well honored and powerful man in the kingdom, he wanted the position of Koyla which was denied him by the king. So he became angry and planned to eliminate Koyla but his powers were not enough to conquer him, that is why he bribed  Igudu to accuse him of perpetrating evils in the land.

            After their confessions, the king reminded the two men in same way they did during the trial of Koyla that the wages of sin is death before the tradition of the land.

"In keeping silent about evil, in burying it so deep within us that no sign of it appears on the surface, we are implanting it, and it will rise up a thousand fold in the future. When we neither punish nor reproach evildoers, we are not simply protecting their trivial old age, we are thereby ripping the foundations of justice from beneath new generations" said the king.

 Then he ordered that they should be thrown into the lion's den and be seen no more to commit more evils in the land.    Immediately, they were thrown  into the den..... before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. The king also banished all their children and wives out of the land.

          An empty throne is a dangerous one and also a throne in the wrong persons hand is destructive and the people will suffer in the hand of a tyrant. However, Koyla appeared before the king of Pinikiri village and told him that the hour  has come for him to return to his land to save the people. He made the king know that he is a stranger, and he is not part of them in the land.  He was adopted by the late hunter whom the gods used to save him from the wicked hands of the present king of Ebikiri kingdom who killed his biological parents and usurp the throne.

          The king and the people of Pinikiri village became very sad for the sudden relocation of Koyla.  They will emotionally suffer  the loneliness that is about to come on them, and they wanted it to be avoidable, but Koyla told them that they need him but his people need him more.

        A man called Sambu, who is a drunkard went to the king, Ali, in the palace and told him that the lion who  made himself as the king of the jungle is asleep,  but a wind is about to wake him up from that sleep. The tears and pains of the forest could not allow the wind to rest, so the lion should be prepared to face the wrath of the wind. Then the man made it direct to him that his days on the throne are numbered and would soon come to an end because of his wicked act.

       Ali became so angry after the man confronted him, so he ordered that the man should be buried alive in the evil forest. Though after killing him, he became so worried and disturbed.  But he encouraged himself and believe that no man born of a woman can kill him, so he cannot be harmed by any mortal.

      

                There is no journey without destination, so whatever thing that has a beginning must also have an end. There is no denying that there is no evil in the world but  light will always conquer the darkness. The morning sun will come out, but it will not last the day. The days of Ali are truly numbered.

         Darkness covered the land of Ebikiri kingdom and the servants of the night started  entering each house to arrest virgins from seven households. 

       The seven virgins were prepared as sacrifice for the evil gods of Ali.  Then each was to be slaughtered in the river of ogugu where the sacrifice will be taken by the queen of darkness.  He has been giving this sacrifice  since he occupied the throne by fortifying himself. One who dare to stop him would be put to death, so no one dares to stop him.

           When the first virgin was about to be slaughtered by one of the warriors, an arrow came from the sky and hit him on the neck and he  died instantly. Then Koyla came out with his woman, Ebierimini and raised the staff, it was surprising to Ali and the people of Ebikiri village. He said to the people that he has come to save them from their captivity under the wicked king. He showed the people a royal mark which was put on him by his father, the late king which convinced the people to recognize him as the missing prince of the kingdom. Then Ali ordered his guards and some of the warriors who were with him to attack Koyla, but he eventually killed all of them.

       Ali was trying to run away when it became tough that he cannot stand Koyla, but he shot an arrow on his leg which broke him down that he could not run anymore. To make him pay for his evil deeds in the land, he was taken to the evil forest and buried alive, including those warriors and chiefs who connived with him to perpetrate the evil.

         After Koyla reclaimed the throne and save the people from their sufferings, he was crowned as the new king of Ebikiri kingdom. Then he married Ebierimini who became the queen of the land.

                      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

   Lene Ododomu is a student of English and Literature in the University of Abuja. He hails from  Whygirigha-Arogbo, Ondo state, Nigeria. He attended primary school in his place of birth, and finished his secondary school education at Derimobo Model College, Arogbo. He was a one time PRO of the Derimobo Model College Old Student Association (DMCOSA), and now the Vice President of the Association.

 He is a legislative member of the National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS), University of Abuja chapter, and also the current Deputy Speaker of the legislative body.  He is a poet, playwright, novelist, critics etc.

                      ABOUT THE BOOK

 Pride begets greediness and greediness begets evil. Ali Omotoso was a powerful man and chief of the Ebikiri's warriors who is well respected by the king, Ola and the people of Ebikiri kingdom. He was undefeatable in every battle, and he brought victory to his people always. He became more known and famous when he conquered the unconquerable kingdom called Ugudi where cannibals live. So he became like a statue of hope to the people. However, he was pushed by pride and greed to overthrow the rightful king and became a dictatorship king in the land. But he was eventually killed by Koyla, the son of the late king who was on exile for many years.