Demigods(book one) - Episode 18

 

ADETOYE'S CORONATION

 It was the D-Day. Adetoye had woken up as early as Dawn to check the preparations. The palmwines we're ready, His people had brought all sort of gift to adore him and of course, he had in his hands the evidence that would destroy his brother. Now that everything was perfect, he could rest. 

 The bells jingled. It was definitely time . Maids rushed into his room to get him ready for the most important day of his life. His mother arrived for the first time since she left for the widow's convent. The look in her eyes was pure admiration. The last accessory was the crown. The crown his ancestors had worn and the one he was wearing now. Adetoye was escorted by his mother to his throne. He could not wait to be given the regal mark, a pleasant term for burning the skin with a hot poker that had his family's signet.

"Hail the future king." The crowd kept shouting. From the corner of eyes, Adetoye could see his step brother's disappointment. Hopefully,he won't be for long. The poker was hot and Amber red. It was time for Adetoye to receive the mark. He clenched his fist as the hot metal touched his skin, smoke hissed out of the area and behold it was done, Adetoye was king.

"Hail the new king.",cried the crowd.

Adetoye stood up to give a heart warming speech.

"Thank you my people." He began as their cry began to lessen." I wish my dear father were here to see this, he would have been so proud." Adetoye purposely said that part to invoke emotions and as cue for the servant he had paid to finish his step brother.

"I..." He continued with a heavy heart,"will do my best to be the king that the people need."

The speech got another outcry from the people. He has gotten their support, it was time for the great reveal

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/demigods-book-one

. The servant came forward with the letter and spoke so all ears could hear,

"Sire, I found this in your brother's room."

Adetoye feigned concern and took the letter he had fabricated himself. He scrolled through and fell to the floor, some people are just drama Kings. An elder took the scroll and read through. The result, he gasped in shock. The whole crowd that gathered for the coronation were thrown in pandemonium. 

What was happening? They wondered.

The queen mother took the letter and read through. She burst into a cry and lunged for Adewale who could not decide what was happening. It took two guards to take her off Adewale before she could do any permanent damage.

"What did I do?" Adewale asked with the purest innocence.

"Murderer." Adetoye accused with bloodshot eyes. Again, some people are just drama Kings.

The accusation caught the whole crowd including Adewale unaware.

"Lych him." A cry erupted from someone in the crowd. Everyone seemed to agree as they turned it to their mantra. The queen mother, Bukola although shocked by her stepson's actions still wanted him alive.

"No!" She ordered, silencing the congregation of barbarians.

"He will not be beheaded or lyched until we have evidence." She expressed.

"Ifadoju is ill. His visions are getting unclear." Another villager said.

Adetoye breathed a sigh of relief, he had forgotten Ifadoju in all of his schemes. He was greatful for the recent development. Now he had to think first before his mother devised another way to keep  Adewale alive.

"I have made a decision." Adetoye said with confidence."until a decision is made, the Noble and my brother will be in prison."

 There was a solemnly agreement with the new King's achievement. It was followed by a wicked laughter. The laughter seemed to erupt from all around the room. Everybody turned around to see who it was coming from. It was a woman.  Adetoye studied her from toe upwards. She had dirty feets, her legs were dry and flaky. She wore a black cloth that looked as old as day. Her face, her face made Adetoye's stomach recoil. It was his dear sister, Adeola.

"Traitor!" An elder said, pointing to her an accusing finger.

 She turned to him, her eyes completely Raven black,

"Shut up!"

Her order seemed to bend the natural laws as the man soon found it difficult to breathe and began coughing a Black liquid. In seconds, he was dead.

Adeola turned back to her brother,

"Miss me?"

Her mother burst into tears immediately.

"Who did this to you?" She asked sobbing.

Adeola's reply was however calm. Who else had done this to her? It was her brother. She ignored her mother and approached her brother closely. He took a step back each time she got closer. The look in his eyes was gold. He was definitely afraid.

"What do you want?" He asked in a shaky voice.

"I want you dead but unlike you, I am not a coward. I, daughter of the ethereal wolf challenge you to a battle Royale." She replied.

 Adetoye could not do this. It was a bloody battle that involved all those with Noble blood in their veins and it involved a fight to the finish. But if he did not accept the battle. The whole world would know his crimes. It was settled, he had to say the word.

"I accept."

***

 Remi and Daruma were praised by all for their valiant a accomplishment. The people of Desuda invited them to a  feast of celebration. But first, Remi had to see Ajoke. 

"Hey!" Remi said to announce his presence. She looked preoccupied.

"Is something wrong?" He asked.

"Nothing." Ajoke replied.

"She's lying." Daruma revealed.

"In the name of the god's." Ajoke cursed under her breath. She had forgotten that Daruma could read minds.

"Okay, there's something wrong." Ajoke confessed.

It got Remi worried. Was she pregnant?

"I was attacked by someone." She said.

Remi's expression morphed from concern to rage. "Who?" He asked.

"It was a good. He tried to burn me alive. He said..." Ajoke answered in between sobs. The rage in Remi was building. Aja had said he would have to make a choice. Was that it?

"Take us there." Remi said to Ajoke.

  The tree was no longer where it stood. It was just a pile of Ash and smock and surprisingly, it was still burning.

Remi tried to extinguish the fire with his foot. It rewarded him with a burn. It was not healing. It then dawned to Remi that whoever did this must have had a hand in his parent's fire incident. The words of Ifadoju replayed in Remi's mind. It was hell fire.

   At the celebration, Remi could hardly celebrate as his mind wandered off to why Esu was after Ajoke's life. He needed answers but none seemed to came. The calling of his name brought him back to reality.

It was Desuda's chief. He was pointing a glowing rock at him.

"We give you the crystal of fire, the heart of the Phoenix as a gift for our redemption." He said.

 Remi accepted it. His mind focused on the journey ahead. Their journey of transistion was complete. They were returning back to Ayetoro. He would meet Ifadoju and ask for his answers, All of them.

 After the party, the people began to pack for their journey back home. Remi was taken hand in hand by Ajoke. She wanted to tell him something. They arrived at the cliff where they usually conversed.

"Remi," she began." There's something else you need to know. When I was about to be burnt alive by the fire Esu made, my talisman. It turned me into a bird momentarily. It reminded me of my parents."

Remi held her tight and refused to let her go. He remembered his father and the evil he had done. Another thought came to him.

"Could Aja mean I would have to choose between my people and my own father? Was that the choice?"

 A horn informed them that it was time to go. The couple broke off to a cheerful run as they headed to their camp.

***

  The spy Aremu had sent to Ayetoro arrived at his hideout.

 Aremu was doing nothing but sitting idle on his makeshift throne.

" Sire," the man bowed.

"Speak." Aremu ordered.

 "There has been a recent change of event."

"What change?" Aremu questioned further.

" The arrival of a witch and a battle Royale."

"And the boy?" Aremu said referring to Remi.

"My sources say they are coming today." The spy revealed.

 Aremu knew it was not yet time.

Read " Living The Pureblood Series " by the same author ( samuelade. )

. They had to plan their assault wisely. If the boy was indeed like Ala, he was in for a fight. It was a good thing he had a weapon of his own.

 Aremu walked quietly in his dungeons. He was looking for his most prized prisoner. He found him. The man was placed in the darkest parts of the dungeon. The only remarkable thing was how his necklace glowed. It was syph stone. The truth was the man in front of him was a powerful mage.

" I see you remembered me." He said with a croaky voice.

"Help me and I'll release you. You can find your daughter." Aremu bargained.

The man held a lock of hair in his hand and said solemnly to himself.

"Ajoke, your father is coming." He then stood up, staggering due to the chains on him. He walked up close to Aremu and said,

"We have a deal."