Once Upon A Lie - Episode 8

 

MBATA KINGDOM

“Hahahahahaha” the King laughed. 

“Stupid Quolans” he spat out as though the name was irritating.  

“Peace is an abomination between us. They are too stupid to rule”

“You should’ve seen how fast the other servant ran, I couldn’t even see his legs make contact with the floor” the second chief laughed.

“What of when you called him to come back? He was shaking like catfish out of water” the third chief said.

“But still, a head for a head, my King, will keep all heads off their necks.” 

The eldest chief looked at the chief, standing from his seat. ‘I don’t think” he looked at the chiefs “I don’t think what we are doing is proper”

“Now, we’ve killed one of the servants sent to us by the Quolan King and sent him a message using the blood of his subject . They are trying to ensure peace but we are doing the exact opposite.” 

He adjusted his clothes and continued “And we know that they have many clans under them, even without their support, they are more in number and more skilful. We’ve never won against them before in battle and…”

“Enough!” The King shouted, startling all the subjects in the room.

MARITA’S POV

“The windows are still closed by this hour of the day? Aren’t you feeling hot? It’s stuffy in here, young woman” the prince said as I spread the mat on the floor again. 

By the way, what happened that other time? It was so weird

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/once-upon-a-lie

. I took a quick glance at the prince. He’s opening the windows but he and Ahl are fighting over them. Ahl isn’t that bad after all, but I feel bad vibes from him. 

The prince actually has good features and is a very good man. Girl, that’s none of your business, I told myself.  

“All done!” he spread his hands dramatically and sat on the mat between Ahl and me. 

You see, Ahl kept a great distance between us. I just hope the hearts of the prince and I will have an equivalent space between each other.

“So, we had an unfinished discussion yesterday. Why were you in the forest?” he looked very curious

“I was bored” I said and faced down. “I was only strolling a bit out of my zone. I kind of lost my way while I was thinking and while I was trying to head back, I came face-to-face with a wolf”. 

I raised my head and met his face “The wolf started to pursue me and I ran for my dear life but you see, the wolf wouldn’t relent. It pursued me till I slipped and landed myself where you met me”

He broke contact with my eyes and cleared his throat a little and I shrugged 

“So that’s the story. Very silly, right?” He looked up, confusion evident in his eyes. 

“I mean, why did I ever wander from my place? I’ve been asking myself ever since I woke but I don’t seem to be able to answer that question. But you see, I was tired of living all by myself. Yesterday was the 12th anniversary of my mother’s death”

“Ooh sorry for that” he said in a low voice. “It’s also the twelfth year since I’ve been living alone” I added, tears welling up in my eyes.

Read " Let It Go " by the same author ( Gracious )

. I shook my head just to ensure they don’t come out.

“It’s okay, you can cry. That’s so much for a little girl.” he was silent for a while, then suddenly spoke up like something dropped in his mind 

“But did your mother not tell you anything about your father? Anything at all? Or where you came from?”

“I asked countless times but she would never. She kept telling me she would take good care of me and never let me suffer. Every time I brought it up, tears would well up in her eyes and ask if she wasn’t enough for me, so I let it go. 

Even until the day she gave up the ghost, she told me nothing” Silently, I added “It’s a pity, I don’t even know who I am”

“I think I do, a little bit” the prince smiled at me a bit and I managed to give a shocked look.

“What? How?” 

“You’re a Quolan”

***
A woman who looked like she was in her eighties alighted from a royal carriage at the palace. Everything about her spelt royalty, from her attire to her jewelries to her gait. 

She entered the royal room while some guards waited outside and some brought her luggage in.

“Is this place some kind of burial ground? Why is it all quiet and dark in here?” she looked around and beckoned on one of the guards. 

Suddenly, different lights shone around her and voices came from inside the house saying the same thing at the same time “You’re welcome, Grandmother!”

The queen, Nnuole, Paulita, the maids and some guards appeared, all having smiles plastered on their faces as they approached the woman. Soft music started to play.

“Grand Queen, you’re welcome back” the queen said as she knelt to greet her but she pulled the queen up and hugged her instead. 

“Thank you, my darling. Hope you’re good”

“Yes, my grand queen”

“Grandma Patra!” Nnuole shouted and attacked her with a hug from behind.

“Oh my big baby girl. Hope you’ve reduced your fights with Pauli” she asked. Nnuole shrugged and backed away while the grand queen laughed. 

“And is Paulita now fighting me too? Where is she?”

“You’re welcome, grandmother” Paulita said with a smile. 

“Thanks dear. I expect you to have grown older than your incessant fights with your sister” Paulita suddenly frowned and left.

“Now, they are both fighting you. Maybe it’ll distract them from their own fights” the queen said and laughed with the grand queen.

Suddenly, a figure rushed into the room and called out “Cleopatra Essien!” and the music stopped.