Once Upon A Lie - Episode 9

 

MBATA KINGDOM

The king arose from his seat and gasps filled the room.

“Say that again” he said.

“I said” the eldest chief continued “that a head for a head will keep all heads off their necks…”

“I heard that” the King said, standing before the chief, whose head, as well as those of the other chiefs, has been bowed to the ground.

“You know, what you were saying about us, the Quolans and battle”

“My Lord” 

“Repeat it!” the King shouted, his voice like that of the roaring of a lion.

The whole place grew very silent, so much that the sound of everyone’s breathing could be heard.

FUOLE’S POV

I’ve been teaching Marita some basics of our language and she’s picking up fast. She’s such a fast learner. 

I left her to write the rest of the letters she’s writing and went outside to check if Ahl is back . He went to check the new apartment I want to get for Marita if it’s good enough. 

He should be back soon, I thought when I heard the thumping of a horse.
I stayed, expecting Ahleera but someone else came. 

“Dairo?” I thought. The horse came nearer.

 “Dairo, what a surprise!” he alighted from his horse and we hugged. 

“When did you come back?”
 
“The day before you got charmed by a mysterious woman”
 
“I’m not charmed” I said
 
“But wait, how did you even know? Wait-no-no- your uncle told you, right?” 

“Yeahh” he drawled out

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

. “Oh man!” I put my hand on my forehead. Dairo is the grandson of my late grandpa’s most beloved chief, Chief Jalami. His father and grandpa lost their lives in the war, so the palace now caters for himself and his uncle.

“How’s aunt doing? It’s been a while I visited”

“Nahh don’t bother, she understands”.  I raised a brow 

“Understands what?” “Welllll,” he drawled again. 

He likes doing that when teasing hell out of me and as always, it works my nerves out.

“She understands you are busy with your newly found love, so no offence taken”

“Mannnn” I hit him on the shoulder and he winced “that wound is not perfectly healed yet bro” I muttered a “sorry but not sorry” and we laughed. 

“Anyway, I passed by the back of the palace and it seemed jolly, what’s up? I didn’t branch because I wanted to see you and your lady first”

“Damn!” I shouted. “What?” Dairo asked almost immediately.

“Cleopatra must be around. She wouldn’t be happy if I missed the welcome party. Chill here” I said, not giving him chance to talk. I rushed into the room.

“Marita,” I called and she looked up at me. “Sorry, I have to go now, there is an emergency”

“Uhh, is everything alright?” she looked so beautiful, worried for me. I moved closer to her and patted her shoulder.

“Everything is, you too.” Our eyes locked for a moment and I reluctantly took my hands off her. 

“Ahleera should be back soon, tell him to meet me at the palace at once”. She nodded and I headed for the door. I turned back.

“Ensure you don’t keep the door opened when you are alone. Although, the town is peaceful but caution is needed still. Take this whistle” I pulled a white one out of my pocket and I put it in her hands. 

“It’s very loud. Blow it in case of any emergency. I’ll send some guards here once I get to the palace”

“Thank you” she said and gave a small smile. 

“Lock the door once I leave. Be good”

“You too, bye” she said. I stayed behind the door till I heard her lock it and walked towards Dairo.

“Waohh, you won’t even let me see her? You took a long time in there though, were you kissing or what?”

“I’m going to take the horse” I said in a singsong, pretending not to hear him.

He followed with his horse “so you were smooching?” I groaned inwardly but pretended to be unaffected.

“Get on the horse” I said in a singsong again.
He did and we started to ride slowly. His persistent side took over “so you were kissing and…?”

“Oooh shut up!” I laughed and pulled the reins of the horse and it sped faster, leaving Dairo to his romantic dreams.

We got to the palace and we could see the merry mood of everyone. I called one of the maids and she told me grandmother is already in. I got down from the horse while Dairo took both horses to the stables. I entered the royal court.

 “Cleopatra Essien!” I shouted.
She loved it when I called her by her full name. She’s everyone’s favourite, but we have a deeper connection I prefer talking to her than my mom and dad. They are too… ehmm… royally, I guess.

The music stopped and everyone turned to face me. Then grandma smiled brightly at me. 

“Ohh my grandson, my grandson” she rushed to meet me and the party continued. She hit me on the head and I yelped. 

“Cleo, were you served stones there? Your hit is so painful” I whined, pouting.

She hit me again “you deserve it, small boy. Why weren’t you here when I came? My eyes were searching for you” 

“Awwnn” I blushed.

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

. She hit me on the leg.

“Where were you?” she said, with her hand on her hip, waiting for my answer.

“Uhmm, grandmother, about that…. I was out… out to bring Dairo, yes Dairo” I stuttered. Cleo was giving me a scrutinizing look and I know that look too well. She obviously knows all that was a big lie. I looked around, tapping my nails when Dairo walked in. I waved to him.

 “Hey man,” he saw me and came closer “What took you so long? I brought you to Cleo’s party and you want to spend all the time in the stables, huh?”

“Uhmm” Dairo said, giving me a “you’re so dead” look.

“Well, old gran” I said, earning a sneer from Cleo. I put a hand on Dairo’s shoulders.

“Dairo here, as I said, is the reason I came late”
Cleo shook her head in resignation. 

“We both know that…” she was interrupted by Aunt Tar who only murmured a greeting to me and took Cleo away.

Tarina is the younger sister of my father, and is happily married with three boys. She is my closest relative after Cleo.
 
Somehow, I feel I can tell Cleo what I can’t tell Aunt Tar and vice versa. They both have some sentiments that most times work in my favour and I…

“Ouch!” I yelped, turning to see a look of satisfaction on Dairo’s face.

“What was that for?” I asked, rubbing the spot where he hit me.

“Well, what was that for?” he asked, tilting his leg to a side.

“What? By the way, didn’t you say your wound isn’t totally healed? How come you still punch so hard?” I asked, feigning ignorance.

“It’s the other hand” he answered. “And don’t you dare change the topic. You have a lot to tell me, you know”

“Oh man! Don’t you ever relent?”

“Well, it isn’t in my dictionary, you see” he said with a smirk.

“Whatever,” I said “come this way then”