Ope walked round the market to make sure she has gotten everything the princess sent her to buy.
As she was about going she sighted a young boy, she recognized the boy very well, despite he has increased in height and body she still know who he was
He wanted to buy fufu from a older woman who seem to be smiling while talking with him
Ope quickly walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder, he quickly turned and looked at Ope with a confused face before greeting her
"Eka sun (good afternoon)
"Ba wo ni (how are you)
"O wa pa (I'm fine)
"Do you know me...or let me say do you remember me...?
"Rara o (not at all)
"Are you through with what you came to buy or you still want to buy other things?
" I'm through...I just want to wrap up the fufu and I will be on my way...
Ope nooded as he collected the fufu and greeted the woman cheerfully and they both Left the market together.
"Oru ko mi ni Ope (my name is Ope) I work in the palace...and I was close to your sister Remi before she was banished... I'm deeply sorry for your late sister and also your late mother, Remi was a nice maiden but she has so much enemies than friends and they plot together to destroy her...I am sorry... what is your name again..
"My name is Dami and I live with my grandma now, she sent me to buy somethings at the market, the woman you saw me talking with use to be Maami's friend, they usually sit together in this market and sell their fufu but ever since maami passed on she has never stopped giving me and my grandma free fufu, she refuse to collect money from me, she said maami was kind to everyone including her, maami will give her last meal to a total stranger and go hungry... Maami's death is still a shock to her and to those she was close to, it sound so unbelievable because she was looking healthy on the last day she came to market and the following day she was gone... followed by my pregnant elder sister being banished, I thought the world has come to an end but I'm glad to be among the living. well, I think remember you now. My sister do mention your name sometimes back then... how's the palace and the Oba...we hard that he is very ill, hope he is getting better?
"The palace is cold as usual...it was as if your sister took the color along when she left... the palace is never the same but we all go about our rightful duty as we called to and as for the Oba... we are still hoping on the gods for him to get better...I hard this morning that two of the cabinet men are also sick and the native doctors has gone to attend to them...no one knows what is happening... only the gods sees in secret...
"My grandma said so... she said many will become sick and the kingdom will be torn apart... the seed of crown which happens to be the diamond in the forest will be sorted after... she said the oba Will not die.. he will live to see the seed of crown...
"What seed of crown and diamond are you talking about...I don't seem to get what you are saying Dami.. what are you really talking about...
"I can't even explain myself I'm just quoting my grandma...but she say certain things that ends up being true. She makes me to believe that Remi is alive and well... she has a son and they live in the forest with with a stranger...I believe her because she has the ear of the gods...
"Can you take me to her, I mean iya agba... your grandma ...
Let me greet her before going back to the palace
Dami took her to the house, the grandma was making ewedu soup with a short bunch of broom. She has prepared Amala already as Dami went to assist her after introducing Ope to her.
Ope knelt down and greeted her before Iya asked her to stand up
"Remi was my good friend back in the palace before the disaster struck... she was a kind person, I just wanted to greet you Iya and to also sympathize with you...it must be very hard loosing both daughter, grand daughter and even a great grand child if Remi's had given birth...but the gods knows the best...Remi was selfless when she was alive...
"Yes, and she is remain selfless because she is alive. she trusted too much but that was because of the kind of person she is, enemies in a friendly clothing were surrounding her... it wasn't because she was cold or foolish that sent her to the forest... my grand daughter was wise and bold yet too soft...
"You mean she survived the forest and bore her child right in the wild...
"Yes, a son, diamond in the forest...he is the seed of crown... a remedy for the kingdom...
"Oh... the gods be praise...so Remi will eventually return back to the kingdom alive with a son... wow...it sound too good to be true...I can't wait Iya... I can't wait for her return... how long will it take for It to happen...
"The gods did not reveal the time or hour, I use to guess maybe it will be upto five years before all this will take place but I feel the time is close... she is not coming alone... she will be coming with total strangers... they have shining light around their feets, they came before and built The first school here for us but the Oba chased them away because he felt they brought new strange teaching that may corrupt the people's minds but this time the stranger coming with my grand daughter will come to stay, he will pitch his tent here and many will come to believe in his teaching...he is a good man with a pure heart and so is the little girl with him... they will marry our own and multiply... the troubled kingdom will be peaceful again because the wicked will not stand the heat... they will be exposed soon...
"Amin... Iya, even though I don't understand everything but it all sound too good...I am so happy to know that Remi is alive and I will keep pleading to the gods to keep her and her son safe until there return...iya I have to run back to the palace now...I met Dami in the market and decided to stop by and greet you..
"Please wait and eat something my child, the soup is almost ready... you can't come over without eating or drinking from me... the princess is not in need of you right now so eat before running back...you are a good child and the gods are smiling towards you... your fight for justice will be greatly rewarded...but in all your doing be wise because the enemies plan is only to kill and destroy anyone standing on their way...
Ope nooded and waited as grandma served her Amala and Ewedu soup with dry fish.
As Ope silently ate, Dami sat beside her eating his own Ewedu with fufu, grandma kept on talking to her about things that are yet to be
Ope did not understand every thing but she nodded anyway
The food was so delicious that she ate up the plate of Amala before thanking grandma
Before she Left she promise to always stop by any day she was sent to the market just to check up and to know if iya agba cooked Amala and Ewedu
They all laugh before Ope Left.
Nike's mother became sick, Leja came to give the prince message to them but found out that Nike's mother was critically ill, he passed the message anyway and left without wasting time, he tries to avoid any suspense or questioning that will come from Nike.
Leja reported back to the prince
Nike couldn't return to the palace after the prince warning, she doesn't know what Leja said to the prince which made him to dismiss her from the palace maiden, she was angry at Leja and planned to find out what he told the prince ones her mother's health improves.
She wanted to be in the palace where she will get to see the prince daily but she can't leave her mother in her condition
She planned to deal with both Leja and Ope if she is allowed back to the palace.
Nike wondered why people were falling ill in the kingdom, first it was the Oba, then two cabinet men now her mother who knows who will follow next.
But she wasn't afraid, she must try to achieve her aim by becoming the next Queen of the kingdom, and Leja has to help her achieve that other wise he will expose him.
Remi worked with Mikai in Sipah's farm, as they harvest the corn.
Ademide was securely at her back with the stained wrapper which has become almost everything to her in taking care of her son
Sipah has gone into the forest to cut woods for his farm.
Ore was with Remi and Mikai as he follows them everywhere they go wanting to assist but don't seem to know how
When Ademide started whining and crying, Remi decided to drop him close by, she spread the corn ear first on the farm land before spreading the wrapper over it to make it soft.
She sat Ademide on the ground and asked Ore to play with him
Ore was happy to have baby Ademide to himself as he jump up and down making the little boy to giggle.
Ademide stopped crying and started laughing as Ore started entertaining him.
Mikai looked over to where the baby and monkey was playing and started laughing
"Ore will make a great baby sitter...he act like a human atimes...he likes playing with Ade... The baby is fond of him...
"Yea, Ore is an intelligent animal, the first day he showed me the spring I was shock... my throat was patched...I really needed water and Ore lead the way to the spring, it was from that day I gave him the name Ore...
"Someday I pray to also have a baby...I love babies...I grew up here with Pah, he told me the stories of my real parents burning in a house fire set up by wicked people, Pah saved me and he became a parent to me, he taught me to read and write and how to do so many things like my own weapon, he is my father and my only family I have on earth, I'm use to this environment and I'm not afraid... I'm use to pah and the animals untill you came here, pah has said if I come of age he will take me to a faraway village where I will be able to have a suitor... maybe marry and have children...he doesn't care much about himself, but I pray every night that God will protect him and send a woman who will become his wife... do you know that when you came it looks like you were an answer to my prayer... you and pah were getting close I was happy but recently i notice that pah seems to be distancing himself from you... do you know why?
"Well, not really... you know pah can be weird and he prays alot... maybe he likes having quiet time where he can communicate with God without any distraction...
"Maybe you are right... Pah prays too much, almost all the time. you said you also lost your father and mother, the only people alive is your grandma and your brother... you are still blessed to have a grandma and a brother...I wish I have a grandma and a sibling too...but is all good... the Lord's ways are far different from ours... he sees and knows all things. Pah thought me to be thankful in everything... forgive those who hurt us and pray for those who hates us...
"He is a good man...I mean Pah and he really brought you up in the right way but forgiveness doesn't come easily for people like me...I still hate those who hurt me and I wish them nothing but pain and suffering...
"When you forgive you do yourself a great favour because hate is a great burden and it can weigh you down...
"Your words are too matured... let's talk about something else. will you like to leave this forest someday...I mean with Pah...?
"Certainly, I will love to live among humans, I will love to visit the market and see lots of people, I will like to go to the stream and see people there... not just me and pah but living in the means of plenty people and blushing when a handsome man looks at me like you blush when ever pah looks at you...I have seen you blush before...
"Whaaaat...oh mine... do I really blush... was it that obvious...oh Mikai.. now you have caught me..
"Yes, you do blush and I wish I can get a fine, God fearing, hardworking, fearless man like pah who will also make me blush... hahahaha..oh my God...I sound like a broken record..
"Yes... you really do, but my younger brother can actually fit into your description...he can make you blush, he is handsome, strong, hardworking, God fearing too...
"I'm not sure your brother will like a girl from the forest but we are running ahead of ourselves...we are still in the forest... let's wait untill we out of here first...but this place is so cool unlike the noisy crowded world... Pah says that alot. The hunter he once saved brought different things to thank him, like the crops we plant, cloths and foot wears... many other things. Is being years now we never hard from him. Pah told him not to come to this part of the forest at night again because is dangerous for him and he is an elderly man, unlike pah filled with hot strong blood, he has being through alot but I'm glad God kept him... everything in this world may fail but God's word stand firm forever...look... look... Ore is trying to lift Ade from the ground...I think he has peeled on himself and Ore want to move him.... hahahaha... this is so funny...
Remi laughed at the scene before going to carry her son from the ground.
Sipah was carrying wet wood which he plan to use for his yam and other crops like vegetables, beans, groundnut and melon.
Ore saw him coming and ran to him
He was happy to see him as he jump up and down.
Remi and Mikai watched and laugh while Sipah kept on smiling with the heavy wood which he later dropped down, he breathed heavily.
He waved at Remi and Mikai before leaving again to cut down more wood.
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