Back in the Palace, King Afam wasn't finding the disappearance of his wife funny anymore.
It's been up to a week and nothing has been heard about her whereabouts. The Ichies had gone back to the Land they previously went for consultations before and realised that the said Dibia was still not back from wherever he went to.
"What is the next step to take? Because the way things are going, it won't be long before we all will be consumed in the fire"Onowu said
"I'm confused about all these.. We are caught in a deep web of confusion.. From one problems to another"Dike chipped in angrily
"But we now have a Chief Priest.. Why don't we summon him here to ask him questions concerning the recent occurrences?"Okoro said
The other Ichies looked at Okoro in a confused manner.
"Which Chief Priest are you talking about? Aren't you aware about Onu-agbala's death months ago?"King Afam asked irritatingly
"True, Onu-agbala is dead but his son who is his rightful successor is back.. I think he came back to take over from his late Father"Okoro said
"How do u mean? He ran away from home months ago to God-knows-where..He came back truly but is it for the reason of taking over from his father?"Dike asked
"If he doesnt take over from his father, who will? Or.. Do you know any other child of Onu-agbala?"Okoro asked further..
"Argue no more for I am here to answer all your questions and render solutions as it pleases the gods"It was Nworie! All eyes turned to him as he stood gallantly with his raffia bag crossed on his neck.
"I ran away from home after the death of my father according to his orders to train under a mighty man of the gods. I've told you all the story before.. Am back now to continue from where my late Father stopped.."Nworie said looking at them one by one.
They were all speechless before King Afam talked
"Well, we weren't doubting you or anything.. We were not just sure.."
"Queen Ebere is battling for the Salvation of Umuozara in a faraway land called Ndi mmiri.. She is there with her sister Ulumma. The young Prince is just a tool to torture The King and Queen.. The while land is suffering from the deadly hands of an evil girl whom we all thought we defeated in the last battle.."Nworie said looking unperturbed as he stood gallantly and revealed all these.
Both the Ichies and the King were shocked as they looked at him in awe.
He continued "Lead me to the little Prince for I shall cast away all the evil spell from him.. I will conduct a day cleansing for the Land.. Necessary sacrifices shall be made.."
"What about this evil girl causing all these havoc"King Afam asked
"That is not my battle.."Nworie said
"Then who's battle is it? Because if you do all these and that evil girl doesn't die, she will still come back to torment us"Okoro said
"Leave that to the gods for he shall take care of everything.. Please lead me to the little Prince"Nworie said
A guard began to lead him to the Hut where Prince Onochie was.
********************
NDULUE'S COMPOUND
Ndulue was healthy enough to move around now although he's broken head wasn't totally healed.
His Umunna had called him to a meeting as they summoned Adaugo and Omasili from their Parent's house so Ndulue would issue a punishment to them for what they did to him. Uju and Ekemma were also present.
"Thank you my brothers for calling this meeting.. It was really necessary that it was called because I have a lot of things to say"Ndulue said slowly as he held his head in pains.
"If you are not strong enough, we can shift it to some other time"The eldest man said
"No No.. I'll manage"Ndulue said
"Ekemma go and get me water please"He said and Ekemma went to get him water.
She came, gave him water, he drank and continued.
"Thank you my brothers for being here for me and sending these two devils away before they'd kill me further"
The Umunna nodded in acknowledgement.
"While I was in pains, I thought to myself.. If I had died, what would I have told my fathers? That just two women killed me? Mbanuu.. They would spit on me, they would call me names and be disappointed in me.. So I thank the gods for giving me another opportunity to stay alive and correct my mistakes"
He paused, then continued
"Adaugo and Omasili must leave my house.. I'll collect the bride price I paid on their heads as a sign that I've divorced them and they are free to remarry but woo unto that man who would take any of them as a wife."
Adaugo and Omasili cried and pleaded but all to no avail.
"We concur with your decision because women you married with your money cannot kill you. We totally agree with you"Other umunna agreed to this.
Uju started laughing at them
"One more thing.."Ndulue interrupted
"Uju would join them too"
"Ah! join them how??"Uju asked
"I meant you're leaving too"Ndulue said
"But Nnanyi am not the one giving you trouble.. I wasn't even around when they did this to you"Uju cried
"Since you came, you've been fighting with them.. Now, if they leave, there would be no one for you to fight with anymore and then you might begin to fight either me or Ekemma. Please I want total peace in my house.. I've learnt that am not destined to marry more than one wife. Am now contended with just Ekemma as the gods have blessed me with son's and daughters.."
Adaugo, Omasili and Uju started crying and pleading but all fell on deaf ears.
"Three of you must leave my house immediately. and none of you must carry any of my children with you. I trust that Ekemma is capable of taking care of them"
Turning to His brothers, he said "That is my decision"
"Anything you say is okay by us"...
***********************
AGBALA SHRINE
Nworie has successfully casted away the spell from little Prince Onochie. He headed back to the shrine to prepare for the cleansing of the Land which would take place the next day.
He was still in the shrine thanking the gods when Ajonwa suddenly appeared.
"You again?"Nworie said
"You are a complete replica of your father.. A pokenoser! Poking your nose into other people's affairs.. Why don't you stay on your own, do your own business while I stay on my own and do my own business?"Ajonwa asked angrily
"You are the pokenoser here! This is my land and those are my people. My mission is to save them from evil ones like you.. You can't just leave your land, come here and wreck havoc and then expect me to fold my hands and do nothing!"Nworie blasted her
"Uhmm.. I see you've got some little powers swelling your head. You don't know me well enough but your father knows.. I will kill you the way I killed your father"
Nworie laughed loudly
"Go and rest Ajonwa.. Your doom is near and this time, forever,"Nworie continued laughing as he left her and went inside his Hut to rest.
Ajonwa stood there looking at him in disgust
"He said the same thing that little boy told me at the stream.. my doom is near?"She thought for a while before she waved it aside.
"I have their Queen and I must use her to get what I want"She laughed happily at the thought.
"I move move quickly to my land and execute my plan at once before they overtake me.. It seems they are all ready and up now.."Ajonwa said and vanished..
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