[b] ****Episode 15**
We spent more time in Neous
than any of us expected,
except maybe Fabianus who
might have seen that coming.
We were unable to leave
Neous because Sir Castor
came down with a high fever
and Fabianus suggested that
we stayed there because
walking and riding on
horseback would compound
Castor's problem.
We found shelter in
Iebanehitus' house.
Iebanehitus was the lord of
Neous and he received us
warmly when he discovered
who we were and what our
mission was.
Very early in the morning on
the fifth day of our stay in
Neous, I was still sleeping
when I felt a sudden sharp
pain on my left shoulder.
'Yeeeeeh! Ayam dead ooo!!!' I
yelped.
'You are a coward o. It is me
nah,' Fabianus said admist
giggles.
'What do you want?' I
grunted.
'Well, I just want to tell you
that I'm going to that forest
over there to cut some herbs
for Castor's treatment,' he
said.
'How does that concern me?' I
asked angrily. Yes I have every
reason to be angry. The dude
has just interrupted the sweet
dream I was having na.
'Haha. Why are you talking like
this? Well, I want you to keep
an eye on Castor while I'm
away,' he said.
'You should ask Bryan to that.
At least, they are brothers in
blood, abi what do they call
themselves,' I complained.
'Please do it for me. Bryan is
out now, he'll join you when
he comes back,' he begged.
'Ok no problem, but why is his
treatment taking long? He
should be ok by now na.'
'What do you know about
alchemy and medicine? Let me
go jare,' Fabianus said and he
left my room.
I winced as a sharp pain
surged through my shoulder
when I tried to get out of bed.
Argh! Fabianus has use juju to
strike my shoulder o.
I dragged my feet to Castor's
room drowsily to check on
him. I found him still in bed,
snoring away peacefully.
... Good! Let me go and catch
some more sleep jare. I pray
that hot girl in my first dream
comes back ...
As I turned to return to my
room, someone bumped into
me.
'Oh. You are back already,' I
said when I saw that the
person was Bryan.
'Yes. I didn't really go far,
besides Fabianus told me to
return on time,' Bryan replied.
'Ok. Let's go over there and sit
till Fabianus comes back,' I
said, pointing to the empty
seats not far away from us.
'Where do you come from?'
Bryan asked as soon as we
got seated.
'Me?' I asked, slightly taken
aback by his question.
'Yes.'
'Well, I'm from Nigeria,' I
informed him.
'Hunh? Where is that?'
'It's a country in Africa,' I said,
hoping that he understands
so that he'll stop asking me
JAMB questions.
'Yes. I don't know Nigeria, but
I've heard about Africa, it has
always been called land of
the......' He cut himself short
and gave an apologetic look.
'What? Why did you stop?'
'You will be angered if I
continue.'
'Why will I be angry? Go on
jor. It's called what?'
'Land of Niggers,' came his
reply.
... Eewo! Dis one na racist o...
'Land of Niggers? How can
you say that? Let me tell you
this. We, Africans, are not
inferior to Whites in any way.
The dark colour of our skin is
caused by our hot climate not
anything else, not that you
people are better than us,
comprende?'
'Yes,' I replied.
Well I wasn't entirely saying
the truth, I remembered that
there is another thing that
contributed to our blackness
but I wasn't sure of the name
whether na Merlin or
Mendelin.
I must take Biology more
serious when I get back home
o, that is IF I get back home...
'What do you people do for fun here?' I asked Bryan, who was playfully turning a small knife in his hands. We were still waiting for Fabianus to return from the forest. 'We have the village games and of course the tournaments,' he replied. ... These people are suffering o. No Internet, no phones, no PSP, no Nollywood ... 'Oh. Like that interesting one held recently in my honour,' I said, although I really think outeresting, if there is such a word, should qualify that tournament. 'Ah! You should have seen the tournament held in the honour of Lady Mina, there were so many chilvarious Knights present, it was so interesting.' 'Are Knights the only ones that can take part in the tournaments?' I asked. 'Tournaments are mainly for Knights but there is one tournament, the melee, that allows the participation of non-Knights,' he explained. 'Now tell me, what is the fun in striking and being struck?' 'The fun is for the spectators.' 'What is in it for you Knights?' 'I can't believe you are asking such a question,' Bryan said 'We fight for fame, glory and honour. Our lives are guided by the codes of chivalry. We are expected to be bold, brave and gallant at all times.' Bryan was spewing the same sh!t I had always read in books of Medieval romance. 'If I may ask, what kind of Knight is Castor?' I asked, I would have kept shut had I known what that question would cause. Bryan paused for a while, he was probably ruminating on what to say. 'Well Castor is a fine Knight,' Bryan started 'He is very good in combat, just like his three brothers.' 'Three brothers? I thought he had two brothers.' 'No, three. Hector, Proctor and Victor,' he said 'but Castor is not on good terms with any of them, they don't like him because of his greedy and pompous nature.' Although Jealousy might have caused Bryan to exaggerate, but if that flash of anger on Castor's face, when he heard about his brother winning the trophy was anything to go by, there must be an iota of truth in what Bryan's saying. 'I don't know who he thinks he is, maybe the ho...' Bryan's outburst was interuppted by a loud cough behind us. We turned round to see Castor leaning on the wall behind us. His eyes flashing teribbly with anger, his face contorted with rage ... Omo see Gobe!!!... 'Ha! Sir Castor. You are aw...wak...kke al...already,' I stammered, as I tried to think of words to pacify him. 'Shut up!' he shouted at me. He then turned to Bryan and said; 'Thank you for everything you said about, now take this.' He removed his gloves and threw them on the floor. 'Sir Bryan, I challenge you to mortal duel.' [/b]
