"My princess, stay back, we will fght it!!" The men holding spears said, yet Oronkotii could see they
hoped the ground would open its mouth and swallow them.
Without even thinking, Oronkotii dashed for the lion. He stopped in front of the animal, shielding
the others. Oronkotii stared at the beast and it stared back. A voracious and hungry stare.
The stunned group of people didn't even know how it happened but like an expertse, Oronkotii
began to fght the lion, fearlessly. He was huge and stronger than the lion, the King of the Jungle!!!. It
was a brutal fght and each time, Oronkotii struck it, the lion roared. At last, Oronkotii managed to wrap
his huge biceps around the lion's neck and snap!!!, he broke its neck. Victorious Oronkotii stood up and
stared proudly at the lion dead at his feet.
When he looked up, the people he had saved were looking at him, astonished. Oronkotii was
bleeding all over. His face had scratches he had got from the lion, his clothes were torn and dirt smeared
him.
He had to clear his throat to get the people's atenton.
"Emm...you shouldn't be walking this forest if you don't know how to fght unforeseen dangers"
"Brave one" One of the men said, almost falling to his feet in appreciaton,"We are taking our Princess
back home and someone told us the forest is a shorter route"
"Who is your Princess?" Oronkotii said and began searching the girls with his eyes.
His eyes fell on one partcular girl and his heart skipped a beat. Infact, his heart must have done a
ip.
For standing in front of him was the most beautful damsel he had ever seen. She was young and
had prety eyes, eyes that seemed to pierce his soul. Her long hair was jet black and it fell on her
shoulders. The beads she used made her look even more beautful. Her skin was brown and smooth, so
smooth Oronkotii wondered if she had been made from perfecton. She was special. No girl had ever
made his legs go weak, neither had any girl struck his heart so much. She was a beauty sent from Agani.
He stared at her for a long time and didn't even realize he had his mouth open. The girl had seen him
staring and had lowered her eyes shyly. Oronkotii soon realized he was sweatng.
"We are from Agborotu village, brave one" The man contnued.
"Is she your Princess?" Oronkotii asked, having found his voice. He pointed at the beautful girl.
"Yes"
In surprise, he watched as the girl made signs to one of the girls beside her.
"My Princess says thank you but she has to be on her way. She has promised to tell her father about
your good deeds when she gets back home safely"
May Agani bless my soul, she can't talk!!, Oronkotii thought in alarm.
"But if you're going to Agborotu, it will take you two days to get there, passing through Ajipon" Oronkotii
said to the man, not taking his eyes of the Princess.
"Yes, that is why we are going to stop at Lanwe, the next village for the night. If we decide to pass
through Sumi where we are coming from, it will take us three days to get to Agborotu" The man replied.
"Ooh" Oronkotii said but he notced the girl was begining to feel uneasy.
She made signs again and the girl who spoke earlier said again.
"Thank you, brave one but we have to leave"
Oronkotii watched them as they began to leave, placing the Princess in the middle and clearly
avoiding the dead Lion like it could rise up from the dead and atack them if they moved close to it.
Without thinking, Oronkotii stepped in the girl's tracks, almost bumping into her. He saw her prety
face contort into a startled one and she backed away, fearfully. Her protectors tried to defend her.
Oronkotii ignored them. He locked eyes with her and stared into her amazing eyes for a long time.
"Since you will be staying in Lanwe, I will like us to meet again. You and I, alone"
"No, she won't!!" One of the girls cried.
"Tonight, at Ajipon's stream you will stll meet on your way. If you fail to show up, I will raid the land of
Lanwe to fnd you or if you decide to go home without waitng at Lanwe, I will come to Agborotu and
kidnap you right in front of your father. If you don't believe me, ask about me at Lanwe, I am a fearless
man. Killing lions is one of the minor things I do" He winked at her and walked away, laughing proudly to
himself.
When he looked back, they were stll looking at him, bewildered. And for a brief excitng moment,
he thought he saw the Princess smile.
*** *** ***
When he got to the village, he met Alamu frst. His best friend removed his new fla (cap) he had
worn for the wedding and began to hit Oronkotii on the head with it.
"You stupid friend, you naughty challenger... Where did you go to? What have you done?"
Oronkotii, falsely, acted as if Alamu's beatngs were hurtng him.
"Yee!!, yee!!"
The two friends soon broke into laughter with Alamu holding his waist. He laughed so much, he felt
tears welling up in his eyes.
"Alamu, Alamu, you and I both know I would never let my father get me married"
"Yes ore (friend) but I didnt know you would take this bold and shocking step. You should have seen
Chief Adeot's face when they announced they couldn't fnd you. He looked like he had eaten all the strong peppers in this world and he couldn't contain the burning taste"
The two roared with laughter again.
"How is my father? Hope he hasn't got a heart atack?"
"Believe me, if you go back home now, he is certainly likely to disown you"
"I am a naughty son gan oo"
"But to come down to the truth, I pited Owosola. You shouldn't have broken her heart like that"
"Woo my friend. I do not pity her. Just imagine, the girl I have never met, not to talk of actually having a
conversaton with her, suddenly decides to marry me. She actually wants to marry me because it is the
luckiest thing in the world to get married to Oronkotii. She wants to be the wife of a brave man
"Ehn, Ehn, my friend, tell me what you're actually up to. Don't tell me you expect your destned wife to
fall down from heaven into your hands"
"See Alamu" Oronkotii lowered his voice, looking excited," I met this girl"
Then he proceeded to relate his encounter with the Princess of Agborotu. Afer he fnished, Alamu
was looking at him with wide eyes.
"Hey, don't tell me Oronkotii that you have fallen in love with her and....did you really kill a lion?
Oronkotii, you're a god!!"
"Alamu, don't go and start spreading the news up and down that I have found a wife oo.. I'm telling you"
"Come on now, I'm not like that "
"Who are you fooling? You that you chat endlessly like a woman"
"Oronkotii, you're serious about this girl oo because I have never seen you so excited about a girl like
this"
"I want to marry her, Alamu and I will"
"But you said she is dumb. Believe me, your father will have a heart atack"
"It's because you haven't seen her. If you do, you will forget about everything in this world"
*** *** ***
Dele was visibly shaking with anger.
"Do you want to kill me, Oronkotii before it is my time?!!? Have you been tasked to end my life?!!!"
"Ehn, be careful, Oko mi (my husband) Oronkotii's case shouldn't be something that you will start ailing
over" Asake warned.
Oronkotii was seated in front of his father, his clothes a mess. The housewas now quiet and empty
because everyone had gone including the Adeots who had lef in shame. Few neighbours, the
drummers and singers were outside eatng the food that remained. Oronkotii just looked at his father
and said nothing. He too was boiling with anger but the face of the beautful Princess kept calming him.
"Tell me, woman, what your son has done, is that a responsible behaviour? Shouldn't I warn this boy
who has chosen to be the death of me?"
"You will not die, my husband. Let the boy be. If he does not want to marry now, then we shouldn't
force him to. He is just twenty"
"And when does a boy turn a man? Is it not when he turns eighteen? Look at his elder brother. As
irresponsible as he is, he has two wives already. Ask him what he is hiding. Ask him if he is impotent and
he is not telling us. Ask him if he has converted his manhood into the strength he has, to fght and beat
enemies because that is what he does all the time!!!"
Oronkotii wanted to say something but thought about it. When he thought about the Princess again,
he smiled calmly to himself. He was so sure she would turn up tonight.
"Oronkotii, say something. Do you have a girl you're courtng? Or is Owosola not beautful enough for
you? Tell us, my son" Asake persuaded Oronkotii but he refused to speak, stll staring at his father.
"Oronkotiii, you're a disgrace to manhood. No mater how much they sing of your praise and agility yet
remember this, only a coward runs away on his wedding day" His father said.
*** *** ***
They walked through the dark night, Alamu holding a torch in his hand. Oronkotiii could hear the lazy
man breathing heavily and smiled to himself. Alamu was as lazy as anything. All he loves doing was
talking and talking from dusk to dawn.
"Are you even sure she is going to show up? I am tried and scared. This is the heart of the forest"
"How can you be scared when Oronkotiii is with you? We are almost there, you lazy parrot"
"I swear by Agani, if she doesn't show up, you will carry me on your back for two weeks"
Oronkotiii laughed softly.
"And if she does?"
"You idiot, I am not going to carry you oo"
Soon they got to the stream and Oronkotiii signaled to Alamu to crouch low behind a bush. The
scared man obeyed reluctantly.
Oronkotii walked to the brink of the stream and sat on a thick branch touching the stream. His heart
was beating fast. Never in his life had he felt like this. He dipped his hand into the pocket of his khaki
and brought out a wooden flute. Smiling to himself, he began to play a low sweet tone, the sound
bringing tears to his eyes. All this me he had been searching for his destined lover and now he had found her. A complete ravishing stranger.
A soft rustle behind him stopped him and when Oronkotiii looked behind him, he didn't even have to look twice to know who had arrived. Standing behind was the most beautiful maiden who turned the strings of his heart.
"I knew you would come" He said....
Five:
She was terribly beautful even tonight under the crescent moon. He wondered why Agani had
chosen to make her so perfect, no aws, no blemish. Oronkotii knew that if he decides to look at her
forever, he wouldn't be able to describe her beauty.
"If you hadn't come, I would have gone on with my threat"
She didn't speak but moved closer to him, the breeze blowing gently against her long hair. Oronkotii
realised she had a beautful smile etched on her face.
"I didn't know you played the ute so well"
Oronkotii was startled.
"And I didn't know you speak"
"That's what I've been taught to do. I do not speak to strangers"
Her voice was pleasant too.
"Oronkotii is not a stranger. I believe we were destned to meet"
"Such a brave man you're. You put your life on the line to save a group of people you've never met"
Oronkotii chuckled.
"That is what I love to do. I help people who are in need of my help"
"I did see that" She sat on the tree branch and Oronkotii sat beside her.
"What's your name?"
"Adesewa"
"You've been given the best name ft for you. I must say, Adesewa, you're beauty itself"
She gave a sof laugh.
"People keep telling me that"
"That's the truth"
"Then I thank Aweya for making me beautful"
"Aweya?!"
"That's Agborotu's god"
"I have never heard of him"
"You're not the frst man to say that. Aweya has less worshippers compared to Agani but we people of
Agborotu adore him so much"
Oronkotii shrugged his shoulders.
They stared at the moon in silence untl Oronkotii asked
hy did you choose to come, Sewa? As you said earlier, you do not speak to strangers yet you decided
to come here"
"Hmm.. Partly because I was scared you might make your threats happen and partly because I want to
know more about the man who saved my life and my people's"
Oronkotii found himself blushing. He twiddled with his ute because he didn't want Sewa to see his
nervousness.
"Could you play the ute for me? That's song of the lost boy who found his lost love in a lost world. You
play the ute beautfully well"
"Oh, I would love to"
Oronkotii gave her a charming smile before he raised the ute to his lips.
*** *** ***
The King of Ajipon was called Oba Adebola Adewoye, the Ekun (tger) of Ajipon. He was a tall gallant
man whose tales of bravery and won wars was of no new tale to the people of Ajipon. He had ascended
the throne at the age of 15 and since then the people of Ajipon had never regreted having him as their
ruler. He was a man of six wives and ffeen children.
Adebola was an educated king. His father, who was then king, had handed him over to the Whites
in exchange for a pair of Britsh made shoes. Adebola had been shipped of to England where a kind
Britsh had taken pity on him and decided to send him to school.
Seven years later, Adebola had returned to Ajipon, a full grown educated man. Adebola had every
reason to deal with his foolish father but years in England had shown him the glaring decepton of the
Whites. His father was not to blame. He had fallen a victm into the hands of the deceptve literates.
Two months later, his father died and his frst born, Aderopo was to automatcally become a King.
Ropo prided himself with this and couldn't wait the seven full days a successor to the throne was meant
to wait before he was crowned king.
"Prince Ropo, I am afraid but Agani is telling me something diferent" The Agani high priest had said to
him afer Ropo had tried to force the man to crown him.
"What do you mean, Abale?!!!" Ropo had demanded.
"I know it has never happened in the history of Ajipon but I am so sure of what Agani is telling me"
"Speak up!!"
"Agani has not chosen you to be king"
Those words shocked Ropo. He couldn't believe his ears.
"Impossible!!!"
"I am shocked as much as you are" this a conspiracy, Abale!!? Have you finally conspired to deny me of my inheritance?!!"
"It's not what you think Ropo and you have to take it easy"
"Easy my foot!!I am the frstborn and rightul heir to the Ajipon throne. Tell me, Abale, who have you conspired to choose over me?!!"
Abale hesistated.
"Tell me now if you wish to see the next day!!!"
"Agani has chosen Adebola"
"Owuuu (Noo), Adebola? My father's seventh son?!!Is it because he has gone into the whiteman's land?
Is it because he has seen wide oceans that we've not seen?!!!!"
That day, Ropo had gone into his father's room and taken his crown. Right in front of the people of
Ajipon, he wore the crown and pronounced himself king. Yet, right in front of everyone, Agani had punished him by setng him on fre. That horrid scene would never be forgoten and that was how
Adebola became King. Since then, Adebola had chosen to believe the proverb that says "It is not who should be that is, but he, whom, the gods have chosen".
At forty, Adebola had retred from being a warrior because his lef leg had been damaged during one of his wars. Since then, he had employed valiant men to be his 'aare-ona-kankanfo' (war commandant). Just yesterday, he had received the sad news that is War Commandant was dead and to topple it, just that same yesterday, the King of Agborotu had declared war against Ajipon.
"We must not tell the people, rather, let's try and keep the war far away from them" One of his chiefs
had advised.
Then the search for a new Commandant had begun. His Chiefs came up with two suggestons:
Ogunyemi, a very brave warrior who had killed 50 men single handedly in the batle Ajipon had fought 5
years ago against Sumi and Owologun, another brave warrior who was the head of the border keepers
and was known for his skilled way of using slings.
Tonight, the two men, fully armed to the teeth in their warrior regalia and Abale, who was stll
Agani's priest were seated in Adebola's throne room with the King himself sitng on the throne.
"Abale, tell us, who has Agani chosen? Ogunyemi or Owologun?" Adebola asked.
"Kaaabiyesi oo, may the King live long. I hope the King knows that Agani never lies and his words are true"
Adebola and the two men nodded.
"I also hope the King knows that this same Agani had chosen him to rule Ajipon even when he was the seventh of his father's son" Abale contnued.
"Go straight to the point, Abale. Woe is me if I do not believe Agani"
"Then I must tell you my King that Agani has not chosen either of these two"
aaa!!Ot oo (Noo)"Ogunyemi exclaimed.
"Silence, Ogunyemi!!" The King ordered," Abale, why has Agani not chosen them?"
"Because Agani has not made them Ajipon's saviour"
"And who has he chosen?"
"You would not believe it, my King but Agani has chosen Oronkotii, the son of Adeoye"
"Impossible!!Oronkotii?!!" Owologun said.
"Oronkotii is a local champion!!He is a proud fool who aunts his mere strength around. He cannot be.
Oronkotii has never smelled the boundaries of war and you want him to be the War Commandant?!!The coward ran away on his wedding day!!" Ogunyemi objected.
"I am the King, Ogunyemi and you will not make decisions for me. Send me Oronkotii frst thing tomorrow morning. If Agani has chosen him, then so be it" Adebola said.
"I challenge Oronkotii, my king" Ogunyemi said, flaring up," I will prove to everyone that Oronkotii is just an empty shell that makes proud noises!!”
“Do not challenge Oronkotiii, Ogunyemi. If you do, then you’re kicking against hard bricks and be ready to suffer the pains alone” Abale warned.
“I am not afraid of Oronkotii”
*** *** ***
“Oronkotii, where are you?!!Come out now!!Do not hide your cowardice. Come out and face me, Ogunyemi, the killer of 50 men. What have you achieved?!!Nothing!!Come out now and let dance to the tune of a challenge!!” Ogunyemi yelled in the middle of the night, in the family house of the Adeoyes waking up the entre household.
Dele’s nephews carried him outside and sat him down on a bench.
“Who is the empty brained lunatic who is disturbing everyone’s peace? Hasn’t your mother taught you that the night is meant for quietness and peace?!!” Dele demanded then he saw Ogunyemi.
“I came here for your son, Oronkotii. Tell him to come out and face me”
“What has Oronkoii done to deserve such arrant madness from you?!!”
“You’re all conspirators, all of you and you will not win. This war is mine and mine alone”
“Now I see that your brain has been tampered with”
“Ogunyemi, if you have a bone of contention with Oronkotii, please do not involve everyone, you’re both men” Bamiwale, Dele’s elder brother said.
“Oh, so that he can kill my son Abi? Why don’t you tell your son, Jibola to come and face him instead, at least, he is also a man" Dele said, angrily
"One day, your son, Oronkotii will put everyone into trouble" Bamiwale said back.
"I hear someone seeks me" Oronkotii said and walked forward untl he was standing eye to eye with
Ogunyemi,"Is it you, Ogunyemi? What have you been denied this time around?"
"Oronkotii, tomorrow at the Market square, you and I, man to man, let's end this once and for all" Ogunyemi said......
SIX:
Dele couldn't bring himself to watch his son fght a brutal warrior whose father was a popular great
herbalist known in several villages.
"Asake, advise your son not to act foolishly. You know our family has always been afraid of the
Ogunyemis"
But Oronkoti was bent on fghtng Ogunyemi.
"The fool came to my own house to challenge me. Why then should I not fght him? Has the lion ever
showed cowardice when it comes to catching its meal?" Oronkoti told his father.
"You recalcitrant son, are you then a lion?"
So it was, that on a bright market day, everyone gathered at the market square to watch the big
challenge. The market women would not stop talking about it, the farmers quit farm work to watch it,
the village maidens were called on to entertain the people with beautful dance steps and songs before
the great fght (most of them praised Oronkoti), the drummers did not exclude themselves, people from
neighboring villages made sure they were present. The market square was flled to the brim. Everyone
waited eagerly.
"See, I bet 7 cowries that Ogunyemi will oor Oronkoti" One of the grown men in the village who had
gathered themselves to bet on the fght, said.
"You blind fool, haven't you seen Oronkoti's bravery or have you deliberately decided to lose your
money?" Alamu said, aring up.
"Woo Alamu, you're just saying this because you're Oronkoti's best friend. Ogunyemi of all warriors, a brave man who can challenge Death himself. Oronkoti will surely meet his disgrace" Another man named Alao said.
"I know why Alao has decided not to support Oronkoti. Haven't you heard? His wives cannot stop talking about Oronkoti he is so afraid they might run of to marry him" A man named Bamiji said.
The men roared with laughter. Alao couldn't contain his embarrassment.
"Drop your money, men and bet, let us see who becomes the victorious winner. Oronkoti or Ogunyemi?
Mama Wale, more palmwine" Alamu said, dropping 13 cowries that Oronkoti would win the fight.
"The king is here!!" Cries broke out from the crowd as they all watched King Adebola's chariot ride into
the square.
The King had come to watch the fght!.
"Kaaabiyesi ooo" Everyone bowed as the King got down who in return to their greetngs waved his horse
hair.
"Agani bless us all" He prayed.
"Ase (amen)"
The King settled down under a shed while his beautiful wives sat at his feet. A palace guard began fanning him with a very big wide fan. Abale, the high priest was also present.
Suddenly loud hailings broke out from the people.
"Ogunyemi!!!Ogunyemi!!!Ogunyemi!!"
From a distance, Ogunyemi walked to the village square majestically. He was dressed in his red warrior attire and tied almost everywhere around it were different charms. In his hand, he held a long
gun and as he entered the square, he roared loudly to the people's hails.
"I, Ogunyemi, the son of Oguntola, the herbalist ordained by the gods themselves!!!Who dares to challenge and conquer me?!!" He asked the crowd.
"No one!!!" The crowd responded.
Alamu almost choked on his palm wine as he watched Ogunyemi's fantastc display.
"Shall I remove 7 cowries out of my money?" Alamu asked.
"Noo, you shall be disgraced!!" Alao objected, laughing in derision.
"Who dares to put his hands in the mouth of a crocodile and expect his hands intact?!!"
"No one!!!"
"Who dares to look Ogunyemi in the eye and expects his sight intact?!!!"
"No one!!"
"A man has challenged me and today, in front of you all, I have come to teach him a lesson!!!" Ogunyemi said.
The shout of "Ogunyemi!!!" flled the square once again and Ogunyemi responded by shootng into the air.
Immediately the chants changed.
"Oronkoti!!!Oronkoti!!!!Oronkoti!!!" The village maidens yelled the most.
From a distance, Oronkoti walked elegantly into the square but empty-handed!!!. Alamu couldn't believe his eyes.
"Ooh, your friend is so full of himself he thinks he can beat a charm loaded Ogunyemi with his bare hands!!" Alao roared with laughter.
"Oronkoti must be joking. He won't last one second with Ogunyemi's charms" King Adebola said.
"You haven't seen anything my King" Abale said.
Oronkoti did not praise himself the way Ogunyemi had done. Instead he walked to the warrior, unafraid, his biceps bulging and stopped few feet from him.
The silence that followed was deafening.
"Ogunyemi, you have challenged me man to man and not with your charms, if you really want to show the people of Ajipon that you are not a coward, you shall drop your charms"
"I was born with charms, Oronkoti and I shall fght with charms"
"Only a coward fully harmed will fght another man who is harmless. Ogunyemi, show me your strength not your incantatons"
"Very well, I shall do as you have said" Ogunyemi said and began stripping of his charms. He even dropped his gun.
"But this one stays" Ogunyemi pointed at a red cloth he tied around his waist.
Everyone recognised it immediately. It was a special gif that had been given to the generatons of the Ogunyemi family by the gods. They called it "The Invincible Girdle". As long as the wearer had it around his waist, he can never be carried, no, not by any man, even the strongest of all men. Oguntola had given it to Ogunyemi because he had turned out to be a bold man. Ever since Ogunyemi began to wear it, no one has ever heard that he had been oored.
"Oronkoti will lose this fght. Only a god can carry a man putng on the Invincible Girdle" King Adebola said.
They both bowed to greet the King yet fxing their eyes on each other. A drummer hit his drum thrice indicatng the fght had started.
People hailed and jeered as the two strong men held themselves at the legs trying to trip one the other. The aim of the fight was to fall the other down on his back and then pour sand in his mouth. For three minutes, the men fought on, the crowd still hailing them.
Then suddenly, to everyone's amazement, Oronkoti floored Ogunyemi!!. The crowd went totally silent in shock. Yet, Oronkoti was not out of surprises.
He proceeded to lif Ogunyemi, his strong hand locked around the man's neck.
"Impossible" The king muttered, standing up in astonishment.
The only tme something like this had happened was when Agani, a god had lifted up his brother
Aweya who had been tying the Invincible Girdle during a fight. Oronkoti had to be a god to be able to have done that!!!
"This is him!!Your hero!!I have oored him!!No one dares challenge Oronkoti!!" Oronkoti cried.
With that, he threw Ogunyemi to the ground. The warrior died from Oronkoti's throw.
An old woman broke the silence.
"The gods have come to us in the likeness of man!!The gods have visited us with a brave one!!The gods are here!!Hail, Oronkoti, the child from the gods"
The whole square began to cry out, bowing down to Oronkoti.
"Hail, Oronkoti, the child from the gods!!!"
The King still had his mouth open.
"I told you my King. You haven't seen anything" Abale said.
*** *** ***
Oronkoti became the war commandant and won the war against Agborotu.
"Tell your king that I, Oronkoti and the people of Ajipon are coming to take his kingdom" Oronkoti said
to the War Commandant of Agborotu as he pinned the later to the ground.
The war commandant ran away in fright to deliver the message.
That day, Oronkoti killed more than 100 men....
No comments:
Post a Comment