DETHRONED
Episode 29
By AMAH’S HEART
” For the sacrilege and rules you broke… Rana Uka you’re therefore dethroned and from now henceforth you cease to be the Priestess of the Yada, Gada and Zada communities. You are bânished and not permitted to step foot into this Land ever again… I have spoken!” The eldest kinsmen of the community made the pronouncement which broke my heart into a thousand pieces.
I pleaded for a second chance from them but they were against having a powerless woman as their Priestess.
It simply means my people had no iota of love for me as a person, but they only loved my powers and the protection I guaranteed them.
This realization only added to my sådness and made me feel really hürt because I know that I had loved them unconditionally without reasons since that is what loving people truly entails.
I had listened to Amarachi’s caution and allowed Eze and Nene go Scot free. After I stopped, Nene and Eze took to their heels to where I do not know.
The later outcome wasn’t funny as I permanently lost my powers after an hour was up.
And almost immediately, villagers begun trooping in from their individual hideouts and they firmly grabbed me.
Obviously they had been eavesdropping on us and secretly looking at all what was happening between me, Nene, Eze and Amarachi at the village square.
There was no escaping for me as I was disgraced by being dragged all round the village square with my sins exposed in the open for all and sundry.
Afterwards, a rítual was collectively carried out which led to an abrupt dethronement; my dethronement as a Priestess after a year and few months!
Other Priestess stayed until their last day on earth but because of my disobedience to warnings, I am dethroned in a really shāmeful manner!
It’s hard to believe that from now henceforth I will simply be referred to as a ‘disgraced and dethroned Rana’ instead of a reputable Priestess Rana as I was previously known to be.
Oh, it húrts so bâd but it doesn’t change the truth that I messed up really bâd and have to face the consequences.
Honestly, I still wished it was all a bâd dream but sadly it isn’t. And here I am standing at the Throne room after being passed the verdict of dethronement and banishment from the Land of my birth!
My sad thoughts were soon disrupted by continuous rants from villagers which slowly begun filling the air.
” Dethronement and banishment is too small for what Rana has done to her crown. Lets kīll her … she deserves to be put to dëäth for this great sacrilege and abømination upon our community.” A man whom I presume should be in his late thirties blurted out ângrily
What! I uttered in utmost shock at everything I was hearing right now. I strained my ears wondering if I was truly hearing things correctly.
Kill me..? for what sacrilege exactly…? Haven’t I suffered enough…? I believe I’ve paid the prices for all I’ve done already, so what is happening…?
” My fellow kinsmen… the young man is right… I suggest that we stone Rana to dëäth for desecrating the land of our ancestors!” A kinsmen by the name Mazi Ekemba uttered looking at me scornfully.
I remember this same Mazi Ekemba had once asked me for intimacy when I was an ordinary maiden girl.
Well I couldn’t do such a disgusting thing backed up the fact that he is a married man, so I had turned down his request and from his utterances I guess he still felt pãinéd about that incidence.
” Yes! Lets kíll her for giving our enëmíes access into our abode!” this came from a young maiden I remember mentoring on the traditional rites when she direly needed it for her marriage.
What she is saying isn’t even true, I wasn’t the person who had given the enëmíes access into our village.
I mean whether or not I fell prey to Eze’s love scheme, it could not have stopped the enëmíes from intruding the Land as Nene had it all planned out long time ago.
” I agree with him… Rana deserves to dïe for rendering us without a Priestess yet again!” this is fearlessly said by a woman whose daughter I practically fed everyday and even adopted as mine.
” Kíll her!… Priestess Rana committed a sacrilege and deserves to dïe! Let her dïe!” the teenagers whom I thought had sincerely loved me and would always support me was chanting repeatedly in their little voices.
” Okay then… since that is what everyone wants then I proclaim that Rana Uka is not only dethroned but she shall be stoned to dëäth by dusk today… It shall be done as I have spoken!” The eldest kinsmen yet again declared without compassion or batting an eye.
I was devastated by such the proclamation!
This is so insensitive and self-centered of them. I mean I’m the one who is at the receiving end of all the consequences, so what are these people ângry about…?
Yes! I might have lost all of my powers due to a wrong life choice but does that automatically mean as a human being I don’t deserve to stay alive..?????
” Please you people should let me go… I’ve lost everything already… It’s okay if you’ve dethroned me but please at least let me have my life.. I’m begging you people spare me please… I really don’t want to dïe at this young age!” I said already tired of life and its travails.
Ignoring my pleas, four young men came towards where I stood at the middle of the Throne room.
They dragged me by the arms towards the door probably to take me to the village prison and lock me there until dusk when I’ll be stoned to dëäth.
” Please let me go! Please! Please! Please!” I pleaded whilst trying to freed myself from their grip but they held onto me tighter and totally ignored me.
I eventually went quiet after shouting for a long time without success since from all indications, they clearly were not ready to show me mercy.
From today, I have given up on love and people. I inwardly concluded within me
By now we were already at the príson where I was carelessly thrown in without care if I will get bruised or not!
In the príson, I sat on the bare ground with my back against the wall completely lost in thoughts.
Two hours passed yet I still found it very hard to believe all that has befallen me in the past months.
There’s no denying that I am feeling so depressed and unfortunate.
First, I lost a love that was never true, then my child, my powers, my crown and now my people håtes me so much to the point of even wanting me déâd!
I sighed deeply gradually giving up. My head was filled with persistent bad thoughts that maybe I am not capable of being genuinely loved by people.
Infact I’m actually getting tired of staying alive already!
So it’s perfectly okay if kílling me would truly make this ungrateful people happy. If they want to kíll me.. then so be it!
Do I really want to dïe..? My subconscious cut into my thoughts and I sighed as I inwardly replied in sådness;
‘ What is there to live for when I’m alone in this evīl world full of betråyal..?’ I lamented with my eyes focused on looking outside as my mind tried to imagine what life after dëäth is like.
Does it hurt…? is it pain-free..? and if I am to be sincere to myself, do I truly want to dïe right now…?
Dusk is gradually drawing near and with every seconds that passes, my fear multiples as the courage to face the dëäth sentence keeps dwindling.
I had to admit that I really didn’t want to dïe at this young age,
but then is there something I can do to avert the dëäth from happening…?
There was nothing because I felt really hopeless.
DETHRONED
Episode 30
By AMAH’S HEART
A memory slowly flickered in about a conversation I had with Great Uba in the early months of when I ascended the throne of a Priestess.
In the conversation we had, Great Uba told me that he loves and considers me a daughter hence he is always willing to go out of his way to save or protect me.
It’s as though he knew that a day like this would come when I will need his help to escape dëäth.
That day, Great Uba created a secret code in which I could use to reach out to him in the spirit land and he will come to my rescue.
The secret code is Great Uba’s birthdate which I vividly remember since I was practically the only one who had wished him a happy birthday that day. He was so overjoyed at my thoughtfulness and genuine love for him that he engaged me in that conversation we had earlier.
That fateful day, I remember making fun of his words because I thought he was only being dramatic about a Priestess getting into an helpless situation that would require help.
But today here I am facing a life and dëäth situation that requires urgent intervention before dusk. Indeed no-one truly knows what tomorrow brings.
I have never used that secret code he told me but I will do so today because I really need him to save me. I have to brace up as this is no time for self-pity since my life now lies in the ability to get across to Great Uba.
So right there in my sitting position I muttered the secret code hoping to see Great Uba appear in front of me but nothing happened!.
I shouted the code again but this time I wasn’t muttering, I said it louder yet nothing or nobody came.
Oh the gods! I am really praying Great Uba wasn’t just pulling my legs that day.
I said the code over and over again until I eventually gave up trying. It seems that even Great Uba has gotten tired of my sílly mistakes and has given up on me.
I sighed preparing myself for whatever lies ahead of me today.
At least by the time I am gone, everyone and everything would be at peace.
I suppose that even the gods who had chosen me and then abandoned me because I sinned would be happy too.
Sometimes I wonder why they had chosen me in the first place.
After all it’s not like I wanted this crown that almost cost me my life in my battle with Nene and Eze.
As a maiden all I wanted back then, was a simple quiet life yet they still choose me to rule a people who are so ungrateful and self-centered.
They succeeded in making my life lonesome in the name of priestesshood and exposed me to various attåck I clearly wasn’t ready for.
Now look where I have landed myself and obviously they will be more than glad to watch me dïe prematurely.
After all I’m very sure they saw all this coming so why didn’t they warn me ahead…? why didn’t they at least given me a glimpse of what my disobedience would cost me…?
this were the thoughts on my mind as I sat on the ground inwardly soliloquizing
” A penny for your thoughts graceful one.” Great Uba said smiling as he walked into the príson through the wall.
I breathe a sigh of relief seeing him. Ah! finally a rescuer has come to save me.
” I’m glad you came to my rescue Great Uba… I honestly thought you had given up on me and left me to my dëäth” I said to Great Uba with my voice cracked as a result of many conflicting emotions
” Wipe your tears graceful one. Actually you were right that the gods saw all this coming… I saw it too and tried to warn you in various ways but you were determined to go astray.” Great Uba answered and I nodded because he is right about me being adamant to the glaring red flags surrounding Eze.
” I’m sorry Great Uba… I’m truly sorry… I thought I could escape the lonesomeness of the palace… the crown and greatness in which everyone admires was so heavy and burdensome a cross to carry… I felt more like a sacrificial lamb hence I wanted to be happy.. I’m sorry” I responded with tears freely cascading my eyes and my cheeks. Funny how it seems I am beginning to be a cry baby.
” With the rate you are going with your constant tears. I won’t be surprised if you actually end up crying a river from your eyes graceful one…” Great Uba uttered amusingly. It’s probably in an attempt to create humor and lighten the emotional atmosphere. He continued…
“…it’s enough beating yourself over the past my dearest Rana besides every greatness comes with scars, stories of failures, mistakes, pâin and life lessons. All those who hürt you will pay for their crimes but for now I think it’s about time you brace up and lets find a way to get you out of here…” Great Uba said and I scoffed in total surrender
” I no longer have the powers to disappear and as a messenger you don’t have the permission to disappear with an earthling. Going out through the doors isn’t an option either because I will be seen and might end up being stoned earlier than dusk” I said without making any effort to stand up
” Trust me on this… nobody would dare hârm a girl I consider my daughter certainly not when I am alive and breathing fine. Rana you will leave here alive without the least as a small stone touching or hurting your delicate skin”
A smile unconsciously found its way out of my lips as I heard those assuring words from Great Uba.
I feel so overjoyed as I stood up and hugged Great Uba with all sincerity.
” Thank you so much Great Uba for being here and for not giving up or criticizing me like the others… you’ve truly acted like a true father would and I’m really grateful Father”
I intentionally referred to Great Uba as father and I meant it. who wouldn’t..? When this man has always acted a father figure in my life after I lost my parents and ascended the throne.
Great Uba reciprocated the hug and he kept on patting my back to comfort me followed by soothing words
” I love you Rana.. you are like my daughter.. I won’t stay idly and watch you díe so even if you hadn’t called for my help… it wouldn’t have stopped me from still coming to your rescue.” Great Uba said which made more tears to flow down my eyes at such sincere show of fatherly affection
After a while, I disengaged from the hug but I had to express my deepest fear
” I believe you Great Uba but how are you going to save me when I am already fated to dïe by my people..?”
” Rana you will leave here safely and if it warrants making the whole village fall into a deep slumber so you’ll escape… I will do so and face the consequences later” Great Uba replied and I was taken aback. What exactly does he mean by facing the consequences later…?
” What have you done Great Uba…? What consequences are you going to face for going out of your way to save me…?” I asked in apprehension and Great Uba smiled looking at me lovingly.
He inhaled and exhaled deeply. I immediately knew that what he is about to divulge is something quite heavy for the heart to say.
” Well I won’t be able to see you until after certain long years has passed… I’m sorry Rana but I had to make this little sacrifice to set you free from dying.” Great Uba said and I exclaimed before I could stop myself
” What! You call it little..? Wait! are you dying or something…? Why wouldn’t you be seeing me for a long period of time…?” I asked feeling so confused
” I’m not dying Rana, it’s just a kind of restriction… Well enough of this long talks… You should go Rana!.. go far away from this village but please do not misuse this second chance you’ve been given.. ensure that you use it with wisdom and may the gods be with you!”
” What second chance are you talking about..? Look Great Uba after I successfully fleed this village I am living my life quietly without any problems” I stubbornly said to Great Uba and he bursted out laughing in sarcasm
” The future will tell Rana but don’t worry because with time you will fully understand the second chance I mean!” this is the last words I heard before Great Uba disappeared leaving me to my confusion.
(Do NOT take credit or Plagiarize AMAH’S HEART stories)