The Legend Of Dayo…

AARON ANSAH-AGYEMAN

THE LEGEND OF DAYO

SEASON 5: THE ONE

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CHAPTER 6

“Ten rooms! Ten rooms? You call ten rooms modest? That, indeed, is more than a man like me needs,” Temi said. “If that be the case, then I want Commander Freeman, Warriors Walexman and King, Warrior Daniel Godwin, and my friend Nneka Okez to be with me.”

There was a staggering silence in the auditorium for a moment, and even Prosper Freeman looked uncomfortable. The Keepers looked at each other, and for several moments no one said anything.

“Did I say something wrong?” Temidayo asked quietly.

“Friends do not stay with the Royals my Lord,” Ayaka said softly. “You can have servants to serve you, but even they are not allowed to be with you in the dark of the night. They must depart to their quarters when their work is done.”

“And what am I supposed to do in a ten-roomed house all by my lonesome self?” Temi asked, aghast. “I do insist that at least Commander Prosper stays with me!”

“I can be there for as long as you want, my Lord,” Prosper said carefully. “But just as a visitor. In the night, I must leave, my Lord.”

“You stop that ‘my Lord, my Lord’ chant, Commander Prosper!” Temi exclaimed. “I find it increasingly irksome! You’re my friend, and I command you to stay with me.”

“It doesn’t work that way, Prince Temidayo,” Ayaka said carefully. “Our Ancestors set these laws. If it can be changed, it can only be done by a well-constituted Assembly with a total hundred percent vote of a hundred Council Members. So, I’m afraid you can’t have your way as at now, my Lord. A thousand apologies!”

“For a civilized group of people overseeing the affairs of the world, you do have some horrible laws! So, in effect, you’re saying Nneka cannot stay with me?” Temi asked, aghast. “I want her there with me. I plan to marry her.”

“That, my Lord, is impossible!” cried Keeper Sharon in indignation. “It is preposterous! She can only be in your Quarters as a servant! If she has sexual knowledge of you, she shall be put to the sword for staining the royal seat!”

“That’s barbaric and inhumane!” Temi cried, instantly angry. “Staining the royal seat indeed. What hogwash! She’s the one I want to be my queen.”

“She’s not of the suitable ilk, my Lord,” Prosper Freeman said carefully.

Temi turned on him furiously.

“You too?” he flared angrily. “Not of the suitable ilk? My goodness! What do you mean by suitable ilk? She’s got breasts and buttocks and an otu, doesn’t she? She’s of finer looks than any woman I see in this godforsaken place, so what do you mean by ‘suitable ilk’? I thought you were my friend.”

“I’ll always love you and be your friend, my Lord, but the law is law, and Dayo is Dayo. You can’t marry a woman older than you, or a woman who has been used by another man. It is not done.”

“Oh, you folks irk me violently to the bone!” Temi flared, angry and confused. “My father, King Demi, chose his queen outside the norm!”

“Your mother wasn’t someone’s widow!” Ayaka Nsugbe said carefully. “The best you can do is appoint that woman as part of the… tactical unit as you say, or as one of the servants to clean your abode. What happens between you in private, unseen by anybody, is of no import to us, and the kingdom. But you will not be allowed to marry her because her age is vast, and she is dirtied by the paws of another man! She’s absolutely unfit for the king of Dayo! And, with all due respect to you, my Lord, we will not have her as our Queen! Chineke…Tofiakwa!”

Temi got up angrily.

“Chineke your head! Tofiakwa your nose!” he exclaimed furiously. “And what does tofiakwa even mean? That law must change at once!”

“Only by a hundred percent assent by a hundred council members of Dayo,” Prosper Freeman said carefully. “But what is this, my friend? Why do you insist on having her as your queen? Indeed, she is beautiful, but we have a hundred beautiful virgins in Dayo. Surely, you must give yourself a chance!”

“I have no time to dally on this,” Temi said with great disappointment in his voice. “Commander Prosper, add Nneka Okez to our Tactical Team. Find her somewhere good to stay. When this is over, and Dayo is free, she shall be my woman even if I have to move a thousand Council Members to give me a thousand percent assent!”

He turned and stormed out of the auditorium.

The Keepers looked at each other, and then they began to laugh softly.

“His infatuation with otu, alas, still has traces he hasn’t killed yet,” Keeper Sharon said. “Happy to see we still have traces of the old Temi, the otu worshipper!”

They burst into laughter racously.

“That statement, indeed, deserves the death punishment,” Commander Freeman said. “Excuse me, Honourable Keepers. I must go calm down our Heir Apparent. Obviously, denying him that particular otu is going to be a major job!”

“Tofiakwa your ears, Commander,” Ayaka said with uncontrollable giggles.

Amidst a renewed burst of laughter from all of them, Prosper Freeman walked out after Temi.

There was a relieved atmosphere in the auditorium though, and an air of camaraderie that had not been felt in a long time. There was an air of hope, and there was a great feeling of knowing that at last the Chosen One had been found, and the redemption of Dayo was at hand.

***

“I gave the widow the building just ten paces from your quarters, my Lord,” Commander Prosper said as they walked toward the southern wing of The Haven where the King’s Quarters was located.

Temi stopped walking and turned to the warrior.

“First, you will stop referring to her as ‘the widow’ and use a proper name for her,” he said irritably.

“Yes, my Lord, pardon my indiscretion,” Prosper said with a bow of his head, still striving to hide his mirth.

“And you will address me as Temi,” the prince said with exasperation. “You’re my friend, close to me as you were to my father. Let the relationship between us be as cordial as you had with my father, please, Commander.”

Prosper smiled with wonder.

“Since your return, I find it hard convincing myself whether I’m listening to you or to my King Demi,” he said gently. “Yes, Temi, when we’re alone you’ll be my friend, but when we’re in public you shall be my Heir Apparent. Is that okay with you?”

“Quite vexatious to the soul, but yes, agreeable certainly.”

“Then walk with me, Temi,” Prosper said with a sense of urgency. “The sun dims soon, and the murderous White Kombas appear soon.”

They began to walk again.

“Are Shemen and the Sage free?” Temi asked.

“Released as you ordered, Temi,” Freeman said. “But quite late to see them now.”

“Aye, because of those evil White Kombas. I’ll see the Sage and Shemen tomorrow then.”

They had arrived at a small but beautiful building with a soft light shining through the curtains across the windows. It was on the edge of the lake, and beyond that building, a stout wooden bridge spanned the lake, and on the other side of that lake was a big, beautiful building painted in deep ash with a small layer of black underneath.

“This is where we put Mrs. Nneka Okez,” Prosper said, pointing to the small building. “Across the bridge and on the other side of the lake, is your quarters.”

“I’m grateful to you for putting her near me,” Temi said as he mounted the steps to the porch of the little house.

He raised his hand to knock, but the door opened, and there she stood.

Dark of skin, and absolutely beautiful, the most delightful sight his eyes craved to see. She was wearing a flowered dress that stopped above her knees. She looked different somewhat, and it took him a moment to see that she had probably taken a long bath and then her hair was swept off her face and tied in a severe bun on top of her head, exposing the elegant shape of her face.

“Nek,” he breathed softly. “Are you comfortable?”

She smiled sadly.

“I’m only comfortable with your presence around me, Temi, my love,” she whispered gently. “But, indeed, this place will spoil me with its comfort! I’ve never tasted better food or a more comfortable bed. Ah, I showered for the first time in many years. Yes, my dear, I just need your company to make me feel like I’m in paradise.”

Temi smiled as he reached out and took her in his arms. He kissed her gently, slowly, sweetly.

Prosper Freeman coughed behind them.

“Temi, you better get inside,” he said in a worried voice. “You’re not to be seen consorting with…a woman you’ve not wedded. And secondly, the White Kombas are becoming bolder. They might appear anytime soon.”

Nneka stepped back with a choked sigh and looked at the prince with eyes glazed with passion.

“Alas, the Commander is right, my love,” she whispered. “Go, get out of here. We meet tomorrow.”

“I will sleep for the first time without your warmth around me,” Temi said painfully. “It is going to be a most fretful night.”

She smiled, a beautiful glow of inner joy that transformed her face into an angel.

“My love, you make my heart soar,” she whispered. “Indeed, mine will be lonely too, but knowing you’re near, and that I can see you with a new dawn, fills my heart with grand happiness. Goodnight, my darling.”

“Sleep bliss and dream me, Nek,” he whispered and gently caressed her right breast, feeling the hardening of her nipple. She gasped with pleasure, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him deep and long.

“Break it up, you damn fools!” Prosper cried with indignation and concern.

Nneka giggled, turned swiftly, entered the room and shut it behind her.

Temidayo turned and looked at Prosper Freeman with a scowl.

“Did you just call the Heir Apparent a fool, Commander?” he enquired.

Commander Prosper sighed.

“I called a the man I consider my son a fool,” he said softly. “I’m sorry, Temi. The laws of Dayo are taken seriously, and their enforcement respects no single individual. Please, I beg of you, take them seriously.”

“Have you ever been in love?” Temi asked as they began to walk. “I haven’t seen you with any woman yet.”

“In due time, you’ll know everything, Temi,” Prosper said quietly.

Silently, they crossed over to the bridge and walked across the serene lake to that beautiful building.

It was grandly furnished and very beautiful.

“This is the King Abode,” Prosper said, showing him to a huge room with the biggest bed he had ever seen. It was covered with beautiful sheets and had an awning with cascading lace above it, making it seem like a room in itself.

Temi’s eyes opened wide.

“Am I an elephant to sleep in such a horrendous bed?” he asked frantically. “That thing can easily provide space to a hundred men!”

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