The Legend Of Dayo…

AARON ANSAH-AGYEMAN

THE LEGEND OF DAYO

SEASON 5: THE ONE

[avatar]

The Author

CHAPTER 7

 “You’re the Heir Apparent, my son,” Prosper said with a tender smile. “That wardrobe contains clothing sewn with your specifications. That white box is an antique cooler which Earthlings call a refrigerator. We have a modern one, the Sweetchill, but it is available only in Dayo for now. Inside that refrigerator, you will find drinks and edibles to caress your palate in case you feel any hunger pangs.”

“A man will grow soft in such surroundings!” Temi cried as he walked out of the room after Prosper.

The commander smiled but made no remark until he opened two huge doors at the end of the corridor, showing Temi into a huge room with an oval table in the middle and chairs around it.

There was also a glass-topped mahogany desk against a far corner. The room had shelves with lots of books on it.

“This is your study and your library, Temi,” Commander Freeman said. “Just familiarize yourself with the history of Dayo, and of the Earth as often as you can. You will need them when you reign as king.”

Temidayo was fascinated by the library, and moved to the shelves, fingering the books. He took one out, a huge leather-bound hardcover book.

“History of the world,” he whispered, and then looked at Prosper with sudden shock. “I can read it! Dearest me, I can read it and understand.”

“I guess you could,” Prosper said with intrigued eyes. “Whatever happened to you, at wherever you were, has completed you, and I’m intrigued to know.”

Temi smiled and pointed a finger at him.

“One day, you will know, perhaps.”

“I hope so,” Prosper replied. “But I must leave now, Temi. The dusk grows, danger looms.”

“Ah, those irritating White Kombas hold us to ransom,” Temidayo said, and his voice was not that of a scared man but a deeply irritated one. “I might have to find a way to neutralize their danger. Until then, my friend, do make haste to safety. Left to me alone, the two of us could stay here.”

“All in good time, Temi. First, we do what we have to do. There’ll be plenty of time afterward to amend the laws of Dayo if you want.”

“Yes, you speak the truth, Commander,” Temi said. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Have a good sleep, my prince, and once again welcome back home.”

They shook hands, and Prosper Freeman left.

Temi took a bath and slipped into a gown, then padded to the study to read more about Dayo.

He did not stop reading, even when he heard the horrible growling and roars of the White Kombas foraging in the yard. He was well into a huge book titled The Dayan Kings And Earthly Duties when the door to the study creaked at the same time that he heard a horrible growl from outside from one of the White Kombas right outside the window of the study.

Temidayo cursed angrily and got to his feet. He walked up the window and angrily drew the curtains, and then he stood behind the glass panes of the huge windows and glared outside.

It was there!

That particular White Komba with the silver head. Its long and narrow face was filled with deadly hatred and wrath as it stood just outside the window, its single eye in the centre of its forehead filled with malice. It opened its huge gaping mouth filled with long teeth that looked like knives and bellowed so ferociously that the glass shook!

It was just outside the window, with only the glass separating them.

Temidayo knew no fear as he stood glaring defiantly at that monstrous creature as it waved its three deadly sword-like arms, as if daring Temi to step outside. Temi put his hand on each side of the window as his body shook with fury. To know that these horrible creatures filled everybody with fear, and prevented anybody from enjoying the beauty of the night, filled him with fury.

This was the silver-headed White Komba that had almost killed him, the same one that had taken two horses from him, one killed by Prosper in Aradise to aid their escape, and one killed by this wicked monster on the hill the day Daniel Godwin set a trap for him.

And it was this silver-haired evil thing that had murdered Nek’s husband. Temi looked at the two Swords of Destiny lying in their scabbards on the huge desk, and then his hand hovered near the latch of the window as he fought the deep urge to open the window and go out.

He heard a whisper of movement behind him, and as he whirled around, he smelled her sweet scent first, and then Rose shot past him and, shuddering with horror at the sight of the huge White Komba outside the window, she pulled the window blinds across the face of the panes once more, hiding the face of that hideous monster.

She turned slowly to face Temidayo.

She was wearing a simple white dress, and she was as lovely as a drop of diamond dew on grass. Her eyes, however, were filled with tears as she pressed herself against the wall and looked at the harsh face of Temidayo.

“What are you doing here, Rose Amaefule?” Temi growled furiously. “Perchance, have you been sent again to finish what you started? To make a fool out of me again with your lips and drive a poisoned knife through my heart?”

That one hurt her badly.

He saw the pain that ripped across her features, and the gasp of horror that escaped her lips. She took two steps forward and fell to her knees in front of her, and then she grasped his hand and pressed it against her own forehead in a complete supplicatory gesture.

“Don’t do this to me, Temi,” she whispered tremulously. “Please, I beg of you, don’t make my pain any worse. You don’t know just how much I have suffered after that horrible thing I did to you! Sleep lately has been filled with nightmares. Forgive me, Temi, please forgive me!”

There was a horrible roar from outside the window as White Komba let vent to its fury, and at the same time, Temidayo dragged his hand furiously from Rose’s hands and moved toward his swords on the desk, looking warily toward the door in case other enemies came through.

He drew out one of the swords and pointed it at the kneeling Rose.

“Are you alone? Did you come with others? How did you come here with the foul Kombas adrift?” he asked furiously.

Rose got to her feet and came rapidly toward him, and then she grasped the sword and put the tip against her throat as tears fell down her face.

“I came here two hours earlier when I learned you would occupy the King’s Quarters,” she said painfully as the tip of the sword nicked her skin, and a trickle of blood stained the tip of the sword. “I waited for you. There’s no one else with me, Temi!”

“You will address me properly!” Temi hissed angrily as he withdrew the sword and put it down on the desk.

She gasped, her lovely face torn up with sheer pain as she suddenly moved against him and hammered at his chest with her closed fists.

“Stop it, stop it, Temi, please, stop it!” she wailed helplessly. “I made a horrible mistake, yes. I hurt you terribly, yes. But I’m sorry, and I’m begging you to forgive me! Give me breath, give me peace…because if you’re going to remain angry with me, you might as well take your swords and strike me dead right now!”

She was weeping uncontrollably now as she collapses against him helplessly. Temi put his hands on her shoulders in an effort to push her back, but she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed herself closer to him, forcing his arms to slip down her body and his hands to fall on her arms.

“You’re the Heir Apparent, Temi,” she murmured hotly as she put her face against the base of her neck. “I beg of you, find a spot of kindness in your heart to forgive me. I don’t make any excuses, I was convinced by my own folly that Daniel indeed, was chosen. Murder, though, shouldn’t have been part of the scheme of things, because everything showed you were a prince. And that is the realization that has kept me awake for horrible nights. So, forgive me, or kill me right here!”

Temi sighed, and then he gently pushed her back and took a step from her.

Even in her distress, looking so shattered and with tears flooding her face, she still managed to look incredibly beautiful.

He spoke a bit calmly, but his bitterness was still sizzling way down in his voice.

“If I hadn’t forgiven you, Daniel and Ziloux would’ve been dead by now, and you would’ve been languishing in prison by now. You three had murder in your hearts, a horrible form of murder, but I lived through it. So, yes, I’ve forgiven you. But that doesn’t mean I’ll ever trust you again.”

That one also hurt her hard.

Her lips quivered, and then she wiped the tears from her eyes and put her head to one side.

“I saw you as just a weak, pretty-faced pampered coward,” she said gently. “But you suddenly came back, totally changed into the sort of man we’ve been waiting for all along, and it struck me anew that we started off on a very bad footing. Forgive me, Temi. If it takes a lifetime, I will win your trust again. Goodnight.”

Temidayo sighed and sat down on the huge stuffed chair behind the desk as she turned and walked toward the door.

“Where are you going to now?” he was forced to ask when she reached for the doorknob.

“Back to the barracks,” she said, pausing.

“Don’t be ridiculous, the White Kombas are out there.”

“They’re gone,” she said softly. “Plus, no one is supposed to sleep over in your quarters unless she’s your queen. I’ll be severely punished if I’m found here.”

He stared at her for some time.

“Don’t be silly, Rose,” he said with a sigh. “Enough rooms here. That damn beast might be waiting out there. Find a room to sleep and tomorrow morning I’ll find something to tell them.”

“No, you won’t,” she said sadly. “I won’t put you into any more trouble.”

She opened the door quickly and moved out, running blindly toward the main door, and as she tried to open it, he caught up with her and pushed the door shut.

“What are you trying to do?” he asked harshly. “Get yourself killed?”

“Maybe that would be better than this feeling in my heart right now!” she cried. “I don’t want you to hate me, Temi, please.”

“I said I forgive you, didn’t I?” he asked coldly.

“But I still see hatred in your eyes!” she whispered miserably. “I should understand you, and be grateful you didn’t give me up to face the death I deserve. But I feel it would’ve been better if I were to die than to see the look of disdain and hatred in your eyes!”

He put his hands on her shoulders.

“I gave you my heart, Rose, and you spat in my face with murder in your heart,” he said firmly. “Don’t push it. I’ve forgiven you because it turned out okay in the end. But I can’t trust you. I can’t trust your word or anything you do. That will take time. Now, go find somewhere to sleep.”

He locked the door, removed the key, and then left her in the hallway as he returned to the study.

THE AFFAIR:: EPISODE 1-2

 

 

[insert-comment-form]