Deba Ezobo (tale of an African princess*

Chapter 13
The not-so-dark cave was quiet and looked very unfriendly to the innocent. Crude white and black drawings of people at war, about to be killed or dead, covered the cave walls.
In the middle of the room, well arranged woods burned underneath a giant pot. Daoud’s Priestess, Tira, ignored her flowing red gown and cape dragging against the sandy floor, as she walked over to a wooden shelf by the right. Among the many bottles of herbs and concoctions, she picked up one, opened it and poured the content on one slender palm. She retuned to the fire and turned the powder into the boiling water in the big pot. Green smoke instantly rose from the pot as she chanted incantations. The smoke turned into a foggy screen. In it’s screen, she watched how Mekani, his brothers, Deba and the Zulus fought bravely and eventually defeated the Tuaregs.
Tira remained emotionless, even after watching Prince Daoud’s men slaughtered like goats and chickens. She was more interested in Mekani carrying Deba over his shoulders and leading the men into the bush path at the west wing of the camp. They walked for a while, crossed a river, before disappearing into a cave.
At this point, a smile gradually parted her lips. “At last. I have found you, Juba. Now there is no escaping what I’m bringing to you.”
Foot steps approaching from the cave entrance caught her attention. She turned around to face her visitor. He was dressed in a princely robe covered by a blue coat that reached his ankle. A cream coloured turban graced his head. His beard were a bit rough and his clothings smelt of sweat.
“Prince Daoud.” She smiled, wearily. “I wasn’t expecting you back so soon.”
“You should.” He walked to stand in front of the green smoke screen. But there was nothing to be seen. Just a scattered Zulu camp and dead bodies being burnt. “So? what do we have?”
“You should be more concerned with gathering your allies and their armies. Discuss the plan with them and leave the rest to me.”
“I will leave the rest to you after you tell me how my men fared.”
“They’re dead,” she faced the smoke screen, “all of them.”
“What? How?” He frowned and took two steps towards her.
“Juba!”
“Ju what?”
“Juba, their leader. A sort of god king. He rules the kingdom.”
“I don’t care about this god king.” He barked, “you promised me Gor! You know very well that without Gor we won’t be claiming the rest of the kingdoms in the middle belt and down south. Besides, those animals have to pay for their crimes”
“We have the caliphate on our side. Don’t you trust in their swords?”
“Don’t mock me, woman!”
“Then leave me to my business! Your men were a needed sacrifice. If only you had listened to me and sent a few warriors, so many wouldn’t have died. I won’t say I knew they were going to die like chickens, but their death has shown me what we’ve been looking for.”
“You found the entrance to Gor?”
“Yes! Surprise,” she smiled and strolled half way around the fire to stand at the opposite side. “Besides, whether we lost this initial battle or not, we still have our element of surprise, your wife.”
“Talking about her, how did she respond to the rituals? Its been three weeks already.”
“Very well. But she’s still recuperating.”
“I want to see her.”
“Since when did you care?” Tira frowned.
“Since she became our element of surprise.” His jaws were set.
Tira’s eyes narrowed as she observed him briefly. He was her prince but she only chose to serve him because she needed to take revenge on Juba. After all he had made her go through, she wanted him and his kingdom destroyed. At the same time, if Daoud tried to do anything stupid, she wouldn’t think twice about getting him off the picture once and for all. She had plans of her own. “Come.” She said at last. “I will take you to her.”
She turned and led him down a narrow passage, to another section of the cave. A small window was carved out of the cave wall, allowing sunlight in. On a bed against the left side of the wall, Izogie lay, looking up at the ceiling where symbolic markings were drawn. She was dressed in a simple red gown and cape, just like Tira’s. Her hair was simply packed up with a red ribbon.
“Hello my dear.” Tira called. “Your husband is here to see you.”
Izogie closed her eyes briefly and opened them again. Then she sat up straight, without the support of anything. Within seconds she was off the bed, looking straight at her husband, but saying nothing.
“Hello.” Prince Daoud greeted. Although he wasn’t sure hello was the right thing to say. “Hello?” He asked again, when she didn’t respond. Minutes passed and she still remained quiet. He turned then to Tira. “What is wrong with her?”
“Nothing. She just doesn’t respond to anyone but me.”
“That was not the agreement.”
“I don’t care what we agreed on. You married her, you’ve gotten what you asked for and now, she is going to help us destroy Gor. Once Gor is down, Idanre, Oyo, Bini, Utho Era, Nri, Aro and all other kingdoms from east to west, middle belt to south, will be yours to control. I still have my personal score to settle with Juba. So yes, I will control her.”
Prince Daoud frowned. He moved closer to the priestess and grabbed her neck. Izogie moved to defend her new mistress. Her eyes were beginning to take on a fiery glow. But Tira stopped her with a wave of hand. Relieved that Izogie had backed down, Daoud looked straight into Tira’s eyes.
“I hope your personal score with this Juba won’t be the end of us and all our plans?” His grip tightened.
“You don’t need to bother about that.” She choked, trying to free her neck.
“I won’t. As long as she does exactly what we want.”
“She will.”
“Good.” He let go of her neck, pushing her against the wall in he process. She inhaled sharply, glad to be free of his grip.
“When do we march?” Tira rubbed her neck to sooth the pain away.
“March?” His brows shot up.
“I have found Gor’s entrance. Your queen will be the one to lead us in.”
“Good. Then we march in a week.” He took one last look at Izogie, then back at Tira. “I will alert my father to the new development.”
The Prince turned and walked out of the cave room, the sound of his heavy metal boot echoed through the passage. After he was gone, Tira turned to Izogie.
“Rest, my baby.” She commanded, softly. Izogie obeyed and went back to bed. Tira sat by her side and stroked her hair backward, rhythmically.
“I swear to you, my dear. When we are done, you will have your own revenge on the prince. That is my promise to you.”
*****************************
Her eyes flew open. The ceiling was not the normal mud or thatch one she was used to. It was made of something solid and designed in a zigzag manner. She looked to her right. At the far end, two blinds were drawn together. The windows by the side were open; the white blinds pulled apart and the rays of the sun streamed in. Looking at herself, she was dressed in cream coloured clothing and covered with a white sheet. The bed felt really soft against her skin, not the usual feather stuffed bed.
Deba wondered where she was. The luxury in the room was something she had never imagined before, let alone experienced.
She tried to sit up, but winced at the pain she felt in her limbs and entire body. Her head ached terribly and she was scared it would explode. Where am I? She thought, making a second attempt to sit up. “Ah!” She cried out.
“You should not be in a hurry to get up.” Mekani advised. He quickly got up from the wooden rock chair at the foot of the bed and came to stand by the side, briefly, before sitting down and taking her hands in his. He was dressed in an expensive blue robe that glittered in the sunlight. A fat silver rope rounded his waist, making the robe fitting. His dada was not left loose. A silver chord held it in place behind his head.
“Mekani,” she whispered, still propped up on one elbow. For her, it was a glorious way to wake up. If not how do one explain waking up to see the love of their life looking all dashing and attractive? “Wow! You look….., you look different.” She managed.
“Neater, you mean.” He smiled, kissing her hands.
“Not neater. Handsome and really princely. But I still prefer the bare chest though.” She managed a sheepish grin.
He chuckled. “You don’t expect me to go about in only a loin cloth and bare chest, do you? What will the servants think?”
“I thought it was your style?” Her brows shot up in mock surprise.
This time, Mekani laughed. “Even though you’re up from a one day pass out, you still have your sense of humor.” He bent low to plant a kiss on her forehead, her nose, then lips. “Welcome back from wherever it is you were?”
“Hmmmmm…. A one day pass out?” She asked, after he pulled back to look at her.
“Yes, my love.”
“That is a serious one.” She stroked his beards, gently. “I’m I badly hurt?”
“Not really. Nothing that Juba can’t take care of.
“Oh. Thank the gods.” She relaxed a bit but raised voices filtered in through the open window, bringing her back to her earlier question. “Where are we by the way?”
“Home.”
“Gor?” She struggled to sit upright, ignoring the pain.
Mekani helped her to sit up and nodded afterwards. “Yes. Gor, my love. Welcome home.”
“Gor?” Her eyes widened as she realized what it meant. They were no longer on the run and she was closer to her father. All the questions she needed answers to piled up on her tongue, ready to roll off. The men had talked about her father. They said he lost his son at the fighting pits. In other words, Ere was gone. How about her papa’s personal guard, Enoma? Was he alive or dead too? “Can I see my father now?”
“Not yet, Deba. You need to rest some more.”
“I have rested enough.” She rubbed the ache building at her temple. “But I feel terrible, Mekani. I’m in so much pain. What happened to me? I suddenly found myself fighting those warriors and killing them off. Then I fainted.”
A light smile tugged at his lips, mixed with worry. He caressed her cheeks, lovingly. “Your father. He used you to defeat the Tuaregs. Although I was angry with him, he explained himself.”
“Angry? I don’t understand. If my father used me, what’s wrong with that? Those warriors were at the verge of over powering us.”
“Yes. But you were at risk. Even he agrees that you could have been hurt in the process. Maybe stabbed. Although he was in you and you were strong, he wouldn’t be in you forever. Look how you collapsed after he left your body. Your energy was drained.”
“Is that why my body aches?”
“You exerted energy. Your body was used in a way you have never used it before. Sure, you’ll feel pains.”
She bit her lips and nodded in understanding. “So… When…” She began when her stomach grumbled loudly.
“Oh! How inhospitable I have been to our stomach.” Mekani apologized, rubbing her belly.
“Our?” She eyed him
“Yes.” He bent low to kiss it. “It is where our babies will stay for nine moons. That makes it ours.”
She chuckled. He smiled.
“Besides, you have been out of consciousness a whole day and without food. I will send word to the chief cook. She will bring you food.” He stood up to leave, but her hand caught his wrist, making him stop. “Yes my love?”
“Will you come back?”
“I will. But I have to get you food first. Then I’ll send the maids to bathe you and finally, alert your father that you’re up. He asked that I let him know when you regain consciousness”
“Ok.” She smiled. “Please tell him I’m eager to see him”.
Mekani nodded. Although his countenance changed slightly, like he was torn between saying something or not saying it. He proceeded to the door. At the door, he stopped briefly. “Deba” he turned to face her again.
“Yes?” Her eyes had not left him
“You should not expect to see your father as you knew him eight years back.”
“No. Absolutely not. He should be older now.”
“Not just older.”
“What else?”
“He has changed, a lot. He is different in many ways. I think you should prepare your mind that he will never be the same again.
She swallowed, nodding her head. “Ok.” She didn’t know what else to say. “I will keep that in mind.”
“Good then. I will get the cook.” Mekani said and left, shutting the door behind him.
She was alone now. Although she still felt pains all over her body, she threw her discomfort aside and wondered about what Mekani had said. What could have happened to her father? So much so that Mekani had to tell her he wasn’t the same man she knew eight years back?
“What happened to you, papa? What happened?” She rested her head against the wall and sighed. The earlier she saw him and discussed with him, tfhe better.
To be continued…

Chapter 13
Her body still ached, but it didn’t stop her from finishing the soup and the goat meat that accompanied it. Sliding back down, she smuggled under the sheets. The head cook, Ireti, that Mekani had talked about had since brought her food. The elderly woman sat on the chair by the bed and watched her eat up.
Ireti was such a nice woman. Although plump, she had carriage and grace in her steps. Top that up with being an excellent cook and a wonderful waitress
Deba didn’t think she’d be able to eat much when the food first arrived. But she had emptied the soup plate, the vegetables and the goat meat that followed.
“Thank you.” She said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She was truly grateful for a sumptuous meal.
“I am glad to be of service, my princess.” Ireti smiled. “Ever since you arrived, we have all been eager to wait on you. Everyone in the kingdom has been talking about your arrival and they just can’t wait to see you.” She finished, really excited like a little girl.
“Everyone?”
“Yes, Princess. Everyone.”
Deba’s eyes widened as realization hit her. Back at Utho Era she was nothing but the late Ezodo’s daughter. The people rarely called her princess. Of course, except Yuwa, who chipped it in every now and then. Now it dawned on her why Mekani had continuously called her princess – princess of Gor, that was what he meant. Not princess of Utho Era, as she used to think. And him? Who was he? Especially since he was her father’s adopted child.
“…….. I’ll pack up your plates now. I hope you rest well, princess.”
“Oh” Deba winced, feeling guilty she hadn’t been following the elderly woman’s conversation. “Thank you so much, ma. The meal was great and I enjoyed your company.”
“Ma?” Ireti’s brows got up, curiosity taking over her expression. “I don’t know many princesses who call their subjects ma. I’m really going to enjoy having you around.”
Deba chuckled. “The feeling is mutual.”
The elderly woman’s smile broadened. She picked up the used plates and bowed, before walking to the door and out of the room.
Deba sighed. She hadn’t expected Ireti to bow to her. I guess I’m going to need to start getting used to a lot of things. She thought, before turning to face the window. The intensity of the sun rays flooding the room told her it was almost mid day. Although she wanted to rest some more, she knew she needed to bathe first. Where is the wash room? She thought. As if in cue, a soft knock on the door distracted her.
“Please can we come in, Princess?” A female voice asked from the other side.
“Yes”, she replied, wondering who ‘we’ entailed.
The door opened and three girls dressed in a white, simple floor-length robe, walked in. They shut the door behind and bowed in unison, like an unseen force controlled them with puppet strings. “The prince said it is time for you to wash up.” The lady who seemed to be their leader spoke.
Prince? Deba thought. Mekani. Definitely she couldn’t be referring to any other person. Or maybe it was Dogo, or Kubu. What of Mayo? Her mind however, remained fixed on Mekani. She should have known that he was a prince in the kingdom. It explained the princely robe he wore – almost similar to the one worn by Prince Daoud during his sham of a marriage to Izogie.
“Izogie” the name escaped her lips, almost inaudibly. Deba couldn’t help thinking that her cousin was either dead, or suffering at the hands of the mad man that is her husband.
“Your bath, Princess.” The leader of the girls reminded her.
“Yes.” She agreed. Amidst pains, Deba sat up, and then got out of bed. “Where will I bathe?”
“Here.” The girl smiled, then clapped her hands twice. The other girls moved, took Deba’s hands and gently led her to the far end of the room where a curtain was drawn together. They pulled it apart to reveal a bath made of bricks. Then they went out briefly to get hot water which they used in massaging her joints before giving her body and hair a thorough wash.
It was sometime later. The girls were long gone and she was fully dressed in a white off-the-shoulder long-sleeved gown that covered her body up to her ankle. A belt held the free gown together at her waist. And a cape hung from her shoulders to thr floor.
Deba stood against the wide opening that served as a window. Apparently, she was inside an elevated palace, high enough to reveal a large extent of the city to her. Deba looked out at the city below and was entranced by it’s beauty and riches. She knew it was no small city. Men and women went about in their numbers. Some were merchants, ringing bells and calling out to passersby to buy their goods. Others were regular farmers, fishermen, carpenters, goldsmiths and even medicine men. She couldn’t help but wonder just how large and rich the kingdom was. Utho Era was large, thanks to her papa. But since his supposed death, the kingdom didn’t expand. It just maintained its size. Talking about colour and beauty, no, Utho Era didn’t have as much as the little she knew Gor had. short/mini wedding wears in white
“What have you been up to, papa?” The question escaped her lips.
“Nothing you won’t know soon”, A familiar voice said. She turned around to see Mekani casually strolling in her direction. “Sorry”, he apologized, “I didn’t mean to startle you. But your door was left open”.
Her eyes traveled to the slightly opened door and back to him. “Its Ok. As long as it is you.” She smiled. He smiled too, before moving to hug her from behind and planting firm kisses on her neck and bare shoulders.
“You’re beautiful.”
“Why? Because they gave me a wash and new clothes?”
He chuckled. “Yes.”
“Naughty you.” She laughed lightly. The sound of her laughter tickled his senses and his grip around her waist tightened. She felt his hardness against her behind and she quickly turned to look down at it, before looking up again.
“What?” Her brows were raised.
“You know what.” He replied, “You’ve always known what.”
“But?”
“But it can wait.” He move to take the space by her side. “What do you think about what you’ve seen so far?” He asked, looking out at the city below.
“I’m impressed.” Deba said, resuming her position by the window. “When you talked about my father’s kingdom, I expected something small, with thatch roofs and half naked people”.
Mekani chuckled. “I can imagine. But why half naked?”
“Because you and the men were half naked”. She grinned at him
“Its our disguise. We couldn’t risk being recognized as royalties outside of Gor. It is better that way, to keep thieves at bay.”
“True.” She agreed. “So what about the others? The men, I mean”.
“Dogo and Kubu are with their families. Mayo is chasing a farm girl he met on our way back. He claims he is in love already.” Mekani grinned.
Deba chuckled. “That is a fast love. But what about his family? I thought he’d go out to look for them.”
“We did look for them. A long time ago. His wife remarried. She seems very happy with her new life. There was no use bringing her sorrows. Mayo thought it best to let her be. She has suffered enough because of him.”
Deba nodded, pretending to understand why he’d let go of his wife if he truly loved her. “And his kids?”
“The new husband adopted them. He’s truly a good man at heart”.
Deba nodded again. There was nothing as romantic as marrying a good man who is willing to reciprocate the feeling. She loved Mekani. That was for sure. There was just no way she’d settle for another man all because Mekani suddenly disappeared for five or six seasons, no matter how good the other man claimed to be.
She looked at him then. Thankfully his eyes were focused on the city below. Looking at him over again, from head to toe, told her he was the perfect man for her. No one else would be able to take his place, in her heart, or on her bed.
It took a while, but she finally tore her eyes away from him and sighed. Images of what their love making would be like had started to form in her head. Lingering on such images would only be a case of starting something that wouldn’t finish. Warm feelings had started to creep all over her body. To ease what she was feeling, she looked out again at the city below and let her eyes absorb its beauty. “Gor is much more than I ever imagined.” She spoke at last. “It is beautiful.”
“Yes.” Mekani agreed, looking at her. “Wait till you see the rest of the kingdom. We mimicked what we saw in Mombasa and Gao. During his journey, your father happened to visit Timbuktu. He got some ideas from there also”
“Travelled far and wide, I see.”
“You don’t approve?” His brows shut up.
“I do. I’m just wishing I could travel the world too.”
“Ok. I get. Jealously.”
She spanked him playfully. “Must you miss read things?”
“As long as it concerns you, yes.” He leaned over and kissed her lips lightly. “I like the perfume they used on you too.”
“My bathers, you mean”.
“Yes.”
“Hmm… Before I forget, thanks for sending Ireti. I enjoyed her food. She really knows how to prepare tasty meals. And thanks for the bath girls too. They bathed me thorough. I’ll be bathing myself next time though.”
“I know.” He chuckled. “You want independence. But your body ached. You needed help.”
“True. Thanks for the thought.”
“You’re welcome. Talking about thoughts, Juba will see you now.”
Deba’s heart skipped. Then she swallowed. Finally her moment had come – the moment she had been waiting for. Different thought flashed through her mind and for the first time since she learnt that her father was alive, she truly wondered what she would say when she met him. Of course, that was outside the explanation surrounding his sudden disappearance for 8 years. That is, 8 seasons. Sshedidn’t know she looked scared, until Mekani spoke.
“Don’t look like that.” Mekani took both her hands and pulled her into his embrace. “You’ll be relieved after you’ve seen him.”
“I know”, she swallowed. “I just don’t know what to expect”.
He raised her chin to look at him. A soft kiss followed. “Expect to see your father”.
She nodded. “Ok.”
“Come. We shouldn’t keep him waiting”. He led her out of the room.
**********************
With Mekani leading the way, they walked out of the room into a quiet passage. A few servants were there, including Ireti and the girls who gave her a bath. They bowed as the duo walked past. Some distance away, Deba turned back and waved at Ireti. She smiled broadly and waved back, just before they turned left into another passage, narrower than the first. Mekani stopped briefly to open the door at the end of the passage. A flight of stairs greeted their eyes. Together, with Mekani in front, they descended until they reached the bottom of the underground building. There were five small windows joined to the ceiling at different spots. Through the window, several feet could be seen walking past, unconscious of the eyes watching them.
The walls of the spacious room they found themselves was made of bricks. Wooden statues, about 10, lined the east wing of the room. In the middle was a king sized chair with thorns at the back. In front of it was a foot stool and by the sides, two empty benches. Several hooded clothing’s hung from the wall at the west wing of the room. A closed door stood beside the last clothing hanging from the wall. Deba couldn’t help but notice that all the clothes hand hoods.
Mekani moved to light a lamp. Then he walked over to where the curtains were tied. He undid the knots that held them apart and pulled them together to block out sunlight. The light from the lamp remained the only source of light. Then he walked up to Deba.
“Please don’t mind the darkness.” He said, “Juba prefers it this way. At least there is a lamp. Just wait a little longer, he will be with you shortly.” He squeezed her hands gently, before turning to leave.
“Where are you going?” Deba asked. She seemed frightened at the idea of being left alone to face a father she had not seen for eight seasons; a father who had become a god and a king.
“I will wait outside”, Mekani explained. “I cannot be here without Juba’s permission”.
“You can stay”, a voice said. It was vaguely familiar and also strange. It had something in it, something that sounded like sadness mixed with joy. Deba looked around, but there was no one.
“I am in front of you.” This time, the voice came from the king sized chair with thorns. She looked hard at the chair and thought she saw movement. “Come closer, my dear”, the voice pleaded.
“Don’t be scared.” Mekani encouraged. “He is your father.”
Deba’s eyes widened, “Papa?”
“My baby”. The voice sounded like it was smiling now.
She moved to stand in front of the chair. Then she knelt and stretched her hands to touch him. True, he was there. But his form was without color. He was like water, taking on the color of anything placed on him or around him – In this case, the brown colour of the king sized chair.
“Papa!” She cried, and threw herself at him. He hugged her and together, they wept for joy, uncertainty and sadness over all they had endured – all the seasons they had been apart and the pain that had followed. Deba’s heart sank. Her papa was truly not the same.
To be continued….