Chapter 2: Aigbojie
Her name was Aigbojie. Born in Okwu-Esan medieval Bendel, she was the daughter of Pa Omozuwa, a hunter and his freed-from-slavery bride. She chose to enter the world on a rainy day, defiling the times and season of man. Born a month earlier she should have been weak but Itohan carved a way for herself even as a baby. True she was a tiny baby and prone to strange illnesses but as time unfolds she outgrew all forms of sicknesses to the sighs of gratitude from her dearest ones. She loved people. It seems that from a child she took destiny by the hand and arranged it to suit her purpose.
Her mother was a skilled hairdresser and there was a popular saying that she had magic hands blessed by her Creator.
Her village bordered the notorious Uzea where twin babies were done away with. They were denied life as soon as they came out from the womb leaving behind anguish and despair in their parents.
Aigbojie's voice rose in tandem with the others in supplication to a benevolent deity. It was a ritual of sorts. Unbroken. But on this day, the Monarch of Okwu-Esan , a small but prosperous village known for its sea food especially the sumptuous Ehnitan - red shrimp, had called for an urgent gathering when he learned of the plan of war by the neighbouring Uzea. The Uzeans were known to exact forceful tribute from weak or lesser villages; they were indeed a formidable people, fierce and fearless. It was said that Isimemen the previous monarch was half mortal. He was known to drink the blood of his defeated enemies who were themselves Monarchs from their their severed heads. He ruled his people with an iron fist and no one dared question his dictates, not even the Ukhia Mhin - the king makers of the realm. He was a law unto himself, a true dictator. His final act as Monarch was to lead his people into a battle, long since termed "the Bloody Massacre"
Table of contents
Her mother was a skilled hairdresser and there was a popular saying that she had magic hands blessed by her Creator.
Her village bordered the notorious Uzea where twin babies were done away with. They were denied life as soon as they came out from the womb leaving behind anguish and despair in their parents.
Aigbojie's voice rose in tandem with the others in supplication to a benevolent deity. It was a ritual of sorts. Unbroken. But on this day, the Monarch of Okwu-Esan , a small but prosperous village known for its sea food especially the sumptuous Ehnitan - red shrimp, had called for an urgent gathering when he learned of the plan of war by the neighbouring Uzea. The Uzeans were known to exact forceful tribute from weak or lesser villages; they were indeed a formidable people, fierce and fearless. It was said that Isimemen the previous monarch was half mortal. He was known to drink the blood of his defeated enemies who were themselves Monarchs from their their severed heads. He ruled his people with an iron fist and no one dared question his dictates, not even the Ukhia Mhin - the king makers of the realm. He was a law unto himself, a true dictator. His final act as Monarch was to lead his people into a battle, long since termed "the Bloody Massacre"
Table of contents
Chapter 4: Signs of Unrest Continues
Chapter 7: A Champion's Mindset
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