Web of confusion season 2 episode 18

Adindu Presh
"WEB OF CONFUSION"

SEASON 2--Episode 18

Ulumma and Nworie searched frantically in the surrounding bushes for Ajonwa but she was nowhere to be found.
"What do we do now? We can't let her just get away like that.. Her powers might be gone but her strength is still intact.. She's still as harmful as ever"Ulumma lamented in worry

"I think we should still check around. Am very sure she wouldn't have gone far.. She still lurks around"Nworie assured her

"OK.. You go there while I check around this side"Ulumma said pointing at the places.

They quickly dispersed and the search continued.

Meanwhile, Ajonwa was staying at the bushes behind the stream. Her favourite spot.. She looked around to make sure no one was in sight before she sat down on the ground breathing heavily for running so hard. She held her chest with her left hand to steady her breathing. She sighed in pain as she remembered that all her powers are gone..
She slowly headed to the stream to drink some water because she was really tasty..

"I must sit down and think on how to conquer all these obstacles ranging from Ulumma to Nworie to that stupid betrayer called Ogoli. I must know how to succeed and get back my throne without them knowing am powerless now..I, Ajonwa cannot be defeated by mere humans"She bent down and scooped some water from the stream into her both hands then drank.. She did this 4 times before she was satisfied.. She washed her face, hands and legs quickly tucked the knife she stole from the shrine into her waist wrapper and headed back into the bush.

She sat down and immediately fell into a deep sleep inspite of herself as she was overcomed by sleep because she was so tired.

************

"Wakey wakey sleepy head"A voice woke her up.

She jumped up only to see Ulumma standing in front of her.
"Why do you keep following me? Why? Have you not taken all my powers? Why then do u keep following me?"Ajonwa screamed

"No.. We still have unfinished business.. Leaving you to roam freely is still very risky and harmful to me, umuozara and even Ndi mmiri"Ulumma said

"So you want to kill me? Your own sister? Oh! How heartless can you be, meanwhile everyone thinks of you as the good one"Ajonwa said

"Oh plz halt that emotional blackmail!! I and you know you are a dangerous and unrepentant fellow.. You cannot be allowed to go scout free"Ulumma replied.

"OK go ahead and kill me.."Ajonwa said raising her hands up as a way of surrender.

"Ajonwa I would advise that you..."Before Ulumma could complete her statement, Ajonwa drew out the knife in her waist wrapper and stabbed her on the chest..
Ulumma was taken by surprise as she staggered backwards holding her chest in pains..
Ajonwa jumped on her and continued stabbing her repeatedly on her chest until she lost her breathe..

"What have you done???!!"Nworie screamed as he saw Ulumma lying in the pool of her own blood with Ajonwa on top of her..
Ajonwa jumped from Ulumma's body and ran away.
Nworie was weak as he bent down shaking Ulumma's body while crying.

*************

IN THE BUSH

Ebere and Anyanwu were still on their way to Umuozara when Ebere suddenly hit her left big toe on a stone..
"Chei chei chei"Ebere cried out as she lay on the ground in pains.
Anyanwu moved to her to examine the wound.
"Let me quickly get some leaves so I can squeeze the juice into the wound. It will help reduce the pain as well as help heal it faster"Anyanwu said and then rushed to the nearby bush to get the medicinal leaves..

Soon he came back with them and applied it into Ebere's wound.
"This is a bad omen. Hitting my left foot on a stone shows that something bad will happen or has already happened"Ebere said to Anyanwu when he was done administering the herbs to her wound and they were resting.

"I feel so too.. But what could be wrong?"Said Anyanwu

"Something is wrong with my sister Ulumma.. We must hurry"

"But it might not be Ulumma.. Probably someone else."

"Well maybe but we must hurry"Ulumma said standing up

"Let's rest a bit so the pain from your wound can reduce"Anyanwu suggested

"No.. I insist we leave at once. Am not feeling good at all"Ebere said with an air of authority as she started walking away.

******************

The guards who were sent by King Afam arrived the stream which was included in their search.. They heard cries from the near-by bush and quickly ran to see who it was. To their dismay, it was Nworie and beside him was the body of Ulumma.

"Is this not the King's sister?"One guard asked the other one wanting to make sure

"What happened to her?"The second guard asked Nworie totally ignoring the first guard's question.

"Take her.. Quickly to the Palace.. The evil one killed her"Nworie said admist sobs..

The guards nodded as they headed into the bush to get banana leaves in which they'd use to wrap her body.
Nworie headed back to the Shrine in tears..

***************

The news had spread throughout the village of the death of Princess Ulumma.
Asa wasn't taking it well. She had cried and rolled herself on the ground calling on the gods to come and kill her.
Even little Lotanna knew something must be wrong with his mother as he joined her in tears.

"Would you kill yourself with grief?"Okoro asked her

"Nnanyi, let me die.. I want to die.. Ulumma nwam dead? Oh am finished"She stood up and hit herself on the ground crying uncontrollably..

Okoro simply walked inside to continue his silent grief.

***************

Ebere and Anyanwu were greeted with an awkward silence as they entered Umuozara village.

Passersby courtesyed in greeting as they saw Ebere while they looked strangely at Anyanwu who was a stranger to them wondering what the Queen was doing with such a man after disappearing for a long time.

"What could have gone wrong?"Ebere asked herself as they approached the Palace.

Even with the sorrow hanging in the air, King Afam managed to disguise his grief and welcomed his wife and the stranger with Joy.

"Where have you been all these while? You just disappeared without a trace"Afam said

"My husband am sorry but it's a long story which am unwilling to share at this point"She quickly called the maiden to bring her son.

"My baby boy I miss you so much.. You look so healthy and strong"She kissed Onochie playfully and the little baby laughed acknowledging her presence.

"Nworie the late Onu agbala son healed him of his sickness and ever since, he had been bouncing and bubbling"Afam told Ulumma.

"Wow! That's so great!"Ulumma exclaimed joyfully

"And who is this stranger?"Afam quickly remembered Anyanwu

"Am sorry for not introducing myself properly my king. I am Anyanwu, the royal adviser from Ndi Mmiri Land"Anyanwu said

"Oh! You're very much welcome"

"He has been the one helping me"Ebere added as she played with her baby

"Thank you very much"King Afam said to Anyanwu who smiled.

"So. Have you seen my sister? She left Ndi mmiri about 2days ago to this place"Ebere said

King Afam kept quiet

"Have you seen Ulumma?"Ebere asked again

Silence.

Ebere became suspicious
"Ada! come and take the prince to his Hut"Ebere handed over the little Prince to the maid.
She then stood up and went to the King
"My king, where is Ulumma?"

"she.. She was found dead yesterday.. Killed by the evil daughter of Late nne mmiri"King Afam said almost in tears.

"dead? It's a big lie!! Take me to where she is.. show me her body!!"Ebere screamed as tears poured down her eyes..

****************
TO BE CONTINUED...