18 Chapter 17 - Mayowa is missing!
Screams from a dungeon could be heard. The person shouted in pain. Blood seeped out of his body as the long stick with small thorns pierced his body.
"That's enough" Damilola raised his hands.
"No, no, its not enough. I need to punish for my mistake. I was negligent" Shola said groaning in pain.
"No, its enough. You are still a friend" Dami said clearly frowning.
The thought of Mayowa being missing was pricking every vain in him and if he let the guard continue, he was scared that he won't stop him until his friend is no more and he didn't want that.
"Get him a chair and water" Damilola ordered. The guard quickly went to do as he was commanded. He helped the famished Shola up and gave him water.
Dami stood there with a raging heart. Everything in him was burning. How could this happen? To say that he was the one at fault made him more enraged. Where did she go and what happened to her? He needed to find her unless he will never forgive himself.
He couldn't even bring himself to explain to her friend Denle or even her family, so he sent his younger brother Dayo to go with her. His mind went back to the picture of Denle's tears. She was weakened and couldn't even stand properly for some minutes.
This is all my fault!! Why?! What would people think of me? Am I fit to lead this kingdom? I couldn't even protect a girl. How then can I protect this kingdom?
Thinking about it, a tear escaped Dami's eyes which Shola noticed.
"Dami, I am so sorry" he said.
"What happened?" Dami asked, seeing that Shola was a bit better to speak.
"I was following her as you instructed, but all of a sudden, she took another route which I didn't quite catch on time. When I got to know, I immediately followed her but due to the wind, a tree fell just right at my front and on top of my leg. I screamed in pain. Before I was able to get the tree off and go after her, she was already nowhere to be seen. I looked everywhere for her but I couldn't find her. I didn't want to go back without finding her so I stayed the whole night. When I couldn't find her, I had to come back and tell you. One thing is for sure, she crossed the borders".
"She crossed the borders?" Dami asked.
"Yes my prince. I am sure of it" Shola replied.
"I have to inform my dad about this. A search party should be sent out to find her. I will never forgive myself if something happens to her" Dami said, trying to stop himself from crying. With that, he left the dungeon.
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MAYOWA IS MISSING!
The twins screamed along with their father.
"Yes" Denle replied. She was the only one there. Dayo wanted to go back, but he had promised his brother that he would make sure she got home and also help out to explain Mayowa's disappearance. He reluctantly then came out of the carriage.
As he came to join them, his eyes noticed someone who had been on his mind for days. They were just right at the entrance of their house.
"So this was where she stayed? Good that I listened to Dami. Today must be my lucky day. God, she is so perfect! And yes, she is a twin. But she is much more enchanting" Dayo thought out loud.
All of them except Denle took time to greet the young Prince.
"Good morning my prince" they said in uniform.
They wondered what he was doing here. Did he accompany Denle and why? They thought.
Seeing that Dayo was not ready to say anything. His mind was somewhere, Denle moved to speak "Um...he helped me on my way here. I was leaping so he helped me"
Denle wasn't a good liar.
But what could she do? She had to say something. She didn't want them to really know what happened and why Dayo was here. He had said he would be going. What is he doing here? She screamed internally.
Dayo shook his head, trying to come out of the trance he was in.
"No, that's not what happened?" Dayo didn't see the point in lying. It is not like they would do anything so why was she lying?
"My brother, the crown prince asked to see your daughter Mayowa but on her way back, she went missing" he explained briefly.
"The prince asked to see Mayowa?!" Ayo was the first to say something. She was the most shocked because she never expected something like that.
"Yes, I guess my brother took interest in her. I am really sorry on his behalf" Dayo replied.
Denle pinched herself. He shouldn't have said that. She wasn't sure that that was Dami wanted. Well, whatever, he was a prince so they definitely wouldn't bombard them with questions.
"So, how are we going to find her?" Mayowa's father asked in a state of worry. Even though, he didn't cherish Mayowa like the twins, he didn't wish her bad. She was still the daughter of his late wife.
"I believe my brother will take care of that" Dayo assured.
"Why should she be found? It is not like she is of use to us anyway. It's good that things happened like this so she can leave us" Ayo said, jealous that Mayowa was noticed by the crown prince.
How did he even see her? She didn't go that day or did she?
Just as she was lost in thought, she felt something hard hit her cheeks. It was hot and painful. She noticed it was her father who slapped her.
"I didn't train you not to have conscience for your fellow human being. Even if she wasn't your sister, you have no right to say that. Where is your conscience?"
Tears splattered from Ayo as she cried out.
"Now, go inside! You couldn't even respect that a royal is here. What would he think of us? Funmi, take your sister inside!"
FUNMI!!
So her name was Funmi. Beautiful.
Funmi did as her father said, not before giving a quick glance at the prince. She noticed that he had been staring at her and it felt weird. Was he maybe interested her? Though he was talking to her father, he kept his eyes on her.
"Please, don't mind my daughter. She is just a child"
"Don't worry sir" he had no business with her. He could care less what she was or why she behaved like she did. "My brother gives his word to find her"
"Thank you. I am a bit surprised that the crown prince took interest in her but I won't question. Please extend my greetings to him and I hope Mayowa is found soon"
"Of course, you are welcome" Dayo said smilingly
"Excuse me. Denle, take care" he said then went inside. He was already too embarrassed to stay any longer.
"You told them the truth. Why?" Denle asked
"Well, what should I have done? You were going off point which will lead to series of questions and besides they won't question a royal too much"
"Whatever" Denle sighed
"Arent you going home?"
"No, please, take me back to the palace. I need to see the crown prince" Denle said agitated.
"For what?"
"Just take me to him. Please"
Dayo scratched his head. "The things I have to do"
"Thank you"
"But only on one condition"
"What?"
"Tell me more about this Funmi"
Denle smiled as she shook her head. Who is Dayo without women?
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Dami walked into his father's chambers with a heavy heart. He hoped his father would help him to find Mayowa. He met him writing something. King Dele noticed his presence even without looking at him.
"What is it Dami" his father asked
"Dad, I would like for you to send out a search party"
King Dele looked taken aback.
"A search party? For what?" he asked in anticipation.
"Mayowa is missing" Dami said after a deep sigh
"And who might Mayowa be?" King Dele asked again. He stopped what he was writing and focused keenly on Dami. Damilola had never requested for a search party for someone, much less a girl.
"She is the girl who ran out of my bedroom last night. Apparently, she got missing and..."
"Didn't you tell me that you sent Shola with her?"
"Yes I did, but she got missing. Father, I am so devastated. It is my fault. I won't be able to forgive myself if something happens to her"
King Dele stood up from his seat and walked carefully to Dami.
"I understand your feelings but I am afraid, there is nothing I can do. I told you that a kingdom is waging war against me. If they find out that the crown prince is interested in a girl, that he sent a whole search party to find her, they will relax and wait for you to become the King and wage war then, using her against you. I am sorry my son, but I warned you about feelings. In this part of the world, kingdoms use feelings to win against another. I hope you understand"
"I understand father, but I was at fault. If I didn't call her and break her heart, then this wouldn't have happened"
"Then you have to bear it. I cannot afford to show any weakness and you certainly shouldn't. You will be crowned soon. Focus on that"
"Please father" Dami begged.
King Dele hugged him "It is better you learn how to deal with it now than have it caught up on you. Look at it like its preparing you for the future. I don't want you to end up like me. Till now, I can't still recover" he tapped him on the back and went back to sit down.
Dami stood there for a while before saying "I understand father. Excuse me".
He should have known that his father wouldn't agree and it wasn't his fault. He wanted him to be strong. But how could he now? He would not give up on Mayowa. He had to find her no matter what.
" Seun?" King Dele called his personal assistant, just a minute after Dami had left.
"Send two guards to look for a girl named Mayowa. Find out about her, do a painting of her and give it to the guards" he ordered.
"Yes my king"
King Dele loved his son too much to not help out. He could clearly see that it was weighing a lot on him. But he wanted him to be stronger. He hoped the girl would be found soon to save his son the stress.
"I hope he doesn't do anything stupid" he said.
Damilola went back to his room.
"Shola!" he called
"Pack things we would need for a journey. We are going to find Mayowa. Just you and me"
"And me"
The both of them turned to look at Denle standing in the room.
