Chapter 16

It was early in the morning the due was still on the leaves of the tree in the forest. Under the tree, Mayra stopped her rushing while caring some things in a bag. Before doing anything, she turned left and right to confirm nobody was watching her. Immediately she saw, the environment was all clear she placed the bag on the ground.

She first opened the bag where she removed her book to a page that was drawn alchemy drawings. She placed the book on the ground where she took of a golden kettle. She stood still as she was holding the kettle moved aside. Then using the blood in the kettle she poured on the ground making an alchemy sigh of fire.

After the drawing, she placed back the kettle where out of the bag she removed a cow skull. The cow skull Mayra walked carefully to the alchemy drawing on the ground and placed the skull in the middle. Then she placed a bowl of water, a rock, a candle, and a feather to the four corners of the alchemy drawing.

After the whole preparation, lastly Mayra pulled out a cage that had a rabbit inside the bag where she placed it beside the cow skull. Then the candle that she had placed at one corner of the alchemy drawing she lighted it.

She took the book where she started reading out of the book demonic words while she was moving around the alchemy drawing. After a moment of saying the words slowly, the wind started blowing.

Before she finished she heard a strange movement at a distance. Mayra quickly paused to look in the direction in which she had heard the movement. In the direction of the movement, she heard a dog barking. Immediately she took her bag and her book and started running away. If she was caught up doing witchcraft, she was surely sentenced to death with nobody standing on her side to defend her.

After Mayra ran away, the dogs rushed to where she was performing the witchcraft before the hunter where they entered the alchemy art and ruthlessly ate the rabbit in the cage. As the dogs were eating the rabbit’s meat the owner rushed to them where he was shocked to see the witchery drawing.

Immediately the man heard at a distance some movement he faced only to see somebody running away. Quickly the man rushed to the person who he no clear look while shouting, “Hey stop,” as his dogs followed.

It was at noon the man who was the eyewitness was standing at the scene facing the elders who were walking towards him. Immediately the clan of elders reached to where the eyewitness their guards stood around the scene to guard the place.

The elders passed the eyewitness assuming him and walked round the alchemy art on the ground observing it. Akwamu one of the elders walked to the eyewitness and asked,

“And you are sure the one who did this was from our community?”

“Yes because he ran towards the community.”

“And are you sure is a he not a she?”

“I did not see clearly who it was because he/she was too first.”

Akwamu shook his head and moved to Chief Ashanti who was standing observing the drawing. Then Akwamu asked,

“Now what?”

“I have faith we will find who is under this.”

“And should the villagers know about this?”

Chief Ashanti assuming him, he walked to a closer rock where he sat as Akwamu and the other clan of elders followed where they stood around Chief Ashanti. All the other elders respected and knew the chief was wise of them all. Owusu broke the silence by asking, “Chief Ashanti now tell us what are we going to do?”

Chief Ashanti turned to the soldiers where he signaled them to push the man little away from them so that they can have a private conversation. The soldiers without question they pulled the man away where they were free to make the conversation with other elders. Chief Ashanti then faced the clan of elders and said, “This thing is hard for us we need to ask help from somewhere else.”

Akwamu asked, “What about the villagers should they have to know about this?” Owusu responded, “We have no other way let us just informed them.” Chief Ashanti calmly responded after Owusu,

“This is not the right time to cause panic among the villagers.”

“What about the man will he be silent?”

Fante responded, “Since we do not trust the man we should dispose of him off.” Chief Ashanti rudely and silently faced Fante. Suddenly the eyewitness dogs started backing so loud that distracted they are conversation. The chief with a commanding sound he faced the owner and said, “Can you please make your dogs silent.”

Quickly the eyewitness who was gazing at them rushed to his dogs and tried to make them stop. And as the owner was trying to cool the dogs were turning more wild where Chief Ashanti turned to the man angry and shouted, “It's ok you can go, thank you for help.”

Immediately the man walked away with his dogs Owusu said, “If we won’t catch the one doing this now it will be too late to act later.” Chief Ashanti added, “That’s why am saying we need other external help.” The other clan of elders responded by silently nodding their heads to where Chief Ashanti said, “You may now go back to your families.”

The elders complied by silently walked away Chief Ashanti still sited under a tree and his soldiers standing still beside him. As Chief Ashanti was sited under the tree stressed up not knowing how to deal with the situation facing the other clan of elders walking away he accidentally saw a pen on the ground. Chief Ashanti slowly stretched took the pen and closely observed it.

In the next moment in Chief Ashanti was seated on a sit outside his home compound silent. From a distance, Ama and Mayra walked into the compound while caring pots of water. Mayra was not used to this life but she had to adapt to contribute in the home, but what help her it was because she was quick to adapt to any environment. Mayra and Ama assumed Chief Ashanti and they walked past Chief Ashanti as they were loudly chattering and laughing. They were young ladies they had a lot to chat.

Chief Ashanti watched them silently until they entered the hut to place in the pot. Immediately they walked out of the kitchen before they left Chief Ashanti shouted, “Mayra!” he was seated far from the kitchen to make himself audible he had to shout.

Mayra responded by pausing and faced back towards Chief Ashanti who waved his hand to indication that he is calling her. Mayra on innocent face she faced Ama and said’ “Wait for me here.” Ama as she was walking away she responded, “I will be moving slow.”

Mayra was smart enough to know what she was called to but she had to pretend she knew nothing. Immediately Mayra rushed to where Chief Ashanti was seated where Chief Ashanti faced her and said,

“Mayra have a sit.”

“Please am in a hurry now can we talk later?” though she was smart she was not prepared at the time to give reasons to questions that she was expecting. The chief calmly responded as if he knew nothing, he wanted to attack her unaware, “I just want you to sit down now what am about to tell you it cannot be postponed.”

Mayra due to her respect for Chief Ashanti she slowly moved closer to the sit and sat curiously. Chief Ashanti turned and faced Ama who was walking away slowly and said,

“I have something yours,”

“What is it?”

Chief Ashanti starched and out of his pocket, he removed a pen. She knew at the moment she messed up and there was no turning back from her current situation. He stretched his hand to her where she took the pen and Chief Ashanti faced her with a serious look and asked, “Is this pen yours?” she knew rejecting would worsen thing so he had to accept but to talk out because she knew the chief was a reasonable man.

“Chief Ashanti am sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“Chief Ashanti I can explain what happened,”

Chief Ashanti assumed Mayra and turned to the direction in which the other clans of elders were walking from. Mayra also turned to the direction where she saw the other clan of elders were walking towards them. She wanted to run at the moment but she was not fast enough all she held on is that she had to talk to the elders to convince them that she is not the witch.

Before the elders reached where Mayra and Chief Ashanti were Mayra she turned to Chief Ashanti and with a lonely look she said, “Please believe me is not the way you think.” He was overtaken by anger at the time as Mayra was trying to talk her soul off he took a pipe where he blew it on was a pointed needle sting Mayra’s neck. Immediately Mayra fell on the ground unconscious.

Immediately Mayra fell on the ground the other elders moved around her gazing. Then Fante asked, “Now what will we do to her?” Chief Ashanti responded, “Just take her gently and tie her up.” Agona, Akuapem, Bono, and Akwamu who were the least ranked clan of elders gently took Mayra away.

Fante, Owusu, and Chief Ashanti the high-ranked clan of elders were left behind facing each other. Fante asked, “Now what will be her punishment,” Fante quickly replied, “It’s obvious, death!” Owusu softly said, “She was so innocent to tell that she is capable of that.”

Fante said, “I like her because of the way she was so smart to hide it.” She was so beautiful and innocent to look like a witch. Silently the others faced him seriously. Owusu broke the monotony by saying, “Have we all agreed the punishment is death.” Owusu and Fante nodded their head while saying, “Yes.”

Chief Ashanti was all along silent not believing the lady that he brought into his house hold could be the cause of it all. Owusu beside him noticed him where he asked,

“Chief Ashanti are you fine with our judgment.”

“For me, I have washed my hands off this do whatever you want to do with her.”

After the words, Chief Ashanti left away leaving Owusu and Fante gazing at him. Still, as they were gazing at Chief Ashanti, Owusu asked, “Are we still proceeding with the sentence?”Fante who was still gazing at Chief Ashanti responded,

“Yes.”

“But not at the community podium. Ok, let me go and prepare the men to do that job.”

After the words, Owusu walked away leaving Fante still steal in the same place.

At night deep in the woods, Mayra was unconsciously tied on a pole that was surrounded by a large heap of dry grass that would aid the fire to burn her. Two soldiers were adding some dry woods around Mayra.

Fante was standing before the scene silently looking at Mayra who was still unconscious. Fante moved closer to Mayra and called out, “Mayra! Mayra!” Immediately she heard her name called out she slowly opened her eyes only to find Fante before her. In sarcasm he added, “Morning sunshine.”

Mayra reacted silently and seriously faced him where Fante moved back as he was giggling. Mayra to where she was she stretched her neck only to see Fante was the only elder in the scene and the two soldiers.

Fante when he reached a distance away from Mayra he faced Mayra and said,

“In our community witchcraft is paid by death.”

“Please don’t kill me am not a witch.”

“If you want me not to kill you know there is a price for that.”

“What is the price?”

Fante smiled and responded, “Just accept me to be your husband.” She was beautiful and Fante was ready to take any risk for the beauty. But was not grown to be a cheap lady so she rudely responded, “I cannot be a wife to a black man.” Fante got angry and took the flaming torch from one of the soldiers moved closer to Mayra and said,

“That is the only thing you can do to escape this.”

“You would rather kill me than make love to you.”

Fante paused faced Mayra direct and busted to laughter where he suddenly stopped faced Mayra and looking serious he said, “Change of plans.” Afraid of his next move she silently waited for the change of plan. He threw the flaming torch far from them and started caressing wanting to rape her before killing her. Protecting her dignity, she tried as hard as she could to prevent her rape.

As Fante was trying to torn of Mayra’s clothe suddenly the two guards screamed. This made he pause in suspense faced back to see the reason of the scream where he found he was then only man standing on the scene. He knew that was something beyond his power where he quickly run away as fast as a deer leaving her as she was tied so that she can lure the beast.