16 Assurance

Osabiegun froze for a little longer, as he already knew who could have the audacity to call him by his name and by the name of his own very mother.

He looked at Osukapo the second time, shocked as he was with his already expanded jaws which exclaimed the emitting sound of fear.

The third time, the witches chorused his name again and in their shrinking screech they began again another laugh.

Oranmiyan who buried himself deeply into his own fantasy was forced to jump back alive and a race into the palace to which the echo noises was coming from he ran.

Even the fear that grabbed him, had his feet already grown cold. He hadn't hesitated to be with his father who now fell unto his kneel as the command of the witches instructed.

The witches remained in their black tattered garment, with their faces turned to the wall that they wouldn't be seen and Osabiegun and Oranmiyan and Osukapo were behind them.

The longer Osabiegun remained on his kneel as Oranmiyan his son and Osukapo his queen watched him from where they stood, the witches in their number maintained a perfect decorum.

Not only were the witches silent, they remained steadfast in a position as they haven't moved a muscle, with their hands strongly braced on the waist.

Even so, Osabiegun understood he couldn't have stood to his feet lest see how the mightiest storm sinks his boat faster than the blink of an eye.

Again, the eldest witch disappeared suddenly into their midst as she remained seated in the middle of the witches.

That Osabiegun raised his head was the command the eldest witch gave to him to which he adhered promptly.

His surprise and the surprise of Oranmiyan and that of Osukapo compelled their sudden exclamation. For what they saw, was the face of Osukapo as the eldest witch continued looking at them and exploded into a short round of laughter.

As soon as she closed her mouth for the prevailing silence to prevail again had the rest of the witches who were before facing the wall turned their faces to Osabiegun and Osukapo and Oranmiyan, who were again surprised as the faces everyone of them had was that of Osukapo.

Slowly and gently, the eldest witch rose to her feet and carried her step one after another as she finally had her seat on the throne of Ifa-ile.

The rest of the witches followed closely behind her that the moment she lifted her leg, they lifted their legs also. Osabiegun and Oranmiyan and Osukapo were now before them to bow as the command of the eldest witch noted again.

Maybe they have forgotten was the words the eldest witch said as she lifted her hands up slowly and her claws had become more obvious for Osabiegun, Oranmiyan and Osukapo to behold.

The story of their ancestor she had reminded them in the reign of Abegbogbo who was adamant to the worship of Sango alone, and he wouldn't even listen to their words as all they wanted was to be offered a male child sacrifice.

His confidence and his trust in the powers wielded unto him by Sango what the push he needed to go face off against the witches, which in his Ignorance the witches ruled the affairs of men even from their own realm and while in the witches thirst for blood, he was yet another goat they feast upon in their own meeting.

Definitely, Abegbogbo was the most foolish King Ifa-ile have had in the past. The elders witch said again as the rest of the witches behind her open widely their teeth with the stains of blood being too obvious as they exploded into another continuous teehee.

Osabiegun who opened his eyes more in a shock only for the reason the eldest witch had insulted his great grand father could not have done anything but remained on his kneel with his anger fussed in himself. If it was an ordinary commoner of Ifa-ile who had said those words would have understood by now how a gentle dove change into a roaring lion in just an instant because by now, they would be sleeping forever with the ground as their blanket.

A dummy, foolish and pompous king he was the words the eldest witch noted again. And a question she struck at Osabiegun; how yet a mortal, children of little brain decide to go to war with the power of darkness, and he wouldn't be swallowed by the storm in the darkness?

Osabiegun remained mouth shut as everything he did was to be on his kneel and now with his face down. The eldest witch had not even expected any words from him. Perhaps he said something could have been his last words as his words would maybe choke him to death.

The eldest witch rose up gently as she walked slowly towards Oranmiyan where he stood but with his face bowed down. Not only at this moment he felt the heat of the closeness of the eldest witch who was now caressing her claws on his shoulders, to his necks and to the hair on his head. She kissed his by his cheek as she gently walked to his front and lifted slowly his face to behold her face too closely.

It could be deduced that the eldest witch had read his fears and decided to feed on his fears to cause him more panic. In this instant she kissed him, the eldest witch had in her face his face and her body structure to the way he was dressed which caused all the rest of the witches to change into the likeness the eldest witch had changed.

Oranmiyan, grind terribly in fear including Osukapo who couldn't believe what she just witness almost fainted away from her consciousness.

The eldest witch who now walked back gently to Osabiegun where he knelt whispered in the voice of Oranmiyan which had now become her own very voice as one of the wisest King in the history of Ifa-ile who hearkened to the voice of the witches and placed the witches desires before the desire of his own people.

Certainly, if he hadn't done that as the eldest witch noted in her words would have easily prompt them, the witches to have each and every child of ifa-ile as their meat, that, their generation would have easily been the last as all the children would have perished away.

A continuous maniac laugh busted out from the mouth of the rest of the witches but was led to a silence with the eldest which who raised her finger as an order for them to keep shut.

Sudden quietness fell unto the palace and the eldest witch who looked at Osabiegun slowly face shifted her face into the face of Osabiegun down to having his voice. This effect was obvious on the rest of the witches who wore the face of Osabiegun in the same manner as the eldest witch.

As if that was not enough. His panic cost him his solace. His breathing became heavier the moment the eldest witch opened her palm Osabiegun staff of office disappeared into her hand.

In the same likeness has the horsetail whisk disappear into her other hand with just a snap of her finger and the instant Osabiegun exclaimed in his loud voice beheld the eldest witch wearing the crown of ifa-ile.

The question the eldest witch threw at him yet again caused him into a long silence as he found no suitable words to answer the question the eldest witch asked which was for what will happen if suddenly she decided to take his life just at this moment and rule Ifa-ile by herself?

Osabiegun fell his whole body on the floor and pleaded for his life instantly. Oranmiyan who couldn't bear to see his father sleeping lifeless on the ground fell unto his kneel as well including Osukapo who began to cry her eyes out; pleading for mercy.

The eldest witch and the rest of the witches busted out louder than even before in their evil laughs. Even as long as they continued to explode in their long laughter Osabiegun had not risen from his position neither had Oranmiyan stood up to his feet or Osukapo stopped whimpering.

The elders witch again suddenly held up her finger which caused another sudden solace which paused their shrinking laughter.

She stood suddenly on her feet as she pointed the horsetail whisk at Osabiegun. In a more serious tone, she yelled which echoed throughout the palace. If Osabiegun would cross her in his decision shall he himself face his own death and not only him, shall his son accompany him to the gate of the realm of the dead was her words.

The instant Osabiegun desired to voice his appreciation for them who pardoned his life he was made into quietness as the word of the eldest witch persist.

That, his wish had been granted was the word the eldest witch spoke silently but loud enough for them to hear. The war he had at heart would be a flawless victory because they shall fight their battle for them she said which propelled the continuous sneer of the rest of the witches again.

Sudden quietness fell on the whole of the palace and every where which was before tense was now calm just as if nothing had happened. Slightly as Osabiegun and Oranmiyan and Osukapo looked up, all the witches could not be seen which caused them to brace their legs in a triple step into where they would find safety.