7 Sacrifice

The morning came fully awake on them as it opened it eyes for a brand-new day and the sun preparing to rise as early as it would.

Osabiegun hasn't been able to close his eyes for a sleep even though he laid on the mat in his chamber. What troubled his mind was the fact that a great calamity was going to before them if they can't provide the desires of the witches.

The lion remained steadfast in its den, and the antelope which visit him shall not only regret doing so but get its belly ripped apart. Osabiegun thought and thought again. For the victory they must have, they had carried the load heavier than their neck lest, the load fall, the neck shall break.

The eldest Priest and the rest of the Priest in their shrine had continued to consult Ifa right from when they left the palace until when the day shown upon them brightness. But, even Ifa did not give them a response for they were the one who went to lift the bees comb asking the bees for what they shall do.

Oranmiyan there in his chamber happened to be the only one who had the ability to build the home of a smile on his face. Definitely, what he shall do rest in his mind and as the mind of a man is deeper than the oceans, no one can tell exactly what he thought.

As quickly as the Sun had risen, everyone one as fast as they could have already made their presence in the palace. It became a shock to meet the birth attender already seated in the palace awaiting everyone's coming including Osabiegun who hasn't come out of his chamber until everyone was present.

Oranmiyan wouldn't want to see the dagger's drawn face of his father as almost as he heard of the arrival of the Chiefs and Elders he laid his legs on his head straight into the palace.

Eulogies of the King continued to be sang by the royal bard and the history of the King he accompanied by praises to remind the King and everyone present how dangerous Osabiegun was to his enemies and how no one dared to look at him in the eyes. The guard on the right corner of Osabiegun will dare not stop refreshing him with air from the locally made hand fan as Osabiegun commanded the royal bard to stop, and he prayed for him.

In no longer time, Osabiegun commanded all the guards including the royal bard to leave them for some time, as he would send for them when he was done.

Total silence broke into the palace as the presence of the guards and everyone who is not a Priest, Chief or Elder vanished. The birth attender greeted the King once again which in that way broke the silence that was before loud in the palace.

In the response of the birth attender was that: what they asked of her was not as hard as they thought it would be which in this vein exploded everyone in the meeting into greater Joy. According to her as she noted further, a pregnant lady still remained in her house who cannot be pregnant for more than four weeks.

If she was certain was the question from Osabiegun asked as the birth attender answered she wasn't new to helping the women of Ifa-ile give birth and her calculation couldn't be wrong.

A hungry Tiger will not sight a prey and let it go scot-free. As it was noted never to let the pregnant lady leave her place were the instruction from Osabiegun as the Eldest Priest warned her again with same words. Definitely, their wishes would be answered and when the night overshadowed the day, the sacrifice shall be offered.

The instant the instruction had been given to her, she rose to her feet and held her staff firm on the floor which in that way balanced her feet. She looked back again at each and every one of them and warn them never to come too late for what they ask as she will not guarantee her presence if they will not keep to their words.

But a Kite will not see its prey from the highest sky and deviate from attacking it. Even if it shall fail, an attempt shall be made was the fact the birth attender has likely forgotten which Balogun among the Chiefs assured her again.

The moment the absence of the birth attender was made as she walked out of the palace; struggling to walk with her staff to fit her balance and her hunch back as a heavy load on her back, Osabiegun and the rest started their jubilation. Definitely their prayer has been answered.

A dog will not let go of it bone, it eats and come back to eat it again and again were the words of the Eldest Priest which calmed the happiness Osabiegun and the Chiefs and Elders before exhibited.

Though, they understood the words has a potential meaning they did not understand it which made them to wander their mind in the desert of thought for the water it will not see. Osabiegun in his dilemma and the continuous back up from the Chiefs and Elders demanded that the Eldest Priest interpret his words which now gave them a clearer image of what the Eldest Priest had said.

Certainly, even as they will offer the witches their sacrifice, the witches cannot be ready to leave them alone. For a sacrifice they will continue to demand and the sacrifice they will continue to offer.

Not to waste any more time was the reason Osabiegun in his words asked the Chief of the forces: Balogun to explain his tactics of war, how they were going to bombard on the village of Efon in total support of the witches who will for sure grant them victory.

But the village of Efon should not be looked down upon so easily were the words the Eldest Priest mentioned to them even before Balogun would breeze out the words preparing to evaporate from his belly. Not to forget that Efon had many Victories in the past and had always prevailed in times of war. No villages dared to touch the helm of their garment for they were the lion who will not hesitate to torn their enemies apart with their claws.

The words of Balogun sprout out immediately which debunked the words of the Eldest Priest. According to him, it was the mightiness of Olomitutu who had given them glory and since she died, their glory shrunk with her like balloon which lacked the flow of air.

But why should they even worry? The deity of the king and the deity of wisdom which the Priest served not to mention the witches; mothers in their realm controlling their affairs of men and their back, they always have.

Osabiegun will not hesitate to call on the guard obviously standing at the entrance of the palace to send for the royal guard and the royal bard into the palace and a couple of female slaves carrying a tray of kolanut, palm wine and gin they must bring with them.

Serving them the palm wine and kolanut was a joy to everyone as they ate the kolanut and drank the palm wine and gin to wash it down. Even the eldest priest who has only eaten Kolanut but drank the gin and the palm wine. According to him, with his empty stomach he drank another person's alcoholic beverage.

The words of Osabiegun with the efficiency it carried broke everyone back into consciousness as he declared that Oranmiyan would prove his worth as the crowned prince of Ifa-ile by leading the forces to battle alongside Balogun who will automatically be his second in command.

Even if the reddish eyes of Balogun were obvious for the disappointment in Osabiegun's declaration, there was nothing he could do as they both knelt down to receive the royal command.

The guards in their greatness marched out of the palace on Osabiegun's order to bring the pregnant woman to the palace and if she resists, convey her on their shoulder down to the palace.

If they were insane, or the King who gave them the order was a little twisted in the brain was the question the pregnant woman asked one of the royal guards who in his words commanded her in the name of Osabiegun to stand and walk with them to the palace.

Her struggle to at that instant picked a race as one of the guards already blocked her way with his leg as an obstruction only caused her to fall to her face, and her defiance to walk by herself to the palace had not done anything better but made them carry her on their shoulders as the command of Osabiegun has instructed. No matter as she cried for help, not the villagers who kept watching the event or even her husband who was already torn with wails of tears could summon the courage to help her disobey the command of the King. He was aware of the consequence that any step against the command of the king was frown upon to be treason and the penalty was always death.