13 Sudden Built

Suddenly they were all brought back to reality as everything that was before happening had calm in total quietness.

In their view as they gently looked around the shrine they saw the remnant of their burnt alter. Likewise, dust which had obviously flown from outside the shrine inside and helter-skelter of the shrine and their garments torn in the same manner of the witches.

The moment they looked down slowly on their wrist, the evidence of the binds and shackles were obvious which left them in shock if what happened were a dream at all.

In their mouth remained particles of the flesh they ate and the instant they realized this caused them to spit it out in their total disgust.

The priests looked frightened at one another including the eldest priest and the only question they asked was if the other priest nearest to them had the same dream as them or even if it wasn't a dream at all.

Their dilemma caused them into a broken heart and also into a shock that even Ifa had forsaken them lest, made them the subject of mockery in the midst of the witches who will remember their shame forever.

If that would be enough could have been endured but for the witches should tell the story of their reproach and shame to their children and children's children until the last of their generation was the worry that battled them just like they always in their best, conveniently told them the tales of their forefathers each time they needed their help.

In this manner had the eldest priest thought and asked himself again; if Ifa had been the one he had always consulted and no wonder he had confidently told them the way to build the temple of the witches.

Definitely Ifa left them on their own for a reason he had not told them. But, what a mother bury her child even if the child went astray? Were the loud thought of the eldest priest among the rest of the Priests that he immediately torn apart again the already tattered white garment on his body and in the shrine he had poured away the waters in every calabash.

He had not cared for what they called a taboo, if he would see the anger of Ifa would be a good evidence he was there in the shrine to allow everything to happen to them.

In same strength and in his anger he poured away every palm oil and blood stored to worship Ifa. Beads and cowries he broke into pieces. Ifa should do to him anything he sees fit were his words.

The longer he did this were the rest of the priests watched him without any motive to stop him. Even their eyes were filled with red veins and their sadness transpired into the vehicle of annoyance.

The longer he did all of these, and he had not seen any effect or even a voice which would have sprout out and caused him his doom, he declared Ifa a falsehood.

The rest of the priests who before watched him as he destroyed the shrine joined him in his madness that they all torn apart the shrine; every cloth, every cowrie were ruined in a blink of an eye.

That Ifa brought upon them a shame and total embarrassment that the witches made a joke out of them were the words that continued to fell from their lips.

But no matter how long they waited for the words of Ifa to castigate them severally, his silence still conquered their anxiousness which made the eldest priest to yield to the thought even Ifa; a wise deity had been conquered by the witches.

Surely, if a deer can conquer a lion means the lion is not worthy to be worshiped as the eldest priest beheld the arrival of the priests he had sent to fetch woods, he commanded them to throw the woods away where ever they see fit as they wouldn't have a need for such woods anymore.

The rest of the priests seemed confused for they know how important it was to build the witches their shrine lest, the consequence for not doing so will be heavier than their necks.

Quickly, the eldest priest had moved, dabbled into another native attire like a common villager and same had the rest of the priests done as they all marched in a mass to the palace.

The villagers who behold their appearance were all surprised as they wondered if at all what had happened was related to the quake that before happened throughout the village.

But no one could wait to answer their own very question as their all flew into their separate houses, locked the doors behind them in their own fright.

Their arrival in the palace and also in their choice of attire brought Osabiegun, and Oranmiyan into a surprise and their confusion propelled them to quickly asked for what had happened.

Osukapo who laid her ear behind the mat serving as an entrance to her chamber will not stop her secretive exclamation as the eldest priest narrated his ordeal and also that of the rest of the priests.

Osabiegun who had not waited for a moment ordered for the presence of the chiefs and elders into the palace with immediate alacrity using two of the palace guards.

The guards who dare not wait to deliver the message of Osabiegun rushed down into the village in a triple step faster than their usual stepping. For they know that once Osabiegun begins to emit fire, his anger can burn down the whole village. And of course, even them do not want to die yet.

In this strength had the chiefs and elders arrived one after another until the very last of them had arrived and Osabiegun asked the eldest priest to narrate his fright once more.

One unto another the chiefs and elders expanded their mouth widely as they confessed their surprise if Ifa had indeed left them to be horses and camels of the witches.

That, they do not have a choice now than to be what the witches want them to be was the next word the eldest priest had said when Osabiegun vexed into his power chamber. Him, in this effect, changed quickly into the garment that yielded him power to call on Sango and held his gourds, reciting his incantations.

Even as he kept sweating profusely, he had not dared wipe his sweat lest, a little drop of it fell into the shrine. That, nothing aside from the palm oil which should never run dry on the statue of Sango and the red clothes used to design the shrine, not another thing should even by mistake touch inside of the shrine.

As long as he continued to shake his gourds and that he changed from one incantation to the other, not a signal he had gotten from Sango. Let his thunder strike his enemy he had said time without number after each long incantations but not a single striking sound he heard.

Even so, he had not given up as he rushed down more palm oil on Sango's statue and as he has given him food shall he answered him, he called again.

Lest, he was disappointed again were the voices he heard. The happier he was, he laughed in his loudest voice which then immediately caused the exploding laughter of the witches throughout the chamber he was.

That, he was a fool had the eldest witch said. A snail like himself decisive the whole of the villagers he was a lion were her words again which caused the rest of the witches into a continuous sneer after which they have continued to echoed to his ear the word fool until their voices faded away into the thin air.

Not a moment he waited that he flew in rapid steps into the congregation of Oranmiyan, the eldest priest, the rest of the priests, the chiefs and elders.

The sudden action of Osabiegun into their midst placed everyone in and ready for their escape as they had already set for a run. If the head is chopped off, the whole body is dead was the words of Balogun as he remained panting heavily.

Osukapo who remained eavesdropping had not only been shocked by what she heard, but only for the effect which was to happen.

Osabiegun whom the chiefs and elders and the priests wanted to hear his words remain quiet as the only response he gave them was his anxiety and surprise.

How could the witches enter into the shrine of Sango, how could they conquer Sango and dominate his shrine which gave them the audacity to even called him a fool while Sango watched them?

If Sango had been held captive was the question he vomited from his mouth which caused the shock of the chiefs and elders once again. He hadn't need to speak any further that the eldest priest also declared Sango a falsehood. That, a deer which cannot defeat a common dog was no god at all.

Little had Osabiegun heard the eldest priest say that he ordered the guards into the shrine of Sango as they dismantle, destroyed, and even disfigured the statue of Sango as they threw it away according to the command of Osabiegun.