CHAPTER 4

Lucas retired into his chamber, exhausted after the day's work on the farm. He took off his cloak and then lay on his bed with his arms resting beneath his head. He closed his eyes as warm tears which had been protesting for freedom let loose in one swift moment.

"We loathe you, Lucas!"

The fierce vote of Ramsey echoed in his ears. The thought of how his brothers and mother hate him came surging his mind. He has done virtually everything to please them but his hard work has been in vain seeing that it has only heightened their hostility towards him.

"Is my big brother in?"

Gem's voice broke in his thought suddenly. Immediately he heard her voice, knowing that only she called him that way in the whole village. He grunted in pain as he struggled to give her a reply.

"Yes, Gem." He answered, rising to meet with her outside his hut at that dark hour.

Stepping out, he met with her deep brown eyes which held unexplainable guilt in them.

She stood there with her hands fidgeting beside her hips. Words failed her as she stood in anxiety and fear. She couldn't find it easy to unleash the words out of her mouth as her brother stood face-to-face with her.

"Gem, your big brother awaits your voice" He cajoled, moving closer to her and that prompted her to locate her voice which went on a break.

"I came to apologize, big brother. I know how selfish and lustful I have been towards you in the past and even now. I came to tender my apologies. I want us to share that same relationship we had while we were children. I need your presence fully in my life again brother" She lamented.

Lucas stood in awe at his sister's confession. At a point, he thought she was gone and that the others must have spoilt her heart against him. His heart bubbled with joy as in a swift moment, he pulled her into his embrace and the duo both relaxed in each other's arms.

"I thought I'd lost you, Gem" He drawled.

"Forgive me, brother." She apologized.

Lost in their world, they disengaged the moment someone cleared his throat beside them.

"Father!" they both chorused.

Ortom smiled seeing the duo back to their pace like the previous years when they would make sure each other stayed well and comfortable. He couldn't help the sight so he cleared his throat to announce his presence.

"Father you shouldn't be up by this time. Only the young stay up this late" Gem coaxed, helping him sit on the only small chair found outside the hut.

"I came to spend time with my son of course." He replied, directing the duo to sit beside him.

"Father, we talked not long ago." Lucas reminded.

"Your heartbeat raced in agony the instant you were behind the door of your hut. I couldn't stand the fragrance of your tears so I decided to come to see you." He revealed, gaining a shocked look from his daughter who took a glance at Lucas and then at him.

"I'm still in awe at how you could tell secrets, Father" Lucas replied.

"It is the gift from the gods of my fathers which soonest will be passed unto one of my direct descendants" He spilled, patting the head of his beloved daughter.

"Father, can you stop talks like this because anytime words like this greet my ears, I feel you are saying your farewell message and you know I can't manage without you," Gem said.

"Your father's time is at hand, my children. In a short while, I will be in your midst but will not be noticed or acknowledged by anyone, not even my successor. I have relaxed for long in the world of the mortals and soonest my abode would be amid the spirits." He released as the duo just wore somber expressions on their faces.

"My father and my lord. I implore you to cease this heartbreaking news. Your children won't be happy if you leave anytime soon" Lucas begged.

"Some are. They seek for a day to hear of my death. They go to their beds with evil thoughts running through their minds, they always gather to seek ways their father's end would come so that all he owns would be shifted to them and then their wrath would forever rest on the one that they loathe for ages to come even" He revealed, staring into the eyes of the moon that shone brightly illuminating the entire Zamunda.

"The gods forbid them and their thoughts, Father." Gem immediately inserted, clinging to her father's arm.

"They've gone too far to stop. It is fate, my children."

****

"What brought you both to my abode this night?" The man asked, scrutinizing the duo which marched into his hut with no iota of fear written on their faces.

Known for his vision and the ability to counter people's destiny, Edeh has been one of the profound witch doctors in one of the neighboring villages. He detects divinely and then gives you remedy on how to deal with certain problems as regard your heart desires. His people feared him and always scurried away in fright whenever they came in contact with him on the way or in any public place.

Markus stared at his brother, shocked at how he got to know where Edeh lived.

"I won't repeat myself, natives of Zamunda" He warned sternly.

Markus took a glance at Kim who assured him of safety before proceeding to speak.

"Great one, we greet you. I and my brother came so that you can aid us to reveal what manner of person the slave in our house who our father calls a son, is."

Edeh laughed hysterically before taking out a few talismans. He placed them before the duo and asked for them to place their hands on them. Done with that, he retrieved it and then started his incantation.

After a few minutes, he stared into the eyes of the duo and then shook his head in awe. The duo watched him fully with their attention wrapped around everything he did.

"What is the result, great one?" Kim inquired, gaining his attention.

Edeh looked at the duo and then closed his eyes.

"We need answers" Markus inserted impatiently.

"Are you sure the answer won't trigger your wrath the more as soon as this revelation drops??" He asked.