Chapter 4 The Retreat

 "Feya! I am here." I said panting for air.

"Hurry! There's no time" Feya said.

"Wait, I hid my clothes under the rock. Let me take them" I walked to the cave-like rock, only to find out that my clothes were gone!  

"Feya!" I shouted, "have you taken the clothes?"

"No, I haven't. I didn't even know you had clothes there. Forget about it. We are running out of time. The petrol will start soon."

"Let's go!" Feya and I ran through the trees till we crossed the river to the other end. We both stopped breathing loudly and panting for air. She walked me to a cave and said;   "There is a secret passageway in the cave. The passageway leads to Nwanba. My uncle lives there. His name is Boko. Find him and live with him. Nana will let you know when it's time for you to return."

"Feya, it's very dark in there. I didn't come with any lantern or lamp."

"Take mine"

"Ok, thank you" I replied and hugged her goodbye.

"Tell Nana, I will miss her and thank her on my behalf"  

I entered the cave and saw a hollow passageway. I walked on. There wasn't enough oil in Feya's lantern so I had to hurry. I knew the lantern won't be able to support me to the end of the tunnel but at least, I thought it could help me halfway through my journey. But unfortunately, it went off a few minutes after I entered the cave. I had to rely on my eyes now. I couldn't see properly in the dark, but I can't afford to go back. I had to move on no matter what it takes. I found it very difficult to move swiftly in the cave. I took a step at a time, walked on slowly. As I moved on, I heard whispers a few meters away from me. It's supposed to be a secret passageway, I thought. Who are those whispering? And why were they there at that time? Before I could take a step further, a hand covered my mouth tightly so that I would not be able to scream and pulled me away. I tried to struggle but the person was far too strong for me to handle alone. The person whispered into my ears,   "If you shout or make any noise, we'll die in here" It was a male's voice. He dragged me till we got out of the cave and asked;   "What are you doing here at this late hour?"

"Why would you want to know why I am here?" I asked and tried to go back into the cave but he stopped me.  

"Even though you have a sword in your hand, you can't beat those in there."

"But I have to leave before dawn. I can't stay here any longer!"

"Go in, if you want to die" he said and began to walk away. I got scared, unsheathed my sword, placed it on his neck, and asked him, "who are you?"  

He turned to look at me and said, "Do you want to fight?"

"Only on one condition"

"What condition?"

"Your identity"

"Fine! If you win, I'll tell you. But if you don't, you'll have to return"   He drew a circle, and said; "whoever's leg moves out of the circle first, will be the loser"

"I agree"   He had his face covered, and only his eyes could be seen. He looked like a well-built warrior, bold and fearless. He was way taller than I was. He drew his sword and we began to move in the circle looking fiercely at each other. I sneered at him, we both assumed high guard and threw an overhand cut. He parried quickly and reflexively. I threw another cut from another angle and he swiftly parried away again. We both moved back and forth and, in the circle, without letting our guards down. I began to think, I suddenly remembered a move Ndaka taught me. I jumped, turned, and moved my sword towards him and he stopped my sword. I was suspended in the air and with so much force he pushed my sword and I fell heavily behind the circle.

"You lost!" he chuckled.

"You fought well. Not bad for a girl" Suddenly we heard people screaming my name from all angles. He looked at me, and asked; "what are you going to do right now, Zui?"

"You know me?"

"Yes, I do" The screams were closing on. He pulled me and ran into the forest with me. It looks like he was the king of the forest because he knew all the routes and hid outs. We ran into a canopy, ran past some trees which have arranged themselves as an arc shed, and entered a big hole under a big tree.   "Why are you escaping?" he asked.

"I don't want to marry the king."

"But you accepted his decree?"

"Yes, I had no other option"

"Do you know what the penalty is, for accepting a decree and dishonoring it later?" "I know it's death, imprisonment or banishment"

"So why are running? And who even told you, you were getting married to the King? You are marrying a prince."

"How did you know?"

"It doesn't matter now. All that matters now is how to escape the punishment that awaits you!"

"Maybe, I should leave now."

"And how far do you think you can go right now? Can't you see the severity of this issue?" "What do I do now?"

He looked at me, still with his face covered and said; "I think I can help you. Follow me" he said and began to walk.   He turned abruptly to see if I was following him and took long strides. I had to walk briskly and even run, in order to catch up with him. He walked a few meters away from the hideout, got to a very big tree, and pushed slightly the tree bark only to reveal a hole. We walked through the hole and to a dead-end, I assumed. Suddenly he took a bundle of sticks, pulled one stick out, lighted it, and handed it over to me. He pointed at a hole on the ground and said; "Descend this hole and craw to the end of the tunnel. It will lead you to the safest place. Hurry now"

"Thank you. I am indebted to you. Let me know whenever you need help"

"Leave your sword with me. I will let a messenger return it to you tomorrow"

  I looked puzzlingly at him.

"You can't craw with both the sword and stick in your hands. It will be safe to take the light along, instead of the sword."  

I handed the sword to him because he sounded convincing and honest. I descended the hole and crawled nonstop till I got to the end of the tunnel. I placed the lighted stick outside the tunnel and crawled out only to realize that I was in Buka's hut!