Chapter 6 Reason why (II)

Mbaku returned to his manor and realized his male servant, Jabari, was patiently waiting for him. He looked at Jabari and signaled him to come with him. They entered his hut and he asked Jabari;   "What did you find?"

"It looks like Diemo, the first prince, and Zima, the fifth prince, have been having secret meetings with some men"

"Did you find out where they've been holding their meetings?"

"They don't hold meetings at a specific place. They change their venues to avoid any suspicion. Besides, they use secluded areas" "When was their last meeting?"

"Two days ago."

"Venue?"

"Arc shed plantation"

"Did you find out when their next meeting is likely to be held?"

"They are going to meet again seven days from now, at night"

"Where do you think the venue will be?"

"I have no idea. They use poems to communicate the venues to themselves." "Judging from what you just told me, they don't hold their meetings in public places. They only use hideouts and secret passageways. Definitely, their next meeting will be in a secluded area. What is the poem they're using this time?"

"Her love is abundant and hides them safely. Her guidance and ways lead to success and her darkness can only last for a night" "Hmmm" Mbaku signed.

"Not easy to crack"   Mbaku stood in his hut contemplating and trying to crack the poem. "At least I have six days more to crack it," Mbaku said and turned to look at Jabari. "Jabari"

"Your highness, what do you think their meetings are about?"

"I would rather not guess"

"Why would they be holding secret meetings?"   They were both silent for some time.

"Jabari, you've worked very hard. You need some rest. Go and get some rest" Mbaku said. "Thank you, Your Highness. I will take my leave now"   Jabari left Mbaku alone in his hut. Mbaku tried to crack the poem but couldn't focus. His mind kept mingling and thoughts of Zui couldn't leave his head.  He couldn't describe how he felt. Will this chitty-chatty girl survive a day around him? Very few women can stand him, will she be able to tolerate him? He thought. He knew very well that one thing Zui couldn't stand was to be ignored. He once overheard her telling Feya she liked to be annoying than to be ignored. But he couldn't stand chits himself. He would ignore any chit. He never liked to talk unless there was a need for him to do so. How was he going to survive with a woman like that? And how was a woman like that going to cope with a man like him? 

"Anyway, we are going to live in different huts and pretend each other doesn't exist. I hate our union in as much as she does." Mbaku said lowly and sighed.   He laid on his mat and tried to crack the poem. He forced himself to concentrate on the poem. He laid wide awake on his mat trying to identify the venue, but he slept before he could think of the venue. He woke up to the sound of a knock on his door. He realized he had slept throughout the afternoon and it was time for supper.

"Who is there?" Mbaku asked.

"Please, it's time for supper" a small feminine voice replied.   He would be a fool not notice the owner of that voice. Eyeki, his only female friend was out there. He suddenly got to his feet and opened the door. The lady whose eyes met his looked very beautiful. He smiled and said jokingly;   "Did you think you were going to your husband's house"

"No, please. My husband is not around at the moment" Eyeki replied.

"So why are you here, knocking on another man's door?"

"I am not pedophilic, please. I am just here because I heard you're building a hut for an awaiting princess"

  Mbaku was a little displeased with her reply but forced a smile on his face and asked;   "What do you gain from calling me a child? In as much as I am aware of, you're just six months older than myself"

"It makes me happy" she replied confidently and asked, "who is this lucky princess?" "Indeed! News travels faster than wind. Are you jealous?"

"Of you or the princess?"

"Me"

She laughed heartlessly and said, "I have been married for more than four years. Why should I be jealous of a bachelor who just found a woman?"

"I want to ask you a question"

"Go ahead"

"A lot of women can't stand me. But you can even fight me. How do you do it?"

"Are you worried your princess will leave you?"

"No" he replied with a frown

"It's simple! I know and understand the real you. I talk only when you want me to. That's the only way to survive around you."

"Really?" he chuckled.

"Who is she?"

"I'll tell you later" he replied and continued, "My food will get cold if I don't eat it now. Will you join me?"

"No, I am a mother who loves her children deeply. But I have been away for long. I have to go to my husband's manor at once"

"Just make sure you're not beaten to death" "No one dares to touch me" she replied and set off.   Eyeki was the second wife of prince Diemo but has been Mbaku's friend as long he could remember. She was like a sister to him and they were close that even people thought they were lovers. When she married Diemo, people thought he would pick up on him but he didn't. He was very kind to her and treated her like his elder sister. Mbaku sat down to eat immediately Eyeki left. Before Mbaku could put the rice, he had scooped in his mouth, he got an idea.  

"Eyeki, just said she loves her children deeply. The poem! The venue is the Night Mother Cave! Her love is abundant and hides them safely, can only signify a mother's love for her child! Why didn't I think about that earlier? Her darkness can last for only a night, could depict the time they had to meet. Her guidance and ways lead to success, that cave is the only cave with a passageway that leads directly to a new town. It has no turns in it. Why didn't I think of this earlier?" he whispered to himself.  

Mbaku decided to sneak into the cave at night, seven days later, to check if what Jabari told him was true.    

*****

Nana went to Buka's hut after the ceremony and asked him; "Why did you lie to Zui?"

"I didn't lie to her"

"You told her she will be marrying a prince, not the King!"

"She's not marrying the King, mama"

"But I heard your conversation with the Queen Abiola"

"I don't remember telling her, Zui was going to marry the King"

"But that was how it seemed. Who is she going to marry?"

"Mbaku"

"I hope you know she won't give in without a fight"

"Yes. I know she may even try to escape" "How prepared are you?"

"For anything!"

"Don't be taken by surprise"

"If you don't help her, I won't be taken by surprise"

"I will help her, so don't loosen your guard"

"Is this a challenge?"

"You can see it as such if you want to."

"You don't want her to marry Mbaku?"

"I don't want her to think she gave in too easily. I want her to give it a try"

Buka smiled and said, "Mama, you haven't changed one bit"

"I am leaving. Don't be too surprised in case of anything"

"I have sent someone to Mjoka's house to inform Feya and her mother"

"Ok, take care"   Nana walked out of Buka's hut thinking of how she was going to help Zui escape. When she got back home, she saw Feya and her mother, Nnabi, there waiting for her.

"Nnabi, can you come here early tomorrow morning to help us prepare for the rites?" "Yes, mama" Nnabi replied.

"Will Feya be busy this evening?"

"No, mama" Nnabi replied.

"Can she spend the night here?

"Yes, she can"

"Nnabi, you can go back now"

"Ok, mama"

  Nnabi left a few minutes later. Nana told Feya she will have to help Zui escape this night. Feya was stunned but couldn't ask Nana anything. Nana gave her directions to the Night mother cave and asked her to go and check if it was still there. Feya hurried off to check and found the cave and everything as it has been described by Nana. She went back to Nana to tell her. Nana told her she would have to sneak out at night to wait for Zui under the oak tree near the toilet. Feya agreed but was puzzled. She didn't understand why Nana would help Zui escape but wasn't bold enough to ask why. Buka called one of his men, T'chapa, in the army and told him to hide around Nana and Zui hut. He should report to him as soon as he sees anything odd. T'chapa followed Nana but made sure he was not seen by her. T'chapa hid in the bushes near their huts and spied on them. He saw Zui go to the toilet with two maids following closely behind her. He followed them but they were unaware. He saw Zui hid clothes under the cave-like rock. He took the clothes and sent them to Buka as soon as he could.