CHAPTER ONE
During the popular war between the people of ijunku and her people, iwere, Olanma struggled to push aside the heavy object on her. She managed to scramble up despite the splitting pain in her head.
Her blurry vision finally cleared. As she looked to see what had been on her–
A scream escaped her as she saw what it was –
A dead body.
There were dead bodies everywhere. Dead bodies and so blood outside her father’s compound As though a war had occurred. She staggard back as the pain in her head hit again—this time with great force.
What had happened here? Why had she been on the floor? Most importantly, where were her parents?
At the thought of her parents, she staggered further, searching the corpse, praying that they were not among the dead people. She shivered on seeing the cold and battered bodies of their neighbours.
As Olanma got into her father’s compound, she noticed a leg by the palm tree, which was her parents’ favourite spot in the compound. “Papa, Mama. Is that you?” She was a bit afraid when she didn’t get a reply but continued towards the leg. What she saw as she rounded the tree brought him,” Papa, mama, please stand up. You cannot leave me alone here”, she screamed at the agony searing through her heart like a wild flame. “Amadioha Mbanu!”– gods of our land, No.
A noise invaded her pain. Her heart lurched as she saw a large number of men in the compound. As they descended from their horses, she saw the spiral tribal tattoo on their skin. They were Ijunku warriors. The blood stains on them and their blades answered her question from before. They most definitely were the ones who had cut down her people and killed her parents.
“You murders”, Olanma launched at them as they got close.
“Fiesty”, One of them drawled, pinning her backwards to him. The other warriors laughed at her failed attempt to break free.
“My lord—” a short, muscled man with a missing ear said to the man holding her. Should we seize her? She shall be of good use to our kingdom.”
She spat into the bloody face of the short man. “I’d rather die than go anywhere with you murderers.”
“Then be prepared to meet an end far more horrible than your miserable people had,” The man holding her said as he pushed her down.
Her previous courage deserted her as he raised his hand. In his grip was a spear. The spear looked powerfully wicked, just as the one who wielded it. In a swift move, he had the spare buried in her heart, pinning her to the earth – just as her parents had been pinned to the palm tree. She tried to scream at the excruciating that fired through her whole body, but all that came out of her mouth was blood.
Olanma screamed and bolted upright on her bed, her heart racing and her wrapper drenched in sweat. She scanned her hut, her head blank, trying to separate the dream from reality.
She burrowed deeper into her bed as her room door ripped open.
“Nne”, Olanma almost collapsed in relief as she saw her mother.
“What’s wrong?” Her mother frowned in concern as she approached Olanma. “We heard your scream all the way at your father’s Obi” – a central building in a compound.
Olanma closed the distance between them and wrapped her mother in a tight hug. “You’re alive,” she said.
She snuggled deeper into her mother’s soft embrace, grateful for her mother’s gentle coconut fragrance. It had been a dream. Her parents were alive.“You had a bad dream?” her mother asked.
Her mother’s giggly laughter filled the room. “It’s just a dream, child,” she said, stroking Ola’s hair. That’s why I keep telling you that nothing good comes from constantly sleeping in the afternoon.”
She opened her mouth to argue with her mother but stopped when a voice from outside her room interrupted her.
“Nne, Nnayi said I should come to find out if all is well.”
She knew that drawl-like voice. Where had she heard it before? Her instincts couldn’t ignore the voice, so she rushed out of her hut to investigate.
Olanma gasped. “You murderer”
Before her very eyes stood the monstrous man who had killed her in her dream
CHAPTER TWO
Olanma yawned and reluctantly got out of bed at the second crow of the cock. Her night had been haunted by the image of the murderer and the feeling of his spear buried in her heart. Even now, in the light of day, the horrid dream still lingered in her consciousness.
She almost lost her mind when she saw him standing outside her hut with that stupid fake smile on his lips. She grimaced, remembering her parents’ anger as she emptied a pot of water on him – that was after she called him every vile name that had ever existed. The nerve of him showing himself here. Thank the gods he had left.
The frown on her face at her thought changed to that of confusion as, on exiting her hut, she finds the compound in a festive mood.“Good morning, mama,”– she approached her mother, who was talking to some young men pounding yam. “What festival is it? I thought we already celebrated New Yam’s festival,” she asked.
“My daughter, your father has a very important visitor.”
Her mother’s words piqued Olanma’s curiosity. Her father, Okpala, was one of the wealthiest men in their kingdom, but she knew he was a man who wasn’t given to throw a feast at every visit. This guest must be expected: “A visitor? Early this morning?” She
swallowed as her mother stirred a mouthwatering, rich pot of egusi soup.
“Yes, a visitor and, as I said before, a very important one.” Her mother said, beaming like a young maiden.
“Can I have some food, Nne?” Olanma grinned. In her mind, the taste of the food was more important than the visitor.
Her mother laughed. ” This lazy daughter of mine. So if you serve you this food, you’ll eat it.”
“I can’t reject what my mother serves me” She shrugged innocently.
Nne shook her head. “ Don’t you know, suitors will soon trooping in for you? And you have to lay aside this your mischief. I will not accompany you to your husband’s house,” her mother scolded her.
“I’ll change when the time comes, but for now –” She stretched out a plate –” Can I please taste that divine soup.”
***
Olanma didn’t know how she managed to stay calm when she saw who the very important visitor was.
It had been the murderer or Ikenga, as her father had introduced him. He had smiled in that way she hated and greeted her as if he was not the one she had attacked the previous day. She had been about to say something rude to him when her mother pinched her by her side, sending her a silent warning.
“Thank you for allowing me to host you, my dear friend,” her father said as he poured wine from the keg into a cup and offered it to her. “My daughter has something to say?”
“I do?” Olanma blurted out, earning another painful pinch from her mother. After threatening her with curses and the gods, her mother had told her that she was to apologise to their so-called very important guest. “I meant I do have something to say.”
Ikenga’s brow rose as if he knew what she thought of him. “I am sorry for my actions yesterday.” She muttered
He raised the wine cup to his lips and took his sweet time taking a sip, making her wait. Then he responded, “There’s nothing to forgive. All is forgotten. I just hope you’re better now.”
Olanma almost asked what he meant by that stupid question but knew her parents would not have it if she disrespected their guest over a dream she had in the afternoon. So she gave him a quick glare.“I am sorry once again,” she said, ignoring his question.
“Forgive her, my friend,” Her father said. “ You know how women are, especially one who is ripe to be guided by a husband.”
Olanma almost felt like disappearing into the earth as they all chuckled like she wasn’t present. “Of course I do,” Ikenga replied, winking at her. Letting her know he knew what her father had been trying to do with that last statement
Her control came short. “I’d rather die than marry a murderer.”
She heard everyone’s surprised gasp as she left the Obi.
CHAPTER THREE
“Have you suddenly gone deaf? Again, what did the young man do to you?” Nne yelled.
Olanma touched her ear, which had gotten sour from being squeezed by her mother. She has been raising fire and brimstone on her since she bragged into her room.
“I don’t just like him.”
Nne mouth opened and closed in bewilderment “ Can you hear yourself? So you called the young man a murderer because you don’t like him.”
“See Mama, that man is evil” Try as Olanma wanted to, she couldn’t undream what she had, especially the scene where his spear had found its way into her chest. He had towered over her as she fell, tall and imposing. It had felt real. Whenever she closed her eyes, she could still feel the excruciating pain.
“And you know he is evil because?” Her mother cuts in.
Would her mother believe her? “I saw it in a dream.” She blurted out.
“A dream?” Nne frowned. “What happened in this dream?” She sat on the bed.
Olanma went to sit beside her. “In my dream, he was with the Ijunku warriors, and they killed everyone. Including You, Papa and I. That was the reason for my scream that afternoon when you –”
“Wait –” Her mother intercepted her. “That was the dream you had yesterday afternoon.”
At her nod of acceptance, her mother burst into laughter, much to Olanma’s confusion. She should have left out that part of the dream being in the afternoon. Her mother, a very hardworking woman, believed nothing worthwhile could come from sleeping in the afternoon.
“This was why I didn’t want to tell you” Olanma sulked.
“That is why I keep telling you to stop sleeping in the afternoon. Nothing good comes out of it,” her mother chuckled.
“But –” She began
“ – but nothing, Ola.” Patting her hand.”You can not go about accusing a man unjustly, Olanma, lest of all over a dream you had in the afternoon of all time in the day.”
Olanma didn’t bother arguing. It was impossible to debate with someone so unfamiliar with the concept of sleeping in the afternoon. After several failed attempts at convincing her mother, she knew better. Instead, she asked, “Hope he’s not here to stay.”
Nne ran her hands through her wrapper. “Oh yes, he is. For a whole moon,” she replied gingerly.
“Why? Can he not get another place to stay?” she sulked, earning a glare from her mother.
Nne rose and spoke in that voice that left no room for being defiled. “I can see there is no reasoning with you. I’ll tell you this: That man whom you called a murderer is the son of the man who made your father into the wealthy man you know today. Now you see why I said he is very important and why you will ensure you’re on your best behaviour throughout the duration of his stay.”
***
“Would you care to tell me who you saw me murder for you to term me as a murderer?” Ikenga said as he rounded her chair to plant himself in her line of vision. The moonlight gave his svelte frame this dark glow. “Try as I might, I can’t get it out of my mind. And trust me, I do not permit anything or anyone to have access to disrupt my thoughts.”
“Pardon me for disrupting your noble thoughts, my Lord,” Olanma said dryly. Now you can leave.” She sank deep into her father’s rocking chair and closed her eyes. She was in no mood to talk to anyone, least of all him.
” I’m not done with you,” He said firmly, making no move to leave. Obviously, he was used to having his way, she thought darkly.
Fixing him with a benevolent stare, Olanma smiled despite her irritation. “ But I am done with you,” she said, goading him.
“Are you always this unpleasant?” He suddenly said. Stunning her. ‘From the first day since we’ve met, you’ve been rude to me.” He chuckled despite the lack of humour in his words or face. ‘Fuuny, how I thought I was at fault. Maybe there was something about me that rubbed you off the wrong way. But now I’m just realising it is all you. You are just a spoiled brat unwilling to mature –”
He caught her hand, as it almost landed on his face. “Let go of me, you ” Olanma barked.
“Don’t you ever raise your hand on me? The same way I would not lay my hands on a woman, that’s the same way I refuse to be hit by one.” He glowered.“Do you understand me?” he demanded.
Olanma nodded, unable to bring herself to speak.
He continued, “I will do well to stay out of your part for the fortnight I’m here.” After those words, he released her hand and stormed off.
She sank into the rocking chair when she was sure she was alone, her hand on her heart as she stared wide-eyed in the direction Ikenga had disappeared into.
Why was her heart beating so fast?
CHAPTER FOUR
For the rest of the days that followed after their encounter under the palm tree shade, Ikenga kept to his word. He avoided her at every turn, barely staying in the compound except to have his meals or sleep at night. Her mother had ascribed his absence to work, but Olanma knew it wasn’t.
True, Ikenga was busy. She had discovered that he was in their land to acquire some lands to cultivate some crops she heard were mostly grown in the north. The process—from being the daughter of a successful farmer—wasn’t so tedious as to constantly keep him outdoors every day. She had even heard her father say that much to him one morning.
Dwelling on the thought of Ikenga, Olanam sighed and dropped the cassava she had been peeling. She didn’t know what to make of her conflicting emotions where he was concerned. Not only was he different from the man she had dreamt of, but he was also an even better man. She had stumbled on him on several occasions helping their servants. If he wasn’t helping one bring down a pot of water, he was assisting another bring down a bundle of firewood or asking how they were doing. These moments had left her feeling bad at how little she contributed to the household – which she had begun improving on, and also left her fascinated by him.
She found herself becoming more and more jealous of his ease and cheer with everyone but her. That was what she’d wanted, but now that he treated her with such coldness –
Her thoughts were interrupted by a shout. Olanma’s eyes widened as she turned to see Ikenga being helped into the compound by a muscular man. She ran to them as they reached the Obi. “What happened?” She asked, taking Ikenga’s hand, which wasn’t on the other man’s shoulder.
Ikenga groaned. “Are you trying to kill me or what?”
“What have I done? I’m just trying to help,” Olanma said, dropping the hand in shock, which elicited another groan from Ikenga. She looked at the other man helplessly, not knowing what to do.
The muscular man helped Ikenga to sit on the bench she had been sitting on. “He’s injured on that hand”, The muscular man said. Smiling kindly
Olanma’s eyes widened a second time as she saw the red swell behind his arm. “How? Where? What happened? What can be done?” She asked all at once
She heard Ikenga muttered something about her killing the man with so many questions, but the muscular man responded. “It happened at one of his farms not far from here. A palm fruit fell from the tree. Thankfully, it missed his head.’ He looked around the compound. “Is there anyone around? To attend to him, I have to leave now?”
“I’m the only one available. Don’t worry, I –”
“The gods forbid I let you close to me with hot water ”, Ikenga scowled.
***
“That’s enough” Ikenga’s words changed to a groan as he jerked his bad arm from her.
Olanma fixed him with an exasperated look. “But I only just started.”
“And I am the one injured, and I’ll tell you when to stop”, He said stubbornly, but she saw the beads of sweat on his forehead to know that he was still in pain.
She shook her head. “Are you always this stubborn?”
It had taken a lot of convincing from her and Udeh – the muscular man, to persuade him to accept a massage from her. If she hadn’t been so worried about him, she would have been embarrassed at his open show of dislike for her.
Ikenga snorted at what he perceived to be a great insult. “ I don’t know what you’re talking about?”
She sighed, not willing to argue with him. He moved a little as she sat on the bench beside him. “I know we started off on the wrong part, most of which I am to blame.”
She smiled as he murmured under his breath, “You mean all.”
“What I’m trying to say is I’m sorry.” She looked at him, hoping he saw the sincerity in her eyes.
His lashes flaunted its generous length as he blinked, surprised at her apology. Suddenly, with a shamed face, he nodded his acceptance and looked away. “I’m also sorry.”
Olanma fixed him with her bright smile. “Now, can I massage your arm?” Viewing his reluctance, she added, “I’ll tell you the reason I’ve been such a horrible host.”
“Okay,” her heart began a wild beat as his lips cracked into a slow smile. She was not used to being aware of anyone as he made her aware of him.
CHAPTER FIVE
“I am sure you miss him a lot,” Nne said one night as they sat under the palm tree. Enjoying the cool breeze.
“I don‘t”, Olanma said, looking away from her mother. “He was going to leave anyway.”
“It doesn’t seem that way to me,” Nne chuckled. You’ve been a bit sober since he left. It’s almost as if you mourn his departure.”
Olanma sternly drew a slow breath at her mother’s words. She didn’t know she was that transparent. She turned towards her mother, meeting her curious gaze with a bored one.”There is no pleasing you, is there? When I act up, you complain. Now that I’m trying to be the serene daughter you want, you still complain.” She finished with an exhausted sigh.
“You’ve barely touched your food tonight”, Nne continued. “Same as yesterday.”
“I just haven’t felt like eating.” She shrugged. “It happens”
“Even with Egusi soup, which you love so much? Her mother asked. Raising a brow
Olanma admitted to herself what she couldn’t tell her mother or Ikenga when he asked her the morning he departed for his village. She missed him—so much more than she had missed anyone or imagined possible. If she had known, she would have told him—given him a chance rather than judging him based on a dream.
“You know it’s not weakness to admit that you miss him or that you love him”, Her mother affectionately putting her hand on her upper arm.
She opened her mouth to say she didn’t, but –” How did you know? “ she asked instead, her eyes glistening.
“Ola”, She said, reminding her of the affectionate way Ikenga had taken to calling her. “A mother always knows. I saw how close you both had suddenly become the past few days of his stay. Ikenga went from being scarcely around to being always around, and every time he was in your company. Also–” She grinned, nuzzling Olanma’s nose –” You had that look in your eyes… the dazed one you always have every time you see a pot of egusi soup.”
Olanma chuckled despite the tears in her eyes “ How hungry I must have looked.”
Nne chuckled. “Very hungry,” she said, wiping the tears that had spilled from Olanma’s eyes. She continued, “But you weren’t the one who looked hungry.” Her mother nodded at the question in her eyes. “He was.”
They both jerked as a gunshot rudely interrupted their conversation. Then, the sound of horses followed suit. Her eyes widened as she saw the dark blue fabric of Ijukun warriors.
Her afternoon dream had been real after all.
CHAPTER SIX
Olanma lurched at the unseen force she had felt hovering over her when she had stirred awake. Her attack, however, is short-lived as her movement sends pain searing through her. Reminding her of the last thing she remembered: Pain.
“Ola, it’s I.”
Her eyes flutter open as the familiar drawl of Ikenga fills her ears.
What was he doing here? unless he–
“You murderer” She glared despite the effort it took.
“Olanma, you shouldn’t speak to the young that way. He saved our lives and the whole village.” When her mother came in, sudden sunlight filled the room.
Could the gods be that kind to her? “Nne, is that you?” Olanma said slowly, hoping her eyes were not deceiving her. But for the pain she felt, she would have closed the distance between them as she had the first time she had that horrible dream. Was this also a dream like that one, she wondered? But if this was why, then why was she in so much pain?
Her gaze remained on her mother as she approached her for fear that even something as little as a blink would make her disappear. Her mother passed Ikenga and handed him a calabash that contained something she couldn’t see. Her mother chuckled as Olanma all but snatched her hand the moment she was close. “You are real,” Olanma began to tear up.
“Yes, I am my little dreamer”, Her mother said, affectionately caressing her hand. “I thought I was going to lose you. You didn’t wake up for days.” Nne’s eyes welled up. The shallowness in them told Olanma that she had been crying a lot.
“I won’t scare you like that ever again. I promise. Where is Papa?” Her heart sank, noticing the absence of her father.
“Papa is here, Olanmm.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Why did you believe my dream? Even when I had also come to reject it like my mother,” Olanma asked Ikenga the moment he re-entered her hut. He had excused himself to give her time alone with her parent. In their time alone, her parents informed them of some shocking things. One was his foresight in secretly hiring some men to keep watch over their house before he left. The men, on seeing the Ijunku warriors, had informed the village warriors, who had swung into action and defeated them in no time.
He shrugged and looked out the window away from her. “Because the dream was yours.” He said simply. But it was not as simple as he said or made it seem.
“I’m sorry,” Olanma said. Wincing as the image of the hurt in his eyes when she had called him a murderer haunted her.
“Do you want to lay back?” Ikenga asked, confusing her wince for that of pain.
“No, but please, can you get me to adjust the pillow behind my back? I’m feeling sore.”
Nodding briskly, he wandered toward her. He looked different. His usual shaved chiselled jaw and cheekbone were covered with dark curls of hair that reminded her of his dark eyes. It seemed her mother hadn’t been joking when she said he had refused to leave her side, for his eyes had dark circles. He seemed so unapologetically caveman, and she couldn’t explain it, but she found it very attractive.
She hoped he didn’t notice the goosebumps that stole through her skin as his facial hair caressed it as he worked behind her to adjust the pillows.
Her cheeks began to burn as a scandalous thought crept into her mind. Had he undressed her or seen her naked when she was sick?
“For what reason do you apologise?” he asked suddenly, his hip deliciously caressing her lap as he sat on the bed.
Somehow, Olanma managed to recover enough to reply. “For accusing you unjustly.”
She saw a flash, something almost like sadness in his eyes.“I know I ought to be angry that after all we shared, you still think the worst of me –”
Her hand found his “I’m deeply sorry.”
He squeezed her hand, and she panicked that he was drawing away from her. “ – But I love you too much to care about anything other than the fact that you came back to me.”
Olanam blinked at him, unable to believe her ears. “Did you just say that you… you?” she finished helplessly. Her mind whirled, and she felt dizzy, but she knew it had nothing to do with her bruised stomach but everything to do with him and the way he was looking at her. Nne had been right; she hadn’t been the only one who had that hungry look.
Ikenga leaned down, closing the distance between them. “Does that surprise you?” He asked, placing delightful tiny kisses around her face, tormenting her.
She shook her head and whispered, “Nne said we both had that starved look about us.”
He chuckled—his warmth on the right side of her neck where his lips had wandered to.
“Marry me”
Olanma’s eyes fogged with confusion. “But I thought we were married.”
Nne, clearly already finding a son in Ikenga, boasted of how she had done her marriage rite despite the herbalist’s advice that she might not make it.
He brought her hands to his lips “ I want you awake this time, your hands offering the palm wine that makes you mine.”
Raising a brow, she teased, “Sure, you can afford the ceremony I have in mind.”
“Just say the word, and it’s done” He leaned in, his eyes sparkling with intent.
She curled her hand around his neck. “I love you. And Yes, I’ll marry you again.”
