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CHAPTER 4
The Third Team Member
Saga/Series
BOOK
The First Mission
GENRE
Historical fiction, African fantasy/mythology, Epic fantasy, Action and adventure
READING TIME
8 to 12 minutes.
STORY ARC
The Enchanted Forest.
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The Third Team member.
It is hard for Ṣeyi to pick a second-team member, majorly because Ṣeyi isn't very popular among his peers. The first person he picked was obviously Akin, his best friend, though he had his doubts, where the bottomless stomach is concerned. He knew Akin would be emotionally hurt if he isn't picked and he valued the Hunchback’s friendship far more than anything else. Then he spent the whole night trying to make up his mind on who the last member of his small team would be, but in the end, he gave it up. No one liked either him or Akin and what's the use of teaming up with the same people who hated you and wished you dead, he can’t risk waking up in the morning with a knife in his back, so he decided to leave the village with Akin by his side and with all the pride, he could muster.
The news of Ṣeyi’s Iṣẹ had already begun to spread through the whole village like a gust of violent winds, and of all the people who heard the news and had different opinions about the development, Ṣodipọ is the one who was the most bitter about it, his jealousy can easily be seen in his eyes. The glitter and the reflection of his burning hatred, “why had the Balogun chosen those two unworthy accursed dogs to represent this village, why didn't she pick me!” He boomed in his rage stomping around his hut, “may this be his journey of no return,” he cursed, stomping his feet on the ground in his frustration.
Early the next morning, Ṣeyi packed the few necessities he needed hoping they would be enough for the journey. He also went out to purchase a few items from the local hawkers, to his amazement, he noticed someone following him closely behind, making no effort to mask his presence. Ṣeyi turned around to see who it was that followed and to his surprise, it was Bọlaji the boy who usually carries a bag filled with calabashes. Bọlaji might not be much, but Ṣeyi has a deep and undying respect for him.
“Ṣeyi,” he said, calmly “do you need another member in your party?” He asked politely,
Ṣeyi could sense an uncertain edge in Bọlaji’s voice which exposed how anxious he is and the sincerity in his request. Ṣeyi knew Bọlaji from the reports of other Ẹṣọs and also through gossip, Bọlaji had performed in more than 8 Iṣẹs and already has recommendations from prominent chiefs concerning being promoted to the next rank. He will definitely be an asset on this mission.
“Yes! There is room for one more Bọlaji” Ṣeyi replied, holding his shoulder
The smile on Bọlaji’s face told Ṣeyi that he was relieved by the answer, a sign of encouragement. The last member of his team had chosen himself, someone, whom Ṣeyi trusted and who has a better field experience than Ṣeyi himself.
“Now we’re ready, let’s go” Ṣeyi shouted with a sudden burst of excitement
The two Esos, Ṣeyi, Akin, Adekunle and Bọlaji began their journey towards Ẹdẹ at midday. The watcher was nowhere to be found, his excuse, his presence is urgently needed in another village and that he would join them on the mission when they least expect.
They had barely gone beyond the borders of Ilu-inọ village, when someone in desperation called Ṣeyi’s name, forcing the party into a momentary halt. It was a little girl by all indications, she seemed of Ṣeyi’s age and she stood close to a tree almost hiding, waiting for a response. Ṣeyi walked up to her wondering why she had called his attention, although, he didn’t know her at all, a part of his memory told him that she is a member of the village and an Ẹṣọs in training. Her eyes masked both fear and shyness and from her voice, Ṣeyi could sense deep concern.
“Is it true that you are leaving our village?” She asked,
“Yes!” Ṣeyi replied, feeling a sense of pride
“Se-Ṣeyi wi! Will you come back, I mean” Ṣeyi could see tears in her eyes, but could not understand why he could see her trembling from within despite her efforts to conceal her emotions.
“I will return; I still have the dream of ending human sacrifice. So I will return to this village and that is a promise” Ṣeyi declared proudly
“I believe in you Ṣeyi,” she said and for some reason, her words gave him strength
“When I return from this errand I will become much stronger Ẹṣọ.”
“People say that this is your journey of no return,” she said, “please don’t go, wait until you are a much stronger warrior”. She pleaded
Ṣeyi knew this could be true, but the watcher had made an offer he cannot refuse, some things are more important than living, he had no choice, he’s not on a quest to help another, but for himself, if he turned back now he will never conquer his limitations. He will never become the one who will end human sacrifice within the village, he looked at the girl who had a genuine concern for him and said.
“When I return, and I will return, I will ask for your name,” then he turned to walk away
“Ṣeyi!” She called again desperately
“What is it” Ṣeyi replied
“I made this for you to remember me,” she said, stretching her hand out towards Ṣeyi to give him the gift she had made, it was a white cowrie with a small hole incised in it. A small white rope that protruded from the hole and it was tied in a loop to make it look like a necklace, Ṣeyi knew she made it herself and in his hope not to hurt her feelings. He received this strange gift and placed it around his neck, “thank you,” he said, “I promise to treasure this throughout this quest”.
***********
The Balogun stood watching from the window of a nearby house unknown to those going on the mission, she had tears in her eyes the kind of tears that is unworthy of her as a warrior, it is evident that she greatly regretted sending an underage on such a dangerous Iṣẹ. The watcher appeared quite suddenly and stood behind her, though his face could not be seen under the clothes that covered his entire body, one could sense his sarcastic smile, the smile of mischief and deception.
“Promise me,” the Balogun said without turning to face the watcher “that they will return alive”.
“Ṣeyi is no concern of yours, he chose to go on this Iṣẹ himself, if he dies, he dies. I am the one who determines his destiny, if he is worthy, he will return and if he is not, then, he will die”.
“So you don’t care about the boy?” The Balogun asked.
“Can a snake ignore its scale, can a snail ignore its shell, everyone knows that boy is special. Everyone but Ṣeyi himself, he can either find out or die trying. It is of no concern of mine what he chooses. In addition, I believe that he is safer on this quest than within the confines of this village” with these words he vanished
The Osi walked in, seeing the Balogun he greeted her quietly and then spoke.
“Did the watcher say that the boys will come back alive?”
“So you worry about them as well,” she replied
“Yes!”
“Only the gods can tell if they will return, all we can do is hope and pray, and I wonder what the watcher meant by saying that Ṣeyi is safer outside the confines of this village”
“In my own opinion, I believe time will answer that question”. Osi-Balogun said in a way of replying to the silent query.
******
When Ẹṣọs are sent on errands they travel light and they travel fast, but Ṣeyi’s party, a group of unprofessional rejects were travelling heavy and slow. Ṣeyi carried two small knives, a small bag of stones and a catapult, Akin carried 3 sacs filled with food to sustain his bottomless stomach and no weapons at all, he believes that his fists are all the weapon he needs, while Bọlaji carried his big bag of calabash pre-chanted in preparation for battle.
“I don’t know why the watcher insisted that he (meaning Ṣeyi) should come with us,” Adekunle snapped
“He promised you safe passage if Ṣeyi should come and remember we are passing through the enchanted forest,” Iba-ile replied.
“Look at them, do they even look like true Ẹṣọs?” Kunle retorted.
‘Kunle please be silent” Iba-ayo replied
“Who is the watcher,” Ṣeyi asked suddenly, ignoring Adekunle completely “Who is he and why is he always covering his face like Ẹlẹha?”
The two Ẹṣọs regarded Ṣeyi’s question with shock in their eyes as though he had asked something foolish even Adekunle busted into laughter. It is Iba-ayo who managed to give Ṣeyi a comforting smile before he responded
“Surprising that you were not taught about the watcher, all Ẹṣọs are taught about the mystery of the watcher, but then you are not Ẹṣọs yet,”
“Some say he’s the divine guardian of Yoruba land,” Iba-ile said after a short pause
“Others say he is the worst enemy of the dark Ọbas and the tyrants of Yoruba land,” Iba-ayo continued.
“Some even assume he is part of the ancestral spirits of Yoruba land, some even pronounced him an “emi o kun” (demon) no one knows for sure,” Iba-ile said, “in the Northern Province the people composed an Oriki in his honour”.
The one with a thousand names and a thousand forms
The one who lives longer than the Iroko
He that obeys no king
The stranger that cannot be harmed by the evil forest
He is a law unto himself
The one who is not limited by distance
The key keeper of the heavens
The record keeper of the earth
One who is equal to the great Orisha’s
The cunning lord of good and evil
His mind, none can predict. His nature, none can fathom
A shadow of greatness yet a seed of doubt
He keeps his promises but never explains how
To worship him is doom and only fools believe in him
The solitary demon of the Yoruba realm
The shadow of a doubt, yet the seed of hope
The watchful Owl of the realm
Whose eyes sees everything that is and will be
Nothing can be hidden from the eyes of the Owl
The watcher is watching you now
“Sometimes he’s a man and at other times he’s a beast, sometimes he’s of good other times he’s of evil. He must never be trusted, but we have no choice but to depend on him,” Iba-ayo said.
“So that’s why, do you trust him?” Akin asked
“No one trusts him we just obey him, he always keeps his promises, he promised Adekunle that he would be king, so we ought not to question him or he would break his promise, but we must be wary, lest he places stumbling blocks along our path” Iba-ile added
“I would prefer to depend on a god rather than a stranger” Bolaji suggested
“He is not a stranger,” Iba-ayo responded “he has been with us for hundreds of years and we had to summon him to find a solution to the problem besides the gods are always silent in matters of kings”
“I don’t believe in the gods,” Adekunle said, trying to join in the conversation,
“No one questioned you” Ṣeyi snapped
“What!” Adekunle retorted stomping towards Ṣeyi in anger, but before Adekunle could do anything. The atmosphere suddenly changed, it became tense. All the warriors, including Adekunle, felt a chilling sensation. A negative presence so strong held them all spellbound, Iba-ile was the first to come back to his senses and the first to take immediate action.
“They’re here Ayo, quick, let’s conceal ourselves!”
The enemy had arrived. The two season warriors felt the presence of the enemy in the atmosphere. The thick demand for blood had sent a cold chill down Every spine. It was as though the fly had stumbled into the spider’s web.
Seyi felt his entire body tremble from fear, He had hoped that this would be a very peaceful endeavour. All he had to do was simply follow a proud young Prince to his throne, but he was mistaken. Now he had stumbled into the den of lions, And he was not ready to die.
CHAPTER RECAP
Ṣeyi's team is finally complete when Bọlaji volunteers to join the mission, and after an emotional farewell from a mysterious village girl, the young warriors set out toward Ẹdẹ. Along the way, they learn more about the legendary Watcher, but their journey takes a dangerous turn when an unseen enemy suddenly closes in.AUTHOR'S NOTES
Every journey begins with a single step. This chapter marks the true beginning of Ṣeyi's adventure, where hope, mystery, and danger walk side by side.SUBFURA COMMUNITY DISCUSSION
- Why do you think the village girl was so concerned about Ṣeyi?
- Who do you believe the Watcher really is?
- What kind of enemy do you think has found Ṣeyi's party?
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