Conquered Kingdom Ahead

They had been travelling for two weeks now, but the friction between them had not lessened one bit. They set out during the day, running as fast as they dared, but slow to godly standards. This was because they had to avoid detection from human eyes. The gods refused to show themselves to humans and for some bizarre reason they clammed up whenever Omotola broached the subject. Ode quietly suggested that Omotola change the color of her hair from white to black as the glaring color would give her away to their enemies.

Moremi was as frosty to her as ever but Oya seemed to be warming up to her, even volunteering to teach her some godly tricks like creating tornados and turning to animals. Omotola was shocked by the discovery that she could turn to any animal of her choice. Her favorite shape was that of the cheetah as she discovered she could outrace any other animal in seconds. Her mind went back to that time before they left ile ife, when she screamed and the earth woke. Well, not woke per se but in that moment, she had felt…. the consciousness of the earth, if it was possible to feel something like that. When she had tried to explain it to Oduduwa, he and the other gods had looked at her like she was mad. She sniffed inwardly.

After her scream, there was this violent earthquake that seemed to rip out of deep within the earth, destroying everything within miles. The remaining gods did not say a word to her for three days but kept glancing behind them at the hill that had sprung up in the aftermath of her scream. She really wished she could learn to control her powers as if she was not careful, she would rip the world in two with a sneeze. Well at least that’s what Oduduwa said.

They settled down for the night, each creating their own tent out of the elements. They had found out recently that Oduduwa could not return to his home in the sky due to the invaders blocking every corner leading to his home. Word had also reached them of the exile of the royal house in Oyo.

The Nupe and their foreign gods had taken residence in Oyo ile, and almost succeeded in eliminating the royal family. Moremi had immediately contacted Sango in a dream to leave ile ife and transfer his essence into someone in line for the position of Alaafin of Oyo. Omotola had a fit when she found out that Sango and Esu were also gods, and all her attempts to hide her true nature from them had amused them to no end. She also found out that the ‘end of the world’ the gods referred to was the border surrounding the now vanquished Oyo kingdom.

Ode worried incessantly at how powerful the Nupe’s gods must be to be able to overcome the council of gods. The council was probably in hiding Moremi had suggested, also muttering something about lazy and inept old farts. The sharp look Oduduwa gave her after sent her into a bout of sulking. Omotola made her hut with rucks and moved in, the sounds of rocks knitting together from the other’s hut making.

As she entered, light blazed atop her head, bringing immediate warmth to the room. She wove a bed of air and tied the weave absentmindedly, sighing as she sank into it. She tried not to sleep these days, as she had been dreaming of the lightning god she had destroyed. It was never pleasant and she woke up with shouts after, earning her wary looks from the others when they set out in the mornings. Tonight, she wanted to try something different. She closed her eyes and reached inside her for that well of power. It sprang up quickly and suffused her entire being, a small breath of ecstasy leaving her lips as she wielded the power.

She cast her mind northward toward Ile ife, seeking the dreams of her family. She had broken the news to them about who she was the night Oya had first taught her dream walking. Her mother had not been surprised one bit and had a secretive smile about her like she knew more than what she let on. The whole family had embraced her barely substantial form in the dream world, a few tears shed and then they had gone back to their sleep. Now, as she patrolled their minds, flitting back and forth, she felt a strong pull to the south. She rose and sped towards the direction of the pull at the speed of thought. She halted over the Old Oyo state and watched the Nupe people milling about in the rightful land of the Yorubas.

A voice cut across her dream consciousness, loud yet deadly quiet.
‘Mo mope o ma wa (I knew you would come)’.
She cast her consciousness around wildly for the source of the voice, her eyes narrowed in sudden anger.
‘Orisa ikeyin ninu awon orisa ayeraye( the last god among the everlasting gods). Wa(come), Wa gba idajo re( Come for your judgement)’.

She lashed out with divine power everywhere, trying to catch the owner of that voice when suddenly she jerked awake, reaching for the source inside her as she felt the presence of another being in her tent. It was Moremi, standing warily as she saw divine power wrap itself around Omotola and only relaxed fractionally when Omotola shut off her connection to her power.

‘Come’, she said without preamble and went out of the hut, moving gracefully and as dignified as ever. She stepped out and what she saw almost made her eyes pop out of her head. Four regal animals stood proudly, her head not reaching the stomach of the smallest of them. They had tails with hair as much as that in a broom as it whisked to and fro in an awesome show of personified dignity.

They were horses.

She knew she shouldn’t be so amazed but she had never seen a real horse before, only heard about them in stories. And this was just no ordinary horse. It was a Fulani charger, complete with the golden shoe they were always known for. They also had incredible speed, one of the only animals that could match the speed of the cheetah steadily and for a long period of time.

‘How did you get one?’ she asked, running close to touch one from the side.
‘No wait!’ Oduduwa shouted but it was too late.

She never saw it coming. The horse delivered a roundhouse kick to her for head that sent her sprawling a few yards. Her head throbbed violently. She instinctively knew that if she was not a god, that kick would have instantly killed her. Moremi was cackling and oya was red in the face from trying to hold back her smile.

‘You have to approach them from the front or they won’t let you get close’, Oduduwa said, also doing his best to keep a straight face.

She stubbornly went back to the horse that had kicked her, stalking towards it with her eyes locked on it, glaring till it looked away in acceptance of her superiority. She swung into the saddle and looked around to find the others already on their horses.

‘Let’s ride!’ Oduduwa said as he spurred his horse forward. The others followed suit, leaving their campsite behind in a cloud of dust.

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Show some love guys. Next episode coming soon.