A Tale Of Five Bandits

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 9

Leaving the pulverized village behind, they rode for two more days till they reached a new settlement.

“This is Alatori Ojo, perhaps we could rest here for a few days before we hit the road again. Aleshinloye is just a day and a half’s ride from here”, Monifa suggested.

As they approached the new village, scores of villagers peered out of their huts to glance at the new arrivals passing through their village. As they sighted the medicine man in their company, they rushed out begging the herbalist to bless them and heal their wounds and illnesses.

“Back, back, how dare you touch me without permission”, Goke shouted, kicking the villagers that approached him.

The herbalist held his belly and let out a loud laugh, “Leave them be

. These ones are favoured by the gods. The gods have blessed them by letting our paths cross”. The herbalist descended from his horse and the crowd knelt down, stretching their hands out to him.

The herbalist extended his hands and offered a short prayer, requesting that the gods bless their crops and strengthened the hands of their firstborn males. A villager hurried into his hut and came out with a stool in his hands, “Sit here, baba”

. He said with a glow in his eyes.

Sewa rolled her eyes at the herbalist who sat on the stool, enjoying the special treatment he was receiving and asked the villagers to form a queue. The crowd became rowdy, each person eager to be at the forefront.

“Calm down, there’s enough for everyone”, the herbalist said as he listened to each person’s complain of body aches, wounds and problems. He reached into his bag, offering them herbs and instructions, heartening them in their devotion to the gods.

“I hope we won’t be stuck here because of him”, Monifa said, heaving a wryly sigh.

“Just leave him be for now. We depart tomorrow whether he likes it or not”, Leke said dryly.

Goke jumped down from his horse and bullied the villager at the forefront into giving up his space. He stood in front of the medicine man and went down on his kneels with his head bowed as the Ajala placed a hand on his head and blessed him.

Duro let out a laugh and joined his friend.

. Trying to scare the next villager into giving up his spot, the villager stood his ground unflinchingly, baring his teeth at Duro. However, he scurried away the moment Duro unsheathed his sword.

“I’m going to find a nice river to bathe in, are you coming?”, Monifa asked Sewa.

Sewa nodded, “Anything to get away from all this”.

They rode through the village with only a few villagers within their huts. They came across traders, weavers, blacksmiths, potters, and merchants displaying their merchandise in carts. The lively village reminded Sewa of her home and memories of the precious times she spent seated with her sister as they listened to their father’s tales flooded her mind.

They soon reached the river with the directions gotten from several villagers on the road. Monifa and Sewa undressed as they submerged themselves into the water.

Monifa heaved a sigh of relief as the water soothed her tensed muscles, “I so much needed this”, she said flexing her muscles. “It’s nice to get away from the men for awhile, isn’t it?”

Sewa simply laughed as she rinsed her body and swam lazily in the river. Monifa smiled and stared at her thoughtfully, “So tell me, how did you wound up in this kind of life?”

Sewa paused and glanced at the woman. The woman before her was quite tall and muscular for a lady. Monifa reminded her of the Orishas her father spoke about in his tales. Sewa believed that if the goddesses Oya and Osun were to come down from the heavens, they would look every bit as intimidating and powerful as Monifa. If one needed to imagine the appearances of these goddess then Monifa’s figure was the closest thing.

“What is the matter? You are not comfortable with sharing? Let me go first then”, Monifa said as she looked at the sky, lost in thought.

Seeing a sober expression on Monifa’s face, Sewa sat in the river, bringing her knees to her bosom as she wrapped her arms around them.