Diamond In The Forest

Episode 9

“Iya…iya… where are you…

“Omomi…wa n bi… I’m at the
back yard…

Remi dropped the basket in her
hand and went to meet her
grandmother who was using
sticks to cover her crops…

“Iya.. what are you doing…

“All this fowl has ate up my
melon and groundnut seed
that I planted in this ridge that
Dami, your brother helped me
to dug…they will use their tiny
legs to scatter my plant so I
decided to put sticks around
The crops to prevent them
from destroying the crops…any
chicken I see close to this my
ridge will be so unfortunate…I
will use it and prepare a
delicious egusi soup, me and
your brother will enjoy ourself
because he will be the one to
catch it for me, I can’t be
dragging land with this fowl
and I don’t want to sell them
because of you and your
brother, I told your mother to
come and take some she hasn’t
showed interest
since…aaah…see the way I’m
talking about unnecessary
thing forgetting to ask how
you are doing and what
brought you down here….
please don’t tell me you got
into another fight and they
sent you home for another
punishment…

“Rara o (not at all) the princess
sent me to get somethings for
her at the market place, oja
oba, I was suppose to rush
back to the palace but
something has being bothering
me for days so I decided to
drop by, check up on you and
also see if I can get any help
“Hmm, what could that be my
child…
“Your riddle iya, is being
echoing in my mind and I see
you repeating it in my
dream..”two will want me..
only one will have me then
disaster will struck….I will be in
between and then the gods
will take me away…faraway
with the seed of crown…what
does it mean iya…I don’t
understand any single thing in
the riddles except that two will
want me… which is probably
Leja and the Prince… will I die
iya… what does The riddle
means ejoo …I want to know
“No my child, you won’t die..
not soon anyway, there are
things even I can’t explain…I
was just The mouth piece of
The gods… The gods will take
you away…faraway with the
seed of crown which will
become a precious diamond
sorted for and it will be hidden
in the deepest part of the
forest… that’s all I can say untill
I’m given a go ahead to say
more…

“I came for an answer to the
previous riddle now you are
adding diamond and forest to
it, anyway… I’m happy that I
won’t die so what I don’t know
won’t kill me…is better I stop
disturbing myself over things
only The gods has answer to…

Iya.. I’m glad you are well as
usual, there was no time to
stop and check up on mother
and Dami…I believe they are
fine…I will be on my way back
to the palace now.. before the
princess will start wondering
what is keeping me in oba oja…

“Becarefull my child in trusting
people, don’t be too soft or you
will be easily penetrated and
don’t be too hard or you will
scare the good ones away, be
in between and be wise… don’t
trust easily Remilekun… don’t
tell your secret out because
you maybe telling your enemy
in a friendly clothing…

“Iya…is okay…I don’t want
more riddles… the first is yet to
be interpreted… telling me
more will confuse me and
trouble my mind… let me just
hold on to the fact I won’t die…
not yet until I come of age like
you…

“The gods has prepared this
part for you my child…be
strong because you will need
alot of strength for the battle
ahead…I pray the gods will
have mercy and give us
wisdom to live among those
who hates us and strength to
forge ahead even when it seem
all hopes is lost…
“Amin, I don’t really have much
enemy again because Nike
apologies to me and she is
acting all nice but I’m watching
her closely because she maybe
upto something…Leja acted
foolishly around me one night
and even made me to touch his
manhood but he regretted his
actions and has being avoiding
me like a plague and I guess is
his guilty conscience that is
troubling him…I don’t want to
have enemy Iya… I’m glad Nike
is finally seeing me like her
sister and that is what I have
always wanted… but I don’t
trust her… not yet though…

“Trust is cheap until your leg
get glued in the trap set up by
same people you trusted…
becarefull my child, I will be
seeking The gods face on your
behalf…but just be
careful…there are things yet to
come which will trouble the
little world around you… don’t
forget to overcome hate with
love and serve with all sincerity
as you are called to serve…

Remi was in hurry and didn’t
bother paying attention to the
rest of the things her
grandmother was saying, she
picked up her basket from the
ground, gave her grandmother
a warm hug

The older woman tapped her
gently on her back before Remi
released her and run out.
The woman watched Remi
until she was out of The
compound, she lifted her face
up and muttered something in
the air before returning to her
crops ridge,

Remi’s brother came in with a
pot of water, he joined his
grandma in cutting more sticks
and digging up the ridge
“Your sister just left here not
long ago before you came in. If
you have come in earlier you
would have seen her, she
stopped by from oja oba,
where she went to buy
something for the princess
“Okay, I was filling mamis
water drum, she was socking
the cassava she peeled, she
want to prepare fufu that she
will sell next tomorrow in the
market place… that’s if the
cassava soften and ferment on
time for her to be able to cook
it… since egbon (big sister) now
work in the palace I have to
double up in helping out…

“That’s very good… omo daa
daa, (good child) you are a
good son…dig that stick very
deep let me see how this crazy
fowls roaming everywhere will
be able to scatter my plants
again… and don’t forget to
bring my own fufu ones your
mother is done with it… she
makes a very nice fufu without
odour and also soft…
Remi was making the princess
bead outside, as she sat at the
swing chair alone, Nike came
to meet her
She wanted to engage Remi in
a conversation which Remi was
not sure if she should fully
trust Nike or not.

Nike sense Remi’s withdrawal
and decided to apologise again
to her for the past deed
“I know I was terrible in the
past Remi, je ki aje ebonati
aburo pada ki a si gbagbe
tateyin was (let’s be sisters
again and forget about the
past)…he ki a jo sise papo bi ebi
still ore (let’s work together,
let’s be sisters and friend)
“It doesn’t work like that Nike,
is not magic… because I know
for sure that anytime you
begin to act all nice and guilty
is only because you need
something from me and ones
you get what you are looking
for… you switch back to your
real self…I don’t trust you… so
spill it out… what do you want
Nike…

“Nothing, I don’t want
anything I just want to be your
sister…I know I have being very
bad to you… but I’m a changed
person and I’m for real this
time not because I want
anything…I have come to
realize that we are sisters and
we don’t suppose to be
fighting each other all the
time…

“Are you just realizing that
now… is better we just remain
as enemies and avoid each
other than to start this our
friendship which has never
ended well…

“Aah aah Remi, don’t say that…I
don’t want to be enemy with
you… not again, I’m tired of
fighting with you every time
when we should be looking
out for each other…I know no
matter how much I hate or
fight you… you will keep
getting favoured more than
me and will always win so I
can’t be fighting a loose
battle…I just want to truly be
here for you and support you
like i was meant to
be…ejoo…Remi my beautiful
sister…

Nike kept talking untill a maid
came to inform Remi that the
princess was calling her
The following day as Remi was
walking along the long Royal
passage to hang the princess
wrapper which was not
properly dry the previous day,
she ran into Leja, who has
being avoiding her ever since
the night incident
He tried to ran back but
couldn’t as he stood face to
face with Remi
he was speechless on seeing
Remi, Remi tried to ease him
up

“Good afternoon Leja, is being
a while I saw you… did you
travel… how are you doing…

“Mi…o wa kpa…(I’m fine) I have
being around…

“Ooh really…since that other
night… I have not seen you…is
being over seven days if I’m
not mistaking… I’m glad you
are fine…

“You sound happy to see me,
Are you not angry with me for
what I did… that was more
reason why I have being
hidding from you…I can’t even
come to you and apologise…i
can’t even look at your face…I
have being so ashamed of
myself…I felt so terrible after
that night… and since the gods
has decided to bring my fear to
my face I will use this
opportunity to plead for your
forgiveness…Remi… I’m so
sorry…please pardon my
uncultured behaviour…I know I
went about expressing my self
in a very wrong way…to tell
you the truth I have beaten
myself so hard than the pain I
feel after hitting my head on
that chair when you pushed
me that night… I’m not that
kind of man that takes
advantage of palace maiden…

no I’m not but many maiden
will want me to approach
them like I did to you but I
can’t because I have no interest
in them…I wanted you Remi
and I felt I was loosing you…so
I thought I will get you down
to myself after I Saw you alone
that night…I don’t have any
thing reasonable to justify my
actions… all I want to say is I’m
sorry… I’m really sorry and
thank you for stopping me
from such an abominable act
and giving me that hard
push…I needed it… although I
had a terrible headache after
that but it serves as my
punishment…I…

As they were talking Nike
walked past severally and
greeted them with a smile
each time she walks past, Leja
ignored her and kept talking
while Remi responded
“Is okay Leja, I hold no grudges
against you, I’m glad you
learnt your lesson and sorry for
the headache you had because
of my push…
Leja loosened up and laugh,
Remi also joined in and also
laugh making Leja more at
ease with her
The prince was coming down
and saw Leja and Remi talking
over something and laughing
together
He wondered what they were
talking about.
As Remi and Leja saw the
prince they knelt in respect and
greeted him, he asked them to
stand up and they did
He looked at Remi, who’s Head
was bent in respect and Leja
who stood straight like a
statue, he asked them to look
at him and they both did
“I was wondering what could
be amusing two of you…I love
happy people and I’m glad you
two are finding something to
laugh about…so I want to join
the conversation… Hope you
two won’t mind…

Remi and Leja looked at each
other, not knowing what to
say

“Relax, I was only joking…go
ahead with your
conversation…Remi please see
me later…

“Yes my prince…

The prince walked past,
Remi and Leja departed, Nike
came to meet Remi as she
spread the princess wrapper
outside
“egbon mi…ore mi to sho.
hahahaha eku se jare (hailing
Remi, “my elder sister, my sure
friend, Weldon) what was Leja
telling you…he talks like a
woman, he was talking and I
walked that passage four
times…he kept talking…non
stop…he talks too much… what
was he talking about…

“Some unimportant thing…is
not relevant…

“Despite I would have love to
hear it but I’m much more
interested in what the prince
said.. he said something to
you… please can I know what
he said…?

“Still not important…he just
stopped to say hello to me and
Leja…

“Eeyah…I like him he is so
humble and and also very nice,
he is handsome too… fine
prince… anyway can I assist
you in hanging The cloths…

“No, is not much… I’m through
with it..

Remi later returned back to the
princess chamber, The princess
had message for her from her
brother

“Remi, my brother said once
you are through with whatever
you will do tomorrow you
should come and tidy his
chamber, he complained that
the cleaners are not doing it
properly, he need you to come
and do it, he has already
informed me so I told him I
will send you to him
tomorrow…is a good thing that
the prince wants you in his
chamber, he doesn’t allow
maidens or any female palace
worker to come in there except
boys…so is a good thing he
picked interest in you and trust
you enough to clean up his
chamber… you should be
excited…

“Yes my princess…I will go and
attend to his chamber ones I’m
done with my work here
tomorrow
Remi wondered why she has to
be the one going to arrange
and clean the prince chamber
when he has a male personal
servant that attends to him.
Diamond In The Forest