Chapter 9

Ife, Northwest Africa

Her skin was obsidian. Her dark brown eyes covered him with lust as he undressed before her in the dimly lit room. She strutted over to him with only her lustful stare, “Thank you for all that you have done,” she said as she showered him with tiny kisses.

“What will you do with the girl? I promised Enofe we would not harm her.”

She chuckled, “You should not make promises you cannot keep.”

“We have no reason to kill her.”

She held his chin, “That blessing she has was supposed to be our daughter’s.”

When Aminata worked under Nneka’s command, all the women were warned not to get involved with outsiders. But Aminata found herself spending time with Joaquin. Rumors began.

After several weeks, Nneka confronted Aminata and said, “You are spending too much time with that pale-faced demon.”

“The man is not a demon.”

“So you don’t deny?”

“He’s harmless. Only asks questions about how we live here in Ife.”

“And you have not given yourself to him?”

“Nothing more than a kiss.”

He touched her face, “Do you ever think about her?” he asked. He was told that the baby didn’t survive birth. His heart was broken. That was his first and only child.

“Yes,” she replied. Her mind flashed to that night she delivered her child in the woods. She looked at the child and cried, “NOOOOOO! Why would the Gods do this, noooooo!” she left the crying baby in the woods.

“Right now, I just want to feel you,” she said as her hands caressed his muscular back and tight ass. I have waited all day to feel you inside of me.

He lifted her. She guided his monstrous cock into her opening and moaned loudly, “Ahhhhhh, Kwento, yes!!!!”

He held her tightly by the ass. He bounced her with ease on his thick long cock. Their lips touched. Years went by since they had been lovers. He had never married or had children. After Nneka lost their child, she moved away and married a man she met in Northern Africa who was mixed with both Roman and Arabic blood. They had a son. Then they went to Rome to live there for a while.

“Ahhhh, ahhhh, oh,” she moaned in delight. He filled her center with plenty of gooey substance. She hummed, “By morning, Enofe and his sons will be dead, and we will make sure you, my love, become the leader of that village.”

He smiled, “And you will marry me. We will have another child?”

She smiled, “If the Gods deem it so, yes.”

It was time for a meal. The staff went all out to serve King Charles and his family. They were excited to hear that his daughter was marrying Prince Oswald. As they sat enjoying their meals. Darleen sulked. Winfred nudged her, “Now, who is the grumpy one?” she joked.

“I’m not grumpy. I’d simply prefer the comforts of a palace meal and not whatever this is.”

She grabbed her cup and sipped. As she sat pouting, suddenly, she felt a strange sensation. She squirmed in her seat. She took a deep breath.

“Are you all right, cousin?” Winfred asked.

“Yes, of course.” She looked across the room and saw two familiar faces. The eyes of the women pierced into her. Her heart thumped. She gulped. She grabbed her cup and took back every bit of ale before standing.

They looked at her oddly. The Queen squinted, “What is it?”

“Nothing,” she replied quickly, “I’m going to find the little hole that is my room and see if I can get some rest. The faster I go to bed and wake up ... this nightmare can be over.”

They watched as she marched off.

Darleen made it to her room. It had a twin-sized bed, and one round table with a candle, the walls were rustic, and the floor was a little dusty. “Dreadful, just dreadful,” she complained as she undressed. After she placed her dress on a chair in the corner of the room, she sat on the bed. To her surprise, it was comfortable.

She laid back. Her eyes were on the ceiling. In the morning, this will all be over, she thought, before closing her eyes. She hummed as her mind pulled up images of Liam. Soon she would be at the castle, close enough to sink her claws into him. He would be a nice catch, a prince, a brother to a future king.

She smiled as she imagined him kissing her mouth. She moaned in delight. Her thoughts gave her pleasure, as did her finger on her gem. Lost in passion, she climaxed and giggled. She was officially ready for slumber, but there was a sound ... a deep groan.

Her eyes peeled open, and she sat up and searched the room; it was only her. She laid back once more, “uuuuuuuuuuuuuu,” the voice sounded.

She sat up in a panic. She saw the faces again. Two sets of eyes glued to her. She shook her head frantically, “This isn’t real.” She closed her eyes and opened them. They were gone.

She laid back. She pushed the thoughts out of her mind. Anything she did or had done was in service to her cousin. She would do anything to keep her favor. Her chest rose and fell. She was asleep.

After falling into a deep sleep, she started to gag. Her eyes opened. Agnes’s hands were around her neck. Gunna stood by the door watching. She watched as Darleen kicked and fought for air. Her eyes teared. She was fading. There was a loud thud. Darleen sat up and gasped. She felt her neck as she scrambled to leave the bed. Her feet carried her to the door. It opened; there was Graham, “Is everything okay?”

“Where is your room, Graham?”

“M’lady, it’s just down the hall.”

“Let’s go,” she demanded as she grabbed his arm.

He protested, “There is no way you’re coming to my room. I rather like my job at the castle.”

“Please. I need to stay with you until daylight. I can’t be in that room.”

Reluctantly, he agreed: they walked to his room. “No one can know I slept here,” she said rudely.

His eyebrow lifted as he removed his shirt, “Believe me, I won’t be telling a soul.”

Her eyes danced across his skin. He had muscles. A sexy older man. She cleared her throat, “I don’t know that the bed will be big enough for both of us.”

“There’s a chair in the corner,” he replied as he lay in the bed.

She looked at the chair and sighed.

Scandinavia

Since Ida was taking care of things while Sigurd was away, she kept a room in the great hall. She was in her room when Yana entered, “Am I disturbing you?” Yana asked.

“I was preparing for sleep; what do you need?” Ida asked as she sat on the bed.

“We hardly speak. I was hoping we could be friends. Your brother and I are married. I am having his child.”

Ida was silent for a moment, “Friends. I don’t have many. Beyond my brother, I don’t trust many people. There usually seems to be some motive behind their friendship.”

Yana cleared her throat, “That is such an unfortunate life.”

“Yes. But it has kept me alive thus far.”

“You don’t like me. I can see this. I’ve done nothing to you. All I’m asking for—”

“I’ve seen you prance around here bossing the servants around. I have not seen you communicate with them as if they are people. You are ambitious. This I know. That is what I see.”

“And what about you? You speak of trust as if you’re the only one that has to be weary around others when you---”

Ida stood, “When I what?”

Yana took a deep breath, “I won’t fight you.”

“I wasn’t going to fight you. I am merely asking that you state what you mean.”

“You lie with another woman’s husband and disrupt their marriage. How can you even be trusted?”

“I don’t owe you an explanation. I don’t have to prove myself to you or anyone. You can go now.”

Yana was about to leave. Ida stopped her, “You should be careful of those that run to you with tales of sorrow, gossip, and hate. You could find yourself in a much worse position than you started with.”

Yana gulped as she turned to leave. She stomped back to her room with tears in her eyes. She dropped down on the bed.

After calming her nerves, she received a visit from Revna, “Come with me,” Revna insisted.

Yana reached for a jacket and stepped outside, “What is it at this hour?”

“We have to leave.”

“Leave?”

“I got word from the Seer. I saw her leaving. She had her things packed. There is danger coming.”

Yana was at a loss. “This is my home now. I can’t just leave. What if we sent word to my husband ... he could return and defend—”

“There is no time. We have to leave tonight or first thing in the morning.”

“Shouldn’t we tell the people?”

“Ida would never leave this place undefended. She will want to fight. Our best chance at surviving is to leave. We can eventually find our husbands and start new someplace else. You can raise your new baby away from here.”

Yana nodded, “I’ll meet you in a few moments. I must pack some things.”

Revna smiled and hurried away.

Ife, Northwest Africa

Enofe was about a mile from his home. There were men with him, “Stay here,” he ordered them, “I need time to get home so no one will be suspicious of me.”

The men nodded. The most sinister one asked, “And where will the girl be?”

“She sleeps in the bedroom with my niece. I don’t want anyone else harmed. Just do what you came to do, and take the girl and leave.”

“Perhaps you can do something to encourage the girl to leave the room. It would be better if we could capture her alone.”

Enofe nodded, “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Here, take this,” The sinister one said as he handed Enofe a bag.

“What is this?” he asked.

“Burn these in the rooms; it will help everyone fall into a deep sleep. We’ll take care of the ones camped outside.”

Enofe nodded, “I will have to wait until I draw the girl out of the room.”

The men agreed. They watched him hurry off toward his house. The man gave an evil grin that matched his mean eyes, “We will do exactly what we were paid to do.”

Late that night, Enofe snuck into the house. First, he burned the incense in the boys’ room where Samba, Sani, and Oluwa slept. Then he burned one in his parents’ room. Afterward, he went to his room. His wife was still up. Her eyes were glued on him, “Where have you been all day?” she questioned as she positioned herself upright.

“Keep your voice down.”

“My voice is down,” she snapped, “answer the question. Are you sleeping with some other woman?”

He huffed, “It’s enough to deal with you. Why would I be crazy to add another woman?”

“What are you up to, Enofe? Your father and sisters expressed a lot of concerns about your behavior—”

“Nothing is going on. You said you wanted a better life. I am trying to provide that.”

“By doing what?”

“Just go to sleep,” he commanded before leaving the room.

Sade was passed out on the floor. Yande lay in bed next to Chidi. “Are you sure you’re okay with me courting Oluwa?” Chidi asked.

Yande smiled, “I am very sure. You two belong together. In two years, I will return. You both will welcome me at the docks, just as Kalu and Adefolake welcomed my mother and father. Your belly will be full of life, and you will be so happy.”

Chidi smiled as she welcomed Yande’s prediction. She yawned, “I’m going to sleep now; love you, cousin.”

“I love you too. Yande left the bed. She went to the floor rest next to Sade. Around her neck, she wore a black crystal and a tiny locket. The house was quiet, but her mind was loud. Her mind flashed to the blind girl she saw. The young woman who grabbed her arms. She sighed. In the morning, she would go with her grandfather to question the killer about his actions. That brought her some peace. She wanted to discover what her uncle was up to.

There was a soft tap on the door. Yande stood. She walked a few steps to open the door slightly. She saw her uncle’s wild look, “Yes,” she answered impatiently.

“It’s my father. Come to check on him. He has fallen ill again.”

Without thinking, Yande left the room and turned right. As she walked, she didn’t feel her uncle’s presence behind her. She stopped, turned, and saw two men standing there. Her gut told her they were there to cause harm, but to what extent, she was not sure.

“Come with us, girl.”

“I am not going anywhere with you.”

They looked at each other and laughed. She backed slowly toward the room of her grandfather. Suddenly she heard an awful sound. It sent chills down her spine. Yande left the men in the hall and hurried into the room.

Her grandfather held his bleeding throat. She saw a man standing over her sleeping grandmother, “Don’t,” she demanded.

“Come with us, or she dies.”

“I’ll come. Just step away from her.”

He stepped away from Chiagoze. His feet brought him closer to Yande. Just as he stepped to her, she opened the locket and blew the dust into his face. His eyes turned red, his veins turned black, and blood oozed from his mouth. She snatched his sword and then drove it into his belly. She turned to see the other men closing in on her.

“Samba! Oluwa! Sani!” she called to the boys.

The men laughed, “They won’t be coming to save you.”

Yande readied herself for a fight.

The men drew closer, “Come on, pretty girl, you don’t want to fight,” one man said.

His sword was drawn, “We aren’t supposed to kill you, but things happen.” He swung hard. The swords met. Yande and the men fought for several minutes. Enofe entered the room.

She knew by the look in his eyes that he was behind the assassination of his father, “How could you?” she asked him.

He suddenly felt guilty seeing his father lying on the bed fighting for his last breaths.

“Help me stop these men, Uncle. So I can help grandfather live, please,” she begged.

He pulled out his weapon. One of the men laughed, “So you have had a change of heart.”

Mahammadu ran into the room with a blade. He cut the villain on the leg whom Yande fought, causing him to collapse. Yande took the sword and pierced his heart. Just as Enofe was finishing off his villain, they heard another sound.