Chapter 14
Pep Talk
Balogun told them they would be together every time and the best teams would get more rewards. However, the Oto band’s training didn’t yield much because only Segilola fought well. But her anger at her father always made her refuse to fight, practice, or talk to the groups. She hissed anytime she was with them.
“If you don’t like it here, you can go….” Suberu shouted at her one day as his machete fell for the umpteenth time. “You see us here. We’re trying to do something with our lives, for our village”.
“I’m here because my father would want to know where I was during the day and I wanted to leave home!” Segilola retorted.

Irede didn’t like that attitude too. “Then, go and play with Feyisara as you always did….”
Segilola turned to her and gave her a cold glare. After a while, she returned to drawing rubbish in the sand with a stick she was holding. Everyone had an opinion about her. Only Adio refused to say something odd to her. Irede didn’t like that he wasn’t supporting the team.
“What’s with you?” Irede nudged him.
“I shouldn’t be here. I should be practicing my songs. But now I’ve agreed that I’m not good!” Adio said. “So, I can’t abuse someone that’s not happy to be here with us. That is just here because of her father”.
Segilola rose angrily with eyes filled with tears. “You don’t understand. I’m not a liar. That’s why I didn’t go to meet Feyi. My father didn’t give me a chance. He just threw me here! With all of you, that are not good. Those three are clowns. Everyone knew they fail. Ojo cannot really fight. Adio cannot even play drums or anything well, but he thinks he is the best. And can’t fight. And Irede is just a noise maker. She can do nothing. He’s punishing me because I’m not a boy”.

Every one of them was quiet at the outburst. Suberu was breathing heavily as he stood in front of them. “And does that mean you should give up?”
“You don’t understand!”
“What?” Suberu yelled at her. “I’ve been abused every time but I still go there to that field. Irede has always wanted to fight since we were small. She’s trying everything. Olu and Yomi have been my friends since Irede and Adio’s parents didn’t want me to play with them again. But everyone called them all sort of names and useless, but they still want to be a part of this thing because Imoye is our land.”
Yomi rose. “It’s our land!”
“That’s right!” Suberu shouted. “We keep going because it’s our land”.

Adio looked at them, and Irede could see the disinterest in his eyes. “I just want to play my music”.
“That’s why you should be better. Don’t give up now because you failed. You’re not the first person to fail”, Suberu said. “But you still need to learn simple ways of defending yourself”.
Suberu nodded. “Like anyone else has failed before.”
“I know people that have failed many times”, Olu said.
“You, Segilola, show your father, you’re better than ten thousand sons! You, Adio and Irede, I will take you to meet Baba Oje.”
“What about me?” Ojo asked.
“We will see how we can help you?”
Suberu took them to Baba Oje, who told them nothing could help. They have to seek the answer from within.

“Just anything”, Irede pleaded. She was tired of being seen as worse than Suberu.
“But I have this medicine I will give you all of you in your group. Suberu had told me about all of you. It will help you to learn to do. It will not help you to fight or win, but you will know the right step to take”, Baba Oje explained.
“Give me!” Irede hurried to meet him.
“You all have to use it together”.
The moment Irede used it, she felt confident enough. As they were going home, she hurried to Suberu’s path.

“Try me! Fight me!” She shouted.
“Me? Who?”
“You! Fight me! I will beat you like I did that day! Like when we were younger”, Irede said and jumped up in excitement.
“No”
“Yes, Suberu”, Yomi said..
After much thought, Suberu came for her. She was sure she would beat them, but when she tried hitting him, she met herself on the floor, facing the sky, with Suberu looming over her. She sighed.

Following

Calenikan:
Following

Thanks

Chapter 15
Be My Clown
Each day counted for something or more reasons for everyone to laugh at the group. In his spare time, Adio felt like he should do something about Feyisara. Since he couldn’t get into his favourite band and faced the trauma of failure alongside his team, he would prefer to move to Feyisara. A dose of success could change his luck.
To prepare for that, he took his flute and hurried off to her usual resting spot, where she often sneaked off to, enjoying the view and staring at nothing.

Let me impress her, Adio thought as she continued playing with a nearby leaf.
Adio inhaled as he placed the flute in his mouth and played the best tune he had learnt from some of the best musicians. After all, if what one loved didn’t come out well, one could use the successful tunes. Adio played fervently and even forgot why he was playing as he became lost in the idea of her dancing.

Lost in the beauty of the tune playing in his head, he didn’t hear the leaves part ways until someone tapped. All he could see was Feyisara staring curiously at him. The curiosity on her face made him falter.
“I’m hallucinating!” He said and closed his eyes, ready to put the flute in his mouth once more.
“It’s not...a hallucination”, she replied.

“You’re truly here!” Feyisa said. Her curious look turned to an amused one. “What are you doing?”
“I’m playing “Let’s Be Filled, Let’s Dance, Let’s Merry”, Adio replied.
She shook her head. “No. Not that one. I know the first one. The second one”.
“‘Why Do We Always First the Sun’,” Adio said.
“What’s it all about?” Feyisara said.
“It’s a question on why do we at Ilu Oro wake before the sun rise and return home before it, but we’re not always awake when the evil lurks in the night because we spent the day with the sun”.
Feyisara looked confused.

“It’s like one is talking about lovers that leave us after we’ve spent the day with them.”
“No…No,” Feyisara burst into laughter. “That’s not what I’m talking about. It’s funny. The way you play is funny. I thought you were trying to be funny”.
“Can a flute be funny?”
“It sounds funny. I will like to invite you to my wedding with Ajanaku. I’ll tell my father. You will come and play on my wedding day. It’s going to be beautiful”, Feyisara clapped her hand.
“But that was good music”.

Feyisara burst into laughter again. “He says that’s beautiful… You’re really funny. You must come and act as a clown for my wedding”.
“Ah! Me?”
“Yes! You will be too fine”, Feyisara said and walked away, still laughing.
Adio had been abused. He had been teased. He had been mocked. He had been beaten in exercises but never felt as humiliated as this. Tears rolled down his eyes.

Chapter 16
No Secret Here
Irede didn’t like how the group kept failing. Everyone was trying to be better except Segilola, whom everyone now knew was refusing to prove herself because of her father. She wanted to be seen as the best, but that didn’t stop her from joining them in their punishment and showing up for their training against her father’s better judgement.

“He feels he can control my future?” Segilola said the day she sent away the servant that came to call from the punishment he gave their group because they were the last in their various competitions. They couldn’t win in a regular race, swimming, disguising, and everything the Chief wanted them to learn. Even Balogun was tired.

“There must be losers!” Ojo said when he asked them why they were always the last.
“Can you hear rubbish?” Balogun shouted. “That’s absolute rubbish! I’m not angry at you not winning. I’m tired of your being so bad that there’s always no effort from you. It’s like you want to fail”.

Suberu took this to heart. He trained better, encouraged them to be better, and asked Ojo to note what others were doing in their training.
Despite replicating these things, they weren’t doing better, especially Irede and Adio. They couldn’t get anything right. Tired, Irede left the village to visit Ajanaku. Truly, he was happy to see her because he had a message for Feyisara.

“I have something that can help you”, Ajanaku said. “It’s more than you can ever wish for”.
Irede’s eyes shone in excitement. “What is it?”
Ajanaku turned towards the next building, where they kept the drums. “Owoaje, come out. The girl I told you about is here!”
Owoaje wasn’t a warrior but looked as gallant as one. The man looked at her over and looked at Ajanaku curiously. “Can she learn fast?”
“I hope so!” Ajanaku replied.
“What’s he teaching me?” Irede said.

“It’s called dance like a fighter”, Ajanaku said as he went over to his horse. “It’s better than not knowing how to fight! When I come to your village for my wedding, after the moon has risen fully for the second time, we will pretend to fight or perform a dancing act. You can show people that you’re not all that bad. I want you to be so good that you can easily win”.

Irede had never been so happy. Luckily, the training yielded a better result than fighting. Very few could tell the difference. However, her group knew that any time Olu or Yomi tried to fight her, they didn’t need much effort to beat her.
“What I will be doing with you will be just for a show! We will call it dancing!” Ajanaku explained to her later. “We will entertain people”.
Irede didn’t mind as long as she was doing this with Ajanaku. She had no reason to panic. With each day, their groups bonded. They visited each other, ate together, and laughed. They went to the streams together and were mocked with their name, “Oto”. However, they didn’t stop. They raced everywhere. They rewarded themselves with pieces of meat or some other things that could make them better.
They joked and laughed at each other’s failure. Even Segilola partook in their jokes.

“You’re all hopeless”, she told them. “But I will be here with you too because what can I do?”
“I guess we’re all pathetic!” Ojo said and smiled at her.
She stared dagger at him for a while and burst into laughter.
Despite this, for her final preparation, Irede wasn’t sure she wanted them to watch her.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” Irede asked Adio in the lowest tone she could muster. Luckily, he heard her clearly. She looked about.
The only person around them was Segilola, who didn’t look like she cared much about what they did. The only person that caught her attention was always Ojo.
Adio looked about and moved near her. “I’m coming here in the morning to practice for my presentation for Feyisara’s wedding”.
“Really?!”
“Yes!”
“Me too! Don’t tell others!” Irede said. “I will tell you why?”

After their agreement, Irede was eager to get to her training the next day. All she wanted was to prepare as best as she could.
When she got there the next day, Adio was indeed there. She explained everything to him, and they got ready for their training.
“You do your thing first”, she said and sat down to watch him.
“You’re right!” Someone shouted from the bush.
She turned to see Suberu coming out from behind a tree with Ojo, Olu, Yomi, and Segilola. All laughing.
Irede turned to Adio, who also looked surprised.

Ride on

Calenikan:
Ride on

With all pleasure!

Chapter 17
The Secret Weapon
“I told them!” Segilola said.
“We couldn’t let you practice on your own,” Suberu said as he sat on the nearest rock. “Now, let’s get to your practice”.
Segilola took a seat near Ojo. “Another opportunity to leave home. My father had been talking about wedding since because today’s Feyisara’s introduction”.
“That’s just introduction?” Irede wondered.
“You don’t even what to know the extent of where they have gone for just this small introduction?” Segilola said. “Feyi is my friend, but I’m not a party to this. Her father wants the Chief of Kukoro to help us with resources and talk to the Queen to send Army to save us. But it can’t happen. The Queen said she won’t risk men for something that our warriors can handle”.
“Women”, Suberu said, disgusted. “Small or old. They talk like they were born to do nothing else in this world. See, this warrior girl too. Talkative. Adio, you know what? Play something”
“Are you sure?” Olu said, looking worried.
“Let’s just have some noise that’s not these girls talking”, Suberu said.
Adio sighed. He didn’t know which of his instrument would work. However, he didn’t play much before Suberu started shouting angrily at him to stop. Even the girls were angry at him for playing such foul sounds. Adio’s heart sank in dejection. Today is the last day I will touch an instrument, Adio thought. Suberu inhaled and exhaled repeatedly.
“Play it!” Suberu shouted. “It’s rubbish, but I present to you another rubbish somebody, Irede”.
Suberu pointed at Irede. Adio looked confused.
“Now, practice young man!” Suberu ordered.
“Ah! Ah!” Segilola said and burst into laughter.
“Irede, practice with the noise”, Suberu shouted.
Irede rolled her eyes as she got ready. Adio picked the drums. Irede lifted her practice stick. Adio began to play as subtly as he could but still loud enough to create a pattern for her. It worked.
Irede began to strike with the energy and skills he had only seen when Ajanaku and some giant warriors fought in the fighting pits. Suberu looked surprised.
“Olu and Yomi, go and fight her”.
Irede was faster than they. Her hands were moving as if a whirlwind directed them. And Adio could feel himself swelling with pride as he watched her. His beat became faster and more precise, as if he wanted to tell her what to do next. Her hands moved in rhythm to his drum, gearing him up for the next person coming against her. Every hit she made either synchronized with the beat or landed as a double of his beat.
Suberu looked stunned. He picked up his practice stick and went up against her alongside Olu and Yomi. Irede was as light as the wind as she fell him in two strokes. The other couldn’t get up before she fell them again.
Ojo hurried to Suberu and whispered something into his ears just as he got out of Irede’s reach. A big scowl crept up Suberu’s face, but Adio was so engrossed in Irede’s moves that he refused to be distracted by whatever they were doing.
“Stop!!!” Suberu shouted.
Everyone stopped. By now, Segilola was on her feet, staring in utter shock.
“Do your thing, Ojo”, Suberu ordered.
Ojo hurried to the middle.
“Olu, go and fight Irede. Adio don’t play”, Ojo said.
“But it’s better when I’m looking at her. I enjoy the way she fights!”Adio said. He couldn’t understand his excitement at that moment, but it had been a long since he felt that good. The beat was just perfect. Everything he dreamt of and imagined flowed through his hands like his hands were made of music.
Olu still looked scared as he tried to attack. Irede hurried towards him confidently, but it didn’t take Olu too long before putting her to the ground. All the boys except Ojo and Adio laughed.
Ojo turned towards him. “Adio, play!”
Adio started playing all the drums again.
“Olu, fight her”.
She didn’t take too much time this time before falling for him. Everybody seemed to get something Adio didn’t understand. Their expressions reflected that they had found a big animal in its trap.
“What’s happening?” Adio asked.
“Don’t you see?” Segilola said.
“No. Let me try out something. Adio play the drums. Irede, don’t fight”.
Irede sat on the floor as Adio tried playing the drum. He could see her holding herself together, and that made him sad. His beats faltered.
“Eledumare!” Suberu shouted as he came towards Ojo and slapped him on the shoulder. “We have found it the big weapon! We must show everybody. These are the people that were promised to us”.
“No… No....” Segilola shouted. “We have to do more training to be sure
“What’s happening?” Adio asked and rose.
“Yes! Why?” Irede also looked stunned.
“I don’t know”, Suberu said. “But whenever Adio sees you fighting, he drums better and better. And whenever you hear his drum, you fight well. We need to tell Balogun. These are the people they have been looking for. I can swear with my mother!”
“I said No….” Segilola said. “We have to keep it a secret!”
“You can’t tell us what to do!” Yomi shouted. “We’ve been here all the time practicing and only Suberu helped us. If Suberu says we tell Balogun, we tell Balogun”.
Segilola rolled her eyes at him and turned to Suberu. “See it this way. A big fight is coming. We will surprise everyone and win. If we don’t get it right, we will fool ourselves in front of Balogun again”.
“No. We can actually go to the Feyisara’s introduction and surprise everyone”, Irede said and glanced at Adio, who was too happy to oblige.
“I’m tired of being a fool”, Adio replied. The thought of being praised and hailed for his prowess made him smile sheepishly.
Segilola refused to look elsewhere but at Suberu. Adio could swear he saw her eyes pleading.
Suberu looked lost in thought. “Alright! But we will all train well. We need to train well”.
Segilola came over to Irede and touched her arm. Then, she turned each of them. “Good! I still think there are other things we need to train! I’ve had many ideas watching many of the others. Ojo told me some too”.
Adio wouldn’t hear a word of what they were saying. “But showing people today will help our reputation!”
“What reputation!” Suberu shouted.
“When we know all the ways we can use your gifts, we can easily have a better reputation”, Segilola said. “All of us have been abused together. It’s selfish to want all those good fame for yourself.
“Also! Adio, you will need protection all the time!” Ojo said. “We need to know how to do that”.
After much thought about it, Adio looked at them and hated himself for even thinking of trying to get fame without them around them. He nodded. Irede didn’t need much convincing before she agreed.
“Now, go and make a fool of yourself. Deliberately, this time”, Suberu said and glanced at Segilola, who nodded.

Chapter 18
No Spotlight
Unlike before, when Suberu would make a fool of himself by trying too hard, he didn’t even try to win anymore. Instead, the group would practice everything they knew. Segilola was now in charge of their training, and she was efficient. Suberu was made the leader because of his zeal for the team always to win.
He was hardworking, getting to the training earlier, bringing as many gifts as possible for each day, scolding them when necessary, and encouraging them when tired. Ojo tried many things on both Irede and Adio. Sometimes, Irede wished she could beat him to keep quiet because of some of the things he kept asking them to do.
After several days and training, the group learnt something- they needed to fight around Adio, who can use any instrument. Anyone who fought in support of Adio and Irede always had upper power. Segilola was the first person to try this. She beat off the boys even when Irede was only practising moves. They tried it on Ojo also, and he won them all, even Segilola, without much effort.
However, when they tried only the drums without Irede fighting, Adio couldn’t play a good rhythm and winning became easier. Ojo brought several suggestions until they finally began to fight like a group. Since Irede had training from different people, she thought all of them her moves quickly whenever Adio was beating the drum.
“We’re winning the big fight”, Segilola said. Her eyes brightened despite the cloud.
“You look excited”, Ojo wondered.
“I’ll beat some people’s children”, Segilola replied as she rubbed his hair. “What are you looking at?”
“Animals. Something strange wants to happen? I’ve been seeing so many things I just don’t know what I’m seeing!” Ojo replied.
Irede now got their blessings for visiting those that trained her in other clans. Most times, the group followed her to watch her training. With the Chief preparing a massive wedding for both Feyisara and Ajanaku, she spent more time passing down messages, giving Adio more time to see Feyisara.
Five days before the wedding was a big fight. Suberu called them all around. “This is the day we’ve all been preparing for”.
“Now is the time to show everyone the stuff we’re made of and all the trainings we’ve been doing?” Suberu said. Then, he turned to Ojo. “Anything to add!”
“Yes!” Ojo reminded them of each group’s fighting patterns, and they could win them without much trouble. “But what I really want to talk about is that something is coming. Like a big war is coming”.
“What’s that have to do with anything?” Olu said.
“Listen to him!” Segilola cautioned.
“Wifey!” Olu said and rolled his eyes but kept quiet after she gave him a cold glare.
They all kept quiet. She was like their female leader; they listened to her because of her authority.
“Animals are becoming scarce and more birds are flying through this village regularly”, Ojo explained. “Some strange animals and fishes too have been passing through. I know of one fish that only Baba Oje brought back when he travelled out of the land to the other side. Now, Iya Asake found ten in her basket”.
“What does that have to do with anything?” Suberu said.
“Animals run when the earth is shaking or something is on their path or killing them”, Ojo replied.
Even Irede was confused. “And…”
“And the water too. The river is becoming dirtier. It means that some people are making it dirty from the top. And it can’t be one person or two… I’m thinking a lot of people.”
“That’s looking real.”
Suberu looked around. “Then, we really need to win this thing because we can explain better to Balogun.”
They all nodded.
Segilola motioned for them to stop. “Wait! Wait! From what Ojo is saying. The Ogaras must have raised a different soldiers to bring war to Ilu Oro. And where’s the only road to conquer the whole of Ilu-Oro?”
Everyone caught a drift of what she was trying to say. Irede didn’t know if she had the strength to fight a huge crowd. From what the group had been saying, she and Adio were called.
“We need to fight them here!” Segilola said.
“And someone must go and tell the Queen”, Adio suggested.
“Who?” Segilola asked and looked about. “The chief?”
Suberu looked distraught. “The Chief must first believe us”.
“That’s why we need to win this!” Segilola said.
She shouted and said other things to prepare them for the battle. They hurried through their games and won most parts of them. Everyone was stunned at the way they fought. Even Balogun was there. Irede felt like the world was running in her direction; all she needed was to fall them. Her movement was so smooth that she knew where to hit them without causing much pain but enough to win them.
Before she could revel in it, a horn blew. And more horns. And more horns. Balogun’s horse was soon galloping through the training soldiers towards the city. His sword was now out in public as he raced through the city. The soldiers did the same. They were armed with their machete and ready to fight anyone.
Suberu urged his group to hurry. They didn’t have horses, but they were all fast. Their training had ensured that even the worst of them could run and knew the basics of war. They were well educated in what they all chose to do. The trail of soldiers led them towards Chief Ibikunle’s house.
In no time, more people were soon at the Chief’s house where the horn came from.
“My daughter o!” Feyisara’s mother cried.
People were wailing. Balogun, angry, turned to the soldier.
“Oto group and the last two groups that always came last, I want you to stay back and guard the town’s border. Take the patrol from the people stationed there. Now to the rest and best of you, we’re going after Igaras to get our own daughter back. No evil will continue to win us”, Balogun yelled.
“But we were the best today!” Segilola shouted. “We are no longer the last!”
Balogun’s fierce look sent Irede back, but Segilola didn’t move an inch. “I can’t put the fate of Feyisara in the hand of those that won through luck. We need hardworkers and not lucky people”.
“We are….”
“You’re not going to war. Not in my lifetime”, Balogun yelled at her. He turned to the remaining soldiers and led them away, their dust leaving a trail behind them.
“That’s not the right way,” Ojo said to his group.

Interesting

Calenikan:
Interesting

Gracias

Chapter 19
Defiance
Suberu looked about till he was facing Ojo. “What do you mean that’s not the right way?”
Irede pointed at the road Balogun and the other men sped towards. “I saw them. Look at the footprint”.
Ojo shook his head as he hurried towards the path that didn’t look like anyone had passed in a long time. He explained that some of them took the horses and escaped towards the path while the others went the way Balogun went. They masked their prints because they had a lot of leaves behind them.
“But since we’ve known Ogara, they always head that way?” Adio replied.
“That’s right!” Yomi looked eager to guard the border. “We should just do what Balogun said”
Ojo looked at Segilola. “See it this way, they have another plan. I think they are going to do something because of a big army is coming”.
“You think they’re working with the big army?” Suberu asked. Adio wasn’t sure he loved to run towards this new problem. But he knew she had to help get the girl that wouldn’t love him in the long run.
“Just like the one you told us about before we started fighting”, Segilola asked.
“Yes! Yes!” Ojo beamed.
Suberu nodded in the realization of something. “Yes! That’s it. Baba Oje have tales of how the King beyond the sea always used such methods to deceive people and create ambush!”
“But these are Ogara!” Segilola replied as she came nearer. Adio wondered why Segilola’s questions were not to disprove Ojo but to clarify what he was getting at.
“You’re getting it! I think the Ogara’s have made an alliance with this King Suberu is talking about. They’ll hide somewhere. Then, when we face the King when he gets here, we will have to fight on two fronts”.
“Are we even sure he’s right?” Olu asked.
Segilola hissed. Adio was more concerned about Feyisara at that point. So, he asked, “Which of them will then have Feyisara?”
Ojo looked at it. “I think it’s the ones in the hideout.”
“Hideout”, Segilola said at the same time as he. Ojo’s eyes became wider in excitement.
“You get me!” Ojo turns to them. “She’s getting me.”
“Why will they have her?” Suberu said.
“Leverage!” Ojo said.
Segilola nodded. “They will use her to win us when things becomes rough. Chief will ask us to drop our weapon and they will do something to us!”
“They will kill us!” Yomi added. “We will die”.
Suberu looked at both Segilola and Ojo. He looked at his Olu and Yomi as he was lost in thought. “We don’t know how many they’re.”
“We can do this”.
“I have an idea”, Segilola said.
She told them the idea that came to her head. Everyone gave their input to buttress her points. Only Adio wasn’t too convinced at this point. He felt they would be shorthanded in the long run if Segilola carried out the last part of her plan. So, he tweaked the plan a bit, making others got others at him for a while before eventually agreeing with him.
“Let’s win them first. Then, Olu can do just that!” Irede said.
Everyone wondered if he was right. Their plans could change.
“It’s true. Segilola, you’re our leader when it comes to fighting. When Irede is fighting we need you with us. As soon as everyone is done, I will do what is expected. I am fast and most of the army knows me. Then, I have a chance with the Prince. They will give me an audience.”
Irede had tears in her eyes as she stared at Suberu. “I’m proud of you!”
Adio’s mind wasn’t there. “Let’s go and get Feyisara”.

Following

Chapter 20
Man Down!
It took them several turns, but eventually, they got to where the men were. The Oto band sneaked till Irede could see the Ogaras surrounding a fire. Despite winning on the training field, Irede was sure this was the time she needed to excel.
The Ogaras’ army had been referred to as the most dreaded fighters. Most people wished their location could be discovered so they would be invited to the Queen’s tournament. However, Irede could see their faces, like every regular person.
“I trust you!” Suberu said, and he placed his hand on her shoulder.
That made her scared the more. She wasn’t all that old enough to be trying to fight some of the best armies in the world. She wasn’t sure that Adio’s drumming wasn’t a fluke.
“We’re in the night!” Ojo said. “We need light!”
“Light for what?” Suberu asked.
“Adio need to see Irede’s fighting and Irede needs to hear Adio’s voice”.
Irede was stunned. She didn’t t think things would be this hard, especially now that everything needed to be perfect.
“Eledumare o!” Olu said.
Yomi was quick to cover his mouth! “They’ll find us”.
Suberu looked about. “I don’t know what to do. We have to return home and tell Balogun”.
Segilola shook her head. “No. No. My father won’t do anything. They might be gone by the time we returned”.
“You are right!” Ojo said.
“Of course, she’s always right”, Yomi added.
“What do we do?” Suberu asked as he turned to them.
“We need light on her face only. We only need to go near their fire for him to see her,” Segilola said. “We can all go!”
Suberu shook his head. “It’s a grand idea, but it’s dangerous. I have something to tweak it a bit.”
“We’re listening!” Segilola replied.
“I will go first for their fire!” Suberu said.
“You need a distraction”, Olu said. “I’ll do that.”
“You need a backup”, Yomi said. “I’ll follow you”.
“That means we have only Segilola and Ojo watching Adio and Irede”, Suberu said. “That’s risky. I don’t like it.
“I will come back and support her”.
“No!” Ojo said. “I will go and set traps for them”.
“You’re lousy”, Segilola said. “He can’t go. He’s staying here with me”.
“But I know different traps”, Ojo said.
“Then, you have to tell me the traps you want to set and I’ll do it”, Segilola replied.
“I will go with you”, Segilola said. “What if something happens to you?”
“Nothing can happen to me?” Ojo contested.
“No!” Segilola said emphatically. “If I’m not going with you, you’re going nowhere”.
The argument seemed to run for a while before Suberu tried to settle it. “Let Olu go with him”.
Segilola was insistent. “I don’t trust you with his life”.
Ojo turned to her. “If anything happens to you, I won’t forgive you”.
He rose and walked away. Segilola rolled her eyes and sneaked after him. Irede waited for them, and while they were waiting, Suberu made everyone repeat their parts until their mouth was tired despite their quiet protest. If Ojo and Segilola hadn’t returned in time, they would have repeated it.
“Thank you!” Irede said as she clasped Segilola’s hand. Segilola looked shocked but must have thought it was because she followed Ojo to set the traps.
The execution was smoother than they had planned. Five of the Ogaras fell for Olu’s trick. They rushed towards the places where the traps were set and soon shouted for help. The remaining ones hurried to help out and discovered that something else was happening.
Before they could do anything about it, Suberu was done picking the suitable torch. He and Yomi sprinted back towards the others, screaming at the top of their voice.
“Irede o”, Suberu shouted.
The group hurried towards them. Adio got his drum ready and began to beat. Irede felt a spark coming from her ears to every part of her body. She could predict what the soldier would do. Everything seemed slow. She was prepared for the next moves before they came to face her. She was swift. At first, she wanted to beat them without injuring them, but the Ogaras were eager to maim the group.
“Those are my people” She shouted.
“Go! Go!” Segilola shouted instructions at both Suberu and Olu as they joined Yomi in searching for Feyisara.
Irede kept fighting the men, who were now becoming angry at the thought that a young lady was beating their men. They kept coming for her, but she couldn’t resist the chance to fight.
“We got her”, Suberu announced just as the last man went down, groaning.
Adio dropped the drum and ran to Feyisara.
“Oh! My clown!” Feyisara shouted and hugged him. “You came for me!”
Irede felt herself becoming weak and was crashing to the floor.
“Help me o”, Segilola cried at the same time Suberu caught her.
The moment she was rested in Suberu’s strong hands, she turned to see that Ojo had been struck on the leg.
“Take him to Baba Oje”, Suberu instructed. “We’re taking their horses!
Segilola got one of the horses and a torch. Soon, she bounded away with Ojo in one arm while the other arm held the torch fervently without waiting for anyone. Suberu placed Olu and Irede on the horse. Adio and Feyisara were on another horse.
Before she dosed off, she saw Suberu and Yomi getting on the last horse with one of the Ogaras in the middle. They head for the Queen’s palace.
“Farewell”, Irede shouted and dosed off.

Chapter 21
Rest in Prison
With Suberu gone to visit the Queen with what they knew was true, Adio knew they were in a bit of a dilemma.
“You’ve stopped singing”, Feyisara said as their horse rode on.
Adio nodded and remembered she couldn’t see him. “Yes! I don’t know how we will tell the Chief the truth we know”.
“And Balogun. Don’t forget Balogun!” Ire de called her horseback. Olu was now walking, guiding the horse through the path. Feyisara didn’t want Irede to leave her.
They all kept quiet. Irede was the only person anyone had ever listened to, even when they were trying to mock her.
“Segilola can talk to her father, and I’ll talk to mine”, Feyisara said tiredly as Adio and the group led them to the Chief’s house. The Chief was so happy, not minding that they were lost in the battle for his daughter.
Segilola, still distraught from Ojo’s injury, looked as if she didn’t care for anything else at the moment.
“I can only try”, Segilola said.
When they got home, they didn’t meet the expected reception. People were mourning the death of soldiers that fell into the Igara’s ambush. Segilola hurriedly took Ojo to Baba Oje.
“I think we have to wait!” Feyisara said after they were all settled down.
“Let’s just tell them after we’ve slept for a bit”, Adio said.
“No. We will tell the leaders when we’ve woken up”, Segilola said. “Tell anyone you can. People need to be ready”.
Olu was tired and wanted to sleep. “When I wake up”.
“What will Suberu do?” Ojo murmured from where he was lying.
Olu looked at him tiredly. “I will do my best”.
The group, despite being tired, told everyone to be ready. Panic set in. Instead of getting prepared, people started getting ready to run away from the village.
When Balogun heard the cause of the panic the following day, he was angry.
“Bring them to me!” Balogun shouted.
In no time, men have rounded up everyone except Segilola, whose name Balogun yelled the moment the others were around.
She came scampering to the coming, ready for anything. Adio didn’t know how they would end.
Balogun berated them, but Ojo wouldn’t stop talking about how he saw the change in many animal signs, like birds leaving that forest.
“It’s not new”, Balogun countered.
Ojo insisted that he had been studying birds for so long.
“Get them out! We just lost people and you still want to send more people out of the village”.
“They just saved me!” Feyisara shouted as she was being led into the compound by her manservant.
Balogun was so angry. “Boy, you know what? Take them to the prison. Throw my daughter too”.
“You can’t throw me into the prison. My father will have your head!” Feyisara said.
Everyone kept quiet. Balogun didn’t mind as he directed his men to guide the others to the jail. This was the same time Chief came arrived. One of his servants had informed him of what happened. Upon getting there, Balogun explained their plight to him. He turned to Feyisara.
“The way I heard you talk to them and the fact that you sneaked away back here, Balogun let her join your daughter in the jail. At least for the day, then we bring them back up because they’re our children. For now, take them all there”, Chief Ibikunle ordered.

Chapter 22
The Calvary

Irede looked around the cell and wished Suberu was there with her. The loneliness wouldn’t have had much effect if she wasn’t seeing Segilola tend to the injured Ojo and the way Feyisara placed her head on Adio’s shoulder, who was humming songs.
She couldn’t tell if they would be there forever, but from what Chief said, he would be out to get them the next day. Feyisara also argued vehemently about her father’s keeping his promise till they all believed her. A homely girl brought fried fish for them but brought more for Olu, who later said they liked each other and hoped to be married very soon. Her name was Tinuola.
“You’re not too old”, Irede said.

“But not too young for marriage”, Olu replied. “She will soon be Tinuola, the wife of Olu Tomori”.
Before long, noises came from outside. Irede rose to peep, but she could see nothing from the jail they were placed. Houses and forests surrounded it, but there wasn’t anything they could do.
“They are here!” Ojo said.
“Who?” Irede said as she became more eager.
“Ogaras!” Ojo said tiredly. “And I think the people that are passing through the town now have the opportunity they need”.
Tinuola ran to them with tears as she explained that a large army had overrun the town. She began tugging at the cage they placed them, but it wasn’t budging.
“Go!” Olu shouted at her.
“I can’t leave you alone, my love!” Tinuola cried.
“Go! Nothing will happen to us!” Olu ordered.
Tinuola nodded and obeyed as she escaped.

More rancour and noise filled the air. Soon, they started seeing people running down their way. Each of them was ready to fight, but there wasn’t a way they could get out. The guards had created the gate in such a way that only someone with force from outside could pull it.
“My father!” Segilola grunted as she was standing at the door.
Irede was angry that she couldn’t do anything to help that she began to shake the door. Adio came towards her and joined in the shaking of the gate. When it looked like all help was gone, Baba Oje limped towards them, and they could see that he was as fast as he could.
“Ah! This is where you are!” Baba Oje said. “Tinuola told me you were here!”
“We need to open the door!” Feyisara said. “Baba, can you help us?”
Baba Oje frowned. “Do you see any weapon here with me?”
“But you have magic”, Adio said.
Baba Oje laughed. “Me?”

Ojo placed his head on the door. “He’s not a magician. He’s just a seer”.
Feyisara turned to Segilola. “Segilola, tell this boy here that seer and magician are the same”.
“Not in any way. He only deals with medicine and can see the future”, Ojo said.
Segilola shrugged and looked away.
“This boy is really wise”, Baba Oje said. “You guys will need to break the door”.
“We don’t have a weapon here”, Segilola yelled, frustrated.
“Oh! I can do that!” Baba Oje said and sat down.
“What’s happening, Baba”, Irede asked.

“Someone is bringing the cutlass”, Baba Oje said and placed his head on the door. “I’m tired. I’ve been seeing the future a lot and I think it’s high I talked with Queen. We need to start working towards the big solutions”. Baba Oje turned to them. “When the time comes, all of you and your remaining people will save Ilu-Oro. You will need one more person. That person is bringing the machete.
Irede couldn’t stop peering.
“I don’t think he is coming again! Feyisara said. “He ran away!”
“Or someone killed him”, Adio suggested.
Feyisara looked at him and nodded. “You might be right there”.
“Patience. You need a lot of patience like you’ve been having”, Baba Oje said.
Soon, Tinuola hurried towards them with a machete. Baba Oje struggled to rise but couldn’t do that before she got to them.
“I told you to leave!” Olu said. He was both scared and happy.
“I couldn’t leave you”, Tinuola said and pointed the machete at Baba Oje, who collected it and began trying to break the cage. However, it was a futile effort. The door wouldn’t yield. After much trial, he turned towards them.
“You two are the chosen once. You have to use your power!” Baba Oje said. “Adio, give us music. Irede fight the cage!”
“Baba, there’s no instrument here!”

“From what Suberu told me. It’s not the instrument. It’s you!” Baba Oje said. “Try it! Sing something!”
Adio looked defeated for a while, but it worked when he gave it a try. Irede could feel herself becoming stronger. She collected the cutlass from Baba Oje, who quickly jumped out of the way.
With so much vigour, she repeatedly brought down the machete until they burst out of the cage. Before they ran away, Segilola prompted them to stop.
“Suberu and Yomi are not available here. We need to make sure our formation are different. Fight with your life. But this time, Ojo, I want you to look out for the weak spots that would give the whole village advantage instead of looking at weak people. So, even if it’s the strongest people that are there, that’s where we’re headed”.
“That will be hard”, Ojo said. “ I can’t stand well”.
“I will hold him up and care for him!” Tinuola said.

“No…No”, Olu shouted. His eyes were red now. “Tinuola, you can’t do this! Go into hiding!”
“I’m tired of hiding. I want to be useful to you. What if you die? Or what if I die in hiding, I don’t want a situation when I’m not around you”.
“Yeah! Yeah! We’ve heard”, Irede shouted. “She has to follow. We need her”.
Despite Olu’s angry stare, they soon hurried towards the war zone. This time, Ojo, Adio, Feyisara and Tinuola were in the middle while Olu and Segilola guarded the group against the attacks behind. It worked.
One by one, they started winning each group. People from Imoye noticed them and called for their help from different angles, but Segilola made sure they did not change their plan. They kept fighting only in the weakest spot.
However, things changed. The leader told his people to leave everywhere and join the fight against the Irede and her group. The group was surrounded.
“We’re going to die!” Olu said.

Segilola looked around, and Irede wasn’t sure she could keep up with that number of people. “We will try and try”, she shouted.
By now, Adio’s voice was cracking, Feyisara and Tinuola were holding up Ojo, and more people had joined Olu and Segilola at the back. Most times, these people almost made them lose the fight, but the group held on.
They kept fighting and were getting weaker. Adio’s voice cracked up, and Irede didn’t know how to take up the number of men coming for her all at once.
Suddenly, a noise came from the forest. Irede turned quickly to see what it could be. Before she could turn back, someone had hurt her.
Her group hurried towards her. Irede was still hurting. She looked around and saw Suberu leading a large army. The Oto group helped her back up. Before evening, they won the Ogaras for the first time. When they opened the face of the Ogaras’ leader, it was none other than Ajanaku.

Epilogue
Everything changed in no time. Everyone rushed forward to help them. The Queen invited them to her palace to join the training for the Queen’s guard. Imoye lived peacefully. Queen Ademiposi extended her army to guard every road that led to the city. Baba Oje got a lot of gifts from the people of Imoye and went over to live with Queen Ademiposi.
Adio married Feyisara. Irede married Suberu Oje. Olu and Tinuola married each other. And Ojo married Segilola. Suberu and the Prince became closer.




ONCE AGAIN

- Which parts resonated with you and/or moved you emotionally?
- Are there parts where you wanted to skip ahead or put the book down?
- Which parts should be condensed or even deleted?
- Which parts should be elaborated on or brought more to life?
- Which characters did you really connect to? (None is acceptable)
- What do you like?
- What do you want more of?
- What’s missing?
- Where do you get bored?
- Where do you get confused?
- Any feedback on the structure or way it’s organized?
- Anything else you want me to know?

You are doing well
Tuale

Nice story.The names of characters are to dry and similar making it hard for us to know who is who.I Knw its an old story settings.You can use names that we are used to and easy to pronounce.That will make it easier for us to picture them in our minds eye.The ending also looks rushed,you can work on it to.My favorite character is Alakaja,i always love Villian character.

elpochas:
Nice story.The names of characters are to dry and similar making it hard for us to know who is who.I Knw its an old story settings.You can use names that we are used to and easy to pronounce.That will make it easier for us to picture them in our minds eye.The ending also looks rushed,you can work on it to.My favorite character is Alakaja,i always love Villian character.

Thanks a lot for the take. I'll look into all the points you've made and effect suitable changes.

Calenikan:
You are doing well
Tuale

Thanks a lot boss

nice work there big s/o to you. hmm... i'm still curious why you had to rush the ending which i was expecting to come with a lot of detailed scenes, making the whole story a big turn off when getting to end part.

for someone who's new to african literature the names of the characters might be confusing but to some of us its very normal and good.

regarding the fights and wars, you didn't state the choice of weapon or was it all a fist training and wars.

i don't know if i an the only one who was disappointed that the oto band didn't get the praise, respect and honour they deserve after saving the village. not hearing anything from the two chiefs that doubt them.

and i think what i wanna type now is really personal, but why did you give us a bit insight of adios family and young life without doing the same for irede since they both seem like the real heroes of the play(like i said na only me fit de think dis one).

germaphobe:
nice work there big s/o to you. hmm...
i'm still curious why you had to rush the ending which i was expecting to come with a lot of detailed scenes, making the whole story a big turn off when getting to end part.

I can only describe what is happening. I'm trying to sell this story for school's consideration, I mustn't put too much details on how the war went if I want Government to approve. Nonetheless, I will look for ways to improve that side that it tells enough story without much bloody details.

for someone who's new to african literature the names of the characters might be confusing but to some of us its very normal and good.

The audience are Nigerian school children. But I will see how I can make the name some of the popular old ones.

regarding the fights and wars, you didn't state the choice of weapon or was it all a fist training and wars.

Thanks for pointing this out.

i don't know if i an the only one who was disappointed that the oto band didn't get the praise, respect and honour they deserve after saving the village. not hearing anything from the two chiefs that doubt them.

I guess you're right, I will work on this.

and i think what i wanna type now is really personal, but why did you give us a bit insight of adios family and young life without doing the same for irede since they both seem like the real heroes of the play(like i said na only me fit de think dis one).

For Irede, I talked about her father and her. Her mother was dead and her father supported her. Adio's family came more into the picture because he had issues with them.

It's been a while since i've read African literature this good.I just knew suberu would be good for something. Only the name got me confused,plus why would Ajanaku kidnap feyisara when their wedding is only days away? VERY GOOD PIECE.Please mention me in your Forthcoming book.

Belbad:
It's been a while since i've read African literature this good.I just knew suberu would be good for something. Only the name got me confused,plus why would Ajanaku kidnap feyisara when their wedding is only days away? VERY GOOD PIECE.Please mention me in your Forthcoming book.

same question is locked in my head, why would he kidnap someone he intends to marry when the marriage is few days away?.

Belbad:
It's been a while since i've read African literature this good.I just knew suberu would be good for something. Only the name got me confused,plus why would Ajanaku kidnap feyisara when their wedding is only days away? VERY GOOD PIECE.Please mention me in your Forthcoming book

Thanks....


Whoa. Thanks for pointing that out. I totally had something else in my mind.
��� Not an excuse, but I saw served breakfast this past two weeks. So, it must have gotten a toll on the ending. I will iron out the kinks.

Divepen1:



Thanks....


Whoa. Thanks for pointing that out. I totally had something else in my mind.
��� Not an excuse, but I saw served breakfast this past two weeks. So, it must have gotten a toll on the ending. I will iron out the kinks.

Please do. Still a loyal fan. Big gbosa for you.