Urenma (The River Goddess) - Episode 23

Thank you @Belladiva54 @Olaleyeadedamola @Peacejohn @Oluwadaremojisola @Lillynabz @Preciousisaac @Ronke @Ireneavworo 

This chapter is  especially dedicated to you all

Your comments are received as I love them all.

Even those that I did not mention

May the Grace of the Lord be with us

Amen.

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“Why are the elder gods after my joy and happiness? I won’t let them do this! I will stop them!” “Urenma, you will need help. Don’t forget that without charms Ojadili prevailed over men and spirits in wrestling matches, now imagine what he will do when an elder god possesses him in a wrestling match against Obinze”. “What! An elder god possessing Ojadili! That can’t happen!” “Urenma it is already happening”. “Ntani what is in this for you? Why are you helping me?” “I and the other princesses want what you have”. “And what is that?” “Love. Urenma you have love. We want to return as the children of the gods to love and be loved. We want to live like you”. “Oh my world! What have I done? The children of the gods want to return to Ukeh!” “Yes Urenma, we want to return”.

THE GRAVE OF OJADILI

To the grave of Ojadili, they journeyed. The amulets around their necks and waists jingled and jangeled in the silent night as their feet pounded the dusty earth

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/urenma-the-river-goddess

. The tonji (Locally made lamp light) fastened on their foreheads illuminated the thick dark forest in which they meandered. Akama Oghe had gone to bed and rested peacefully at the time the men ventured out to the grave which held the remains of Ojadili. In their midst was one who was not human, his task was to bring back to the river world whatever remains of Ojadili they find in the grave. At the grave the native doctor amongst them hastily performed a ritual to appease the spirits that watched over Ojadili’s grave and the body in it. To disturb the grave and he who dwelt in it without due permission could have dire consequences, so they had to wait after the ritual had been offered. Beats of drum began to ring out from the thin air; it was the sound of Ikoro music, with the beat Ojadili graced wrestling grounds in his life time. As the beat grew louder, all the men including the one who was not human amongst them, broke into a jig. Their dance did not last for long before the grave which they had come to visit began to crack open and smokes so thick and dark that one could hold them begin to belch from it; something was coming out of the grave, perhaps the one they had come to visit had decided to meet his guests above his grave.

Still dancing, the men watched the grave with keen insterest. Just then the grave caved in and a voice spoke to them, “Who disturbs Ojadili? When he wakes from his rest who can stand? Speak quickly before I demand a fight of you!” All the men stopped dancing abrupily and the native doctor amongst them cast a few pieces of Ezego into the grave and answered the voice, “Great one, a man has been born amongst mortals who holds no fear for spirits or for men.

Read " Dance With Me(Silent Whispers) " by the same author ( Ifeoma Isabella Okeke )

. Like you he has journeyed to the spirit world, prevailed and taken a princess of the gods for a wife. The gods are threatening war with the mortals in Ukeh land where this man dwells. The gods in their magnanimity have thought it wise to awaken you to stop this man instead of wasting the land of Ukeh in their rage”.

There was silence as the men waited for a rely. Then it came thoughtfully, “My time amongst men has passed. If another has been born amongst mortals who is like me then let times and seasons deal with him as they dealt with me. This man shall come to fade like I did”. “Great one, if no mortal, dead or alive, is found to fight this man, the gods shall be left with no option than to destroy him and punish Ukeh thereafter. Ukeh is a good land, in your life time you fought there many times and won fight for mothers and children who may be slaughtered if the gods choose to attack Ukeh. Fight to hear the name of Ojadili sung again by ecstatic mem, woman and children. Fight to relive your past glory. Ojadili fight to save a land from the ire of the gods! Great one, fight to destroy the man who fancies himself as the incarnation of Ojadili”.