Efua's POV
"How many for that to be over?" Mother asks me as we sit down to peel potatoes for her usual sale. Mother sells fried potatoes at the market everyday and I also help her while my father works as an hunter for our kingdom. We are not really rich if you would ask me but at least we aren't poor either.
We are contented. We are confortable. My family... And our kingdom, Aza at large. As you already know, my name is Efua Kelechi and I hail from Aza kingdom, one of the twelve kingdoms of the eastern islanders of Benin.
"Seven more... But they are little I would soon be done with it" I reply with a smile and mother pats my back before continuing to turn the sliced potatoes she is already frying.
"Efuanne" Mother likes to call me by my full name, especially when she has something important to tell me.
"Yes mother?" I reply her. She sighs and glances at me and then she stares ahead.
"You won't follow me to the market today.. You have to stay at home"
I raise my brow, giving her a questioning look. "But why? I always follow you to the market, why can't I do that today"
Mother sighs again, putting down the frying pan from the stove. "Because I say so Efuanne... Just listen to me okay" she says with a note of finality.
I do not like to disobey my mother neither do I like arguing with her, so I shut up, but why is she acting so strange. Even her countenance has been distant since yesterday.
I just hope everything is fine.
. . . . .
Mother saw it. .. She knew they were coming... The Royalies. It was the last time I saw her.
. . . . . .
"Efua... Efua, get up... We have to run.. The kingdom is under attack" I jerk my eyes open when I hear the frantic voice of my best friend Nana. Nana has been my best friend since we learnt how to walk. Nana's parents are dead so she stays with her mother's relatives.
"Nana... What is it?" I ask, sitting up and coming face to face with Nana.
"Efua... We have to run.. The Royalies are here. They are attacking the kingdom and burning the houses" I have always heard of the Royalies.. They are the most greatest kingdom of the eastern islanders and they have been terrorizing every other small kingdoms for years now. From Ceza to Akeche and even Banfa. They have destroyed them all. Now they are here on our land.. In our kingdom.. They will kill us all, just like the others.
"What! Mother... Where is mother" I stand up and start to look around.
"Efua.. We will find your mother but for now our lives is at stake... I had to escape them to call you . we don't have time" Nana says and grabs my hand before pulling me outside.
We start to run into the nearby forest, barefoot. I look back and from afar I can see the war raging on.. I can see the fire burning down the houses. Tears fill my eyes.
Mother.. Father... Where are they?
My feet are aching as we run deeper into.the bush, our barefooted legs hitting the hard floor and shooting pain into our legs.
"Ah!" I yelp in pain as my feet press against an hard substance making stop abruptly.
"Efua.. What is it?" Efua asks stopping to examine me.
"My leg" I whimper and look down. It is a sword... My leg just pressed onto a sword.. Blood is gushing out from the wounded place and even the blade side of the sword is stuck in my leg. I close my eyes and press my lips together as the pain shoots into my body.
"I will take it out.. You have to be patient, okay" Nana says crouching down. I nod.
"Okay... Here..."
"Ah... Nana.. Nana" I scream holding to her as she pulls it out.
"There.. Done" she sighs and places my arm over her shoulder. "Sorry ehn... We have to manage okay... We should leave here before they find us ehn"
"Okay" I manage to say leaning on her. Nana holds me as we continuing walking deeper. Me limping in pain while she holds me. The evening is drawing near and my stomach is starting to rumble for lack of food.
"Nana .. Do you think they would have gone back? The Royalies I mean" I ask and Nana shakes her head.
"I don't know Efua... All I know is we have to run before.. .." The bustling of leaves cut her off and we grip each other in fear.
"What was that?" I whisper.
"Shh" Nana says holding me tightly, I gulp and look around.. There is another rustling of leaves and we gasp when two men come out. Their attire is enough for us to know who they are. The Royalies warriors.
"Isn't this a beautiful sight eh.... You think you can run away from us... We.are the Royalies and we will surely find you!" One of them says, I press my lips together as tears fall from my eyes and I can feel Nana shaking beside me.
"Seize them!"
Oh no!
*
