Chapter 2 The Ceremony

I walked on feeling very sad. Maybe I should persuade my grandmother. She's the only option I have now. But hey! When my father makes up his mind, not even his mother can make him go against himself. Maybe, he will listen to her this time.

"Hey, Zui!" Feya, my best friend shouted. "Why that long face? Wait! Are you crying? Who dares to bully you this early morning? Are you coming from your father's place?"

Feya can talk for hours without getting tired. She's talkative! She has been my best friend so long as I can remember. What do I tell her now? She always has ways of helping me out of every situation. She can come up with a bright idea as soon as possible. That's why we have been friends for so long, I thought.

"Feya, help me!" I said with a sad face. "I badly need your help now."

"With what?" she asked with a sly look on her face.

"My father is trying to send me away."

"To where?"

"To the palace"

"To do what?"

"To marry one of the princes"

"Isn't that good news?" she exclaimed. "Wait! Are you crying because of that? Are you serious? Who doesn't want to be a princess?"

"I don't want to marry right now!"

"Really? What do you want to do right now? Be a female Buka?"

"Yes, or even better"

"Do you understand yourself?" she looked puzzled. " Listen, some roles are for men. Running, climbing, battling, and fighting are for men. All a woman has to do, is to eat well, look good, have children, raise them diligently, and love her husband. So simple!"

"Feya, I always thought you were smart" I said shaking my head.

"Do you like someone else?"

"Feya, come back home! You think too much." I said and began to walk away.

"I have a plan. But I don't think it can save from getting married but at least it can save you from

getting married immediately after the ceremony"

"What plan?" I asked anxiously

"Feign illness, immediately after the celebration. At least, it can save you some time to think about what to do next."

"Feya, you're a genius!"

"That's me!" she replied happily.

"I have to go now. We'll meet at the riverside"

The thought of getting married didn't scare me much, as compared to the thought of entering the palace. I could recall my grandmother saying "the palace is full of people, yet everyone is lonely. It is full of riches yet, all those who live in it are poor" almost all the time. I don't want to be lonely and poor, i thought as i entered my hut.

"Zui, what happened? You don't look happy." my grandmother asked.

"Nana is always complaining about her poor eyesight, but she can see in this dark hut" i exclaimed.

She coughed and replied "I am not blind. Just that i can't see as i used to. Come and sit beside me"

I sat beside her on the mat, still looking sad.

"Now tell me, why are you like this after returning?"

"Nana, father said i should prepare to move into my husband's house after the performance of the customary rites. But you know i don't want to marry right now."

"Is that why you are crying?" she asked. "When do you intend to marry?"

"A year or two from now"

"Why not now?"

"I want to learn archery before i marry."

"You can still learn after you marry."

"But i don't think papa will allow me. He told me, those things are for men."

"He's right. But I can talk to him to let you learn it after you marry"

"Hmmm," i sighed. "what if he objects?"

"You're a woman. You should focus on what women do."

"Nana, you know me more than anyone does"

"Don't worry, i will talk to him. Go and sweep the compound. Prepare something for us to eat after sweeping. Make sure to go and wash the clothes at the riverside before the sun appears."

"Ok, Nana." I replied and went out to perform all the household chores.

Maybe I can wield the sword after all, maybe i can learn archery after all. But do i want to marry right now? No, I don't want to. The palace is a place where people are so concerned with manners, customs and traditions. I have spent most of my time learning swordsmanship and didn't really care about manners, customs and traditions. The palace will suffocate me, i thought. I won't be able to move about like i do now.

"Good morning, Zui" Mbola, one of my stepsisters greeted.

"Good morning, Mbola. What brings you here this time of the day"

"Papa has asked me to bring these things to you. He said keep them well, you will be using them during the ceremony. I will move in with you, tomorrow and stay here till the ceremony is over. Is Nana in there?"

" Thank you. Yes, she's in there but she is still asleep"

"Ok, extend my greetings to her when she wakes up. I am leaving."

"Ok, i will. Take care"

The clothes and beads for the ceremony have been sent to me. I only have to exercise patience for some days. I will surely know whom i was going to marry. Now my greatest fear isn't getting married, by how to survive in the palace. The palace walls look beautiful and strong and protective, yet they were the most defenseless walls ever.

Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours, hours into days and soon it was the day for the ceremony. My heart was filled with excitement. I was so excited that i forgot all about my fears. Mbola woke me up immediately the cock crowed before the break of dawn. Mbola was kind and respectful than all her sisters. She kept a peaceful aurora and was hardworking. That's why papa sent her, i guessed.

"Mbola, help Zui to dress up. It's getting late. We have to get there before the queen and wives of the king arrive." Nana said.

I went out a few minutes later, stood in front of Nana and proudly asked,

"How do i look?"

"Stunningly beautiful!" she replied. "Your father will be here very soon to accompany you. I will be there before everything starts".

"Ok, Nana"

Buka appeared a few minutes later, looked at me for a few seconds and said;

"My heart skipped a beat when i saw you. You are the most beautiful girl in this land"

"Thank you, papa" i said smiling shyly.

"May I?" he asked and helped me to get on a horse.

He rode with me on the horse till we got to the venue. The stool-like stones were arranged in a circular form. I was among the fifteen girls who were going to be ushered into womanhood, before dusk. I was asked to sit on one of the stones and I did. The rites were performed immediately the queen arrived. When the ceremony was halfway through, three eunuchs, two palace maids and two elders from the palace were seen approaching the venue. The queen and the other wives of the king and everyone else, except Buka and I, were surprised to see them but remained calm as they approached the venue. They stood behind the crowd until the ceremony was over. The two elders went to greet the queen and told her, they were there to pass on a decree from the king. She gave them permission to go ahead. The eunuchs placed the stool in the middle of the circle and one elder began to talk.

"Zui Mwaga, obey the decree of the King".

I stood up, feeling tensed, walk towards the elders, and knelt down in front of them. The two palace maids helped me to sit on the stool.

The elder continued, "On this day, you have been betrothed to a member of the royal family. The marriage rites will be performed in three days. Accept the decree of the King"

"I accept it" I replied and bowed to the elders.

A few minutes later, they sought permission to leave from the Queen and carried the stool along.

The Queen and the other wives of the King kept smiling at me, but i knew beneath their smiles were feelings confusion, hatred and breath of fire. I walked to my father and stood beside him. He smiled gracefully at me while i clutched my fingers and forced a smile. When the ceremony was over, Buka and i walked to the queen to express our gratitude for her presence. She looked fiercely at me, turned to Buka and said,

"Judging from the stool that was brought, your daughter will be marrying a high ranking member of the Royal family. Is it the King?"

Buka smiled briefly and replied " Be rest assured my queen. My daughter will not come after you for your position"

"Hahahahaha....." the queen laughed. "For my position? She dares not!"

The queen then turned to me, and said,

"Congratulation! You will soon be a member of the royal family and live within the attic walls of the palace."

"Thank you, my queen" I replied with a crooked smile while bowing my head.

The queen left the venue immediately. The other wives congratulated me and left. Was i going to marry the King himself? No way! I will never marry that old man. Feya came to hug me and congratulated me warm-heartedly. Little did she know about how worried, mistaken and wronged i felt. I forced a smile and replied to all the congratulatory messages which were flooding at my doorstep. Buka helped me to sit on the horse again rode behind again. After riding for a few minutes in absolute silence, i decided to break the silence.

"Papa, you told me I was going to marry a prince. But it turns out to be the King, right?" I asked.

Buka didn't reply. Silence means consent. I was going to marry the King, certainly not a prince. Tears of frustration and anger began to trickle down my face. A few minutes later, we go to my compound and Buka helped me to get off the horse. He saw my tears and whispered,

"You've had enough today. You need some rest. Go in and rest"

"Ok, papa" I said and walked away from him and entered my hut.

I sat on my mat and cried for hours. I have to come up with something as soon as possible since feigning illness will not be enough to save me from the marriage. Suddenly, I came up with an idea. ESCAPE! Yes, i am going to escape.