Babida in jail

The imperial sentinels executed the Governor's sentence right away. They primarily handcuffed Babida the knight before holding him tight by his hands. The latter didn't oppose any resistance to his arrestation and let himself manhandle.

The imperial guards took him to a secret penitentiary lodged in the underground of the Governor's headquarters. They opened the main entrance of the cave and it was lightly lit. Also, because it had no window, the air was of a low quality.

The imperial sentinels then went down the stairs with the knight and as they were doing so, dust aroused from the ground, for the place was poorly maintained. The three men walked up to the other end of the cave that was sheltering a cell infested with cockroaches.

"Sir, please go inside the cell," compassionate tone of voice, one of the two imperial sentinels uttered to Babida the lumberjack.

"Sir, we pray that you get well soon. We wished you remained a freeman but we have a command to enforce," the other imperial guard thereafter expressed his regrets to the new prisoner.

The imperial sentinels thereafter inspected the room of the inmate and estimated that there was no particular issue they had to address in an emergency. So they locked the door of the cell and abandoned the poor knight to his fate.

The news of the imprisonment of the knight propagated like wildfire. By the end of the afternoon, the whole Okunde had heard of it and passed on the scoop to the other towns of the Batang empire.

The young Miss Suzie was in the kitchen of the family's chalet in the imperial city Ekule, frying duck eggs for lunch. Her grandmother was sitting as usual on the rattan chair and was listening to the local radio's regular programs when breaking news came up.

"And now, dear auditors, we have breaking news from one of our correspondents on the field of the special imperial expedition in Okunde. Babida the knighthas been arrested by Governor Kola II for a reason that we can not provide for the moment. But the first information we have recounts that Governor Kola II sent Babida the knight to the Forbidden Mountain along with a sixteen-year-old warrior for a scout mission. The young lad perished under circumstances yet to be elucidated. The operation aborted and the knight returned alone to the barracks and burst into tears," the anchor reported.

Big Momma was baffled by what had just gone through her ears. She impulsively yelled: "Oh Loba, God of the gods! Suzie, come fast my darling to the parlor! I must be in a dream."

The granddaughter was surprised by the call of her grandmother. She stopped her lunchmaking and hastened to the sexagenarian's position.

"Big momma, what is the matter?" The young maiden Suzie, with haste, interrogated the aged woman.

"They just announced on the newscast that Babida the knighthas been jailed by Governor Kola II for an unknown motive. They explained that the knightcame back from a failed mission at that cursed hill and his comrade, a young lad who went with him, passed away under circumstances to examine," Big Momma clarified to her.

Suzie's heart began to pound fast and she felt uncomfortable. Her state even worsened as a mysterious headache took her over.

"I need to sit down," she confessed to her grandmother who was reluctant as to how to handle her unwellness.

The young Miss Suzie pulled a small wooden bench that was against the wall near the radio. She placed it next to her grandmother, sat, and leaned on the matriarch. The latter gently applied the palms of her experienced hands on her granddaughter's temples. The therapy was effective and the young maiden Suzie was now getting better and better.

In a few moments, she recovered entirely. She got off the bench and uttered to the astonishment of the old lady: "I am traveling tomorrow to Okunde to free Babida the lumberjack."

"It's unjust to be imprisoned after risking one's life for the empire. It's a pity that his young companion died but it was not mentioned that it was his fault. They were on a highly dangerous mission and the Governor, without any doubt, knew it," She defended her stance.

Big momma looked at her granddaughter and remained silent. However, she did not show a sign of disapproval. She simply let her grandchild speak her mind.

"I am heading to Uncle Bibi's chalet and ask for his help. Hopefully, he agrees to come with me to Okunde, and release the unfairly imprisoned woodsman," she stated while putting the bench away.

The young woman had almost forgotten the fried duck eggs she made for lunch. However, as she was about to leave the house, she suddenly remembered: "Oh oh! The omelets!" She exclaimed.

"Sorry big momma! Let me serve you rapidly!" She confessed.

"Do you want it with flatbread or sticks of cassava paste?" She questioned the elderly.

"Whatever will be in my dish, I will gladly eat it, my little angel. Don't worry yourself!" The granddaughter replied.

The young maiden Suzie returned to the kitchen and cut a big chunk of omelets which she put on her grandmother's assigned plate. She brought it to the eating table and said with a voice full of vitality: "Big momma, lunch is served."

"Thank you, little angel!" The old woman answered her.

"But before you go out, you better change your outfit and wear another one with a scarf preferably, so you can hide your face. In case you are caught in your endeavor, maybe you can have a chance to run away unidentified," She advised her grandchild.

"Yes, you are right, big momma! I will do it right away," the young Miss Suzie approved.

She climbed to her room upstairs and after a short moment, she came back downstairs with a blue wax-made Abaya dress covering her neck to her ankle.

Her head was enveloped with a scarf of the same color and material as the robe. Only her eyes were visible. On her feet, she had put regular brown women's sandals on.

The grandmother glanced at her and declared: "Ok, that's way better. Be careful, little angel!"

"I will. Don't worry big momma!" The young Miss Suzie reassured her, and then she left the house.