Episode Three: What A Birthday!

Two Hours Earlier

“My Prince, are you sure you don’t want to wait?” Areo asked, a plate of moi-moi and beef in his hands.

“I will run mad if I have to endure another hour with Kabiyesi and his entourage,” Adeyeri replied as he struggled to put on Areo’s clothes. “You really need to add some weight. I don’t see the point in all the food you eat when it adds nothing to your body,” he complained good-naturedly as he managed to wear the clothes.

Areo smiled. “No one who runs errands for you can have the time or the peace of mind to add weight.”

Adeyeri raised his brow at Areo’s comment. “Are you complaining? If you don’t have the strength and wisdom to work with me, I can request for a replacement.

Areo smiled again, not bothered, as he chewed and swallowed a piece of meat. Adeyeri smiled too. Finding another servant was not a problem, but a loyal servant like Areo was a rare gem. Without a doubt, he knew he would work with Areo forever, and thankfully, he was witty enough to become the head of the palace servants.

“My Prince, what is my reward for this mission?” Areo asked boldly.

“You are holding it in your hands,” Adeyeri answered.

Areo, who was about to take the final piece of meat in the bowl, dropped it. “This is no longer a reward o. It has become the norm.”

Adeyeri moved closer to him and adjusted the cap on his head. “Adorning yourself as Prince is reward enough, but I will think of something.” Areo did a happy dance. Adeyeri’s rewards were usually enough to feed his family for a week. “Don’t forget the plan. Go straight to my room, sit still, and face the wall, praying. That way, no one will interrupt you.”

“Of course, my Prince, I won’t fail you as usual,” Areo said reassuringly, but before the Prince could respond, they heard footsteps. Areo quickly ran away, while Adeyeri lay flat to greet the King, who passed beside him, and waved at him to leave. As soon as Adeyeri rose and started to walk away, his back to the King, the King called out.

“Adeyeri!”

Adeyeri raised his head slowly, ashamed to have been caught. Kabiyesi looked at him, stunned, then burst into laughter. After a few seconds, Adeyeri joined him too.

“I am sorry, Kabiyesi. I just couldn’t bear the festivities anymore.”

Still smiling, Kabiyesi said, “Adeyeri, you are no longer a boy. You need to stop these games.”

“Kabiyesi, I need to properly celebrate in town with my friends. They are not allowed here, and this ceremony has become rather boring for a young man.”

“You are not just any young man, you are the next king of Iludoyin. Get ready to be without friends and to endure boring events.”

Adeyeri sighed, acknowledging the truth in his father’s words. “I will enjoy the time I have left before my time comes to be King.”

“You must prepare for that time, Adeyeri. No one knows when the time will come.”

“It won’t come soon, I have time,” he replied confidently, and the King smiled, feeding from his son’s optimism.

“There are some things you need to know, and tonight I shall tell you. We have no time to waste, and our enemies are increasing, especially those who pose as friends.”

Kabiyesi’s declaration bothered Adeyeri. “Kabiyesi, you are afraid. I can feel it.”

Kabiyesi smiled, but it didn’t assuage the fear that was growing in Adeyeri. “Let’s go inside, Kabiyesi. Unburden yourself to me. Listening to you is worth more than partying with friends.”

“Neither the time nor the place. Tonight, we will speak. I have to go back to the party, but you must know that your birthright is not going to make your life easy.”

“What do you mean, Kabiyesi? My life is easy!”

“Go!” King Adeyanju said, refusing to say more till they had a chance to speak further later in the night.

Adeyeri hesitated, wishing to go away with his father, but at the sound of footsteps, he left swiftly.

Queen Wuraola walked towards her husband, a maid beside her. “I was worried, Kabiyesi. You left my side, and without your guards. What happened?”

King Adeyanju cradled her face and smiled at her. “I felt the need to come here alone.”

Wuraola searched the King’s face, he had been acting strange. “Where is Adeyeri? I thought I heard his voice back here. The guests want to see him dance.”

“They won’t see him dance today, maybe next time,” King Adeyanju said, and Queen Wuraola’s shoulder sagged in disappointment.

“You spoil that boy too much, Kabiyesi. He is no longer a boy. He has responsibilities, and we have to train him to respect them.”

King Adeyanju smiled and pulled the Queen’s hand so she could fall into step beside him. “A man must be allowed to enjoy the liberties that he can, even if that man is a crowned Prince.”

The Queen looked back as though to see if Adeyeri was still lurking around. She wanted him to dance. She wanted him to pick a wife that she approved. She wanted him in the palace. He had no business frolicking in the village with commoners. It will do no good for her cause.

Present Time 

Adeyeri was still telling Banji how he had escaped from the palace when Yemi and another man came in.

“Now the party is complete,” Banji declared.

Yemi mockingly prostrated before Adeyeri and began to sing his praises, but Adeyeri cut him off. “I have had enough of that today. If I wanted to be praised, I would have remained in the palace.”

Yemi rose swiftly. “Banji, tell the Prince what we have planned for him.”

“You are not going home tonight!” Banji said, and the four men laughed.

“I have only three hours before I am missed in the palace. That is all the time I can spare,” Adeyeri replied, regretting the sacrifices he had to make as Prince.

Yemi nodded his head sadly. “All that money, only for a few hours.”

“What is he saying?” Adeyeri asked Banji.

“Your present is already in your private hut in Ajiu farm, wrapped in soft linen. She is ready to stay till morning, at your service.”

Adeyeri nodded his head regrettably. “In that case, we shouldn’t waste anymore time here.” He downed what was left of his palm wine, ready to move when Yemi’s words stopped him in his tracks.

“She is a Princess!”

Adeyeri stared at him a moment then looked at Banji for confirmation, At Banji’s subtle nod, Adeyeri rolled his eyes in disappointment. “I don’t want royalty. Too complicated, and she will want a marriage.” he said, displeased by his friend’s choice.

“We did our homework, this one will bring you no trouble,” Banji assured him.

Trusting Banji infinitely, Adeyeri allowed himself to smile in expectation, getting to his feet. “Pay the girl. Let’s get out of here,” he said to Yemi who swiftly brought out the cowries to pay. “Give her two cowries more for her trouble,” he quipped, looking at Tade curiously. Something about her called to him, but he held on to his dislike of her.

“Whatever you do, don’t eat till tomorrow,” Tade said, and Adeyeri looked to the others, wondering who she was talking to.

“Who? Me?” he asked.

“Yes… If you are truly the crowned Prince,” Tade replied.

“Who is this girl?” he asked irritably. Her audacity was bothering on foolishness. No one dared speak to a Prince that way in Iludoyin.

Yemi addressed her angrily. “Do you not know in front of whom you stand?” he asked Tade, who didn’t look scared by his show of annoyance. Her boldness scared him, so he faced the Prince instead. “Don’t bother yourself about the witch. I doubt that she can help herself.“

“A beautiful witch, if you ask me,” Banji quipped, unable to take his eyes off Tade.

“I am not a witch,” she declared fiercely.

Adeyeri exited, unable to remain in her presence. There was something about her that unsettled him.

Three Hours Later

Adeyeri was still unsettled.

His escape from the palace to enjoy his friend’s gift ended up a waste because he met a witch. This was not his first time with a witch, they usually gave him his respect as the crowned Prince, but this one must have been sent to ruin his mood.

The Princess that Banji and Yemi arranged to sate the hunger in his body was beautiful and ready, but no matter how hard he tried, Adeyeri couldn’t bring himself to lie with her. Instead, the face of the palm wine serving wench kept coming back. If not that he was putting Areo in a weird position, and the palace would soon be alerted that he was missing, he would have gone back to the palm wine stall so that she could release him from whatever spell he was under. Even his mood had become sober, and he no longer felt like celebrating.

Meanwhile, in Adeyeri’s room, Areo was having a good time, eating nuts and sleeping on the Prince’s bed when he heard a knock.

“Good evening, Aremo. I have come with your evening meal and will enter after ten blinks of the eye if I don’t hear anything from you.” Areo quickly rose and knelt, facing the wall. A servant girl came in and dropped a tray of food. “Your evening meal is served.

May your prayers be answered by the gods.”

Areo nodded without turning his face, mimicking Adeyeri. As soon as the girl left, he rose swiftly to check the food. He smiled and took a big morsel from the pounded yam, adjusted it back so it looked untouched, then scooped the morsel with soup and put it in his mouth. He moaned in enjoyment at the deliciousness of the food and proceeded to take two meats out of the six pieces in the plate. Adeyeri never ate more than two pieces of meat, and he wondered why they kept giving him six to ten pieces. He wasn’t complaining though. Being able to act as the Prince allowed him certain liberties he would not have otherwise enjoyed – like eating from the Prince’s food without anyone being the wiser.  He smiled as he threw the pieces of meat into his mouth.

As soon as Shade entered the stall, Dele at her heels with the jars of palm wine they had just bought, Tade dropped the broom to go and greet them, her Yoruba heavily flawed.

“I hope this is not how you have been greeting customers,” Shade said, troubled.

Tade sighed in frustration. “Aunty, I cannot keep acting like I have something to hide, or that I committed a crime. I am back here where I belong; with you, my family and to fulfil my mission.”

“You are back because your…” Shade was almost going to mention Tade’s father, but quickly caught herself before she ruined everything.

“Because my what?” Tade asked, sensing her Aunty was hiding something.

“You are back to learn your family’s trade.”

“What family? What trade? Till a fortnight ago, I belonged to a different place, ate their food, and in that land, I found God, the Almighty. Thanks to God, I…”

“Don’t!” Shade warned, not wanting to hear any more of what Tade had to say, but Tade was determined to continue.

“Thanks to God, I see visions. I know who I am. My identity is clear. I am a woman on an assignment, and nothing will interfere with fulfilling this calling.”

“Who you are, is one of us, and your assignment is to blend in,” Shade said softly, hoping to reason with her. After a few seconds of staring at Tade, hoping that her words sank in, she carried the bowl of cowries and began to count.

“I will do my assignment. In fact, I have already started,” Tade finally replied, and Shade knew that the assignment they both had in mind was different. She however decided to leave the matter alone for now. She was excited about the money.

“You did really well today. Despite the circumstances, you made  good sales. Well done. I am surprised people came.”

“Not a lot of people came, just the Prince with those friends of his. They spent a lot of money and gave me a tip.”

“What!” Shade exclaimed, dropping the bowl of money, some cowries spilling.

“So I guess I can do both your assignment and mine,” Tade said smiling, but the smile dissolved into worry lines when she saw the look of fear on her Aunt’s face. Something mysterious was going on, and Tade desperately wanted to know what it was, but that would have to happen later. She felt a compulsion in her spirit to pray for the Prince, and she couldn’t resist the urge to start immediately.

When Adeyeri entered his room, Areo was facing the wall, praying as agreed.

“You don’t have me fooled with your compliance. I know you must have been up to a lot of mischief.” Areo rose, looking innocent, making Adeyeri laugh despite his mood, Areo was a comic character. “You really want me to believe that you have been facing the wall the whole time?” he asked, as he cast off Areo’s clothes.

“Working for you is not easy at all,” Areo said, hoping to appeal to Adeyeri’s emotions, and hopefully get a higher compensation fee.

Adeyeri scoffed. “Tell me Areo, how many Princes allow their servants to share a bed with them?”

“I don’t…” Areo started to lie, but Adeyeri cut him off.

“Don’t bother lying, I know these things,” he stated in a tone that dared Areo to argue with him. Areo looked away guiltily. “But don’t worry, you will get your cowries,” Adeyeri added in a softer tone. Areo smiled in excitement. “Bring my food,” he commanded and sat down, ready to eat.

He might not have been able to enjoy the woman his friends invited to the land for him, but he would enjoy a good meal on his birthday. The smell of the delicious food already permeated the room, and Areo swiftly brought the food closer to him.

“Next time, l won’t wear your smelly clothes. Make me a spare that looks exactly like yours,” Adeyeri said, washing his hands to eat.

“So there will be a next time?” Areo asked excitedly..

Hide your joy,” Adeyeri said, and lifted the bowl of soup in his palm. “They keep reducing my meat,” he said indifferently and scooped a morsel of pounded yam, ready to dip it in the soup when someone knocked on his door. He paused as he looked in the direction of the door. “Come in.”,

A King’s guard walked in. “Kabiyesi requests your presence at once, my Prince.”

Adeyeri looked from his food to the guard. He was very hungry. “Tell Kabiyesi that I will be with him soon,” he replied, hoping to eat half of the meal before going to his father.

“Kabiyesi said I must come with you immediately, and that I should tell you that it is already happening,”

Already happening?

“What could this be?” Adeyeri wondered, quickly dropping the morsel in his hand. He washed his hands and got up, while Areo quickly picked a robe and helped him put it on. “Don’t touch my food. I have counted the meat,” Adeyeri warned.

Areo smiled sheepishly while Adeyeri left with the palace guard.

Adeyeri walked into the palace court, whistling, but quickly kept quiet when he saw that Kabiyesi was sleeping. He smiled and sat on the Queen’s seat beside Kabiyesi, contemplating whether to wake him up or leave him to rest. However, Adeyeri knew he couldn’t rest well tonight without hearing the King’s secret. Now that he thought of it, the dread in the King’s voice was probably why he couldn’t enjoy the Princess in his private hut that afternoon, and it had nothing to do with the witch.

“Kabiyesi! Kabiyesi!” Adeyeri called out softly, but the King did not answer. Instead, his head dropped. He must be sleeping very deeply, Adeyeri thought, then rose, and faced the guard. “Lead Kabiyesi to his room. We will talk tomorrow.”

“Yes, my Prince,” the guard replied and moved towards Kabiyesi.

Intuitively, Adeyeri went to his father and held his hand. It was cold. “Kabiyesi” Adeyeri called out, his voice louder this time, but there was no response.

Adeyeri shook the King, while the King’s guard called out. “Kabiyesi! Kabiyesi! Kabiyesi!”

Kabiyesi remained mute.

Refusing to believe it was the thought that jumped to his mind, Adeyeri put his finger near the King’s nose. No breath touched his fingers. He immediately exchanged a look of dread with the King’s guard and screamed.

“Areo!”

It had to be a dream, and they may still be able to do something to save the King. Adeyeri’s scream was so loud that Areo came running, half the residence of the palace with him.

“My Prince, is everything alright?!”

“The King is not breathing,” Adeyeri said, the words sounding foreign to his ears. Everyone was suddenly speaking at the same time. Some rushed out to call others.

“Impossible!” Areo uttered, and rushed to the Prince, only to feel a sharp pain in his stomach. Immediately, he fell too, and began to lose his breath…

“What is wrong with you?” Adeyeri queried in a mixture of trepidation and irritation. Kabiyesi’s lifeless body was in his arms, and he was in no mood for Areo’s pranks. At least, that was what he wanted to believe when Areo fell to the floor.

“Ask the one who comes in after ten blinks of the eye,” Areo said, and breathed his last.

Adeyeri was having an out of body experience. Everything happening did not feel real. He looked from Areo to Kabiyesi, the two men he trusted the most in the world, dead in one night.

“Kabiyesi…”

Adeyeri screamed, and the tears began to fall in a rush.