Episode One – The King’s Wife

Episode One – The King’s Wife

The cock had not yet crowed to sound the alarm that would wake up the farmers, traders, fishermen, builders, and weavers of Iludoyin Kingdom to start their day, in the newly found peaceful village that they had all fought to rebuild, on the back of the blood of their late King. 

The new King, Adeyeri, woke up with a start, his neck aching from the way his head had been hanging down. He sat upright, trying to make sense of what the time was, but he couldn’t. Everywhere was dark and silent. He looked around, and all he saw were the two guards positioned at the entrance of the throne room where he sat. He sighed, knowing that he should have gone into his chambers as soon as the meeting with the chiefs ended, but he had stayed back to pray, and must have slept off. He may be king, but there were still many issues that were beyond him to handle. 

It was almost a year now, but it felt like a decade ago, when two corrupt chiefs had colluded to overthrow his father, the late King Adeyanju, by killing him and his heir with poison. They had succeeded in killing the King, but Adeyeri had been rescued from the fate of death because his servant, Areo, had tasted the meal, and died instead. As if things weren’t bad enough, he had found out that his mother was not his mother after all. Queen Wuraola had killed his own mother at his birth, and had conceived plans to help her son take Adeyeri’s birthright and become king. If it were not for Tade, the woman chosen by the gods to die with him as his Abobaku when he became king, but who later became his wife, he would have run mad. She was his safe place and his peace amidst the chaos. She had introduced him to the Almighty God, who had saved his life, and given him back his father’s throne.

To the outside world, Adeyeri had won the battle, but the truth was that the battle had just begun. How was he going to introduce Yahweh, the Almighty God as supreme to his subject in Iludoyin Kingdom? He was desperate to abolish the worship of the gods, and help his people to give their life to Jesus. However, Tade had warned against imposing Jesus on them. Sometimes he wondered if she was devoted to the salvation of the people as much as he was. She had won him over to Jesus with a sense of urgency that had now reduced, blaming her calmness on her pregnant state. Yet, she kept teaching him the scriptures daily, building up his spirit man. If it were not for her, being king would mean nothing. He had lost everything until he found her. This was why it pained him that even though the chiefs had accepted to leave the Abobaku tradition, as abolished according to the decree of the horrible King Adeloye, who had hijacked the throne briefly, they refused to crown Tade as queen. She could be the wife of the king and bear his children, but she could never be their queen. Her bloodline could not become royalty. It was only to make the new king happy, and because she was already carrying his first child that they did not suggest dissolving the marriage and banishing her from Iludoyin.

Adeyeri was torn. He needed to find a way to reverse their decision. What was it worth to be king when he couldn’t make the most important decision of his life? Tade didn’t know about the verdict of the council of chiefs because Adeyeri had not told her. It would break her heart, and she would fear that he may take another wife. He wouldn’t! Yet, he had been too cowardly to tell the chiefs his stand on the matter.

Am I even qualified to be king?

Tonight, when they’d finished the cabinet meeting, Adeyeri had wanted to bring up the issue of crowning Tade as queen. However, after hours of deliberation on whether to join in the fight against the white men, who were gradually invading neighbouring villages, the chiefs had departed the palace with no decision made.

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Tade woke up at the sound of a loud cock crowing, determined to have some personal time with her husband this morning before he went about his business for the day. Waking up without him by her side was not a habit she wanted to develop. Yet, she had failed to catch him again, the space by her side, empty and smooth. It was as though he hadn’t even entered the room at all to spend the night. She had tried to wait for his return last night, but by the time it was midnight, she had lost the struggle.

There was no way she could get used to this pattern, Tade mused, sitting up. She loved the way they used to snuggle into each other’s arms before they slept. She loved the way they prayed, talked about their lives, and planned for the future of their baby. Unfortunately, Adeyeri, her husband, was no longer available. There was only Adeyeri, the king, who was becoming too busy to make time for a chit chat, always on the move. Late nights in, early morning out. 

To blame him for negligence would also be unfair because she knew that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, and Adeyeri literally had a crown on his head as the King of Iludoyin Kingdom. She knew he was missing her too, that he was struggling with the demands of royalty, and would rather spend time with her. Yet, he had a duty to learn how to rule his people, defend his land from attack, and introduce God to Iludoyin people. Her duty was to remind him that he was good enough. He was worrying too much, refusing to agree with her that he could not build Iludoyin in a day. Good things take time.

“What is my beautiful wife doing awake this early morning?” Adeyeri’s voice broke into her thoughts as he entered the room.

“The cock has crowed, yet you are just coming to bed. How can I sleep peacefully?” Adeyeri removed his garment and lay beside her, pulling her as close as her protruding stomach would allow. “Don’t do that! You can’t avoid conversations by doing this,” she protested, but her head was already nestled against his shoulders, breathing him in, and enjoying the soothing comfort of being enclosed in his arms.

“There was so much to do yesterday!”

“You are the King. Why do you seem to do more than everyone else?”

“I don’t. I mostly deliberate with my cabinet. There is an issue that is heavy on our minds. Those white men, who look like Brother Joseph, are beginning to steal people from the neighbouring villages. We need to protect our borders.”

Tade sighed. “So the chiefs stayed all night in the throne room to discuss that?”

“They left before midnight!”

“So what were you doing? Did you go somewhere?”

“Where can a King go?” Adeyeri asked, and Tade heard the frustration in his voice. She snuggled closer to him and cradled his face.

“A king can choose to spend time how he wants to. You are under this much pressure because you are shutting me out. You are spending too much time alone, brooding and worrying about the future.”

“If I don’t worry, who will?”

“Worrying is a sign that you do not have faith. We cannot add even a second to our lives by worrying, neither will it help you make the difference you desire. Simply focus your mind on whatever is good, lovely, and of good report. Focus on what God has done,

and how far He has brought us. Soon, I will be crowned the Queen of Iludoyin. Isn’t that enough reason to believe that what God cannot do, does not exist?”

Adeyeri sighed and kissed her forehead, but he did not utter a word, while Tade observed him for a few moments before resting her head back on his chest. Something was worrying him, and even though he told her everything, he held that one thing back. She wished that she knew what it was, but couldn’t press further.

“Today is folklore night. Will you be my date?” Adeyeri whispered into her ears, distracting her from her worries with the sexy way he asked the question.

“They are not looking for pregnant women there,” Tade protested.

Adeyeri put his hands over her protruding stomach, caressing it gently. “They are looking for me there, and you are the only woman I am willing to dance with.” 

Tade smiled. Adeyeri always knew what to say to get her.

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“We need to get rid of that wife of his,” Abike hissed, pacing the balcony of their family house. Her friend, Toriola had come to visit her so that they could plan on how to win Adeyeri’s love.  

“I heard the Chiefs have unanimously declared that she cannot be Queen. You don’t need to worry about her. She can remain his wife, it doesn’t affect the plan. What we must focus on is how to get you to come to his attention again.”

“Do you think he will notice me? I hear he really loves that witch.”

“He has noticed you before, has he not? In fact, he more than noticed you, so I have no doubt that things between both of you can progress nicely.” Toriola said reassuringly, smiling mischievously. Things were about to get really exciting, and she was up for it. “I think I know what you should do!” 

Abike stopped pacing and focused on her friend. “What is it?” she asked desperately.

“The King would be at the folklore night today, he never misses it. I think you should dance for him.” 

“Dance? That is your strategy?”

“Trust me Abike, there is nothing like the sight of your full body rolling in a dance to boil the blood of a man who has had you before. King Adeyeri may be acting the devoted husband right now, but he was once a Prince who went after whatever he wanted, you included.”

“I don’t want to be seen as cheap.”

“Forget how you are seen, let’s focus on getting you seen by him again. I will be watching out for his expressions. It will tell me everything we need to know about how long it would take for you to get him back.” Abike still looked reluctant, but Toriola was insistent. “Make him remember! That’s the start, and the foundation that we will build everything on.” 

Abike thought about it for a moment then conceded. She sat by Toriola’s side and held her hands in gratitude. “I knew you were the best person to help me achieve this.” 

Toriola smiled, waving her thanks away. “Make sure you wear something really lovely,” she said, and quickly rose to leave as soon as Iyalode entered. “Good afternoon, Iya wa,” she greeted hurriedly, and scurried away 

She knew that Iyalode did not like her friendship with her daughter, Abike, and considered her a bad influence. In fact, because of this, Toriola had stayed away from Abike for a while despite liking the access the friendship gave her. However, she couldn’t stay away anymore. She needed a link to the King if she was going to avenge the death of her brother. Areo had served Adeyeri his entire life, and in the end, he had died for him, but Adeyeri had not even cared enough to come for a condolence visit. One way or another, she was going to make him do right by her family, and make him pay for her brother’s untimely death. 

Someone had to pay!

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“Where are you wearing something really lovely to?” Iyalode asked her daughter, making a show of refusing to acknowledge Toriola.

“My friend was greeting you, Maami,” Abike pouted, upset that her mother was going to drive Toriola away again. 

“She is a bad influence. I don’t want you around the likes of her,” Iyalode said.

“You are discriminating, and that is unfair. Not everyone can be the daughter of the man with the biggest farm in all the seven kingdoms, and the Iyalode of Iludoyin Kingdom.”

“Not everyone can be the Queen of the King of Iludoyin Kingdom as well.”

Abike looked away, fully understanding what her mother was driving at. “This is different. I am in love with Adeyeri, and it has nothing to do with his royalty!”

“So that is what this ‘wearing a lovely dress’ drama is all about. That girl is pushing you to look good for a man who already has a wife.”

Abike sighed angrily, triggered by her mothers words, but knowing that she had to rein it in, or she could be grounded from going to the folklore night. “Toriola is not pushing me to do anything that I don’t want to do. I need Adeyeri’s attention.”

“You may be friends, but that man is no longer Adeyeri to any of us. He is Kabiyesi, King Adeyeri Adeyanju the 2nd, and you will do well to remember that!”

“What is a King without a Queen?”

Iyalode sighed. “The King is married. His wife is pregnant. Don’t start a mission that is impossible.”

“Maami, he may have a wife, but like I heard you say to Baami last week, the King needs a Queen. The witch he married was a product of his exile, one he is allowed to keep as a spoil of war, but cannot…”

“Enough! You certainly heard more than you should have.”

“Maami, does it matter? What matters is that I stand a real chance here. When he was a Prince, we were close. I can make him remember.”

“How? You want to throw yourself at him again?” Abike looked away, embarrassed. “Oh! You do not know that I know that you allowed yourself to be used by the Prince for his amusement.”

“It was beyond amusement. He called me the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.”

“You are so foolish. How else does a young man get a woman to lose her morals for him, if not flattery. I hate to break it to you, but it doesn’t make you special. I bet he has said the same to many women.”

“I want to be Queen!” Abike said with determination.

“Why do you want to be with a man that can never love you?”

“Mother! Why would you say such a thing?”

“Because even though I don’t doubt that your efforts could succeed, and you may stand a chance to be Queen, the King is deeply in love with his wife, the exact same way his father had been with his birth mother, and If he is anything like his father, even if he marries you, you will only be like Wuraola.”

“Queen Wuraola was greatly revered.”

“That may be true, but I bet she must have been miserable too. The King never stopped loving Adeyeri’s mother even after she died.“

Abike turned away from her mother, saddened by the story, yet raising her shoulders defiantly. “I want to be Queen.”

“I want you to be with a man who can love you the way I believe Adeyeri already loves his wife, Tade.”

“I can make him stop loving her.”

Iyalode smiled sadly. “The heart wants what it wants. You may get him to marry you because he needs a Queen, but his heart would always belong to her.”

“That is because she is a witch, and she has stolen his affection with her witchcraft.”

Iyalode wanted to counter Abike, to let her know that from her observation of the King’s wife, it seemed that her charm was her beautiful personality. However, to say that was to hurt her daughter.

“Do what you must, it is your life, and I will hate to be the one who stops you from achieving your goals.” Abike broke into a smile and rushed to hug Iyalode, but the older woman stepped back. “I would rather you were the Queen of your husband’s heart, than the Queen of Iludoyin Kingdom.”

“I will become both,” Abike said confidently, but Iyalode simply scoffed.

“When a man loves a woman as deeply as Adeyeri loves Tade, wearing beautiful clothes, or dancing like a prostitute, is not how you steal his affections,” she said, then walked away from her daughter, praying to the gods that she would choose to have better sense than fight a losing battle.

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Adeyeri had been sleeping for over five hours, and Tade couldn’t find it in her heart to wake him up. He had so much sleep to catch up on, and the fact that he hadn’t woken up by himself, which was the norm, was a sign that he couldn’t cheat nature. However, his manservant kept coming to say that the Council of Chiefs were already seated in the throne room, and they wanted to see him as prearranged.

“Tell them that the King is resting. Can this meeting be rescheduled?” Tade had asked, but the manservant, Atoyebi, had looked gloomy, obviously uncomfortable with confronting the Chiefs.

“Don’t worry, I will tell them myself,” Tade said to him, realising why it could be uncomfortable for him to face the Chiefs.

“I don’t think that will be a good idea. I will go, Ayaba,” Atoyebi said, and quickly scurried away, leaving Tade to wonder why it would not be a good idea. She mused about it and realised that even Adeyeri had never suggested that she followed him into the throne room whenever the Chiefs were around. The only time she was allowed into the throne room was when nothing official or ceremonious was going on. Even on the day of Adeyeri’s coronation as King, she had noticed one of the servants taking out the small throne meant for the Queen.

Jolting her out of her thoughts was her servant girl, Sholape, who brought the hot water she had previously requested to prepare for Adeyeri’s bath, in a pot

“Should I take it in, Ayaba?” the girl asked, but Tade simply took the pot from her and waved her away, still deep in thought. Now that she thought more deeply about it, no one had ever called her Olori, to acknowledge her as Queen. It was always Ayaba, which meant wife of a king. Was there an issue, she wondered then waved her concern away. She was probably reading too much meaning into nothing. The people had not been resentful, even though they had not been warm either, but that may be the way of the monarchy. She had never lived in the palace, so she did not know what to expect. If something was wrong, Adeyeri would have told her. As far as she was concerned, there was no secret between them.

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Adeyeri was already awake, when Tade came into the room. He sat up on the bed as soon as she walked in, relishing her beauty.

“You look even more beautiful now that your body swells with my child.”

Tade blushed then put the pot of hot water on the table. “With the size of my stomach, one would think I was pregnant with five children. I can’t believe you still find me beautiful.”

Adeyeri smiled, patting the space beside him. “Come here, my love,” he said, and Tade obliged.

“You look more beautiful everyday. It’s like the more I know you, the more I unravel about you. I can’t wait to have you by my side tonight as we watch the youths of Iludoyin dance, sing, and tell beautiful stories.”

“If I wasn’t so embarrassed about my pregnancy, I would have danced for you tonight.”

Adeyeri laughed. “I am sorry, but I can’t imagine you dancing.”

“You don’t know me at all, Adeyeri. Hmmm… When I was in Nnewi, I belonged to a dance group, and I was one of the best dancers. Only Chiamaka could twist better than me.”

“You don’t mean it!” Adeyeri exclaimed in excitement, and Tade nodded. “If not that the Chiefs would arrive for a meeting any moment from now, I would have made you dance for me now.”

“The Chiefs have already arrived, but I did not want to wake you up, so I told Atoyebi to tell them to postpone the meeting.”

“What?” Adeyeri jumped up. “Did I sleep for that long?”

“Your body needs rest. You have literally been carrying Iludoyin Kingdom on your head at the expense of your health and wellbeing. You don’t even eat well.”

Adeyeri sighed. “Tadeyeri mi, these are the Chiefs, I can’t…”

“Adeyeri, what is it?” Tade asked, standing up as well. “Are they not your Chiefs? You always act like you are afraid of them, like you must do their bidding. Sometimes I wonder, are you their King or their student?”

“That is not a fair thing to say. Of course, I am King.”

“Then act like one. I am not saying that you should be disrespectful or inconsiderate, but still, you need to assert yourself as the monarch, or they will take advantage of you. You will lose their respect, and they will make you do only what they want at the expense of what you intuitively consider right as the ruler of this kingdom.”

“Tade, some of these Chiefs are older than my father, I need them on my side.”

“They are already on your side. You are their King. Act like one!”

“So, standing them up is what makes me King? I expect a better opinion from you!”

“In that case, I am sorry, I can only give you my opinion, not what you want to hear,” she said with mild sarcasm. “You are our King, our leader, but you are letting these people lead you. They control your time, they make the rules, they pass the laws, and you simply concur with everything. Can you tell me why?”

Adeyeri sighed. She had a point. He was trying to suck up to the Chiefs, but he didn’t know that it was as pathetic as Tade had just described. If it truly looked like this, then he could easily be seen as weak, and a weak King was easily replaceable.

“Can you tell me why?” Tade asked again.

Adeyeri couldn’t answer the question. Tade must never know that the Chiefs had decided that she could not be Queen. She couldn’t know that he was being soft with them so that they would like him enough to vote in his favour when he told them that he wanted to rewrite the rules and make her his Queen.

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What a way to start season two! 

Did you enjoy getting life updates about Adeyeri and Tadeyeri? It seems like new forces have risen to fight against them. What are your thoughts as the story unfolds?

Kindly share with us in the comments section below.