Episode Nine: Potent Poison

Adeyeri refused to leave Tade, much to Banji’s disapproval. In his opinion, the Prince should be with the Chiefs, making decisions about the coronation, but all his admonition fell on deaf ears. After sneaking Tade out of the palace and finding a secret cave in the bush behind the palace to hide, Adeyeri remained with her. He held her hands as Banji removed the arrow, cleaned the wound, and treated her. She had made sounds of pain even in her state of unconsciousness, sounds that calmed Adeyeri’s fears about her suddenly dying, yet piercing his soul. He stayed with her all through the morning, not leaving her side, and even refusing to eat the food Banji had brought with him when he went to retrieve his medicine bag.

“You must try all you can for her,” Adeyeri said to Banji as he watched Tade’s chest rise and fall in laboured breathing.

Banji nodded as he put herbs on the wound to ensure that a bacteria infection did not occur. “And you must go back to the palace to lay claim to the throne.”

Adeyeri scoffed. “While a killer is on the loose to kill me or anyone in their way.”

Banji paused the treatment briefly to look him in the eye, hoping to appeal to him. “But if you hide, my Prince, someone else may…”

Adeyeri didn’t let him finish. “I am not hiding, if anything, I am desperate to find the killer and will launch a search to do so.”

“Isn’t that easier after you have become King?” Banji retorted.

Adeyeri turned Tade so that her upper body was fully on his lap, cradling her gently to ensure she was comfortable. One would think he was a first time mum pampering her newborn baby.

“They will not let me ascend the throne. Whoever the person or the people in charge of these assassin attempts are, they are brutal.”

Banji sighed, overcome with fear. “Do you have any suspects?”

“My father was going to…” he started to say then stopped

“Was going to what?” Banji asked, wondering why Adeyeri was withholding information from him.

“Never mind,” he said, and looked away.

Banji should have taken offence at his friend’s cautiousness, but he could not. He knew that it was hard to trust anyone in light of the heartbreaking circumstances.

Adeyeri knew at once what Banji was thinking. “Don’t think you know my mind because you do not. The only reason I am not telling you anything is because I am afraid for you. The less you know, and the less involved you are in all this mess, the better for you.” He used his other hand, the one that wasn’t supporting Tade, to grab Banji’s shoulders. “I cannot afford to lose you too.”

Banji was going to say that Adeyeri should not worry about things like that, and that he would come to no harm, but he couldn’t because the Prince was right. The killers were brutal. The poison they put on the arrow did not need to penetrate before it killed, just a light brush of the arrow was enough. This was why Banji knew without a doubt that Tade was definitely a witch, or in possession of some superior power, because even though she was still unconscious, a sign that the poison was potent, she was alive and breathing. Something was keeping her alive.

“How long till she wakes up?” Adeyeri was desperate to know.

Banji observed her sleeping position. “If the poison doesn’t spread, maybe a day or two, or three, or a week, I don’t know.”

“That was quite helpful,” Adeyeri scowled.

“The only help I can give you now is this – go back to the palace. Remain there. Be involved in the…”

“Where do we keep her?” Adeyeri interrupted him, not in the mood for his advice.

Banji held his gaze for a short while, sensing that his friend was going to make a decision he was going to hate, then answered: “I will take her to her Aunty’s…”

An alarm went off in Adeyeri’s head. “No!” he exclaimed, not willing to take Tade to a place where he could no longer have access to check up on her till she was absolutely okay.

“Take her to our secret hut. Till she heals.”

“But…” Banji started to say, but Adeyeri shut him up.

“Just do as I say.”

Banji sighed in frustration and began to lift Tade off Adeyeri. “With all due respect, my Prince, you too, do as I say. Go back to the palace. Take your place. For all we know, they are having meetings about the coronation already.”

The Chiefs of Iludoyin had been in a meeting for two hours, yet they could not come to a conclusion on the issue that weighed heavily on all their minds. They had differing opinions with regards to the coronation of the next King. The Chief Priest sat on the floor in between them, endlessly consulting Ifa to know the minds of the gods, but coming up with nothing.

“You people are not listening to me. The main question we should be asking ourselves is, where is our Prince? Where is Adeyeri?” Iyalode quipped.

“If you ask me, I will say he has something to hide,” Chief Osi said, rolling his eyes in contempt.

“And that is why we will not ask you,” Chief Otun retorted.

Chief Osi eyed him, then hissed. “We cannot afford sentiments in matters of the throne ooo!”

“Beeni. It is our job to unravel mysteries, do our research, and crown the rightful king,” Iyalode said, adjusting her gele and sitting up from her stool to emphasise her point.

Chief Otun shook his head vigorously, looking utterly disappointed by the manner in which his colleagues were suddenly unsupportive of Adeyeri’s rightful claim. “Adeyeri is the beloved. You all loved and admired him. Was it not just one week ago that you serenaded him with gifts as we celebrated his birthday? Now that he needs our support, you are adding him to the list of suspects for his father’s murder. If we are truly loyal to the throne, Adeyeri should have our trust until any evidence proves him guilty.”

Iyalode looked remorseful by Otun’s speech, and her voice level dropped. “I agree with you, Otun. The young man is truly beloved because his ways have been pure and admirable. Until now.” Osi nodded in agreement.

“What has he done in a space of a few days that makes him a potential murderer?” Chief Otun asked, looking shocked.

“Where is he now? Why has he been incessantly missing? Why is he…?”

Otun didn’t let Osi finish. “I am sure there is a very good excuse for his disappearance. He is probably in shock. Adeyeri has given us no reason to believe he killed his father.” 

“Except for the fact that his servant died in his clothes on the same night with his father, our King,” Iyalode chipped in.

“Doesn’t that mean that he was probably the person targeted for death, but his servant… Hmmm… I think…” Otun couldn’t organise his thoughts well, so he kept quiet, and Osi rose to speak.

“I know you will make an excuse for him, but if you are thinking straight, you will agree with us that Adeyeri disappeared in the middle of his party, and from our little investigation with late Kabiyesi’s guard, Adeyeri was spotted exchanging outfit with Areo, his servant, and sneaking out of the palace. Why will a Prince do that? We need to dig deeper, and until we have answers, he cannot be coronated as the next King. I have nothing against him. As you said yourself, we all love him. I want him to be King, but first, we have to rule out the possibility that he is a murderer. The coronation must be delayed.”

At Osi’s last sentence, Otun rose. “It is not your place to determine the next King.”

Iyalode rose too, facing Otun. “It is our place, and I stand with Osi. You are the odd one out.”

Otun hissed at their attempt at solidarity then faced the Chief Priest. “Where do you stand, Oluawo?”

“I will have to consult the gods,” The Chief Priest said, packing his bag and rising up.

“Isn’t that what you have been doing all morning?” Iyalode asked, trying to hide her irritation at the Chief Priest’s lack of progress with his consultation.

“This place has become too noisy,” the Chief Priest quipped and left, while the Chiefs paced around the palace in confusion.

Queen Wuraola watched as Adeyeri walked into her room. She wished she had known that he was coming, she would have prepared; mustered some grief from her soul to look solemn, but right now, she was not in the mood. She needed to send news to her real son that his throne was vacant so that he could come back to Iludoyin, but she did not know who to trust. She needed to think through her plan, not babysit an idiot boy who did not deserve the throne, but it was too early to show her discontent. If she had hidden her plan and intention under motherly love for twenty-five years, she could do it for a few more weeks or months if needed.

“Adeyeri,” she said sweetly, summoning him to sit on the mat beside her. He did more than that, he hugged her.

“I am so sorry. I have left you for too long. How are you, mother?” Adeyeri asked, relaxing in her arms, needing her comfort, but she stiffened and he assumed that her grief was too deep for her to offer anyone comfort right now, so he withdrew.

“Adeyeri, do you want to kill me? What is wrong with you?” she asked.

“Why will you say that? You are the only family I have now,” he replied, hurt.

“Do you want to kill me?” Queen Wuraola asked again, summoning tears so he could believe her pain.

Adeyeri moved closer. “Mother, this is a very bad time for such statement. I cannot bear the thought of losing one more person that I love right now.”

“Then why do you keep disappearing? What is wrong with you?” Wuraola asked, looking concerned, her hand resting on Adeyeri’s arm.

“I am mourning my father,” he replied, looking away as tears built in his eyes. Yet, he fought his emotions, trying to be strong for his mother’s sake.

“Mourn him here. In the palace. You are the next King, you need to act like one. Don’t give these Chiefs the power to take away your throne?” she advised, her hand searching for his own to hold them affectionately.

Adeyeri held her hands firmly. “The throne is mine.”

His words infuriated her, but she took a deep breath and tried to remain normal. “Then why does it look like you are moving away from it rather than towards it.”

Adeyeri held her gaze for a moment, tempted to tell her that someone was trying to kill him, and had attempted to poison him with an arrow the day before, but he couldn’t go through with it. She was fragile, and he needed to protect her. Yet, he couldn’t help sharing some of his worries.

“Everything is happening too quickly. My father died just a few days ago, but it feels like months. Everyone is recovering too quickly, planning and scheming. Why are we rushing?”

Wuraola couldn’t understand how a Prince and heir to a great throne would be complaining that things were moving too quickly in his favour. The boy was a fool, just like his mother. It was why it had been easy to kill her. Even though she didn’t want him to take her advice, she decided to give it because acting cold and indifferent would not get him to open up to her, and give her the secrets she needed to get him dethroned or out of the way when the time came.

“My son, don’t be naive. You need to start thinking.”

“That’s the problem. I am the only one thinking. A killer is on the loose, but you all want me in the palace, dancing to the throne, dancing to my death. I am a target too, you know?”

Wuraola had suspected that those who killed his father may want to kill him too, but she wasn’t sure. This was good news. Maybe they could completely get him out of the way before her own son arrived. That way, she won’t feel any responsibility for his destruction. She didn’t trust her voice to be sad enough at his revelation, so she faked tears. Faking tears was never difficult for her.

Adeyeri felt a stab of guilt at her tears, and moved closer to her. “Don’t worry about me, mother, I will be fine. Mourn my father and heal. We will triumph.” 

He hugged her affectionately, glad he had left Tade briefly to come and see her. She needed him, he thought, not knowing that she was rolling her eyes, hoping that he would leave soon.

Banji put Tade down and removed a wet cloth from his bag to wipe her forehead to keep her temperature down. She was burning up, a sign of a fever, and he hoped she had not come down with an infection. Yemi, who had come to assist him to take Tade to Adeyeri’s secret hut, paced uncomfortably. All through the journey to their destination, he was looking over his shoulder. Even now that they were almost there, he was still looking around, hoping to dodge an arrow. Banji gave his bags back to Yemi, who had been carrying it all along, and lifted Tade back to continue their journey.

“How does Adeyeri plan to figure out this whole thing?” Yemi asked as they walked towards the hut, wondering why Banji was not scared.

“I believe he is clueless, but I don’t blame him. I will too if my killer was on the loose.”

“We could all become targets by virtue of association,” Yemi said, pointing at Tade’s unconscious state.

Banji looked away from his patient, studying Yemi’s demeanour. He scowled. Yemi had always been disloyal, but never to Adeyeri. He could literally kiss the ground that the Prince walked on, basking in the glory of all the privilege that the friendship accorded him.

“I should not have called you,” he declared, and Yemi rolled his eyes in defiance, wishing that Banji truly did not call him.

“You shouldn’t have,” Yemi echoed.

Banji hissed, but tried to hide his irritation so that Yemi wouldn’t claim that he had been insulted and take it as an excuse to leave him there alone. “Since you are already here, let’s finish this assignment. Walk ahead of me and signal for me to cross the road only when no one is coming.” he said, but Yemi remained glued to the spot till Banji, who was already walking ahead, paused and bellowed, “Now.”

Grudgingly, Yemi led the way, but not without murmuring his displeasure. “Me, I don’t want to die ooo. I hate challenges. Call me only for wine, not all these.”

“Your ability to handle challenges bravely is a measure of the strength of your character.”

Yemi scoffed. “I have no character.”

Tade willed her eyes to open. Her mind was active, and she was conscious of the activity around her, yet she could not respond. She felt a huge pain as Banji dropped her on a soft mat. It must have been coated with wool, lots of wool fit for a Prince, but she knew that Adeyeri was not there, and she was scared. Something bad was about to happen. 

She couldn’t help him, and she couldn’t help herself. She struggled to drift back to consciousness so she could send a message through Banji to warn the Prince to stay in the palace. In her dream, she could see an assassin on a tree about to shoot an arrow, and Adeyeri was walking towards it.

“No! No!” she could hear herself say, but  wasn’t sure if anyone could hear her.

Was she simply replaying what happened earlier, or was this a fresh attack? She couldn’t tell, and fear gripped her.

“God, please help him. Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!” she whispered and began to speak in tongues.

Banji tried to shake her, hoping to wake her up. She was burning up now, and he feared that the worst may not be over. Now, she was speaking in her unconscious state, invoking incantations to probably protect herself.

Yemi was pacing the room uncomfortably. “Banji, we need to leave the witch here alone. We have tried. For all we know, she may be casting a spell to move her death to any of us,” he said, trying to reason with Banji.

“If she was that type of evil witch, why would she try to save Adeyeri?” Banji asked, trying to calm Tade as her voice rose, speaking a tongue he did not understand.

Yemi looked from Tade to Banji and sighed. He had to find a way to leave them. He couldn’t remain with the witch.

Adeyeri had tried to remain in the palace, to be available when the Chiefs summoned him for a meeting. In fact, he had considered calling them for a meeting to discuss the fears he was having, and the assassination attempt, but he did not know who to trust. He was also not in the mood for a political meeting. His mind was on Tade, the woman who had risked her life to save his, and so he decided to leave the palace again, going through a secret bush path, so that no one would see him to share sympathies. He could only hope that he wouldn’t be trailed, and that the assassin was on a break, because even though the palace seemed like the safest place to be right now, he couldn’t remain there.