×~×
The King, along with the Council of Elders, sat in his obi, discussing in mildly hushed tones as though they were speaking about an evil spirit. The trial of the female was already enough to worry about, talk less of the sudden change in weather. They all could feel the looming doom hanging about her throat like a sword ready to strike at them. Confused at what was happening, they could all conclude to a plausible explanation, that the change of atmosphere was as a result of the female's actions.
“The gods are angry at us,” Elder Dike, the seemingly superstitious man, said, and it looked like what he had said was correct. Other Elders joined him in his conjunction, even though the change could have been seen as normal. They all thought that it wasn't though, that on the day of her trial, the weather imdiately changed, making it look like judgnt day.
‘Judgnt for who though?’ This question ran through the minds of everyone in the open compound. ‘For her or them?’ No one knew.
They continued the discussion with, “We have to hurry up with the matter of that girl unless — even though it doesn't seem likely — the wrath of the gods would descend upon us, my King.” Another said as he peeked his head out to look at the gloomy sky.
The King, despite having a bad feeling about going through with what he was planning, had to do sothing about the female as leaving her in the Kingdom would raise questions about his rulership and whatnot. So he did what other people would do in his shoes; he went on with the plan, despite the repercussions.
~|~
At 11 a.m. that day, the people of each tribe had already gathered at the square. The place was packed with people, as they had to huddle close together despite the inner conflict between each of the clans. Whispers, from the other clans rose as they judged the female tribe on how they didn't know how to coordinate their mbers.
Very quickly, the environnt was so noisy because of the banter between the female tribe and others, to the extent that a fight almost broke out. Neutral people from the clans had to intervene when they saw that the argunt was about to escalate into a fight and to prevent further crack in their intra-tribal relationships, they didn't say anything else about the female to her clan.
Other mbers from opposing clans kept to themselves, whilst other persons intermingled with them, wanting to lessen the divide in their interactions due to what had happened earlier.
So people who didn't co early at 11 a.m. sharp ca about ten or fifteen minutes later and then waited along with the others who had co early. They had no longer waited when they all saw their Igwe arrive with his escorts and along with his six-mber Council of Elders.
A hush encased the surroundings very quickly when the people had to bow on a knee, cross their left hands on their right chest, with their head bent low in respect to their King.
They all chorused; “IGWE!!” while still in that position, and until the King responded with a; “You may rise,” did they stand up.
They gazed up at their Leader, who stood on an erected stage (where only he can stand), with a look of reverence and pride for him being their King, but others didn't look at his face directly, either at his clothes or past him for fear that it may be disrespectful to do so. While his six-mber Council stood by his side, the guards stayed behind them, with so stationed around those people present.
The King raised a hand to placate the anxiously growing crowd as he stood on the stage, pride emanating from him. The crowd silenced when they heard him speak;
“My people of this Kingdom,” Cheers erupted from the masses at that sentence. He waited for the crowd to beco passive before he started talking once more.
“Today we all have gathered here. I am sowhat ashad that the purpose of this coming together isn't one of joy or peace”. He paused, looking at every one of them.
“Right now, we are here in regards to the matter concerning the female as to what she had done”. An uproar rose again, gesticulations of what she had done flying around, and the Igwe waited for them to calm down.
“She, despite knowing the rules and clauses between the relationship between each clan, decided on breaking them for what she thought was a mutual feeling between her and the male she was involved with.” He said out loud, with his audible voice transcending towards the masses. He didn't wait for the crowd to react as he continued;
“I — we all — have gathered here today to pass a collective judgnt on the female. As your King and leader, I ask for the opinion of the people present here...” A brief lull.
“... Should we forgive the female by letting her serve a sentence punishnt of five years for the Kingdom?” Silence reigned at what he had said, as the people began to ruminate over his words. He stood, watching them as they pondered on what he had said.
Alas, their thoughts ca to a short end when he said the next sentence. One which would imnsely change the life of the female.
“Or shall the female be, as a way of upholding the ways of our ancestors, banished from the Kingdom?” The King didn't have to wait long for a result when the crowd started to cheer loudly at what he had said.
He, alongside the Council, smiled subtly at the people's reaction. If that was what he — they — wanted, then he shall oblige to their wishes.
To the guards; “Go get the female,” he said out loud amid the people's cheering, to the guards standing amongst the Council. The ard, muscular n nodded at the command, leaving the mob to fetch the young female from her confinent.
******_******
This was a long one to write. I had actually written up to a thousand and sth words, but I had been... reluctant to continue tho.
So here it is.
Next chap is loading . . .💠
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