The night is cold, so cold it would be winter in most European countries.
Aynawu can be seen trekking with her soldiers, as steadfast as ever.
"Mtchww," Anyawu hisses. Exclaiming out loud, she says, sarcasm dripping from her tone, "Wonderful king!"
"Blasphemy." Her Lieutenant Chioma responds to her veiled insult of the king.
Anyawu speaks wittingly in a subdued voice to her fellow troops, a look of innocence etched on her face. "Blasphemy? What is blasphemous about what I said? I only complemented the king."
"We all know what you meant," Chioma replies looking into her eyes.
A moment of silence ensues when suddenly, her squad bursts into laughter.
Chioma moves closer to Anyawu. "But on a more serious note, what has you vexed, by what you were insinuating. It must be the King– did he try to marry you off to one of his sons?" Chioma's eyes examine Anyawu's expression, seeking for a response but there is none.
She continues, "Or did he try to ask for your hand instead?" Anyawu is unresponsive but Chioma does not relent. "That must be it!" She mockingly exclaims, trying to get a smile off Anyawu.
But nothing pays off. Chioma looks away in annoyance and that elicites a chuckle from Anyawu.
"No," Anyawu responds. "The king wouldn't even dare." She continues, "It's this expedition I do not understand. We are surrounded by nothing but bushes on this journey, yet he brought forty maids and forty children along with my troop, making it a total of hundred. Eighty inexperienced innocent people, going through these thick woods headed to Oshimili. Of course, I'd be angry!"
"With all the jewelry they're carrying, maybe it's an elaborate way to propose to you." Chioma says, jabbing Anyawu with her elbow.
"But that isn't what has me vexed like you." Chioma whispers to Anyawu. "With the path we are following, we will reach Ajofia very soon. What will we do then? We have no priest with us. And he specifically said we should continue down this path no matter what. It's really suspicious...."
Anyawu hums, contemplating. "I have a plan," She states. "Halt!" She shouts a command.
"We will stop for a three hour rest before we continue our journey." She concludes and everyone, following her orders, disbands to their various clicks, some setting the space up for rest.
(Flashback: Three Days Ago)
The soldiers at the front of Nile are all assuming their usual posts. The lieutenant would usually go fishing in the Nile River in search of fishes to abate his hunger, as at times supply of food is slow.
As some of the soldiers go in search for fishes, they stumble upon a beautiful lady who is drenched from head to toe, assuming a majestic sitting pose upon a rock bed at the shore. The water that flows from her body seems unending. From her head, downwards, water does not stop dripping.
Immediately, they admit the scene to be strange. Without haste they move to inform the King. The news reach the King within a day and even so, upon arrival, the woman– or creature, remains seated.
The King at his arrival comes with convoys of Priests, royal Warriors, virgin servants and High Chiefs– called from ever corner of the land, to approach the mysterious lady.
A Priest from the group, steps forward and makes incantations. Mysterious, cryptic words proceeding from his mouth, all of which lasted for about three minutes.
And after that, the King's servants step forward, offering gifts. Some of the gifts include varieties of fruits like mango and orange, and also includes the exotic Palm wine and dazzling jewels.
They offer the gift to the mysterious woman, silently placing it on the floor before her. The ritual comes to an end but the lady remains unresponsive. Only looking at them condescendingly– a blatant disregard for their acts or presence.
Seeing this, the king steps forward. A thin, sickly old man with a frail outlook, looking like he is about to fall apart any second. Shakily, he walks towards the lady. A look of fear and awe apparent on his expressions.
"Great one," He addresses her. "What is it you seek?" He continues in a humble tone. "We have brought all sorts of gifts to appease you," Evasively, the King averts his gaze from the captivating eyes of the unknown lady.
"Why do you look so worried, Nduka Na Chibuike?" She questions with a smirk. "I am only vexed a lot," Her words are dismissive, but the cleat sarcasm and rising edge to her voice speaks otherwise.
The woman elegantly rises from the rock bed and steps on the sandy floor. "For the past three hundred years, rituals made to the sea and rain has completely decreased! I thought maybe it is because of the decrease in gains or a lack of wealth, that there is change in the usual communal celebration of rain."
She smiles humorlessly, eyes spotting an intense gaze. "I even thought to bless you with abundance of fish and salt, but as I see before me... with the magnitude of gifts you have presented– exotic fruits, much wine and earthly treasures, that is not the case. Nduka, for this I will give this land thunderstorm and flood for every day a child is born!" Her voice has an unshakeable edge to it, loud and thunderous.
"P-please," The King nervously speaks, heart beating fast. "Give us a way out, we will do anything." He pauses, before speaking. "We will even sacrifice anything."
His last statement puts a cocky smirk on her face.
"If you mean as you say... I agree. I will tell you my demands."
(Present Day)
"Have you checked it?" Anyawu asks Uche. A well built young man, apart of her troop.
"Yes," he responds. "And chioma is right. It is nothing but Ajofia that is there and not one priest as there usually is." (I don't understand this part. Tell me about it. Is it "no one but. Or no one at? Is Ajofia a name or a place?)
Uche digresses to explain the meaning of the discovery. "Meaning no one to stop us from taking this path."
"The king is up to something," Anyawu concludes. "We will proceed to Oshimili but we will not take this route but a different one."
"Chioma," Anyawu faces her Lieutenant. "Inform everyone." She commands.
(Three Days Ago)
"What? That is insane! A sacrifice of a hundred?!" The king exclaims in terror.
The goddess smirks with indifference and cruelty in her eyes. "It is either you do that or I flood your kingdom and wash it off the face of Ani. Which is better? First, the death of tens of thousands or second, the deaths of just a hundred? Think wisely, Nduka."
Leaving the King no chance to retort, she disperses into a violent flow of water back into the Nile river
King's Palace.
In a grand spacious hall, is the gathering of Elders and the presence of the King's sons, all of whom are dining with the King on a long table.
"My King, what do we do?" Chief Uzo asks.
Eze, the second son responds in a grieved and lamenting tone. "The only thing to do is to abide by the goddess' demands. For years I was taught to believe the gods a myth– only there to impact fear and drive people's actions. And to a point the ideal was getting out of hand.... We needed a way to evolve technologically, and to do that we had to abandon our restricting beliefs. Only for this to lead to our current predicament."
"They are very real, my son." The King affirms. "We just had to abandon them to empower ourselves. And it worked out well. Of the whole lands, ours is the most advanced. But this..." The King sighs.
"This is just the curse that follows, anger from the gods!" One of the Elders comments.
"My king," Chinedu, the first born son of the King calls out. Determination, certainty and and uncertainty– a mixture in his eyes as he speaks. "I and and my brothers have thought up a plan."
"Let me hear it. At this point I will take anything if it works to stop this massacre."
"Why don't we lead our people through the Ajofia?"
"That's too dangerous!" An Elders exclaims.
"But it will be better than what they will face in the hands of the water goddess." The Pince retorts. "And they will not be there alone. The priests will be in there waiting for them."
"How do you see the plan, my king?" Eze seeks his Father's opinion, eyes searching for whatever answer he can find from the King's body language.
Silence falls in the room. Against the expressions of opposition on the faces of some Elders, from their disbelieving stares. And regardless of the Elders who seem to be lost in thoughts, contemplating the feasibility of the suggestion and those who nod approvingly, the king gave a slight nod of approval. Sealing the suggestion into action.
(Present Day.)
Unbeknownst to Anyawu and her company of the true intentions of the king, they march to their possible, if not, certain doom.
The air is suffocating and stale. From afar sounds the faint sounds of enchanting music, sung by a Siren. It is not easy to distinguish but it is noticeable..
Upon reaching the shores of the Nile, the group meets a Priest. One who looks different from the ones in their homeland. And from a glance, it is obvious the Priest is not even from the human realm. He stands, water flowing unending from his head to toe.
They move gradually to a stop. Anyawu steps forward, posture and mind alert, expecting some kind of confrontation but the Priest remains silent. Suddenly, the priest starts to incant. Everywhere is engulfed in blue flames and water droplets defying gravity are floating in the atmosphere.
Unphased, the group advances to the giant board floating in the middle of the river, as the Priest continues his incantation.
As soon as they all step on the floating board, without any indication to, the board sank. Its fall like a broken elevator rapidly descending to doom.
They could not even scream, being submerged underwater. Chioma and Anyawu exchange glances at each other underwater, both feeling uncertain about their sudden fate. Without more time to contemplate, they both lose consciousness.