Agubata sat on a stool in the shrine behind his obi, a cup of wine in one hand, a kolanut in the other hand. The shrine was a small hut, it had a small statue of his chi leaning against the wall, a calabash of water before it, the room was illuminated by a small wooded lamp, the single flame burning in the early hours of the morning. He placed the cup carefully on the ground beside him, with his right hand, he raised the kolanut to the sky, muttered a few words then proceeded to break the kolanut.

"It is said that he who seeks the gods early in the morning would find them. I have come to ask that you watch over my household and that my reign be long." He placed the kolanut in his mouth, chewed for some seconds before spitting out the chewed kolanut out forcefully.

"Gods of the land, i have come again as agreed to pay homage, may i not be put to shame," He picked up the cup, “let your blessings follow me on eke day," he poured some of the wine on the floor, “the same on nkwo day."

He poured some more wine, "Same on orie day," more wine was poured. "and afor day."

He emptied the cup. "Ise!"

A cock crowed in the distance signaling the break of dawn, Agubata rose to his feet, his bones creaking as he did, he was not as young as he used to be, grunting he moved the stood he had used to sit close to the wall, supporting his waist with his hand he walked out the shrine towards his obi.

He was the ruler of Ede village and had been in power for the past eighteen years, he was not a fair man or good leader, on the contrary he ruled with an iron hand, he was cruel and unjust. His people lived in fear of him even the members of his cabinet, he enriched himself at the expense of the people, he took what he wanted, when he wanted irrespective of who got hurt in the process.

Agubata sat in his throne in the throne room, he had no intentions of going to the throne room but somehow he found himself there, from where he sat, he could see his gate and the dark sky above, he had never been afraid of the dark but as he looked at the sky he felt off, he could not place his finger on it but something felt off, something was coming, something he felt he had no control over but he was not scared.

Whatever it is, it will pass. I am Agubata the great lion.

"Papa ndewo, i knew i would find you here." A tall slim man knelt before Agubata, he touched the boy with his horsetail, the man rose then took a seat to the left of his father.

"Obinna, son how was your night?" Agubata asked looking at his second son, Obinna was not only the second child and son of his father, he was his father's favorite. He was tall, slim and dark, he had a full beard and very sharp eyes like that of a hawk despite his slim nature he was built, looking at him you could see the power in his frame when he flexed. Wherever Agubata was found, Obinna was never far away.

"I had a good night papa, you seem to sleep less with each passing day.”  Obinna looked at his father, age was really catching up with him, his forehead was filled with wrinkles but his eyes were as sharp as ever, his beard had turned white same as the hair on his head, his loins had thickened and he noticed his father hesitated to sit or stand these days.

"You have always had a keen eye unlike your brother, i wish you could succeed me as king.”  He muttered enough for Obinna to hear him.

Obinna laughed for a while, "I am not your first born papa, we have talked about this, Okenna will be your successor but he will have me to guide him."

Agubata looked at his son and for a while there was silence as he thought, Obinna was a boy after his heart, he was not a weak spineless wimp like his brother. He was a man of action, a man that commanded fear. For the thousandth time, he wondered why the gods made him his second son, he often found himself wondering of late if Okenna his first son was from his loins.

  The apple did fall very far from the tree with his first son, the man believed in diplomacy where Agubata believed in brute force, Okenna believed they were in a position of power to help, defend and protect the people rather than enriching their personal pocket.

He let out a deep breath, "I trust you, i trust you." he said before staring off into the distance again.

Glossary

Chi- personal god
Obi - this would be the equivalent of a sitting room, it was where meetings were held and visitors entertained