"Obinna! Obinna!" Okenna called as he stormed into the palace, furrows etched on his forehead, nose flaring with each breath he took. His pectoral muscles jumping with restraint as he tried to get a hold of his temper.

Maids and guards alike cleared as he moved, Okenna rarely lost his temper however once he did it was not easy to get his temper under control.

He walked into the obi to find Obinna lounging with a cup of wine, ever since their father's mysterious illness, the man was always lost in his cup.

"Did you not hear me call?" Okenna roared, sweat gathering on his nose and forehead.

"Now you have found me, what is it?" Obinna slurred nonchalantly, he didn't think he had done anything to warrant his brother's wrath.

"Do not pretend you do not know what I am talking about." Okenna's glare was hot enough to sear the flesh off of his brother's bones.

"You killed a girl! Obinna you had no right to take her life. Life is sacred!"

"She should have thought of that before escaping, I had to make an example to the others."

"The way you think never ceases to amaze me. Why couldn't you imprison her?"

Okenna slapped the cup of wine out of his brother's hands when he attempted to continue drinking, "Do you think the answers are at the bottom of that cup?"

A battle of glares ensured, Obinna gave no response causing Okenna to start pacing as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

"I just spoke to Agbarakwe, we just lost two girls, three are to be sent back to their homes, we only have nine girls left and we are running out of time."

Obinna let out a hard bark of laughter as he rose unsteady to his feet, Okenna faced his brother, his mouth parted in shock, concern laced his voice when he spoke, "Are you alright?"

Another round of bitter laughter was released from Obinna's throat as he pointed at his brother, "I am alright, perfect even. You are the one who is not!"

Okenna blinked at the rise in his brothers voice, had he had that much to drink?

"You think I do not know what you are doing? Asking Agbarakwe to train the girls? Not speaking up when the council asked you to get ready? You are just buying time!" Another roar had Okenna's eyebrows shooting to his hairline.

"You want father to die so you can have the throne!"

Okenna looked at his brother like he just sprouted another head, what nonsense was coming out of his mouth? He watched his brother sway unsteadily on his feet almost falling before he caught himself, his eyes were fully dilated. His lips curled in a snarl as Obinna stared at him with hostility.

"Is that what you think? I want father to die?" Okenna sounded hurt.

"I don't think, I know it." Obinnna's voice held so much conviction as he hiccupped before slouching in a seat.

"I can't believe this, I have no reason to kill father, the throne is my birthright!"

Obinna snorted at his brother's quiet voice before drinking directly from the palm wine gourd. "If father has his way, you will never have it."

Obinna cackled like a mad man at the hurt expression on his brothers face while he made his way out of the obi.

Okenna stumbled into a chair, his hand shaking as he took deep calming breaths. He knew his father didn't want him to succeed him as king but whatever he was feeding his younger brother had taken deep  root in him. The hostility.... Gods! He never wanted to be his father, he wanted to be a better man, a better ruler. Sure they didn't agree but if what he saw in his brother was a fraction, he didn't want to know what his father's mind held.

Here he was trying to make sure his father stayed on this side of life and his brother... He knew they were close, Obinna was a copy of his father but...

Thoughts ran through his head as he clenched his fists, anger overtaking the hurt.

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The cock crowed in protest and fluttered it's wings in a bid to escape but it was held down by the foot pinning it's wings down. Blood sprayed over the figurine under the tree coating it bright red. It's body shuddered violently as the cock fought it's last.

"Gods of our land, Ala, great mother, please protect my daughter, bring her home." Nwakaego prayed as she held the still shuddering animal with her foot, the knife and her right hand coated with blood as tears ran down her cheeks.

It had been days since Ada had gone missing, the search party continued to comb the village in their search but nothing had been found. Nwakaego had taken up a fast and  offered  sacrifices daily to ensure her daughter's safe return.

She straightened as she wiped her eyes with her forearm. She looked haggard, her hair sticking out in all directions. The bags under her eyes indicated she had not been sleeping properly.

"Mama! Mama! Where are you?" she turned to see Ekeoma running towards her.

"Nwa m, ogini? What is going on?"

"You have to come with me, we have to hurry, they found something."

"Eh! Chim o! Let us go." Nwakaego said retying her wrapper and pulling up a part of it to allow for easier movement of her legs.

The guards who stood gathering the palace allowed them access as they saw both females running towards them. They both headed to the the throne room, only pausing at the entrance to catch their breath.

"Igwe e g'adi", both women knelt as they greeted the ruler.

"Rise, daughters of Mbachi," the Igwe said, he sat on the throne, two servants stood beside him, with large fans fanning slowly, almost lazily. The throne room was quite simple but comfortable. The entire council was present and seated as well as members of the search party who were standing in a single line, Esomchi stood with them, his expression unreadable.

"Mbachu, tell us what it is you found," the igwe spoke to a particularly  tall man who stood to the left.

"We searched and searched, we combed the village for two days yet it seemed the girl had vanished into thin air, we were about to give up when one of the men suggested we check the west border, again just to be sure. We walked deep into the forest and we stumbled upon these items", he nodded at someone in the line who came forward with a basket ,a stool and a woven bag.

"The scene where these items were found had signs of struggle, we found blood and this torn piece of cloth." He produced a piece of cloth from the bag on his shoulder. "We followed the trail, hoping to see where it led but it vanished. The evidence suggests the girl was kidnapped."

There was an uproar among people present as Nwakaego moved to the basket and looked it over, toward the top was a red line, same with the stool. She then took the piece from Mbachu's hand.

"Igwe these belong to my Ada." Nwakaego confirmed, tears streaming down her cheeks, her shoulder shaking with silent sobs.

"Who dares to do this?" a member of the council asked.

"I suggest the men keep looking, whoever did this might have been careless enough to drop something " another said shaking his head, his leg bouncing in anger.

"I suggest  we send for the diviner, the gods know everything " another man spoke his jaw resting on his palm with his elbow in his lap.

"We have to take precautions, we have to protect our girls. We cannot have a repeat of this happening."

The Igwe cleared his throat ,"the search must continue. Nwakaego we will do our best to find your daughter, take heart all is not lost. I will send for the diviner and as soon as there is news you will be the first to know."

Nwakaego nodded in appreciation before leaving, Esomchi and Ekeoma by her side. "You suggested the west border, didn't you?" she asked Esomchi once they were away from the palace

He nodded."I promise you mama, I will do my best, even if I have to do it alone. She will be found."

Nwakaego loosened the edge of her wrapper and used it to dry her tears, "Be careful, I do not wish for anything to happen to you. The gods knows best. Ada will come back home." she burst into tears again.

Glossary

Nwa m, ogini? : My child, what is it?

Igwe e g'adi :  my king, may you live long.