Ada and the other girls stood in a large clearing, it was a combat area where the warriors of Ede-she finally found out the name of the village from a help-trained. It had a couple of sheds scatters about, one housed weapons- spears, throwing knives, hand knives, long and short swords and clubs were arranged in neat rows. Another one held water pots, another amour, another had long bamboo benches.

She was still reeling from the event of yesterday, like she predicted she did dream of the dead girl only this time it was her own eyes glazed over in death.

Ada knew she was not alone in this feeling, the girls hardly spoke after it happened, each mourning the girl in their own way. The youngest- Dera had slept in the dead girl's furs, Nmachi  had said a prayer.

Their security doubled, apparently the king wasn't taking his chances. Ada felt bad for the people of Ede, under such a ruthless king, it was a wonder there were still people in it.

Now that she knew she was four market days away from home all that remained was finding out why they were taken. Even though the murder yesterday dampened her spirits she wasn't giving up, she just had to be smart and not get caught.

They were escorted by a group of guards from their huts to the arena an hour ago, the sun was setting, casting a myriad of beautiful colours in the sky, a gentle breeze blew and the weather was cool.

However silence hung in the air loud and heavy, Ada was grateful for the cool weather, she could not imagine what would happen to them if they had been standing in the hot sun. Then came the sound that broke the silence.

It sounded like tiny bells ringing, the sounds reminded Ada of the anklets girls in her village wore to dance during festive occasions, the girls looked around trying to locate where the sound was coming from, then they saw it, an approaching figure with a staff.

"Welcome," the figure, a man spoke. His hair was all white, he had piercing but kind brown eyes, a white circle around his right eye.

He was wearing a friendly smile and the wrapper around his waist was beautiful, his feet was painted white, the paint ending at his ankles. His staff was made of wood and had all sorts of things dangling from it- pieces of cloth, dried blood, beautiful feathers of all colours and sizes.

"I am Agbarakwe, messenger of the gods. I am sorry for what you must have been through to be here but you all have been selected for a task, a task for the brave, wise and pure of heart and body." He paused as he moved from one end of the line to the other, his staff ringing with every step he took as he looked each girl over.

"Fear not, this is just a selection exercise, the journey you about to embark on is not an easy one. As many as fail this exercise, you will be granted safe passage back to your people."

Ada mulled over his words, brave, wise, pure? Could he get any cryptic. The name however struck a chord, Agbarakwe was a well know name even in her village, it was said he had a solution for everything and was well sought after. He was also one of the few dibias that didn't meddle in the dark arts.

The girls began to move uncomfortably and murmur among themselves.

"Are we going to be used as sacrifice to the gods?" Nmachi whispered to Ada beside her who shook her head no.

"Remember, the gods are all seeing, it is not wise for you to test them. For the first task all you have to do is answer this simple question. If you are not pure of body, step forward." Agbarakwe came to a halt in the middle of the line.

Again murmurs arose amongst the girls, three girls hesitantly stepped forward, fidgeting with some part of their body.

"You are not in trouble, step this way," Agbarakwe pointed to his left. When the girls moved he began pacing again as he continued. "Remember lying to the gods have grave consequences, last chance, if you are not pure of body step out now."

No one moved from the line, Agbarakwe looked the girls over, the silence was deafening even the breeze was no longer blowing. Using his staff, he drew a line in the soil.

"Cross."

Fear gripped the girls as they looked at each other wondering who would go first, Nmachi broke from the line and crossed over the line to the other side. When nothing happened to her after a while, Ada crossed too.

Another girl crossed the line then another, the girls were beginning to get relaxed with the process as another girl tried to cross, she had just placed her right foot on the other side when suddenly she started convulsing, her body shuddering violently, she fell to the ground blood pouring from her eyes, nose and mouth.

Ada gripped Nmachi's hand, her face reflecting horror at the suffering of the girl before them. Another death?

"Next!" Agbarakwe called looking at the remaining girls who were hurled together, shaking with fear.

The girl on the floor lay still, her eyes open and unfocused in death.

The girls stared in shock at the dead girl before one was roughly pushed forward by a guard, bringing them back to gravity of the situation.

"I hope this serves as an example to the rest of you." He said as the last girl crossed.

"You will be escorted home." He looked at the girls that had stepped forward initially.

He nodded at some guards, a silent command to get rid of the dead girl.

Why did she lie? Did she think this was a joke? Everyone knew lying to the gods was unforgivable. Did she really want to die?

Question after question ran through Ada's mind as she watched two guards pick up the dead girl, blood leaving a trail behind, a reminder of what occurred even if they could no longer see the body.

Whatever the reason for their kidnapping was, they were taking things very serious and she didn't like the fact that a small voice in her head kept whispering breeding.

You do not have to be wise or brave for that, all you need is to be a female.

As Ada watched the guards with the girl become smaller and smaller, she wondered if death was a better option than whatever the reason for their kidnap  and the other girls what was going to happen to them?