Ada came to slowly, her head was pounding with a very nasty headache like she had been drinking palmwine all night. She slowly sat up and tried to moved her limbs, panic setting in when she realized she could not move them because she was bound but that was not as alarming as the fact that she couldn't see because she had a blind fold on, the tension of the fabric around her face contributing to her headache.

She wished she had her hands to support her head and rub her temples. She listened for sounds or anything that could tell her about where she was. Sharp pain stabbed behind her eyes as she swooned a bit.

What happened? Where am I?

She wiggled on the floor trying to get the circulation in her legs working again as it came back to her.

She had been in the bush after dropping her friend at the junction that led to her house, she wanted to pick some snails and vegetables to cook with, the evening time and early in the morning were the best time to pick the snails because the weather was cool and the slimy animals came out to eat, she was just about to pick a particularly big snail where she heard a ruffle, she ignored the sound attributing to some animal and picked up the snail, she was about to put it in her basket when someone dragged her from behind with a hand around her middle and the other on her mouth and nose.

Her screams were muffled as she trashed and fought against the hold the person had on her. She couldn't breathe and that fueled her fight, slowly darkness crept into her her vision, her limbs grew heavier and heavier until all the fight left her.

Whimpering coming from her left caused her to jerk her head in that direction even as the male voices exploded and pandemonium occurred. Female screams bursted out as the men ordered the girls to be quiet. The noise escalated her headache, she felt something cold against her ankles before her legs were freed. She almost fell when a vice like grip clamped on her upper arm roughly dragging her to he feet.

"Move." The voice was quiet but she had the threat beneath it.

The girls all hurried along as they were pulled into open space, Ada was thankful for the fresh air and took deep long breaths, however her joy was short lived when the blindfold was ripped off her head. The light of the sun filtered into her eyes blinding her.

Pain shot through her skull and she bit her lip trying not to cry out even as she blinked rapidly to help her eyes focus.

She slowly opened one eye then the other when she felt it was safe again, when blinking didn't work out, looking around she took in her surroundings. Fourteen girls stood in a row facing a group of men. The men all looked intimidating and had a scowl on their faces. They were tall, thick, built men with patterns of black around their chest and arms.

Looking about, Ada realised they were not in her village, they stood in a large opening surrounded by a semi circle of huts. It appeared there were no other people present save the girls and the menacing man before them.

Her attention moved to a corner as she head voices approaching. Four men came into view, Two were tall and really good looking, the other two looked like the men standing before her.

Was scowling a thing the men did around here?

One of the two good looking men paused in his step when his eyes fell upon the girls and began talking in rapid whispers to the other one, his hands moving rapidly as he spoke, from their clothing and the way they carried themselves, she knew they were important people.

Watching the men argue became boring so she began to inspect the girls in the line with her. Some were really banged up, their attackers must have hit them, apparently she was one of the lucky ones because she wasn't sporting any bruise.

Ada noticed that they were all weary and some looked really scared. She also knew they were from different villages because of the differences in their clothing, hair style and decorations on their body.

The men finally ended their argument and approached them. "Nno, you are welcome."

Ada corked her head to the side as she looked the one speaking over, he was tall, really dark and good looking, his wrapper was of beautiful colours and patterns, he had a sword strapped to his waist, and a red beaded bracelet on his right hand. He carried himself with authority, she suspected he was royalty.

But what would they want with a couple of girls? Could the stories be true? Why was he welcoming them after having them kidnapped? Maybe he should have his head looked at.

"I am sorry, you had to go through this ordeal. It was not my intention for any of you to be treated this way." the man went on, looking each girl over, he then shot the man he had argued with earlier a look.

Ada by now was sure he needed to have his head checked but something wasn't quite right he seemed to be sincere.

"My men will take you to your hut, you will be fed and medicine will be brought to you. You need to rest and recover your strength." he gestured to the guards to take them away.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Okenna paced the obi in fury, he was so angry it was a wonder smoke wasn't rcoming out of him as his blood boiled. Obinna sat in a corner, relaxing with a cup of palmwine in his hand.

Okenna made a turn as he paced coming to stand in front of his brother, who grinned brightly at him as he brought his cup to his lips. Never in his entire life did he really want to strangle someone as he wanted to do to his brother in that moment, at least he had the decency to put the entire room between them.

Okenna glared at his brother as he resumed his pacing.

This was bad kidnapping, really?

He eyed his brother on his way to the other end of the room,"How can you be so calm about this? They have family, who would be frantic with worry about their whereabouts."

"Will you stop worrying? It had to be done." Obinna nonchalantly took another sip from his cup.

His brother sent him another glare. Obinna was sure if looks could kill he would be well and truly dead, "Will you stop your restless pacing? You are giving me a headache. How else were we going to get them?"

Okenna stopped his pacing to take a seat opposite his brother, bouncing his right foot in agitation, "we could have asked nicely? Sent the town crier to go round the village with the request, promise the volunteers a great reward. You just had to go and snatch young unsuspecting girls from their villages!"

He raised a questioning brow, "how did you not think of that? How was kidnap the first idea that came to your mind? You didn't even talk to me about it."

For the first time since the conversation began Obinna looked serious, he sat up so his elbows were on his knees, his hands between his legs, both palms supporting the cup he held.

"You and I know no one would have turned up. We both know the kind of ruler our father is, force is the only thing the people respond to. I did what had to be done. We are running out of time. I told you nothing of my plan because you would not have approved of it. I can see I was not wrong."

How did we even get here?

Okenna buried his face in his palms, he began rubbing his temples with his fore and index finger, he could feel a headache coming up.

His mind travelled to that day, the day they had found their father in the court. He had tried to hide it but it still came as a shock to him, his father, the great lion, helpless on the floor. In a death like state nonetheless less, the man always seemed larger than life.

He and his brother had gone to see Agbarakwe at noon as he had demanded. When they got there, Agbarakwe had taken them into his obi, his voice was grave as he spoke.

"Your highnesses, I have called you here because I wanted you both to have first hand knowledge of what I am about to tell you before I tell the council, I could not speak at the palace because there were women present and such sensitive things are not discussed in their presence.

"The gods have spoken, the sacrifice is to appease the gods, so their wrath is not against us. The lands needs to be cleansed, evil has gone on for far too long." He paused to adjust his wrapper

"Your father's health will go downhill from here if we do not take action. The gods demand that seven girls travel to the land of the spirit to get the healing cup. If your father drinks of the cup, he would regain his strength."

Okenna looked at Agbarakwe with his mouth slightly open, the land of the spirits was a place few ventured into and even fewer came out of. Whatever offence that had kindled the wrath of the gods was a huge one if the land of the spirits was involved. "Great one, are you saying the gods struck my father in their anger?"

"Your father is the custodian of the law and ruler of the land, it is his responsibility to make sure that such offence as the one the gods are angry about are never committed and if they are, the perpetrator of such crimes should not go unpunished." Agbarakwe took a bite of the kolanut in his right hand.

"Why can't the gods just tell us who this person is, so justice can be meted out?" Obinna's face was clouded with anger. "Why should an innocent man and his family suffer for the crimes of others?"

Okenna nodded in support of his brother's opinion, "the gods are wise, there must be a reason."

Agbarakwe smiled at both men, "Our people say, if the body is bad blame the head. When you want to get rid of weeds you pull it out from the root, is it not?"

"Great one, what happens when we get the girls?" Okenna asked.

"You bring them to me. They will be trained and taught all they need to know. The journey to the land of the spirits is not an easy one." Agbarakwe rose as he prepared to take his leave,"never forget time is of the essence. My work here is done. I trust you to tell the council of this. I will be waiting."

Both brothers sat in silence long after Agbarakwe left, their faces indicated neither of them had found the meeting pleasing.

Visual aids are killing me, the picture above is what the unmarried females look like. The picture below is what the group of girls and their guards look like except they are not getting chummy and please remove the footwear in your imagination Biko