You are reading the Birth of Rekiya❤

Welcome to Gabatha Kingdom. The place of mighty men.

This time, Ruki didn't have to take the dangerous route.

Ruki diverted her face from the sickening title, responding to the greetings of the men at Gabatha's entrance with a short nod. She didn't mean to disappoint them if they were expecting her to hug them for sweeping their mighty faces on the harsh floor. As she rode into the town without reducing her pace, her heavy heart sought after Otula and she wanted to go back to Akugba as soon as possible. Worry had settled on her chest. With different thoughts on her mind. She was able to make the two days journey into one and a half because she and her men barely rested all through the journey. 

Of course, if she had taken the secret corners, she would have gotten to Gabatha that same day if she rode all through the night. But she would rather let the secret stay with her because she knew some of the Queen's men were having sleepless nights with them.

Ruki rode towards Otula's compound, not giving the strange women brought into the Kingdom a chance to greet her.

Gabatha wasn't how she used to know it. Scanty and dry. Quiet, with strange women walking around it.

"Afternoon," Ruki said in a hurry to the young woman she saw sweeping Otula's compound as she climbed down from her horse. "Did I meet Otula? Please tell him Reba's sister just arrived from Akugba."

Silence met her in return instead of an answer.

She knew the short woman who acted like she lost her hearing so well. She was one of Otula's wives. And if Ruki could remember very well, she was as tiny and short as the smallest of her fingers. Even though it took her a few seconds to recognise her because she had become times four of how she came into Otula's house.

It was expected. They all suddenly become rude after giving birth to male children and having tasted wealth.

The broom in her hand must have felt her hard grip that her veins were begging for mercy so as not to pop out of her skin.

The attitude she was giving out wouldn't let Ruki spare her any more glance.

The dust that wasn't in their sight while they approached Otula's house suddenly surrounded them when the woman swept with all her might and almost choke from anger, coughing and covering her nose very quickly.

Ruki turned away when the young wife left to go back inside. She wasn't there for the jealous wives anyways. So, she made no meaning to her. There was no reason to react. She was mourning and her heart was in pain to give her attention to anything else other than seeing Otula. Ruki thought they would be extremely happy if they learned that Reba had died. Of course, they would.

The thought suddenly clouded Ruki's eyes with tears. Her eyes became red and a tear found its way down through the corner of her eye. She can't cry. She really can't cry. She told herself.

"Your Highness!"

Ruki swiped the tear away too quickly, forcing them back before turning in the direction of the familiar voice. It was whom she had come to Gabatha to see. Otula's smile was huge and how he looked from Ruki to the door sold him out. 

"My wife is back? Is she inside?"

Silence came in between them.

Ruki's heart was suddenly beating so fast. Her eyes were heavily pregnant with tears. Her hands had suddenly turned cold. Almost freezing. 

"Ruki!"

Otula's voice vibrated down to her feet and it was as if she was electrocuted. As if she fell into a trance and came back.

Ruki stared suddenly at Otula's worried face and opened her mouth to speak. "Otula, my...sis...sister has fallen greatly ill. She's fighting for her life Otula."

Ruki felt the sudden beat her heart made heavily when she finished talking. Her heart didn't seem to agree with what she just said because she was suddenly not at peace with herself.

Just say the truth!

You should have said the truth!

Say the truth!

Those words hammered on her chest and it became heavy on her.

Say it now!

As if she was being commanded and ready to obey, Ruki snapped her head up. "Otula... I...I...Reba is--"

"Did she see our child? Our first Rekiya." Otula took words out of Ruki's mouth.

Ruki stared at Otula. "You know?"

Otula's voice came out very low, almost whispering. "I instructed my wife to write to you Ruki. You were the only one who could save our child. It was Reba's first child and we all know Reba's dream come to pass. My wife was going to have a child after many years of not being able to. How will I watch her lose that child? How Ruki? How will I give out the child to be killed? I know you came that day. And thank you so much for saving our child."

Ruki watched Otula in awe. Now she understood why Reba loved her husband till the last moment. He supported her from the start.

Otula continued. "My wife wanted to see what our child looks like after many years which was why she travelled to Akugba. And because of her health, I told her to write to you first, but she said she didn't want you to go through what you went through the last time since you will never agree to her coming over. Even when she gave birth to another girl," he whispered. "I told her to write to you, but she lied we had a boy because she said our Rekiya must have been giving you a hard time, and she knows how difficult it must have been for you to survive in the palace."

"This time we agreed to give our girl to a trusted family in Akugba who will raise our second Rekiya as their own." Otula paused. "The best gift we have given to her is to let her live and no matter what, we will remain her parents."

Ruki's eyes grew misty. She couldn't tell how the tears she had forcefully held back made it down to her lips. She didn't bother herself this time since she didn't see herself stop crying anytime soon.

Otula held Ruki's hands. "Do not cry Ruki. Reba is a very strong woman. She will heal. She's a fighter. Since she has seen our daughter, she will be fine. And I can't wait to come to Akugba and meet our daughter too." Otula's voice then came out with certainty. "Knowing Rekiya and Reba are with you, my mind is at rest Ruki."

Otula's last statement made Ruki cry to the point that she was gasping for breath. If only he knew her sister was gone. If only he knew Reba had left them all. How would she ever be able to break the news to Otula? How? That alone paralysed Ruki's brain and it went down to the whole of her body.

"Ruki!"

Otula became even more worried. He took her to the bench outside his house and sat her down.

A few minutes later, Ruki was looking at Otula with guilt eating her up. She would have to keep the secret with her for a while. Her eyes were dried now, so she could see Otula well. "Write to me before coming Otula. Please."

Otula answered with a nod. "And how does our Rekiya look?"

"Our Rekiya looks like mother. Exactly like my mother Otula." Ruki answered and a tear rolled down from the corner of her eye. "Same face. Just as kind as her."

Otula frowned. As if he didn't like what he just heard. Truly, her daughter looking like his mother-in-law didn't sit well with him. He brought his voice down not trying to hide the worry in his voice. "My child is normal, Ruki."

Ruki stared back at him with wide eyes. It doesn't look like he was asking her a question. Though he never knew their mother only for her picture which he saw.

"Ruki," Otula turned his back. "We know mother was an Ajele. This means my wife and you are also Ajele but do not have powers because your father was just a normal person. And now you said Rekiya looks like mother. How do I have a rest of mind and believe she has no powers like your mother? We know what happened to all Ajele that was caught." Otula turned around, now facing Ruki again, his eyes showing his fears. "They were killed Ruki. No one was spared."

Ruki looked down at the bracelet on her wrist. She saw Otula look at it but he didn't recognise it. He didn't ask her any question regarding it. He didn't say a word about it.

Does that mean he doesn't know Rekiya has powers?

Truly their mother was an Ajele. Father had married her because she was so beautiful but with a kind heart. That was all she remembered being told.

Reba and her were very strong because any child Ajele give birth to with a normal human being will not possess Ajele's power but will be very strong. Truly all Ajele caught ended up being killed because they used their powers and someone reported them.

Why Rekiya's own was strange because she wasn't supposed to have powers. She was only supposed to be strong. But for as long as she can, Rekiya will never use her powers as she has promised Reba.

Ruki looked down at her bracelet once again. Rekiya had the same one and the bracelet had been able to block her powers, so no matter where she goes to, she would never be able to use her powers.

But there was one thing...

One thing that scared Ruki the most.

While worry settled on her chest again, what happened next made Ruki gasped for breath as if she ran into shock.

It was indeed a shock Otula did not understand as he waited to be informed. 

But Ruki grabbed her wrist as if there was a way she could have stopped what just happened. She stood on her feet, obviously overcome by fear. 

Fear had gripped her. 

It was written all over her face she was scared. 

She met Otula's eyes and suddenly her eyes became teary, her heartbeat racing so fast that she had no control of herself. Her mouth gaped open but unable to utter a word. She watched the beads which were on her wrist a few seconds ago set free, rolling on the floor.

Ruki turned to the two soldiers who ran towards her. She grabbed their shoulders, fighting to speak while still gasping for breath. "Reki..." She said, her breath still unsteady. "Rekiya. Rekiya!" She screamed into their faces with her shaky voice. "Find Rekiya! Go now to Akugba. Now!" Then she fell on the harsh floor picking the beads.

There was one thing breaking Ruki. The broken beads meant Rekiya's powers will appear.

"Ruki!"

"She can't use it!" Ruki yelled at Otula. "Rekiya has powers!"

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(A/N)

Hey loves 😊 this feels so beautiful updating another chapter. I apologise it came late and I'm doing my best that the next chapters don't take this long.

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