You are reading The Birth of Rekiya ❤️

Will these sisters stay together?

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The faces in the room were the ones Rekiya was not expecting to see. Her enemies, Mother had said. She had been told to watch out for them. The faces in the room might belonged to her enemies. If she truly understood what enemy meant, it would be someone who hated her presence and would do anything to make her disappear. But...but...the people Rekiya was staring at while she walked next to her mother almost made her lose her senses. She could hardly breathe. Or maybe she lost the ability to concentrate also, because she lost her balance then regained it. Weak in the knees but she slowly moved behind her Mother and sister eventually.

The first person. The very first familiar face Rekiya saw made her begin to argue if her mother knew what she was saying or not. 

The first person Rekiya saw was the familiar face whose frown was never replaced with a smile. Not even little. Hard and boring as always. He seemed to be the tallest in the room. Unshaken or moved from where he stood. He was just as rigid as always. He bowed slightly. Was it even a bow or a short nod. He looked as if he didn't want to be in the room or greet her Mother. 

"Thank you, Your Highness," Ruki responded to the Crown prince's little nod. 

"Ruki, we just heard what happened to you. Why didn't you bring your sister to stay in the palace? Why Ruki? Barbra will pay for this. She must pay. She will definitely pay I assure you!" The Queen's voice sounded more like she was the one who lost a sister. Her voice suddenly terrifying and aroused fear in Ruki. Ruki couldn't believe she had listened to this voice for a few years and believed everything that was said. She was boiling, but she dare not explode. She dare not. She couldn't as badly as she wanted to hit the Queen's face, tear her clothes, tell everyone she's the evil who would do anything to save her skin, expose her and flog her to death. The Queen had killed her sister. For who? 

Ruki's head turned and her eyes met with the Crown Prince whose eyes had no emotions but fixed them back on Ruki before settling them on Rekiya. 

Rekiya couldn't even spare Prince Dermin one second. Both Mother and son. Her father. The Chief of Justice, who was no other person than Aliya's father were present in the room. Rekiya had never been so scared. Ruki held her hand and looked down at her. My daughter, you will never be able to fight back if you let fear consume you in the presence of your enemies. She wanted to say that so loud to her two daughters but the Queen was there, so she tightened her two hands holding theirs a little more possessive. 

Ruki looked up at the Queen. A fierce need to destroy the Queen aroused in her but she bowed very quickly to hide the hate in her eyes. "My Queen, you are beyond comparison. I will make sure I pay you back for what you have done for my family. may be not today, but someday. My Queen, someday your kindness shall be repaid. Thank you." 

The Queen stiffened for a moment as if she had been shot in her throat. She held Ruki's shoulders with her two hands to relax the fear that had jumped into her eyes, slowly searching Ruki's. Searching for something Ruki had hidden. The truth. The truth that she knew who the Queen was. The truth that the Queen had killed her sister. The truth that the Queen wanted them out of the palace so her son would be safe. The truth that she knew everything. Ruki knew the Queen was searching for it. For a clue. But she would never give her the satisfaction. A tear rolled from her eyes for not been able to strangle this person who stood before her. Another tear rolled down her eyes for being weak, realising she had lost her sister forever. The Queen's body relaxed. "It's okay, Ruki. Do not cry again." 

"You know very well I did not do it! You are nothing but a liar and a pretender! You and your sons don't deserve to live! Witch! Liar!" 

The Queen's hand was faster than Ruki's head. Before Ruki could turn, a hard slap had kept Barbra's mouth quiet and numb. Now standing as if she was recovering from an accident which took her legs, that the men holding her held her more tightly so as not to hit the ground and make the hall collapse on them with her weight. 

"No easy punishment will be granted to you. I promise you regret! Barbra, it will take you so long to recover from this. The evidence we have is pointing at you," the Queen said. Her voice was intimidating, as if she making it known to everyone she was the Queen. 

Ruki watched carefully. The only thing she could see was, the Queen would do anything to destroy Barbra, but she can't! She would never be able to do more than what she was doing. Barbra's father was one of the wealthiest and oldest Chiefs in a village under Akugba. Soon, she would be out because her family would save her. She wouldn't stay there for long. 

"Ruki, tell me, what do you want?"  

The King's voice brought a complete quietness in the hall. Everyone waiting for Ruki's answers. 

••••••

"Mother, it is late. It's not compulsory you go. You can send a message." 

"Why have you left your sister?" 

"Mother." Rekima's eyes had swollen from tears but she could see her mother. Her throat had dried from too much cry that she could only utter one word. She had wanted another response, but her Mother was only able to mention Rekiya instead. With frustration she raised her voice. "Rekiya! Rekiya! Mother, Rekiya is fine! Why do we have to live our lives for her alone? I'm worried about you, Mother. It is late! Please stay. This journey is very dangerous. Not even now." 

Ruki kept quiet. Both Mother and daughter staring at each other. Ruki stayed quiet still, watching Rekima's chest rising and falling. She could tell her daughter was afraid of losing her. Frightened that what happened to her sister, Rekiya's mother could happen to her. When her daughter was calm, Ruki spoke up. "One day, my mother left and never came back." 

Tears found their way back to Rekima's eyes and she burst them out rapidly. The words were more powerful than the way her mother had said it casually. Her face was wet all over again. Her eyes bloodshot. Her lips swollen. "Mother, don't go now. Please stay, mother." She pleaded with her tears. 

Ruki handed a wrapped portrait to Rekima. "That is my Mother, Rekima. You can unwrap it after I have left. I want you to see her." 

Rekima threw it to the ground angrily. 

"Then I had another mother." Ruki continued. "She was supposed to be my sister, but became my mother, my sister and my friend. She was braver than I am. She taught me to be kind and gave me the beautiful heart you all think I was born with. She died twice for me to live. My dear, Rekima. She didn't survive the last death. How do I live not protecting the lives she put in my care?" 

Rekima cried so loud. She had a bad feeling that wouldn't stop tugging her heart. "Mother, what about me?" 

"Rekima, I see you will never be able to protect your sister all alone. That's why I must find her family. Someone who will say, what about us? What about my sister? And it will never be nice to break my sister's death with a message. I must go to my home, Gabatha Kingdom. Your father is the King. Your grandmother was once a Queen. Your brother is the Crown Prince. Your mother is the King's woman. Akugba is your home. You will never be touched. But Rekiya, she has no one." 

The door burst open. 

"Mother, eat before you leave. I have packed you plenty food too so you won't be hungry. You should stop at the first village and rest because it is getting late." Rekiya dragged the heavy bag she loaded with food before her mother. 

"What about everyone?" 

"I have helped you with that, Mother. I knew you will be very busy." Rekiya searched her pocket and brought out a white fabric. "Mother, take this. Tia had started teaching me embroidery today so I will be better and make you a nice one before you come back."

Rekiya's eyes were turning red. "Mother, don't forget us. Don't forget you have us here. Go and come back to us, Mother." 

Ruki's eyes became teary and tears eventually rolled down staring down at the unperfected love her daughter had done on the fabric she gave her. She pulled Rekiya into a hug and told Rekima to come as well but she didn't. She stayed back, crying instead. When the two released themselves, Rekiya's eyes had become very wet. "I'm sorry about your sister, Mother. She's with the gods already. And she will always remember you. Go and come back to us soon." 

Ruki smiled through her tears. "I thought you wouldn't let me go." 

"She's your sister, Mother. I would do anything for Rekima too."

Ruki mounted on her horse with everything she had packed behind her. Her request when Agbobi asked her what she wanted was to visit her Kingdom and break the news of her sister's death to her husband. Of course, that wasn't the only reason. The Queen was a terror to fight on her own. When her most trusted soldier came closer and bowed to wish her safe journey, Ruki rubbed her horse gently, and that meant, find the precious object in my room. There is something you must see. 

Ruki hit her horse twice and immediately it moved towards the palace gate. Will she ever be back again? Knowing so well the Queen might use this opportunity to take her life made her think for a second. But as a true soldier during her father's reign, negotiation was never allowed. Whatever happened after wouldn't be a problem to her, but she must get to her home without a scratch. She must get to Gabatha Kingdom. As the palace gate opened, Ruki made her way out, and behind her were her six trusted soldiers she had chosen.  

Back inside the house, Rekima picked up the portrait she threw to the ground. Her eyes had swollen so big that she could barely see anything or anyone. Whatever the woman who gave birth to her mother looked like, Rekima suddenly felt like knowing her and slowly she unwrapped the paper.

A/N

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