The Birth of  Rekiya:  Back to the gods.

Ruki peeped through the window to see her elder sister. She had covered her head, her body, and her face because she sneaked into the Kingdom without a proper recognition. Only her eyes were left uncovered to see where she was heading to in cold night all alone. She had become Akugba's concubine. And it must not be heard she came to Gabatha without her husband's permission and proper entrance with train of palace workers behind her.

It was a call between life and death when she read in her sister's message that she had a dream, and delivered a girl child. A girl child? Her sister and her family would all be killed if Kukute got to know about it. They were only two, and she couldn't afford to lose the only sister remaining for her to point at as her family.

When Reba had the dream that she was going to give birth to a girl child, fear of it being true or not, she sent a message to her younger sister in Akugba. She made sure to put the day of her delivery and seek for her help in case it turned out true.

As much as she was against her sister marrying into Akugba Kingdom for peace to reign, she couldn't believe it was going to turn into a blessing and save her own child.

Suddenly, there was another loud bang that almost brought down the door this time.

"My women, what is causing the delay?" Otula's voice was heard. And after it came all other aggressive voices.

"Bring out the child or we will break this door!'

"Break the door! What is taking them so long!"

"Or did she give birth to a girl child?"

"Abomination!" Otula turned around and hit one of his wives who spoke such an irritating statement next to him a slap on the face. "I have given birth to a son!' He said proudly. "A son!"

"Then let her bring him out! Why is it taking forever?" The other wives began responding in rage, angry for what their husband did to one of them.

"Break the door if she's not going to come out!"

"Will you people just break this door!"

"His Majesty is waiting. Isn't it chiefs?" The one who followed Reba said last knowing something was fishy even it if looked like their husband was trying to buy time for his beloved wife.

Inside the delivery room, when Reba handed her baby to her sister, Ruki's eyes were filled with admiration when she held Reba's little girl. She moved slowly in her hands and was awake. When the two stared at each other, Ruki's heart became sold out to her Sister's baby. The little girl smiled at her, staring at her with so much pureness. Ruki held one of the baby's little fingers, and she smiled even more. Instantly, Ruki adored her sister's child just like Reba would. Just as if it was hers.

Slowly, Ruki found herself tearing up just by staring at the prettiest baby in her arms. She was going to make the baby part ways with her mother, and looking up just to see the pain in her sister's eyes, she vowed to Reba that she would take care of the child just like she would have done. She kissed the little girl and she smiled even more. Ruki had totally fallen for her sister's child and she knew loving her would never be a problem just as she promised her sister who was in tears pleading to her.

"Reba, do not worry. I will protect this child just like you've protected me since baby. I will be the best mother you will never have imagined. From today henceforth, she is my child, and I name her Rekiya. For she made me admire her smile, her confidence, and she would be nothing less than brave, beautiful, and kind, just like you, Reba. She will escape death, and I promise to take the secret of her powers to grave. Whatever it will cost me as her mother to save her, I will not hesitate to do it. I will love her just as a mother loves her child."

The door suddenly opened, and instantly Reba slammed the window shut.

"Abomination!" The oracle man shouted. He had sensed that a girl child was being delivered in the Kingdom, but for the first time, the gods have refused to show him who among the women delivering that day delivered a girl child. "Bring her out! Where is she?" The Oracle man walked around with his old, dirty, long stick. The white clothing around his body was the only clothing everyone was always seeing on him as if he had no other one. The white mark all over his face, and the long dread hair made him look different from other men. His body was as dry as a bone because he chose to live like the gods that do not eat.

"I said it!" The wives rejoiced for they wanted Reba out of Otula's life so he could give them half of the attention only Reba had.  They rolled their eyes in victory, smiling.

"I told you she's nothing but bad luck!"

"The most beautiful woman in the Kingdom of Gabatha, but full of evil!"

"Abomination! We will not see it in this family!"

"Come and see o…." They pushed their sons inside to see what was going on. "Our gods have exposed this evil woman. Can you see the woman your father made you call Mother? A witch that wants to destroy our family. She has given birth to a girl child our King despises."

Otula turned in anger. "Will you keep shut, you wretched women! I curse the days I laid with you! Get out!"

"Enough!" Juma who followed Reba shouted back, taking sides for the other wives. "We will not allow you to insult us when our lives and children's lives are at stake! We will take this cursed woman out!"

"Will you keep quiet, you servant of my father's house! I have no girl child!" Reba replied in rage, shocking everyone by a secret none of the other wives knew about despite how much Juma provoked Reba in the house.

"Who in this room should keep their fingers when it should have been cut off with your life if I had not slain your enemy during Akata war! Ajuma, how dare you!" Reba's voice came out even louder as her eyes stay fixed on her father's servant whom she had brought to marry her husband. "Ajuma, how dare you whose family was cursed to be slain on harsh ground, but stepped on fine mat point fingers at me! Have you lost your mind? I said have you lost your mind! Wake up you moron. Wake up! No thousands of children you give my husband can change your root. So hold your tongue woman." Reba's voice was calm again. "Hold your tongue and stay by your children's side." Reba then faced the oracle man.

Her eyes were filled with fire, angry at every soul that burst into the room, but she held her tongue as she was beginning to grow weak, yet stayed focus, for if she showed any sign of weakness without any threat, these people will not hesitate to pack all her family to the King. "Danju. Aku Danju." Reba called the oracle man as she walked forward to him. Eyes to eyes. Height to Height. She stood before him. "How dare you barge into a woman's room in Gabatha Kingdom! Are you really prepared for death?" Then suddenly Reba yelled. "Have you forgotten the King can choose to kill anyone no matter how powerful we think you are! Even you. The great oracle." Reba paused and stared at the chiefs. "Stay away from my family." Her eyes back to Aku Danju "If your gods have refused to show you what you should have known, tell me you old fool! Do I need to tell you a new priest is about to be crowned! What happened when you betray your gods for the one who the gods placed on the throne? Oh, now you get it you hungry fool. I have given birth to a son, leave my family! Leave my home."

Silence fell into the room, filling every corner of the room.

The Chiefs who hurried in were stepping back little by little. They knew Reba too well to say anything. This was the same woman who had gone on battlefield during the reign of her father as a notorious and fearful Warlord who led the war during his time. This woman might be calm, but truly her act on the battlefield on how she killed their enemies had been fed to them by her father's slaves and warriors.

As much as the wives envy Reba, fear catched them. They were also shocked knowing who Juma truly was despite all the lies she told them. And not for once did Reba said to them that it was all lies until this very day. Whatever respect they had for Ajuma, she lost it.

Even the delivery women in the room were speechless. Truly, the respect most of the Gabatha women gave Reba was because of how she and her sister followed their father to war during his time. But never did Reba raised her voice despite how she fought beside her father who was one of the respected lords till he died.

Reba ran to her baby boy. Now she was glad that her sister, Ruki would have left.

"Reba wait! You are bleeding."

She turned a deaf ear carrying her baby boy first. The shout that came out of her weakened her, and she felt it through the whole of her body even though she pretended to be strong. For herself, her child, her husband, and her family, she needed to be. She showed them her son. "See my son," she said, almost getting teary. "The gods have blessed me with a son. Please let my baby rest. I am weak." She confessed, sitting down.

The delivery women stared at each other when they spotted something as they were about to help Reba stop her bleeding. One of them collected the baby from Reba's hands with force. As if the baby was hers, her eyes held Reba's eyes in pain. She was scared for Reba after all these years. Her hands dropped after closing the baby's eyes, but her mouth failed to speak.

The room was quiet. Insanely quiet as if Reba was the only one who didn't know what went wrong with her baby boy.

Reba's face had lost colour, anticipating what the delivery woman had to say. She grabbed back her son, looking down at the eyes that refused to open. She hugged her baby to her breasts, drenching the boy with her tears. Her fears clearly seen.

"Reba." They called.

"Reba." They called again.

One of the delivery women spoke up. "Reba, I know it's hard, but the gods have taken back your son."

Everyone in the room gasped.

Reba had fainted.

✨ A/N
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