Ugegbe wondered if she'd lost her mind. She glimpsed the progression of events before her as if from a perspective outside her body. It was likely that she was still in shock. As she'd been when she'd first heard that she would have to marry the king... according to the order of the gods.

The maidens clustered in a bunch, consoling the one who had ventured out first. Ugegbe blinked twice. She couldn't remember what had happened to cause the commotion. But Nonyelum appeared inconsolable as she sniffled and snivelled into her bowled hands.

"There is no time for your fretting!" Daa Isisguzo's intrusion was cold and unpleasant. The maidens peered up at her as if she'd slapped them and was now sending them to their inevitable doom. "If you wish to be the queen, you must choose whether you will face your fears and show your face to the gods or you will falter by the wayside and miss the chance to become the king's wife. If you are too cowardly to do the former, I propose you take your leave this instant! Leave and never return!"

Ugegbe read the sheen of terror that had plunged deep into the gathering and commiserated with the women. But then she remembered she also had her fate to worry about. If the native doctor-who currently was groaning quite inconsolably-was correct, then she would have to marry Onochie. She would have to bind him to herself when he longed to be with another.

Amongst many other options, Ugegbe found that of burdening him most dreadful. She imagined being married to a man who had not desired her enough to show an iota of pleasure when it was announced that she would be his wife, and a tremor shook her from within.

He had appeared most perturbed and filled with torment. It had wrenched her heart out to see his anguish and to know that she was the root of his affliction. How would she manage the devastation if she were to wake each day as his wife only to find him chained with despair and wallowing in a shroud of grief because she'd become his queen? She felt queasy merely envisioning it.

Ugegbe felt her eyes begin to water. There was no stirring wind to blame the phenomenon on, so she winked rapidly, like her life depended on it, to dismiss the erring tears. Another maiden had already summoned the courage to worm nearer to the chanting woman.

There was no sound of a hawk's shriek from the messenger of the gods. Still, Ugegbe could tell that the rufescent remains had not moved an inch. There was a collective sigh of disappointment mingled with relief. One after the other, the maidens sulked and trudged up to the tester. One after the other, they returned to their seats, their pride wounded.

Ugegbe was next. A few maidens remained, including an annoyed Ozioma, who had gone fish-eyed with suspicion as she followed Ugegbe while she took her place before the bloody pile. Terror momentarily gripped her at the powers she felt crackling in the air. Yet, she was not obligated to bow or kneel before the red mass. Instead, she stood tall and waited.

The large bone, which strangely resembled an ominous thumb, rotated eerily from its base. Slowly, it turned and turned until its thinner tip faced Ugegbe. Daunted by the unambiguous result, she stumbled back, forgetting that she still had one task to go.

She was reminded, however, by the eccentric voice of the witch doctor. The woman had stopped her chanting to speak. "Command the bones to rise, oh Chosen One. See how they yield to you, testifying of your priceless nature."

Ugegbe licked her lips, feeling her mouth go desert dry. She was parched and exhausted and had the fuzziest idea of abandoning her awed audience in search of peace and quietude. There were chiefs and servants and free women. They would all see her fleeing...

That would do no good. She would fool herself before Onoch-no, the king-and bring him embarrassment by turning her back on him and his people. She had no choice but to do as she was told.

"Rise," she said in a faint whisper.

The bones rose. Ugegbe staggered, toddling over her feet, and fell on her bottom. The bones rained down on the mat, but the miracle had already been seen. There were shouts of exclamation. The maidens caterwauled tunelessly, mourning and sobbing for their loss.

Nevertheless, Ozioma did not seem to be defeated by any means. "I must try my hand also!" Her proclamation cut above the incessant wailing. "It is not over until it is. I could also be chosen."

Ugegbe scrambled to her feet, mustering up dignity after her less-than-graceful fall. She squared her shoulders and held up her head high as the king's lover promenaded to her.

No sooner was she close enough to reach Ugegbe did the large bone return to its former position. "Come forth and show yourself to the gods, Lady Ozioma," the Wise One beckoned. Her eyes were still shielded by her blindfold, but it was as if she had an invisible sight and could still discern the identity of those around her.

Ozioma knelt before the pile of bones. But there was no change. The bones did not shake or move. Not even by the breadth of a hair. Ugegbe might have felt smug if she did not harbour the knowledge that Onochie wished for Ozioma to be his wife. She was assuaged with conflicting emotions.

"It cannot be so!" Ozioma ululated, anger causing her voice to tremble. "I should be the one chosen for the king. This cannot be!"

"The gods have spoken." The native doctor pronounced coolly. "The chosen maiden shall become queen, or calamity will befall Zoro."

"This has to be a result by chance! How can we be sure it was not a mistake?"

"Do you dare suggest that the gods are capable of a vice so mortal!" The Wise One screamed, and the skies darkened with low rain clouds.

Ugegbe gaped at the absurdity and mystery of all that was happening. It was past the rainy season. They were already implanted in the harmattan period. How could it be that a rainstorm was driving over the queen mother's home?

"Please, Lady Ozioma. Come with me. Let us go now." Daa Isiguzo gently tugged on the fuming maiden, prodding her to retire to not enrage the gods further.

Ozioma looked ready to object, but a strange calm overtook her, and she suddenly gave up the struggle. Ugegbe marked the change with no slight awe. She pondered what could have brought about her conciliation so quickly.

Still, she was curious. Ozioma had sown the seed of doubt in her heart, and it had begun to sprout. Could it be by luck that the bones responded to her? She did not exactly think it so. But she wanted to be sure.

Ugegbe hobbled to the blood-stained mat and hovered a hand over the array of whitish animal remains. The same marvel repeated itself. This time, the ring of smaller bones elevated without so much as a command from her.

The apprehension that had permeated her marrow thinned and lost its hold on her. Ugegbe found that she was no longer on edge or fretful. She knew she was in control.

"Scatter," she murmured, and a gust of wind came and carried the bones away in a rush.

The Wise One hopped to her feet and tore off her blindfold. "What have you done!" Her shrewd eyes bore into Ugegbe as she beheld her with panic. "What are you?"

Ugegbe was astonished, nearly stunned into silence. "I do not know." And she truly did not. But she could sense that presence she'd encountered in Osisi. The one she'd concluded had deserted her like a jilted bride after her grave mistake.

She was aware of Him and how He reassured her with His strength.

"It appears that the woman to be my wife has been decided." The king spoke for the first time in an eon. Ugegbe felt her heart kickstart in her rib cage as if she were a spooked steed. How had she forgotten that he was in such proximity to her? She'd been so carried away by the events in play that she had neglected to deliberate on the king's presence.

"Your Majesty," Ugegbe humbled herself before the king, as did the messenger of the gods, their previous exchange set aside.

The king towered over Ugegbe. If he took a mere few steps further, he would stand close enough to conceal her in an embrace. Ugegbe felt butterflies stirring up a tempest in her stomach at the thought of being pinned under his dependable arms.

"You will marry me before dusk tomorrow."

What? Ugegbe felt her tongue go numb. She gawked dumbly at the ruler of Zoro. Was this a dream? Had he openly agreed to make her his wife? What about Ozioma? What about the woman he loved?

She'd imagined he would contest and throw his power against the decision of the gods. Or, at the very least, not yield so eagerly. What was he planning? Ugegbe could not decrypt the expression he wore. The resolve slanting his brows could be translated into anything.

Nonetheless, there wasn't a chance his actions could be construed as a display of positive regard for her. He was only doing what was expected as a king, to protect his people and land. It had nothing to do with her, and she had to accept that.

"Is that clear, Maiden Ezinwanyi?" She heard Onochie ask. Her head tilted backward to meet his gaze, as they were too proximate for her to avoid the task of doing so.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Ugegbe replied while silently cudgelling her brains about the moment he'd eliminated the distance between them. The man was within sniffing distance. She tried not to but could not keep from inhaling his warm, masculine scent. He smelt earthy and spicy, like fresh tomato leaves. She wanted his aroma to stay with her forever. It was too easy to get lost in his fragrance, to forget he did not belong to her.

Ugegbe snapped to her senses.

"Are you alright?" Onochie inquired, a mien of hurt crumpling his brow as she put space between them.

"I shall be, Your Majesty," Ugegbe stated distantly.

The mask of pain on the king's face faded into an abyss. His shoulders broadened as he stood up straight, stiffness in the motion. "Well then, come with me. I shall introduce you to my mother soonest.

"But first," Ugegbe released a heavy breath as her husband-to-be turned his head to his obedient subjects. "Send messengers to the farthest ends of Zoro!" His brilliant grin was as a sunlight beam lancing darts at the rolling, grey clouds. "Your king marries his queen tomorrow!"
•