SEVERED (Episode 5)

ÀRỌ̀NÌ Ò WÁLÉ, ONIKÒYÍ Ò SIMI OGUN (PART 5)

Oníkòyí came out of the king of savage 's chamber with the head of the king raised high, but he could not believe what he saw happening. His warriors had ransacked the whole palace taking whatever they saw as valuable: beads, gold, gemstones, copper, iron, bronze and artworks of different sizes and material. One was carrying a stool made of pure gold. Another was wearing a heavy armor made of beads and iron. All of them had plundered the palace and were now with enough gold to buy them their capital city!

He asked them of the whereabout of Àrọ̀nì, and to his consternation, all of them said they could not find the lady anywhere within the palace! They told him Àrọ̀nì had been led out of the palace to the altar of the savage gods to be sacrificed. Oníkòyí was furious that his army did not go after the procession to the altar, but he could not blame them much since they warned him not to be so blind with revenge to forget the mission he was sent to accomplish.

This is a great lesson for us blacks. We need to be focused on the mission of liberating our people from the cage of neo-colonial servitude first before amassing wealth individually. A failure of one robs on all.

Oníkòyí motioned to his army to follow him to where his woman was being slaughtered, but they told him it is too late. The deed had been done already, they are sure. They told him to forget about Àrọ̀nì and let them all head back to Ọ̀yọ́. They will tell the king, though they plundered the city to its last block, they were unable to save Àrọ̀nì his beloved princess. The king will understand and forgive Oníkòyí.

However, Oníkòyí knew that it is not because of the fact that Àrọ̀nì had been sacrificed that made them refuse to follow him to the altar. He knew it was because of the gold and gemstones that they have now divided among themselves. He knew how sudden riches could turn the most disciplined squad in the world to a pack of selfish, drunk and gluttonous lot. He looked down at his own share on the ground as they motioned him to take it and let them head back to Ọ̀yọ́. Then he looked at the foot path by the palace that leads to the altar. He imagined how betrayed Àrọ̀nì will be feeling now. He remembered how Àrọ̀nì used to sing his praises:

Ẹ̀ṣọ́ Ìkòyí ọmọ adìílẹ̀ d'ogun
Ọmọ agbọ̀n tí ò ríkú sa
Ọjọ́ ogún le Ẹ̀ṣọ́ ò pe'ra wọn lórúkọ

How would Àrọ̀nì feel, if he betrays her at this hour of need? How will he live for the rest of his life knowing he left the love of his life behind to die a cold death in the hand of savages? Even if his love had been sacrificed, he wanted to see for himself how the most beautiful African princess die. He raced down the path of blood into the forest of rituals, leaving riches, fame and comfort Ọ̀yọ́ could offer, to pursue his heart desire.

At the altar of the savage gods, Àrọ̀nì had waited for Oníkòyí and his men to show up but all to no avail. So she knew she was now alone. No help from anywhere. If she will survive, it has to be by her own effort.

Àrọ̀nì gbọnra jìgì d'ẹrù oògùn nù.

She had waited patiently for the right moment and when it was time to untie her and place her on the altar, she struck like a viper!
People say beauty could be deceptive; such was the case with slender Àrọ̀nì. She yanked off the hand of one of the men untying her and snatched the razor by his side before pushing him off the cliff upon which the altar stood. She had got rid of one, how would she defeat the other 5? Remember Àrọ̀nì was a brave beauty. She was determined even if she will be defeated, she will not go down without a fight.

The five other priests were amazed of the agility and dexterity of Àrọ̀nì with knife. They brought out their sword to fight. But the problem was Àrọ̀nì is a prized sacrifice. If they kill her anyhow, it is not sacrifice; she has to die the right way.

Àrọ̀nì can only pray someone was on the way to help her, anybody, even a toddler to distract the attention of the men enough for her to escape.

By this time she had managed to stab two of the men. She herself was bleeding profusely from the wound she received through the sword of one of the men. She was holding the wound to her side with one hand, and wielding the knife with another. As dizziness began to envelop her for losing too much blood, one of the priest managed to give her a kick and she fell down. Immediately, she was pinned to the ground and the knife yanked away from her grip.

Now all hope was lost. So she will be sacrificed to the gods of the savages eventually, she thought to herself as she fought to stay conscious. She was bounded and beaten again. The beating kept her conscious though, and she was thankful for it.

All hope lost. Beauty and fame about to perish in the land of savages. She was about to be placed on the altar when a familiar voice was heard behind the men.

"Ẹ ti já'wé sẹ́'nu dandan ni kí ẹ rí'jà odi."

The priests all turned back to see who has the effrontery to enter this forest while they were performing their rituals. The gory sight that greeted them sent shivers down their spines.

What happened next will send waves of shock down your spine too.

Postscript:
This episode is dedicated to the memory of late Prof Pius Adesanmi who died in the ill fated Ethiopian airline two weeks ago. Fare thee well Prof. You came, you saw and you impacted.