The Warriors of Oduduwa 2, The Crowned Hunter.

The sun had just gone down the western horizon and the rays of light gave its final performance illuminating the forest canopy in beautiful red light, the leaves danced joyfully in the cool evening breeze without caring about the torments that by dawn. Goke chuckled within himself the only living thing in existence that flaunts its beauty to the world without caring about the consequences of its actions or the implications that its actions might have in future, every single day the leaf lives its short life to the fullest, bathing itself in the happiness of the sunlight and in the gloomy rain. The leaf would fall victim to the herbalist who cruelly exploits it for its healing properties and sometimes to experiment with and the animals chew it down into nothing but food for the undergrowth a pitiful life.

Goke chuckled within himself the leaf is indeed a colourful aspect of nature used and abused by man for both a tool of healing and a weapon of destruction, the more colourful the leaf the more potent the result but none is more potent than the potions made from the human sacrifice. This is why he is here today to collect a very important sacrificial item; ”a child ” one of the rarest sacrificial items in the empire some would call such a child a kings ransom, a bird flew out of a nearby tree disturbing the silence and breaking Gokes chain of thought. For the first time in several hours, he became fully aware of his environment and the footsteps hidden within the rustling leaves.

”Did you bring the child? ” Goke asked without looking back

”Why didn you tell me that the child would be protected by monsters? ” The other replied walking out of his hiding place, ”The warriors of ilu-ina village are relentless ”

”The item is very rare, and presently there are only 2 of such items within this region ” Goke replied ”did you bring the child ”

”Yes, its here ” the stranger replied

”Hand him over! ” He demanded

”Not until you pay me, 5 strings, no one double-crosses me Akewo! The night shadow ” Akewo replied

”Very well, ” Goke replied, handing Akewo 5 small sacks filled with cowries ”here is what we agreed on, now give me the child ”

Receiving his payment Akewo quickly vanished into the nearby bush to return moments later with a child covered in white cloth, sleeping peacefully oblivious to its surroundings not knowing that it is in mortal danger. Gokes hands trembled in anticipation as Akewo handed the child over to him, and once in his hands, Goke cuddled the child as though it was the most precious object in the world, as though the childs life was worth more than his own, Akewo noticed the ecstatic look in Gokes eyes but had no idea what made him so excited.

”I guess you
e pleased with the child, ” Akewo asked curiously

”Begone ” Goke snapped after regaining his senses ”tell no one that youve been here, in fact, we never meet ”

”As you wish ” Akewo replied offended that Goke dismissed him so casually without even thanking him for the service, but Goke after all, is just one of those customers who preferred to be left alone. Turning towards the opposite direction Akewo vanished into the forest without even giving a side-way glance, leaving the child with his employer.

Goke moved as quickly as his legs would permit, he found it difficult to contain his excitement and his mind refused to stay still, thoughts of how he is going to use the child as his sacrifice kept flowing through his mind, ”should I pound him into pulp and use him as a medium for unlimited wealth ” he smiled

”No, Ill harvest his blood first to appease my gods thereby receiving more power and influence over my enemies, no I will use this child as the key ingredient in my Orisha (white god) project and through that, I can become a god! Yes! That is what I will do ”

Unable to contain his excitement Goke rushed home to his personal shrine where the remaining items of his chosen sacrifice are kept. It seemed like the journey home would last forever.

He dumped the child roughly inside a calabash unintentionally disturbing its blissful rest and in protest, the child responded the only way it knew how, by crying, Goke was long past caring, his mind so filled with his obsession that he heard nothing, he journey to godhood which is shortened because of this special sacrificial item, these thoughts enshrouded his mind. The anticipation had numbed all his other senses deafening his ears, blurring his visions and weakening his perception.

The child is accursed from birth dedicated to the gods and to be sacrificed to the gods one day. The child can be used as an item for any sacrifice which includes the crowning of the ceremonial king himself. And the possibilities of such a ritual going wrong were less than 10%, one reason why the accursed children are considered to be far more valuable than gold

Goke packed all the items into a small skin sack, picked up the calabash where he placed the child and rushed into the night, his destination? The enchanted forest.

The very core of the forest where the roots of 3 Iroko trees touch. The best place to perform a potent ritual. The only error in Gokes so-called flawless plan of gaining unlimited power is the cry of an innocent helpless child.

Goke lit 4 clay candles to illuminate the surroundings as he arrived at his destination and then he placed the child in between the 3 trees, he created a ring of fire using his innate spiritual ability called ”Agbara (spirit energy) ”

”The time has come ” Goke whispered.

Goke sat down crossed legged and began chanting into the night while emptying his skin sack of its content several snail shells, 2 tortoise shells, 3 eagle feathers and a host of others which he placed around the child, then he anointed the childs forehead with a black milky substance, he ceased chanting for a while in order to blow a hand full of white dust into the air then continued his chanting still oblivious to the wailing of a helpless child.

”Stop it! ” A female voice interrupted

”What are you doing here? ” Goke shouted, enraged by the interruption ”who are you? State your business and leave! ”

”You asked the wrong question, what you mean to ask is who are WE! ” The female replied

For the first time in several hours, Goke now had the ability to see through the fog that beclouded his mind, his perception had now returned to his dismay, the childs wailing had exposed his hidden location ”I am such a fool ” he said

The cry of a child is something that neither human nor spirits can ignore, its cry echoed into the night projecting its helplessness and its innocence for all the preying evil spirits to feed upon. In this case, the childs cry is used as a beacon to lead those who had noticed the childs kidnap to the location of the sacrifice.

”Hand over that accursed child, NOW! ” Another voice demanded

Goke now fully aware of his immediate environment cursed loudly, he is surrounded by the warriors of Ilu-ino, the village of fire and light. Goke cursed himself for his error and his stupidity

”Goke herbal doctor of curses I Balogun Alawo of Ilu-ino village order you to hand over the child Oluseyi whom you kidnapped back into the custody of the warriors of Ilu-ino ” the leader of the assault group announced

Goke felt as though his one and only opportunity to become a god slipping through his fingers and the small touch of stubbornness took over his mind demanding for nothing less than success.

”YOU WILL NOT TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY FROM ME ” Goke screamed

Throwing caution to the wind and without even finishing the incantation Goke drew out his knife preparing to kill the child and seal his fate and the fate of the child, ”THIS CHILD WILL DIE ” he shouted again ”I ILL BECOME GOD!!!! ” Then Goke lunched towards the helpless child moments before the killing thrust his head disintegrated and the rest of his body fell limply upon the forest floor.

”Good job Lara ” Balogun said ”Im impressed ”

”Thank you agba (elder) ” the female replied

”Get the child and return to the village ” the Balogun commanded ”and the rest of you bury that fool ”

Lara picked up the baby and cuddled it, causing the child to cease its crying ”lets go back home little one ”

”His name is Oluseyi ” the Balogun corrected ”and he is a very important child so be careful with him ”

”Yes Balogun ” she said before walking back towards the village with the child cuddled in her arms, sleeping peacefully, the child is once again in safe hands.