**HELLO FELLOW STEEMIANS, ITS STORYTIME AGAIN AND TODAY IS THE FIFTH EPISODE:**
**WE ALL READ IN THE PREVIOUS EPISODES OF HOW ELEWI THE SON OF THE LATE KING OF IGBETI TOWN STARTED HIS JOURNEY JUST TO GET HIS BIRTHRIGHT SEAT OF THE KING OF IGBETI LAND**
**HE WENT THROUGH DIVERSE TRIBULAIONS BUT NOW THAT HE HAS FINALLY COME BACK TO HIS HOMETOWN WITH A GIFT (AN EGG), LETS FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT**
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The following morning words has gone round that Elewi was back in Igbeti, by noon the natives, young and old, had gathered themselves and paid him a visit in his house. They expressed their delight for his safe return and welcome him with familiar tunes and eulogies. He entertained his guests with good food and they enjoyed his fabulous stories about strange lands and creatures that existed somewhere beyond the human world. To the natives, Elewi would make a wonderful king.
“I enjoyed your stories but who is the wizard , Father?” Elewi elder son said to his father
“He is the white wizard son…he is called Ajaka, now living in Iwere, a long journey from here”
“Oh, he is covered in the white skin” the boy said so joyfully
“He is a white wizard because he does only good things. His skin is like our own, my son” replied Elewi
“Did he scare you”
“No, he was friendly and kind”
“Are you afraid of him”
“Yes I am. He has strange powers that can move mountains, walk on seas and make rainfall by just moving his lips”
“Can he make these people disappear” the boy asked with an imperious gesture
“Yes, he can but he will not do it because he is a good man…”
In the course of this trivial conversation, a message from the council of chieftains reached Elewi, asking him to appear before the council the next day.
Now standing inside the palace before an assembly of revered elders, chiefains and warriors, Elewi with a hide bag slung over his shoulder ached to demonstrate his maturity and excellence at wits.
“Elewi, we welcome you back to the land of your fathers” Alapo first spoke “The elders of this town welcome you”
“The warriors Igbeti welcome you” Arulogun the chief warrior added with a smile
“I feel honoured to stand before you all, thank you” responded Elewi eagerly “My father died well over eight years ago, what do I need do to rule this land after him?”
A murmur erupted from the listeners which lasted for a long moment. Then a chieftain cleared his throat, his gaze on Elewi.
“The chieftains served your father and meant well for this town, Elewi. We thought – "
“Yes you thought I was a weakling” interrupted Elewi and this made the chieftains feel uneasy on their seats “Maybe you were right after all…you called me by my right name – a weakling! In great shame, I left this town and wandered insearch of wisdom and great powers..” he stopped as a hum rose to the air
“We all can see how strong you have grown, yet you have to convince his gathering that you can lead a council of old, wise man. I think the chieftains want to know how much you have seen of the world…what do you know?”
Elewi had expected the question; a light smile came upon his face as his eyes read the faces before him.
“I left headed south of Igbeti” he began in a low voice
“What do you know child?” asked an elder impatiently
“I know how the gods met and moulded the first man” said Elewi and he watched his listeners move with interest
“I know why man is mortal and the gods are not. I can prove that man is of flesh and the soul…I know why the sunburns and the moon change shape. I can prove that our world placed a boundless pool of water. I can speak of our world and of other worlds”
“Ineresting, isn’t it?” interrupted Alapo
Three men chorused back “Very interesting”
“You went down south, you said” shot a chieftain at Elewi
“That is true, chief” replied Elewi calmly
“My father and I spent two nights in Illugun many years ago…” added the chieftain as he cunningly eyed Elewi; he wanted to know if Elewi had travelled beyond Ipetu, the nearest town.
“Oh, Illugun…it is a small town after Ipetu” the chieftain sighed and exchanged glances with some elders. Elewi named other towns after Illugun, the listeners staring disbelief. “I stopped at Ayegun and spent some years with Amoye, a sage…has anyone been to Ayegun?”
A murmur rose from the listeners and it ceased suddenly. The palace was silent for a while, all gazes on Elewi.
“None has ever gone beyond Ilugun” Alapo broke silence
“I fought all my wars north of Igbeti” said Arulogun with a shrug “South of Igbeti, I have not gone beyond Ipetu…”
Elewi was enjoying the moment, he knew that most of the old men sitting had spent all their days in Igbeti so he could tell lies without being challenged or stun his listeners by importing some fantasies into his story.
“I learned all a king must know in Ayegun, yet I hadn’t enough” pacing with easy giat Elewi said “I travelled through strange jungles, brush and bramble whipping at my face… I met and fought strange, hostile men who had a craving for human flesh!”
A loud murmur rippled across the palace. Apparently sickened by what they heard, the listeners moved uneasily on the mat.
“Fate was unkind to me and it drove me…to a cave, as big as the whole Igbeti, where I was captured by a one-eyed monster. He was half-man, half-beast!”. He paused watching as his listeners whispered among themselves in low rumbling tones.
“How did you escape?” a voice asked
“For seven days, without food r water I waited learning his secrets… I learned of his dislike for fine tunes. I sang and sang, until my tunes drove him away…” a light laughter rose into the air.
“I continued my journey and later found a path which brought me back on the plains. I passed through towns and stopped at Iwere where I met Ajaka, a white wizard…”
“Strange, so it is true!” Arulogun eclaimed “My father spoke of Ajaka and described him as a bald-headed wizard. This is amazing, the prince has seen quite a lot”
“Yes, he is a bald headed man, I lived with him for two years and learned his powers” Elewi lied and paused. He knew that his listeners had believed every words he uttered. “In Ajaka’s place, I realized I had learned other people’s cultures and tongues…”
A long silence prevailed while the chieftains whispered among themselves. But it was clear Elewi’s words had gripped them with sweeping force. A chieftain cleared his throat and drew Elewi’s attention.
“None here is willing to contest your claims but the council still wishes to know…”
“Oh! The chieftains still have their doubts!” interrupted Elewi sharply and then dipped his hand into his bag . muttering he brought out the strange egg, held it out for the old men to see.
But the men were not to be daunted by what they saw.
By now Elewi’s heart was beating hard against his ribs. He could feel his balls of sweat gathering on his forehead. What would he do or say if the egg failed him? He thought for a moment, his limbs trembling uncontrollably.
“Elewi, we are waiting” a chieftain called out
Elewi shrugged and a hush fell on the palace as he dropped the egg on the hard floor. His heart quailed as the hard shell broke into pieces. He stared and the old men too had inched their shoulders forward to see what was lying on the floor. Suddenly, an excited murmur rose into the air and a few men sprang to their feet in astonishment. Then Elewi gave a heavy sigh of relief.
“Lying before you are rare precious stones” he said loudly as each men struggled to catch a glimpse of the stones.
“This is a sign of great prosperity” he added
“This is great”
“He is promising”
“Igbeti will be the richest town on earth”
“You have witnessed just one of such powers” Elewi said boastfully
Alapo gestured and drew the chieftains’ attention as the elders and warriors were also paying attention
“What are we waiting for? The oracle would not speak more than this!” the old chieftain said anf small crowd benched up around Elewi, grasping his arms
“Long live the king!” the crowd chorused and lowered themselves in the way of custom
Elewi was crowned few days later amidst a mammoth crowd.
After his coronation, he invited the warriors to his palace and treated them to a special feast. He gave them bales of woven sheeting and a vast land to share. Arulogun spoke on behalf of his men and pledged to serve and protect the king, come rain, come shine.
***And that was how Elewi was crowned king but was he able to rule he town accordingly, join me next storytime as we all see how well or bad he went”***
I remain your naija lady @bekky
#onelovekeepsustogether
