Chapter 2 Upon The Battle Ground

18 Years Later. . .

Ifé.

The sun, like a Knight of light, set the sky darkened with its face ablaze. The view of Oyo Empire–A well enriched town ruled by 5 Giants is the capital territory, of Western part of Nigeria but, unfortunately, faces same fate as Odo-Ara. Mounted on an island, its bridge somewhere unknown, the city wall to the rest of the world.

It was moonrise to the full moon. The night-wind hit the air violently, while the birds cried in the sky. Unable to sleep. Unable to settle in their dusty nests. For most trees were dry and lifeless, while the others took the leafy ones down and burned into ashes in form of firewoods.

'Kraaaww! Kraaaww!! Kraaaaawww!!!'

'Craaaa! Craaaaa!! Craaaaaa!!!'

'Kraaaww! Kraaaww!! Kraaaaawww!!!'

The homeless birds croaked to the sound of vultures, ground hornbills, ravens, owls and bats mixed with the faint voices of people partying in the god's hall–Shrine. They were celebrating the tenth millennia since giants started ruling in Ife, Oyo-Ile. Ten millennia of their reign and tenure.

The low hum of melodious drum beatings filled the air. Rhythmic songs and dancing steps moved along with the chimes tingling that followed. Fire crackled in mighty calabashes hung on artistic stands and the rust chains that held them from edge to edge showed that the Yoruba people practiced a rich religion and also believed in it. They believed the Giants were godsent from the heavens and each of the Giants represented parts of the gods and deities who mediate between the creator and humanity.

They served as pillars between the heaven and Earth. Rothonyhr, Larike, Sosan and Ase seated in their Chambers sipping wine from their bronze goblets. With servants, filling their plates and cups with more food and wine. As it is, there was a big white curtain that separate the giant's chamber from the other part of the hall.

In the middle othe hall were the bàtá drummers and dancers glorifying the Yoruba culture and paying respects to the gods. Among the ladies who were dancing, some of which are young teenage girls while others, married women with bold tribal marks seated on their faces were all sold into slavery from different territories of Yorubaland, and used for entertainment.

With the music flowing in the background, a lady with big cowrie earrings grabbed a knife from the table of her master and held it behind the ears of the beer jug in her hand. Then, she handed it over to a charming man who hanged a drum over his shoulder. On him was simple adire trouser with white-clay markings on his body.

"Prince Yotifa, who exactly is the fifth god?" She started.

"You mean Tesse? I heard Ase killed her centuries ago out of jealousy that his brothers would keep her to themselves. Tesse–the goddess of love and fertility and Ase–the god of war and death are twin. She was the only female goddess. What do you expect?"

A smile appeared on both their faces as looked around with curiosity.

"They're all getting drunk." Asa whispered to prince Yotifa, who was walking right behind her.

"Get the girls into position and be careful."

"I'd be careful." She smiled as they parted ways.

Asa and some other girls dressed in beautiful adire attire followed her to the giant's chamber. They were all drunk and relaxed. The human servants carried large pots on their heads, filling the cups for the semi-gods. Asa watched as the servants did this with utmost care. Rothonyhr, the god of Fire and Thunder and Larike, the god of Ice and lightening grabbed a handful of slaves and cut out their heads. Throwing the bodies into the fire, Larike grabbed the human bodies and roasted them in the fire like skewered beef or rather, skewered human meat. All slaves die, anyway. The giant cared less and humans to them has no use, especially the slaves.

While dining, Ase took off his cap made of Mosaaji; the royal fabric that shines like the stars. Only the families of the king and high positioned chiefs were such luxurious clothing. However, Ase emptied his wine cup with the last gulp of wine and heaved out heavily.

"How unfortunate we are. How unfortunate it is. That despite all the glory, fame and riches. Despite all the respect earned from human race; as descendants of the gods, we have no partner. Doesn't that disturb you?" He flinched against the mighty goblets, which were tiny cups, in front of him.

The surrounding humans scattered. A couple of servants died with just that, while others survived through injury. The injured find their way out while the dead were roasted again.

"Yeah, but that's what makes us different, isn't it?" Larike replied, intoxicated.

Ase, instead of roasting the other slaves, his mighty fingers picked their body one after the other, while he sprinkled them into his wine.

"I feel guilty."

"You must, brother. It's been a millennium since killed you killed Tesse. Anyway, what is left of her is her spirit trapped outside this island. Let's hope ododuwa brings her back to us. Or send forth someone else to represent Oshun. You can ask your mother, Yemaya."

"She won't reply to me, Rothonyhr. She now sees me as an outcast. In my sleep she usually appears, but she doesn't listen to my words. I know I have step-backs, but..."

"Exercise patient. She's your mother, after all. Little by little is how the pigs nose enters the yard. She'd soon give in to your plea." Rothonyhr lamented.

"Why don't you ask Shango, Osain or Orunla? They'll definitely hear you out."

"Who is closer to Oshun than my mother?"

Just then, Ase tilted a little towards one girl. She looked older than the rest.

"And who are you?" His guttural voice snapped.

The elderly woman spat into her palms. A quick burst of wind blew through as her voice echoed in the room.

"Burning fire from the heart of hunters and smiths. I summon all the Giants to sleep!"

She threw her arms to air and thick black clouds like smoke poured out of her.

Ase looked around vacantly, then turned back at Rothonyhr. They burst out into laughter. Only Larike and Sosan were asleep from the effect of the wine and its intoxication.

His hand wiped in her direction, but she clapped and vanished from his sight.

"Where's she? What's happening?" He asked Rothonyhr who looked around in a confused manner as well. As if searching for a tiny fly.

She appeared in the other corner of the room and did the same thing. But before she could clap and disappear again, Ase pinned her to the ground with his index finger.

"Magic doesn't work on Giants, wrench! Who sent you?!"

Ireti tried to free herself from Ase's grip but couldn't even move. She grunted painfully, as tears poured out of her eyes in regret. If these semi-gods had one rule, "No one escapes the giants."

And she knew something for sure. That he might end up eating her or brewing her like tea-leaves.

Rothonyhr looked closer while Ase held her up to see. Her fat legs swing helplessly as she looked up at them. Still hoping to get revenge. Ase had eaten all her children, her husband died in battle.

"She's Iretiola, an old witch." Yotifa introduced and dropped to his knees. "Please my Lord, I beg for mercy. Don't kill her."

"Why shouldn't?" He frowned at the plea.

"Because she might still me of use to you." Yotifa begged, in a bow.

"I don't need witches!"

"She is quite bold. Reminds me of Tesse." Rothonyhr cut in.

Ase rolled his eyes at his brother, still pissed. "That won't stop me from chewing her bones. She's of no use!"

"What if I keep her as my little toy. She's just an old witch, anyway." Rothonyhr suggested.

"Do you need more wine my Lord?" Prince Yotifa who was directing the other slaves, suddenly asked.

"No, it's enough! This little woman has made me lost interest!" He threw her down with no feeling. "And where is she from... This old witch?"

"She's one slave brought from Odo-Ara ten years ago."

"I don't need old witches in my chamber. Young and able men and women are enough." He instructed. "I don't need toys either."

His dark, gruesome eyes rolled at his bother.

"Okay, my lord." Yotifa bowed to Ase in full respect before pulling back.

Rasing his gaze, the room when pitch white. The sharp beam of light shot out from her right hand as she raised it above hear head like a lamp of liberty. Looking at it, Ase and Rothonyhr's eyes twitched and trembled. Not only the both of them, Sosan and Larike had the same experience as well.

As if being struck by lightning from above. They raised their eyes towards the light, unable to shout out to the electric shock. As if it took their voice, their powers, and their strength. The giant's faces froze to the extreme shock that took over them.

Meanwhile, the others buried their faces to the ground in fear. Suddenly, Iretiola dropped her hand and the eye-blinding light went off. The Giants dropped back to the ground, unconscious.

"What?" Yotifa raised his gaze to her. "What have you done?"

"We should drag their bodies into the prison before sunrise." She hissed at the prince, adjusting her clothes.

"I know we have a plan, but killing them isn't part of it? We've been through a lot. The gods would forsake us! You literally electrocuted them!"

"That was Plan B, my prince. Perhaps magic doesn't work on Giants. I had to come up with a back-up plan for all of us sake; for our safety." She held the golden egg in her hands and walked out of the chamber.

"Whatever, we don't have enough time. Okay guys, now, let's drag these bodies into the prison. They're temporarily asleep, not dead so, let's be snappy about it!" Yotifa instructed the other servants.

Immediately, the slaves tied thick, long ropes around their mighty legs and started pushing and pulling. About twenty men to one body.

With these going on in the giant's chamber, none of the settlers knew or had a clue. The indigenes were treated as Kings and chiefs, while the giants were the mouthpiece of the gods.

Facing the crowd, a group of men burst out into such boisterous laughter that that Iretiola and prince Yotifa felt irritated. The both of them realized how drunk most of the chiefs were. The only active ones were the slaves, out of which ninety percent of them were from Odo-Ara.

"What is the next plan, my prince?"

"I don't know for now, but there would be a bloodbath. Use your magic if necessary, but tonight, we'd be taking over Ifé. Are you ready?"

"I was born ready." A smirk spread across her chapped lips while her hand held the golden treasure to her side.

Translations

*Bàtá: The bàtá drumming, singing and dancing tradition of the Yorùbá has been described as one of the most prominent markers of pan-Yorùbá culture. Bàtá drummers' skills are closely associated with the old Yorùbá religion of Òrìṣà worship. In religious rites bàtá drummers recite the biographies and histories of the Òrìṣà and direct prayers to them.

*Adire: (Yoruba: tie and dye) textile is the indigo-dyed clothes made in southwestern Nigerian by Yoruba women, using a variety of resist-dyeing techniques.

*Oyo-Ile now called Oyo State. One out of the 36 States of Nigeria.

*Ifé: Capital of Oyo-Ile in the olden days.

Any more question, simply do a Google search on its meaning. Thanks for reading.