CHAPTER SEVEN
Akadia had revealed to the chiefs of king Nzekwe’s resilience, and his plans to continue wooing Ikeagu until he agrees to take the throne. Dimgba had called the other chiefs without informing Akadia the queen. “We will bring down the Okra from its root”. Dimgba began. He stamped his feet on the ground and the continued, “When two knives clash in battle, the one month the great strength remains unbroken. Ikeagu has the strength, Nzekwe has the weakness, and we will push them to clash each other”. He told them.
“How will that be possible at this time they are remembering their blood are the same?” Mazi asked.
“When a man like Ikeagu is anxious, he could believe anything. Our business now is to poison him against Nzekwe. We stand the risk of being killed by Ikeagu or forever exiled if we don’t keep the truth where it should remain. We must continue to poison his heart against Omenike until we are safe again. We cannot harm Nzekwe now, because Ikeagu suspects us”. Dimgba made his plan known to them.
“But Ikeagu could suspect our coming, and things may not go fine”. Mazi expressed fear.
“I am Agwuoturumbe; the viper that bit the tortoise in its shell. Trust me when I tell you that I will dare a dangerous man like Ikeagu with all I have. Where bravery becomes weak, wisdom becomes strong. We will go before the warrior like children; he will not like a contest with weak people like us”. Dimgba told Mazi, as the others agreed with him...
Dimgba went at night with the other chiefs to visit Ikeagu. Nnenna who was with Ikeagu left as soon as they all sat down. Ikeagu wandered why people who don’t like him should visit him in the night. The half moon was covered by the dark clouds too thick to allow it send its light.
“What has brought you old men to my hut this night?” Ikeagu asked.
“The dark cloud is only passing when it covers the moon against her light. And because dark clouds will not stay too long, light must come. I know you don’t like us, but you must trust us to help you find what has brought you back to Umuagu. You will only need patience. The man who sits on the throne now should know that truth is like the sun, it must shine forth after the night. We feel your pain Ikeagu, we are going to make sure you know how your father died”. Dimgba promised. Ikeagu who was sitting stood up. He looked at all of them and wandered what plan they are trying to execute.
“You have come now to make a promise. So you have suddenly come to help me? Everyone knows that my father’s grave is not known. I must make you know I cannot trust you, no matter how hard you try. I lost my parents because of that throne... that inglorious throne. If you have come to help find the truth, why now? Is it because of my pressure?” He asked.
“We are coming now because you have never invited us. You have always done things your way, but overlooked us. Nnenna can’t tell you more of Umuagu than us who witnessed his father’s birth. We thought it wise to shorten your long road of searching for answers”. Dimgba said.
“So how do you intend to start?” Ikeagu asked them.
“Leave that to old men to think about. But you must be careful with bait of Nzekwe, you don’t buy the throne for free, my ancestors once told a great king “Dimgba told him. The men left as Ikeagu tried to sense where they are trying to arrive. Can you risk trusting people like this for once? He thought.
Early morning the following day, Dimgba visited Ajulu to see how they could further push Ikeagu against king Nzekwe. “I am afraid Ikeagu brought his medicine to heal any poison we give him. He suspects us; you can see it in his actions. I doubt he will believe us”. Dimgba told him.
“Are you sure he has the right medicine?” Ajulu asked.
“Yes. He cooked his herbs well. He does not trust us. This leaves us with another option”.
“What option is that?” Dimgba kept quiet for seconds and then began;
“Let’s make use of diversion”. He began.
“What do you mean?” Ajulu asked trying to make sense out of what he said, “We will kidnapped that girl Nnenna”.
Ajulu thought of it and disagreed; “No... Let’s not go there. Why should you think of that? This is our death you are pushing us to. We cannot risk kidnapping that lady; everyone now knows she likes him, even though Ikeagu obviously did not return to get a wife, He will burn Umuagu to find her”.
“You don’t still understand. He will begin the search for her, while we can rest from our fears at least. We will distract him Nzekwe”.
“Now, it looks clearer to me. He will have another reason to visit the palace again; we will engage him with something fresh. He will have a lot to do”. Ajulu then agree with him.
“But another thing, if she can push him to take out Nzekwe, then we should not touch her. Because If Ikeagu takes out Nzekwe, we have Ikeagu left to solve, instead of this double trouble on our hands right now”. Dimgba gave another suggestion.
“Well let’s hope she will get it right and do the work well. But I still doubt her buying this thing we want to sell to her. Because everyone now knows the Nnenna likes Ikeagu. That warrior fears no one”. He said.
“Sometimes what people fear is far from them, they have to go to it to know they too have fear for something… Let’s try and know what Ikeagu fears, and bring it close to him”. Dimgba concluded while they stood up and went about the day’s business.