Yushvyia: Eyes of the King

By Uma Nnenna

When a people fueled by their ignorance turn away from the only one who can save them, a King who loves as is fiery proves his Unconditional love. Begin the journey that change the world with this first installment in the series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IWP Nigeria
• Release date: Dec 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386921806

Uma Nnenna

Uma Nnenna is a flash fiction writer and novelist based in Abuja, Nigeria. Other notable works included The Essay, A Trip to Mars With Marcia, Defiled and In My Stead.

Book preview

YUSHVYIA

Chapter One

The small crowd of men, women and children walked down the hill and back into the city. The quietness and eerie calm was not as a result of anger or pain from the loss of the one they just buried, but of frustration. At least twice every fortnight three or more men were sacrificed on account of disobedience. The laws of their King, who their forefathers believed to also be the God who made them were good ones, but somehow someone always gets to break them. And the punishments could be as severe as death with the bodies not to be brought close to the city, whoever touched such a person in living or death risk being made unclean and would be required to stay outside the city for days and nights. However, the people of Yushvyia lived in contentment because their ancestors had walked the same path, they trusted that if all they heard of their King and God was true then he was worth following. The King was faithful to whoever was faithful; his wrath falls on only those who disobeyed him.

The little crowd entered the city and the gates where shut again, the little ones scrambled along in their dirty robes to the well where they played with other young ones as the maidens drew water from it. The mothers went to their tents and continued tending their households, and the men; while some stayed at the gates, others went back to the square where matters of the city’s security were discussed. The little ones raised dust as they jumped around playing. Yushvyia is a fenced city on the hills of Alqaies, the northern plains of Earth under the authority of the ruling family in Evernia. The fame of this city was known to every part of the earth as God’s chosen.

However, these people worshipped a God they have never seen. Death befell any who attempted to enter the His presence, it was rumoured that the King dwells in light inapproachable, and that no man could look at him. The Avyias are the selected tribe among the clans that have been cleansed and gifted with the power to enter the tabernacle of the King, their God and receive messages from him for the people.

Shoosh children, the procession is here. Come with me. Rei warned the little ones, rounding them off to a safe corner.

Silence fell around as the Avyias made a procession towards the tabernacle, people gave way and the children and young maidens bowed their heads in respect. The Avyias were clothed in robes made from finely coloured and woven animal pelt and wore long beards of varying lengths. The elders had a covering across their left shoulder down and wrapped around their waist.

The Avyias put forth the bull, and the man rendering the offering laid his hands on its head while a prayer was offered. Afterwards, the head of the Avyias took the lamb, slew it and with his fingers sprinkled the blood at the gates and on the veil covering the tabernacle, then it was burned as atonement for his mistakes. The crowd silently watched the ritual.

Rei shifted from foot to foot, getting anxious to go back to the fields. As soon as the procession left the tabernacle she gathered her covering