Sister Kingdom: The Cradle of Mankind

By Ifesinachi Nelson Ezeh

"This African-based fantasy concerns a benevolent sorceress and her younger brothers
attempt to keep an evil spirit from manifesting itself into the world.
When the great witch Agadi Nwanyi is given two crown amulets from Ikenga, the
supreme god, she understands what needs to be done in order to keep Iluowa from
bringing his darkness to the temporal world. Realizing that the powerful amulets could
corrupt her and her brother, the duo decides to find two of the kindest and most
courageous men in all of Umuokwute and give the magical items to them.
Thus begins a multi-generational journey in which the storyline chronicles the lives of
those who wear the amulets and their journeys throughout the Sister Lands."-BlueInk Review

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Dec 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499090871

Ifesinachi Nelson Ezeh

Ifesinachi Nelson Ezeh was born in Nsukka, Nigeria into a modest African family. He received his early education in Nigeria before he moved to the Russian Federation to further his education. He is a third-degree honorary diploma recipient from the Russian Ministry of Agriculture. He is a strong believer that the world could be better if only we adopted some humanitarian sense and defeated the darkness in us. He has worked with different child organizations across the world: from Saint Petersburg in Russia to WV in the USA.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by IFESINACHI NELSON EZEH.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014921112

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-4990-9085-7

                Softcover         978-1-4990-9086-4

                eBook               978-1-4990-9087-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Images and illustrations by PhantomRin Art.

Rev. date: 12/10/2014

Xlibris

800-056-3182

www.Xlibrispublishing.co.uk

686636

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgements

Part One: The Awakening

Prologue - The Iluowa

Chapter One - The Revelations

Chapter Two - The Wronged

Chapter Three - Troubled Solution

Chapter Four - Strong to Live

Chapter Five - Beginning of an End

Chapter Six - Death Conqueror

Part Two: The Love of a Father

Chapter Seven - The Unfortunate Hero

Chapter Eight - Born by a Man

Chapter Nine - Fruit of the Womb

Chapter Ten - Son of the Amulet

Chapter Eleven - The Love of a Father

Part Three: The Despair within Realms

Chapter Twelve - Devil’s Duel

Chapter Thirteen - The Fearful Two

Chapter Fourteen - The Exodus

Chapter Fifteen - The Black Death

Chapter Sixteen - The Reunion

Epilogue - Blind Crows

Appendix

To my parents

PREFACE

E very man has a family, and every family has its history. While it’s our collective responsibility to maintain our human identity as being same, we can annihilate the technically acclaimed divisions in our society by embracing our individual responsibilities as a father, mother, brother, or sister to one another. There is nothing more important than to preserve the foundation of mankind and the whole of humanity.

Sister Kingdom is a fictional fantasy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I feoma, ‘baby’ sister—for your insight, guidance, and constant supervision throughout the storyline development. My parents—for your relentless efforts as my parents.

Mr Dan Solomon Shekwomwaza, my best friend—for making me believe, laugh, and just be myself. Banji Ayodeji and Mwansa Chupa—for your efforts in test reading, cultural ideas, suggestions, and support. Irina Plachkova and Evgeniya Proskurina—for your imagination, artwork, encouragement and the sleepless nights putting together the images, maps and artefacts.

Editors, critics and others, all of whom I cannot list—for your comments and advices.

And the gods

and the ancestors

were satisfied.

—Chinua Achebe,

from ‘Those Gods Are Children II’ in

Gods, Men and Others

PART ONE

The Awakening

PROLOGUE

The Iluowa

A s the dark wind hovered at the top of the White Mountains, the witch turned her gaze from the smouldering ember to the crystal stream running through her cave at the foot of the mountains. There, in order to get into the numinous world of Aharia, the dwelling place of Ikenga, she had dusted herself with some brown powder. And as the dust from the powder settled, her body stiffened, and she blanked out.

Inside, the Aharia was dark, and in the darkness was a deep bottomless hollow. From the hollow, the light of Ikenga, the supreme god, emerged. In Ikenga’s hands were two crown amulets with diamond dabbing, which he handed to the witch.

Following behind Ikenga was a thick cloud of smoke, which gradually filled the emptiness of Aharia. From the north end of the darkness, a lanky boy walked out from the shadows, and the witch dropped to her feet.

She crouched hurriedly to the western corner and repeatedly hit her head with both hands. ‘What am I supposed to do with these?’ she asked. ‘Answer me. Answer me.’

‘We are one, we are known, we are seen,’ Ikenga replied. ‘We see what we ask.’

She nodded and fell silent at once. Her eyes spun swiftly and twitched. The smoke continued to rise into the emptiness. Out from the bottomless hollow came a loud creaking sound, and a ball of fire appeared loosely suspended above the hollow.

The witch saw the lanky boy walk up to the mouth of the hollow. His throat was sliced open in an instant, and blood gushed endlessly onto the ball. She swung forward to keep the boy out from falling into the hollow, but it was too late; he fell through. Barrels of smoke rose quickly and settled in the air. And deep within the hollow, Iluowa’s shrewd voice shattered the quietness of Aharia. The witch felt the uneasiness of his power and flattened her body against the cold rocky surface of the empty Aharia. Her body stiffened again, and lifted through the cloud of smoke and further away from the ball of fire until she felt her back cold and her clothes wet.

‘Nnenne m teta n’ura. Oge eru wo!’ Ikwuato cried as he poured the last jar of water on Agadi’s face. The benediction meant, ‘My grandmother, wake up. It is time to leave.’

Agadi Nwanyi opened her eyes, completely dazed like a confused hen. The trance was over. Ikenga had passed his message. ‘Brother, I don’t think we have to leave now. I saw it.’

Ikwuato crackled with laughter. ‘What did you see this time?’

She lifted her gown, and the crown amulets dropped before her. She picked them up. ‘The Iluowa is awake.’

‘The eyes of Ikenga!’ Ikwuato exclaimed. He took a closer look at the amulets. They looked real. It satisfied his curiosity and cleared the mirage of doubts he had about her visions and all she had been telling him about their parents. At last he was convinced she spoke the truth. ‘We have to do what needs to be done,’ he said.

CHAPTER ONE

The Revelations

F rom deep inside the White Mountains came a beautiful chorus. Ikwuato and Agadi Nwanyi were busy consecrating the amulets. The crown gradually turned green as their powers gathered within the amulets, following all that Ikenga had told her.

Although Ikwuato had agreed to the plan, he still didn’t think it necessary.

‘Is this the only way?’ he asked. His face portrayed all the displeasure in it.

‘Yes, dear brother. This is the only way to keep Iluowa out of this world,’ Agadi Nwanyi replied. ‘His next victim has to survive. Iluowa mustn’t get any human body.’

Ikwuato was silent for a while. ‘But you know the risks are too great. This kind of magic always comes with a great price.’

‘Yes, brother. Yes, the price is simple.’ She pointed to the amulets. ‘They came together and will be together. Ikenga himself said it.’

Still not satisfied, Ikwuato chipped in, ‘Ikenga has many great powers; certainly the amulets are one of his mysteries. We must find a neutral holder.’

Agadi Nwanyi looked at him thoughtfully. Yes, he’d a point: the amulets, after they are consecrated, would be too powerful. Either it corrupted one of them or they fought each other for control. Although Agadi did not like the fact that Ikwuato always challenged her, not minding she was the elder, she had grown to contain her discontent and always played along. ‘You’re right. It is not good if the amulets stayed with us. You must take them to Umuokwute. Present them to the most courageous and kindest of men.’ Her voice sounded absolute.

‘Why me?’ Ikwuato protested, but Agadi Nwanyi was not in the mood to banter. He knew instantly that she was down to earth. He took the amulets and left for Umuokwute. When he arrived, Umuokwute was quiet except for the children playing on the sandy village square. A few magic tricks and Ikwuato changed his looks to be more like a peasant. He sat by the narrow path to the square and watched as people went in and out. None of the passers-by spoke to him. They all walked away as quickly as they could.

As he waited, Ikwuato kept rebuking himself for agreeing to such a plan. Nonetheless, he waited patiently until the quietness in the village was shattered by a loud glorious chant of warriors returning from their campaign, singing the nzogbu-nzogbu song. The head of Umuokwute, Mgbada Attu, rode in front of the singing warriors. When he sighted Ikwuato, lying by the pathway, something odd struck his psyche, and he stopped his men.

Mgbada was well known throughout the northern territories and even beyond Lake Dead for his strength and courage. His fame rested on solid personal achievements. As a young man of eighteen, he’d brought honour to Umuokwute by uniting many tribes into one kingdom. In the wake of fresh troubles, some of the tribes stole from merchants on their way to Mbaano on the other side of the lake. Mgbada made a peace offer to stop the menace. Some tribes accepted and were integrated into a larger Umuokwute family, but the mountain nomads refused. Mgbada was left with no option but to face them in battle. For five years, he pursued them in and around the mountains. They fought back in guerrilla fashion, leaving his men scattered and in poor shape. He was shown a secret pathway through the mountains by a lover he had taken captive. After days of careful planning and regrouping, he descended on the unsuspecting nomads. With them surrounded, Mgbada made one last offer to their leader, and when he refused, his head flew into the air.

Ikwuato stared at the retiring warriors for a while and quickly looked away. He pretended to be in pain.

Mgbada held a long warrior’s spike. Atop the spike, the bodiless head of the stubborn mountain nomad leader stood firm. Ikwuato murmured and begged for food and water. Mgbada bellowed out orders to his men to bring the items immediately. When the food was served, Ikwuato pushed it aside and looked Mgbada straight in the eye. Mgbada was confused. He felt like he was daydreaming or more so saw figures out of wariness from the war. He rubbed his eyes distressfully; when he opened them, Ikwuato was gone. Mgbada heaved a heavy sigh and walked on with his men. ‘Sorcerer!’ he giggled.

Days passed and Mgbada forgot about the incident until Ikwuato appeared in his palace. The woven mask over his head and the long canes in his hands gave him a startling look. The council warriors with red fez hats adorning their heads were having a meeting with Mgbada when Ikwuato walked in. He walked through the middle as he approached Mgbada.

Mgbada sat on the throne end of the palace court and trembled with uncertainty. Next to him were his eldest son, Ikem, and his wife, Ajulu. Ikwuato stopped before the three and bellowed out his greetings, ‘Mgbada Attu egwu, enyi nnia, I greet you. Do you know who I am?’ Mgbada made no move to answer. Ikwuato lashed his canes against the marble floor and exclaimed harshly, ‘I am Ikwuato, and I kill a man when life is sweetest to him.’ The force in his voice made the council warriors contract with fear. Ikwuato smiled awkwardly. ‘Relax! Your good deeds have reached the great beyond, the ancient one greets you.’ He bowed, and the people marvelled at the gesture. They held their breath. Never was it heard that Ikwuato accorded a man with such respect. When he produced the amulets in two small red boxes, their eyes widened and words of despair escaped their lips. Ikwuato paid little attention to this delight. ‘A gift from the ancient one, for your courage and kindness.’

Mgbada felt his pulse rise instantly. He blushed at the sight of the diamond dabbing.

‘One for your keep and the other you can give to the person closest to your heart,’ Ikwuato said.

Mgbada flashed a smile at Ajulu. He removed one of the amulets from its box, but it slipped from his hands before he could place it around Ajulu’s neck. Ikem quickly rushed to pick it up and got a burn mark on his palm.

Ikwuato frowned. ‘Let me see,’ he said. He took the boy’s hand and looked through the burned marking. ‘The dreaded spirit in the dark is awake,’ he announced. ‘Iluowa has chosen the boy. This is his mark. You must take him to our father at IyiOcha.’ Pointing to the amulet still on the ground, he added, ‘That must never be touched by a boy.’

Immediately, Mgbada was physically troubled. He nodded at Ikwuato then picked up the amulet and gave it to Ajulu.

‘The eye of Ikenga. It holds the spirits and greatest known powers,’ Ikwuato explained. ‘The two must never be separated. The powers they contain are absolute, but they are most vulnerable when they are apart.’ He made to leave but was interrupted by Ajulu.

‘What about the price we must pay?’ she asked. ‘Every magic, they say, has a price.’

Ikwuato looked back and smiled. ‘The price you don’t have to pay. It was given, you never asked for it. However, you will do well to help keep Iluowa checked. Take the boy to the Island of IyiOcha as soon as you can.’ Soon after he finished talking, he stumped out the way he came.

Mgbada held his peace that evening and for many evenings to come.

39193.png

The golden rays of the tropical sun warmed the sandy banks of Amanyi River as Ajulu walked briskly from the banks to the palace, her mind heavy with envy. On this fortuitous day, the wife of Mgbada Attu felt cheated.

At the palace Terem, Mgbada sat graciously in the patio and whistled happily to Amara’s rhymes. He’d been with his mistress, Amara, since Umuokwute’s war with the mountain nomads, and he smiled when he thought how she had brought him such excitement and kept his interest thus far. Not that he did love Ajulu less, for he was a man of large taste. But Amara had shown him the secret pathway and won the war for him. She was intelligent and to his eye beautiful. She’d often given him wise counsel, and in return, he’d been a generous lover. The day he returned from the campaign, he had Amara ride next to him.

Seeing the way Amara was smiling at Mgbada had infuriated Ajulu. ‘My lord, I don’t mean to encroach, but it seems I am now old and ugly,’ Ajulu had said instinctively.

Mgbada immediately understood her meaning. He grabbed her and lifted her into the air, tossing her around as if she were a baby. When they retired into her Terem that night, he had gently caressed her, sending thrilling sensations throughout her body. She shuddered against his every touch as he walked his hands over her temple. The warm energy it generated propelled her forwards and backwards as a huge tropical current began to flow all around them. Lost to the ignited desires of their bodies, she tore off his body armour in a moment of rage. It felt like the days after he had married her. Their affection was passionate, dismissing her fears with every touch and parry. Ajulu had felt reassured he was still hers. The days that followed saw him promise her to send Amara away. But he didn’t. Amara grew closer to him as the days went by. When Ikwuato arrived with the gifts, Mgbada had tried to reassure Ajulu of his love for her by giving her one of the amulets, yet she remained unsettled.

As Ajulu approached the patio, she heard the clatter and laughter between the two. Amara whispered something into Mgbada’s ears that made him stand up and jump around like an antelope. From the expression on his face, Ajulu could tell what Amara just told him. She had seen Mgbada behave in such a manner once when she told him his family was about to get bigger. She knew a man of Mgbada’s prominence was prone to having more wives if he wanted, but he long promised her he wouldn’t. The purported guess pricked her heart. She turned back and disappeared towards the White Mountains. She needed answers to her present troubles, and the only person who could give it to her was the great witch, Agadi Nwanyi.

One of her big disappointments now that Amara continually sat by her husband’s side was that she couldn’t access the mind of the man who wore the crown of Umuokwute. She