The Warriors of Oduduwa 2, The Crowned Hunter.

should report to you the moment Ade the hunter reaches the village ” the messenger replied

”Hes here? ” The Balogun demanded with a tone of excitement, the messenger nodded in reply ”good bring him here at once ”

”No! ” The Ifa priest said ”I will be the one who will go out to meet with him ” gathering all his belongings, the Ifa priest purposefully walked away from the Balogun`s hut, followed by all the other chives except for the Balogun and Ogunlara who had just walked in and from the look on her face he could see that something serious was on her mind.

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”You are not going? ” The Balogun asked ”I assumed that you would be the first to welcome Ade ”

”Not really, I wouldve been the first, but my place is by your side, ” she replied, the Balogun nodded in recognition. Ogunlara! He thought it seems like shes trying to make up for the mistake she made at the meeting days ago or… ”Something troubles you, if you have a question then you can ask me now, ” the Balogun said in a calm tone

”Are you the most powerful Eso in this village? ” She asked ”you are Balogun and those of the rank of Balogun are famous because of their unlimited power ”

The Balogun could see the disappointment in her eyes, shes finally ready to face the truth

”Iba Ogunlara ” the Balogun began ”all the fingers in this world are not equal and people are not the same, I am indeed the Balogun but there are others, I once met a man who had the covenant of death or rather I fought him, all my forbidden chants were rendered useless against him. No, I can be the strongest ”

”And those dark beings that were here the other day ” she pressed

”Them? ” the Balogun voiced ”In the Yoruba Empire, people ignore its complex organization and the way it is managed ”

”What do you mean, ” Ogunlara inquired in a confused tone

”There are 3 prominent kings in this realm, the Alaafin of Oyo; the Oloofin of Ile-Ife and the Ekuado of Benin and the highest is the Alaafin, the Yoruba Empire is divided into provinces, district and local villages. The number of the provinces is 14 for now, though more provinces are formed each day, depending on wars and numerical strength, while some province grows stronger others grow weaker, and in the underworld, there are dark secret organizations. Cults manipulate the political stability of this empire. The provinces control the district and the district controls the local villages and Ilu-ino should be considered a district village, a perfectly organized empire ”

”I never knew, ” Ogunlara said still digesting the information she had just received

”Ignorance, that is the language of the natives of our land, it has always been, ignorance. Every single man, woman and child lives in blindness, not knowing what the empire is like. ” The Balogun continued

”Is there a war going on, ” she asked

”There has always been a war, between the 3 kings, the provinces and the districts, everyone wants to become stronger, everyone wants power, ” the Balogun said as though he was lecturing a little girl ”a district can conquer another with the goal of becoming a province, or two provinces can rebel against another provincial king to expand their territory, we are all in the middle of a great war ”

”So thats why the black beings were here, ” she concluded

”They are the provincial leaders of our village, a tribe undefeated in battle, powerful. Only a fool would challenge that tribe to war ” the Balogun responded

”Why do they conceal their identity? ” She inquired

”Now thats an interesting question, ” the Balogun said ”no one knows, but there are some suspicions. People believe that they are Eran-Bayon(beast-like men) men with the covenant of the animal. I once met a warrior whose animal covenant grew so strong that he grew the tale of a dog; I also met another with the horns of the bull. People also say that the tribe are a bunch of unified ”Eboras ” [evil spirits] of the night, but their secret is known only to them ”

”Why were they here? ” She asked

”They wish to turn this village into a provincial capital ” he replied

Now she understood the Baloguns motives, he was trying to increase the military strength of Ilu-ina with such an allegiance; the village of Ilu-ina would reach the peak of her political influence.