THE ROYAL SACRIFICE

About Author

Mohanye Saviour Chukwuemeka is a senior secondary school student of etiosa community senior high
school that has a high passion for writing.

Age category

14 to 16 years.

Word count

2,724 words

Number Of Pages

15pages.

AFTER THE SUN HAS SET ABLAZE IN THE KINGDOM OF OKEKE, MRS OJOCHIDE WAS ASKED BY HER SIX LOVELY CHILDREN TO
NARRATE TO THEM A TALE BEFORE THEY BEDDED TO SLEEP . SO AFTER MRS OJOCHIDE WAS DONE WITH THE DUTIES OF A
WOMAN TO HER HUSBAND, SHE WENT INTO THE INNER ROOM WHERE HER CHILDREN WAS AND BEGAN TO NARRATE THE
TALE…

THE TALE BEGINS…

LONG TIME AGO IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY THERE WAS THE REIN OF OF A VERY CRUEL AND TREACHEROUS KING. KING
EZIAGWU WAS SO WICKED THAT THAT EVEN THE ELDERS OF OKEKE KINGDOM NEVER WANTED TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH HIM AS THEY BELIEVED THAT HE WAS A VERY WICKED MAN WHO ONLY BELIEVED IN RICHES AND POWER . THE VILLAGERS
ARE SO AFRAID OF THE KING THAT NO ONE DARE TO CROSS HIS PATH. HIS DAUGHTER ON THE OTHER END, PRINCESS
OMADOKO THAT WAS THE ONLY CHILD OF THIS TREACHEROUS KING WAS NOTHING LIKE HER FATHER. SHE WAS A VERY
GENEROUS, KIND AND A LOVELY PRINCESS. AND FOR THE LOVE THAT THE VILLAGERS OF OKEKE KINGDOM HAVE FOR PRINCESS
OMADOKO, THEY GAVE HER A NICKNAME “THE ROYAL BEAUTY “. PRINCESS OMADOKO FATHER THE KING NEVER LOVED
OMADOKO BUT HATED HER SO MUCH ONLY BECAUSE HER MOTHER DIED IN THE PROCESS OF GIVEN BIRTH TO HER . HE TREATS
HER AS IF SHE WAS NEVER HIS RESPONSIBILITY NEITHER DID HE TAKE HER AS A DAUGHTER BUT STILL PRINCESS OMADOKO
REMAINED KIND AND GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE AROUND HER .

ONE SUNNY AFTERNOON IN THE KINGDOM OKEKE , PRINCESS OMADOKO WAS FEELING VERY HOT AND UNCOMFORTABLE,
SO SHE DECIDES TO VISIT THE INACHALO RIVER TO TAKE A REFRESHING BATH, BUT ON HER WAY GETTING THERE SHE SAW A
MAN SITTING ALONE AT THE SHORE OF THE RIVER PLAYING A FLUTE. PRINCESS OMADOKO THOUGHT OF RETRIEVING BACK
TO HER PALACE AS SHE FELT THAT THE MAN MAY BE A THREAT TO HER. STILL HER GUTS KEPT TELLING HER TO KNOW MORE
ABOUT THE MAN AND WHY HE WAS SITTING ALL ALONE AT THE SHORE OF THE INACHALO RIVER . SO PRINCESS OMADOKO
APPROACHED THE STRANGE MAN ASKING HIM WHY HE WAS SITTING ALL BY HIMSELF AT THE SHORE OF THE INACHALO
RIVER. THE MAN AT FIRST WAS RELUCTANT AND WANTED THE PRINCESS NOT TO GET INVOLVED WITH HIS MATTERS , BUT
STILL PRINCESS OMADOKO INSISTED ON HEARING HIS STORY AND HOW SHE COULD BE OF HELP TO HIM . SO THE MAN
NAMED “OGBANGI” TOLD HER ABOUT THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER “ EZEDOCHIE” A LATE FISHERMAN AND HOW HE WAS
NOW RESPONSIBLE TO CARTER FOR HIS MOTHER AND LITTLE SISTER AS HE IS THE FIRST CHILD AND ONLY MALE SON IN HIS
FAMILY. BUT EVEN AFTER ALL THE MINOR WORK HE HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN, STILL HE IS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A THREE
SQUARE MEAL FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY . AFTER PRINCESS OMADOKO HAD LISTENED TO ALL OF OGBANGI HEART BREAKING
STORY, SHE FELT SYMPATHY FOR HIM AND FELT THE NEED OF HELPING OGBANGI. SO SHE PROVIDED OGBANJI A SUM OF
HUNDRED COWRIES WHICH SHE FELT WAS ENOUGH FOR HIM TO USE TO START UP A PROFITABLE BUSINESS OR MAYBE
CONTINUE THE PROFESSION OF HIS LATE FATHER AS A FISHERMAN. ON SEEING WHAT PRINCESS OMADOKO HAD DONE FOR
HIM, OGBANGI WAS SO EXCITED THAT HE HUGGED THE PRINCESS TIGHTLY FORGETTING THE FACT THAT SHE WAS STILL A
PRINCESS. WITH THIS EXCITEMENT OGBANJI ASKED PRINCESS OMADOKO TO MAKE A REQUEST ON ANYTHING HE COULD DO
FOR HER , BUT PRINCESS OMADOKO REFUSED TO DO SO. OGBANGI PLEADED WITH PRINCESS OMADOKO AND REFUSED TO
LEAVE UNLESS HE RETURNS BACK THE FAVOR . AFTER PRINCESS OMADOKO WAS CONVINCED BY OGBANGI SERIOUSNESS TO
RETURN BACK THE GRAND GESTURE , SO SHE ASKED HIM TO PLAY FOR HER THE FLUTE WHICH HE WAS PLAYING EARLIER
BEFORE THEY MET. OGBANJI FACE TURNS PALE ON HEARING THIS REQUEST FROM PRINCESS OMADOKO. AS HE KNEW HE
WOULD BE PUNISHED BY THE KING IF HE WAS CAUGHT WITH PRINCESS OMADOKO BEING JUST A POOR MAN .

PRINCESS OMADOKO SAW THE WORRYNESS ON OGBANGI FACE AS SHE KNEW WHAT HE WAS AFRAID OF. SO SHE PLOTS A
PLAN WHICH UBANGI TO MEET EVERY 6:00 PM AT THAT SAME INACHALO RIVER WHERE HE WOULD PLAY THE FLUTE FOR
HER. UBANGI FELT THAT THE PLAN WAS A TERRIBLE ONE AS PEOPLE OFTEN VISIT THE RIVER ON A DAILY BASE TO FETCH AND
BATH. BUT PRINCESS OMADOKO REMINDED OGBANJI ON THE DECREE THAT WAS MADE BY THE CHIEF THAT NO ONE
SHOULD VISIT THE INACHALO RIVER IMMEDIATELY IT WAS 6:00 PM AS IT IS BELIEVED BY THE PEOPLE THAT THE SPIRIT OF
THE AFTERLIFE VISIT THE RIVER AT THAT UNHOLY HOUR. AT FIRST OGBANJI WAS RELUCTANT TO THE PLOT WHICH WAS
MADE BY PRINCESS OMADOKO ,FOR HE BELIEVED THAT THE CHIEF PRIEST WAS THE EYES AND THE EARS OF THE GODS AND
ANYTHING WHICH HE SAYS STANDS . BUT WITH THE PERSUASION OF THE PRINCESS HE AGREES WITH THE PLAN AND FROM
THAT MOMENT ON PRINCESS OMADOKO AND OGBANJI MET TOGETHER AT THE INACHALO RIVER WITHOUT BEING
CAUGHT.

THREE MONTHS PASSED AND THIS KEPT ON AND ON UNTIL ONE FATEFUL EVENING WHEN THEY FINALLY CONFESSED LOVE TO
EACH OTHER. THE TREACHEROUS KING ON THE OTHER HAND. KING EZIAGWU, FELT THE MISCHIEVOUS AND SUDDEN
CHANGE IN HIS DAUGHTER’S BEHAVIOR WHERE BY SHE IS ALWAYS LEAVING DURING THE TIME WHEN SUN IS ABOUT TO SET
ABLAZE AND SNEAKS IN BACK AT NIGHT MOST TIMES. SO ONE FAITHFUL EVENING WHEN THE KING DECIDES TO SEND ONE
OF HIS ASSOCIATES CHIEF OKAFO, TO SPY ON HIS DAUGHTER WITHOUT HER KNOWLEDGE OF HIS PRESENCE, AND TO BRING
ANY INFORMATION TO HIM ON WHAT PRINCESS OMADOKO WAS FOUND DOING . CHIEF OKAFO FOLLOWED AS INSTRUCTED
BY THE KING AND BROUGHT BACK THE INFORMATION OF HIS DAUGHTER MAKING LOVE TO A STRANGE MAN AT THE
INACHALO RIVER DURING AN UNGODLY HOUR. WHEN THE KING HEARD OF THIS, HE WAS FURIOUS AND ANGRY SO WITH
THE RAGE AND ANGER IN HIS HEART , HE SUMMONED SIX OF HIS STRONGEST AND BEST WARRIORS INCLUDING CHIEF OKAFO
FOR AS THE HEAD OF THIS EVIL DEED.

THE NEXT MORNING BEFORE THE COCK CROWD,THEY WENT TO OGBANJI HOME TO SLAUGHTER AND KILL THE WHOLE
FAMILY EVEN AFTER ALL THE PLEADING BY OGBANJI AND MRS EZEDOCHIE THE WIFE OF THE LATE “EZEDOCHIE”
PROMISING TO NEVER MAKE SUCH A MISTAKE AGAIN, NEITHER SHALL THEY EVER CROSS THE KING PATHS EVER AGAIN. BUT
DUE TO THE HATRED THAT CHIEF OKAFOR HAS FOR MRS EZEDOCHIE A VERY LONG TIME AGO WHEN HE PROPOSED TO HER
BUT SHE REFUSED AND INSTEAD GOT MARRIED TO HIS BEST FRIEND “EZEDOCHIE” MADE HIM TO SHOW NO MERCY BUT
SLAUGHTERED ALL THE FAMILY INCLUDING OGBANGI LITTLE SISTER.

IT DIDN’T TAKE TOO LONG BEFORE THE HORRIBLE NEWS OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THE “EZEDOCHIE” FAMILY SPREADS
LIKE A WILDFIRE ALL OVER THE ENTIRE KINGDOM. PRINCESS OMADOKO WAS IN SHOCK AND IN DEEP PAIN AFTER SHE HAD
THE HORRIBLE NEWS LEAKED BY SOME VILLAGE GOSSIPERS . SHE COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT HER EARS HAD AS SHE LOCKED
UP HERSELF INSIDE HER CHAMBER WHILE SHE WEPT BITTERLY. PRINCESS OMADOKO GUESSED IT WAS THE EVIL DEED OF
HER FATHER AND BLAMED HERSELF FOR THE DEATH OF HER LOVER OGBANGI. FOR SHE WAS THE ONE WHO ASSURED HIM
SAFETY EVEN AFTER HE HAD REFUSED TO HER PLOT FOR THEM TO MEET AT THE INACHALO RIVER . PRINCESS OMADOKO
WEEPS PERVIOUSLY AND BITTERLY AS SHE SWORE AN OATH TO AVENGE THE DEATH OF OGBANJI AND MAKE HER FATHER
AND ANYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF OGBANGI PAY, NOT JUST FOR HIS DEATH ALONE BUT FOR ALL THE
ATROCITIES AND EVIL THEY HAVE COMMITTED NO MATTER THE COST AS SHE UNCONSCIOUSLY DRIFTS TO SLEEP.

LATER THAT EVENING, PRINCESS OMADOKO WAS AWAKENED BY AN AGGRESSIVE BANG ON THE DOOR BY A MAID “NGOZI”
WHO WAS SENT BY THE KING TO CALL FOR HER ATTENTION AT THE PALACE . PRINCESS OMADOKO NOT KNOWING THE
REASON WHY SHE WAS SUMMONED BY THE KING, PLEADED WITH NGOZI TO TELL HER THE REASON WHY SHE WAS
SUMMONED. NGOZI AT FIRST WAS AFRAID TO TELL THE PRINCESS , BUT AFTER LOTS AND LOTS OF PERSUASION BY PRINCESS
OMADOKO, SHE FINALLY GAVE IN AS SHE TOLD PRINCESS OMADOKO THAT THEY WERE TWELVE WEALTHY KINGS FROM
DIFFERENT GREAT KINGDOMS AWAITING AT THE PALACE FOR HER HAND IN MARRIAGE . AFTER HEARING THIS PRINCESS
OMADOKO WENT TO FRESHEN UP QUICKLY AS BOTH THE MAID AND THE PRINCESS HEADED TO THE PALACE AT ONCE.

AT THE PALACE, PRINCESS OMADOKO IS SEATED BESIDE HER FATHER KING EZIAGWU AS HE EXPLAINS TO PRINCESS
OMADOKO THAT THE REASON WHY SHE WAS SUMMONED TO THE PALACE IS BECAUSE THE MATTER ON GROUND INVOLVES
HER. KING EZIAGWU FURTHER EXPLAINED TO THE PRINCESS THAT SHE IS EXPECTED TO CHOOSE A GROOM FROM THE KINGS
SEATED BEFORE HER. PRINCESS OMADOKO REFUSED TO CHOOSE A GROOM FROM THE KINGS SEATED AT THE PALACE AS SHE
COMPLAINED THAT MOST OF THEM WERE OLD ENOUGH TO BE HER GRANDFATHER, IMMEDIATELY SHE WAS HUSHED BY
KING OMADUBUEKE A WELL KNOWN KING FOR HIS RICHES AND WEALTH. AS THE KING HEARD WHAT PRINCESS OMADOKO
SAID, KING EZIAGWU THREATENED HER THAT IF SHE REFUSES TO CHOOSE A GROOM WITHIN THE PALACE, HE PROMISED TO
SEND HER OFF WITH A MAN SHE HAVEN’T MET IN HER LIFE BEFORE THE COCK CROWS THE NEXT DAY . PRINCESS OMADOKO
IN ANGER QUESTIONED HER FATHER KING EZIAGWU WHY HE IS SO CRUEL TO GIVE OFF HIS ONLY DAUGHTER TO A MAN
WHO IS NOT OF HER CHOICE JUST FOR RICHES AND MORE POWER . KING EZIAGWU INSTEAD IF HAVING SYMPATHY FOR HIS
DAUGHTER, SLAPS PRINCESS OMADOKO IN FRONT OF THE REST OF THE KINGS AND ACCUSED HER FOR THE DEATH OF HER
LATE MOTHER, AND CALLS HER A CURSED CHILD.

PRINCESS OMADOKO IN ,DISBELIEF OF HOW CRUEL HER FATHER IS, KNEW SHE NEEDED TO ACT FAST IN ORDER TO ESCAPE
THE WRATH OF HER FATHER SO SHE WIPED OFF HER TEARS WITH THE BACK OF HER PALM THEN SHE CHOSE KING
OMADUBUEKE AS HER GROOM FOR THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY SHE COULD BUY MORE TIME.

KING OMADUBUEKE BEING CHOSEN AS THE GROOM FOR PRINCESS OMADOKO CALLS OUT FOR JOY AS HE PROMISED TO
TAKE GOOD CARE OF PRINCESS OMADOKO AND HOLD THE GREATEST FEAST EVER CELEBRATED IN THE KINGDOM OF OKEKE .
THE KING ON THE OTHER HAND AFTER PRINCESS OMADOKO HAD MADE HER CHOICE ON THE GROOM TO BE MARRIED,
ANNOUNCES TO THE REST OF THE KINGS TO STAY FOR THE FEAST AS PLANNED OR LEAVE IF NOT WILLING TO STAY . MOST
KINGS THAT WERE IN HIGH HOPES OF BEING THE GROOM FOR PRINCESS OMADOKO LEFT IN SADNESS AS SOME STAYED
BEHIND TO EXPERIENCE THE GREAT FEAST PROMISED BY KING OMADUBUEKE TO BE CELEBRATED IN THE KINGDOM.

PRINCESS OMADOKO KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT SHE HAD TO DO SOMETHING IN ORDER FOR HER FATHER TO PAY FOR ALL
THE ATROCITIES HE HAS COMMITTED ELSE, HE WOULD GO SCOTT FREE WITHOUT BEING PUNISHED, SO THAT NIGHT IN
BETWEEN 2:00 TO 3:00 AM THAT MIDNIGHT, SHE WOKE UP PACKING SOME OF HER BELONGINGS IN HER ATTEMPT TO
RUN AWAY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY HER FATHER THE KING HAD PLACED GUARDS AT HER DOORSTEPS AS HE OUGHT TO KNOW
SHE WAS CAPABLE OF DOING A THING LIKE THAT . BUT FORTUNATELY FOR PRINCESS OMADOKO THE GUARDS THAT WERE
INSTRUCTED BY THE KING TO WATCH AFTER PRINCESS OMADOKO HAD MYSTERIOUSLY FALLEN INTO A DEEP SLEEP, SO
PRINCESS OMADOKO CAREFULLY OPENS THE DOOR WITH HER FEW BELONGINGS AS SHE SNEAKS PASSED THE GUARDS , AND
WHEN SHE WAS OUT OF SIGHT , SHE RAN AS FAST AS HER LEGS COULD CARRY HER INTO THE THICK BUSH. PRINCESS
OMADOKO RAN AND RAN NOT KNOWING THE DIRECTION OR WHERE SHE WAS HEADED TO, BUT ALL THAT REPEATED IN HER
MIND WAS THAT HER FATHER MUST PAY THE PRICE FOR ALL THE EVIL THAT HE HAS COMMITTED. SUDDENLY SHE CAME
ACROSS THE SAME INACHALO RIVER WHERE SHE AND OGBANGI ONCE MADE LOVE TO EACH OTHER , BUT BY THIS TIME THE
RIVER WAS RELECTING THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF THE FULL MOON. PRINCESS OMADOKO REMEMBERING ALL THE LOVELY
MEMORIES WHICH HER AND OGBANGI HAD TOGETHER AT THE INACHALO RIVER BUT WAS DEPRIVED OF HER BY HER FATHER
ALL BECAUSE OF HIS EGO, PRIDE AND WICKEDNESS MADE HER TO FELL SOBBER AS SHE SAT AT THE SHORE OF THE RIVER AND
BEGAN TO WEEP AND LAMENTING ON THE DEATH OF HER LOVER ASKING OGBANJI WHY HE WOULD LEAVE HER ALL ALONE
IN THIS CRUEL WORLD. ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE HEARD OGBANJI VOICE AS IF HE WAS STANDING RIGHT BEHIND HER.
PRINCESS OMADOKO ON HEARING HIS VOICE GOT A LITTLE SPOOKED BUT HER HEART BEATS FOR JOY AS SHE RECOGNIZED
THE VOICE THAT SPOKE TO HER, SO SHE TURNS BACK TO CONFIRM WHO WAS THE PERSON BEHIND HER AS SHE SAW THE
SPIRIT OF OGBANGI. PRINCESS OMADOKO IN SO MUCH EXCITEMENT STOOD UP IMMEDIATELY IN ATTEMPT TO HUG OGBANJI
BUT SADLY ENOUGH SHE WENT THROUGH HIM FOR FLESH AND BLOOD CAN NOT MEET WITH THAT OF A SPIRIT. PRINCESS
OMADOKO IN HEARTBREAK FELL TO THE FLOOR AS SHE BEGAN TO WEEP AND CURSING HER FATHER KING EZIAGWU THAT
HE MUST PAY FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE TO OGBANJI. SO SHE ASKED OGBANJI IF THEY WAS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE
TO TAKE VENGEANCE. BUT INSTEAD OGBANJI ADVISED PRINCESS OMADOKO TO LET GO OF THE AGONY AND ANGER SHE
HAS AGAINST THE KING AND LEAVE IT ALL FOR THE GOD’S TO HANDLE. BUT PRINCESS OMADOKO HAVING SO MUCH HATE
AND CONTEMPT FOR HER FATHER PLEADED WITH OGBANJI THAT SHE IS READY TO PAY THE PRICE TO TAKE HER VENGEANCE
FOR THE KING HAS TAKEN HER BELOVED, NOW HE MUST PAY THE PRICE. OGBANJI THEN TOLD PRINCESS OMADOKO THAT
THE ONLY WAY TO PUNISH A ROYAL BLOOD IS THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF A ROYAL BLOOD. EXPLAINING FURTHER TO
OMADOKO THAT THE GODDESS OF THE INACHALO RIVER HAVE TO DRINK FROM A ROYAL SACRIFICE IN ORDER TO GAIN THE
NEEDED STRENGTH TO PUNISH THE KING . WITHOUT CONSIDERATION PRINCESS OMADOKO AGREED TO BE THE SACRIFICE AS
SHE IS FROM THE ROYAL LINEAGE . BUT BEFORE THAT, SHE MADE OGBONJI PROMISE HER THAT THE KING MUST PASS
THROUGH UNIMAGINABLE PAIN BEFORE HE FINALLY DIES . AND BEFORE THEY VANISHED INTO THE WORLD OF THE SPIRIT
OGBANJI MADE A PROMISE TO PRINCESS OMADOKO THAT THEY WOULD LIVE TOGETHER IN THE AFTERLIFE TOGETHER
MISERY NOR DISCOMFORT.

“ FOR THE DAWN OF THE WICKED SHALL CLASH BEFORE THEM WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT ”

THAT SAME MORNING BEFORE THE COCK CRIED, CHIEF OKAFO WASFOUND DEAD IN HIS CHAMBER AND IS SPLITTED IN
HALF WITH HIS LOWER BODY NOWHERE TO BE FOUND AS IF EATING BY A WILD BEAST . KING EZUAGWU MYSTERIOUSLY GOT
INFECTED WITH LEPROSY AS HIS SKIN PULLS OFF NOW AND THEN. WHILE HE SCREAMS IN EXTREME PAIN. HE TRIED ALL HE
COULD TO APPEASE THE GODS BUT ALL WAS TO NO AVAIL AS THE CHIEF PRIEST BROKE THE NEWS TO HIM THAT THE ONLY
WAY TO STOP THE PAIN, WAS THROUGH DEATH. KING EZIAGWU IGNORED THE CHIEF PRIESTS ADVICE AS THE EXTREME PAIN
WENT ON AND ON FOR THREE DAYS STRAIGHT UNTIL HE WAS FINALLY PRONOUNCED DEAD ! WHEREAS HIS SKIN HAD
ALREADY BECAME ROTTEN AND WEARY . THE KING WAS NOT GIVEN A BEFITTING BURIAL BY THE PEOPLE OF OKEKE
KINGDOM, BUT HIS REMAINS WAS THROWN TO THE VULTURES TO DEVOUR . AS FOR KING OMADUBUEKE AND THE REST OF
THE KINGS THAT STAYED BEHIND FOR THE MARRIAGE CELEBRATION , THEY ALL FLED AFTER THE TERRIFYING DEATH OF CHIEF
OKAFOR BUT NONE OF THEM ARRIVE TO THEIR DESTINATION AS THEY ALL DIED MYSTERIOUSLY ON THEIR WAY HOME . AND
SO THE KINGDOM OF OKEKE WAS FINALLY FREE FROM THE WRATH OF THE EVIL KING.

THE VERY END.

MORAL LESSON

ALWAYS LEARN TO BE GOOD TO EVERYONE AS PRINCESS OMADOKO WAS TO THE PEOPLE OF OKEKE KINGDOM AND NOT
WICKED AS THE EVIL KING EZIAGWU FOR ALL THAT WE DO HAVE A REPERCUSSIONS ATTACHED TO IT SO BE CAREFUL FOR ALL
THAT GOES AROUND ALWAYS COMES AROUND.