Order of the Web -15

Fifteen years ago…

In the Second Elmina vassal chief’s palace

The throne room was a sight to behold. Its pillars made out gold, ivory and the finest of Kakum wood. Ancient weapons hung on the walls; an embroidery of the family totem, the Lava Hound hang behind the two thrones at the very far end of the building. In the golden throne was an extremely built elderly man in Kente cloth; his head was fully shaved and his grey beard and eyebrows were the only visible hairs on his face. Golden amulets hung from his neck and on his arm; his feet in the finest of ahenma. Beside him sat an elderly yet extremely beautiful lady also clad in Kente cloth; she had a stern expression on her face. In front of them knelt a very pregnant looking lady in her late teens to early twenties.
“You are a disgrace to this family! We send you off to the Ashanti arena and you come back with a pregnancy? Is that why we sent you there?!” The Elmina vassal chief bellowed at his daughter who knelt before his throne weeping bitterly. The queen mother sat in her throne, not a trace of emotion on her face; as cold as ice.
“F- father, I am so sorry. I can explain -” His daughter managed in between sobs.
“Explain?! You really think any amount of explanation will make up for this abomination you carry in you?” He stood from his throne and paced the large hall. “You didn’t even have the decency to carry the child of a royal; it had to be a lowly commoner!” He took a step towards her and with an angry expression on his face raise his hand to hit her.
“Don’t.” The elderly woman in the throne said, her expression unchanging.
“What do you mean “don’t” this stupid girl brings dishonour onto our family name and you dare to stop me from disciplining her?” He raged. She rose from her seat and walked towards where the chief stood; placing a hand on his arm.
“You are the chief of this land; the elder of your bloodline, I didn’t ask you to stop in the defence of this silly child. I only said that to prevent you from staining your hands with this filth!” She spat.
“Mother-“
“Do not call me mother.” She slapped her daughter across the face sharply. “You dare to call me mother after what you did? My daughter would not break taboo like that? My daughter was not raised to be a harlot! You are not my daughter. Do not ever call me mother unless you’re prepared to lose your tongue” The wife of the chief returned to her throne, leaving her husband still standing in front of their weeping daughter. “Why couldn’t you be like your elder sister; married royalty, and gave us Esi.” She said as she sat on her throne.
“You have brought shame upon our family. You shall be stripped of your royal name and status. No longer shall you be Bondzewaa; you are not worthy of the queen mother’s name anymore. You shall reside in this palace but not as royalty anymore, you shall work to earn your keep. You will be allowed to carry that child in you till it is due, and after you deliver that baby, it shall be taking from this palace immediately to work as a slave in the arena.”
“Father! Please don’t-“ She tried to protest.
“You dare interrupt your chief whilst he speaks?!” The chief’s wife, her mother, cut her off. A sudden blast of cool dry harmattan wind blew through the sealed throne room. The girl shut up immediately, trying her best to hold back her sobs.
“Calm down my dear.” The chief said to his wife in a calm soothing voice, a disturbed look on his face. Slowly the room returned to its normal state as his wife calmed down.
“Because of your constant pleading and stupid attempts to take your own life, we will not find and wipe the mongrel who did this to you out of existence, but don’t think you’ll be allowed to keep or raise that thing you are carrying. Find solace in the fact that all three of you shall be left alive.” He walked to his throne, sat down and let out a loud sigh. “Guards!”
Two large men, with a skin and body of steel materialized in front of the chief on their knees.
“Speak your heart’s desire and it shall be yours, let us perish if not. Command us chief.”
“Take her back to her cell.” He commanded
They marched to where he former princess was kneeling. With one hand each on her shoulder they materialized away in black smoke.
“I shall head to my chambers now. I need to rest before it’s time for Esi’s training.” The chief said as he walked out of the room. The heavy steel doors opened and gradually closed behind him.
The chief walked past his subjects as he headed for his chambers; too lost in his thoughts to even notice their curtseys. As he got to the dark corridor which led to his room he stopped. This was one of the few places in the palace no one was allowed to wonder.
“Obuor.”
A face formed from the stone wall that made the corridor.
“Speak my chief.” The face said in a deep growl.
“Find that fool who dared did this to my daughter and make him pay; make sure he suffers a hell like none other.” The spat with a scorn on his face.
“Yes, my chief. When I’m through with him, death will be like a calabash of palm wine to a drunk.”
“Good.”

The chief’s wife sat quietly and alone in the throne room. She broke down in tears as her pent up emotions could no longer be hidden. The room turned dry and cold, as though the harmattan season had just started. The more she wept the colder the room got. Wooden chairs and other items made of wood began to wither under the intense dryness.
Why did she have to make such a mistake? Why a commoner? Why her own daughter? Why did she even agree to send her to the Ashanti arena? These questions plagued her mind as she wept; a side of her no one ever saw, not even her own husband. The chief’s wife had no business crying; but today she did.

To be continued…

NOTE FOM THE AUTHOR [SPOILER ALERT (S.A)]
Hey guys, thanks so much for enjoying the first instalment of Order of the Web. I really appreciated the feedback and the support. I know it was far from perfect, but you still read anyway, and that means a lot to me. I’ll do everything I can to make I better with each post. So, I was actually working on two different posts at the same time; one in the present, a direct continuation to the previous “chapter”. And one in the past (what you just read); I was planning on releasing the two at the same time, but after hearing someone I’ve not even met saying they’re a fan of my work I just had to at least give you something to read (this chapter is dedicated to you [hope this finds you]).
More about this chapter; it is a sort of origin story (in a way). Will be going back a couple of years to fill in some blanks and try my best to explain any misunderstandings or answer any questions that might be bothering you concerning our character in the present. In other words, be expecting one part that tells the story in the present timeline = the tests; and one that tells the story in the past timeline = the vassal chief’s family. (S.A) You would notice the mention of Esi in the “throwback”, so you can probably guess who the unborn child is.

P.S.
Key (some words explained for our foreign readers)
Ahenma = Royal slippers, commonly worn with the Kente cloth
Kakum = A popular forest in Cape Coast, Elmina
Kente = A special expensive Ghanaian woven cloth, mostly worn for special occasions or by royalty.

…winging it…

Yours faithfully,
EverydayGladiator (S.A.A)