Free Yande!

Ife, Northwest Africa

As Kwento hurried through the woods, he looked back momentarily, “Move quicker. Your mother must be worried,” he urged.

Max paused. He wondered if Aminata and the rest could keep up with the quick pace. “Just wait for a moment,” insisted Max.

Kwento stopped. He turned to Max, “We are close. Why should we stop now?” he asked suspiciously.

Max gulped. He moved his head left and right. Kwento walked over to him, “What are you up to?”

There was a sound. Kwento’s knees bent. His hand instinctively touched the handle of his sword, “Someone is following us.”

Max didn’t reach for his blade. He was certain that Aminata wasn’t going to harm him. Suddenly three men crept from the shadows, and their glares made Max reach for his blade. Kwento developed a troubled look on his face, “Enofe? What is this?”

Enofe had a fire in his eyes. He pointed his sword at Kwento, “You and that witch bitch had my entire family slain.”

“That was not of my doing. I had—”

“Shut up, you liar. I know she had plans to insert you into my family’s place of leadership in the village. You have been lying to me since the very beginning.”

“Kwento, what is this man talking about? Who is this witch?”

Kwento had his sword ready, “Young Max, now is not the time for explanations.”

“Oh, so you won’t tell your son about how your woman, Nneka, the witch had my family killed.”

Max’s jaw nearly hit the floor, “What nonsense is this?”

“Maybe I should take this boy’s life. You know my son Mahammadu was about his age. I think it is only fair.”

Kwento swung. The two men danced around each other. Their blades glided collided, and clanked.

Kwento was a skilled fighter. He was getting the better of Enofe. That is when one of Enofe’s men sent an arrow through Kwento’s right shoulder.

Enofe’s foot hit Kwento’s chest and sent him flying back. He fell to the ground. Max screamed and swung his sword, but two men subdued him. He fought in the men’s grasp but was unable to get free.

Enofe sent a blade just above his belly. Kwento was frozen. Enofe spat on him, “That is for my family.” He turned to the men holding Max.

“What shall we do with the boy?” one man asked.

“Maybe I should cut off his cock and balls and send them to his mother. That should be fun.”

They laughed. Max cringed at the thought.

“Better yet, I think I will cut out his heart and leave his dead body in the forest for her to find.” He walked over to Max. There was blood still on his sword. Just as he was about to strike Max, Aminata appeared, “Put down your weapon,” she demanded. Her stance was that of a lioness. There was a fire in her eyes as well.

“This boy is the son of Nneka. Nneka is responsible for my family’s deaths.”

She shook her head, “No. You are responsible for your family’s ****. I will not let you harm this boy. Let him go.”

He laughed, “Sister, you were once a warrior to be feared here in Ife but you have been a noblewoman in Portugal with servants bowing to your every whim. You do not wish to take on a fight with me, eh.”

She smiled and drew her weapon. He shrugged. They began fighting. Joaquin had just arrived with the others. They watched as Aminata battled her brother. Enofe was surprised to see that Aminata had not lost her touch.

He swung. She rolled on the ground and cut the back of his ankles. He dropped in pain. His face was in the dirt and leaves. He turned his head, “Sister. Why do you do this? I am only seeking **** for my family.”

Aminta used her foot to roll him over. She looked into his sorrowful eyes. She felt his pain, but she was also dealing with immense pain, “You let those men kill our father. You let those men take my daughter, ahhhhhhh!” she screamed as tears fell from her eyes.

The two men that were holding Max fled. Max hurried over to aid Kwento. Adesanya held his hand as she spoke comforting words to him as Olamide wrapped his wounds.

Enofe’s eyes watered. Aminata shook her head in despair. She looked to the sky. She heard her father’s voice, “Send him to me, daughter. It is okay.”

She turned and looked at him, “Brother.”

He cried. Yet he accepted his fate, “Send me to see my family.”

She sent her blade through his heart. Blood oozed from his mouth. She bent down, placed her hand over his eyes, and closed them, “I forgive you, brother.”

She stood and looked at poor Kwento, “How is he?”

Adesanya held his hand, “You have to tell us where Yande is. She can save you. We don’t have much time.”

“I can’t. Nneka will kill me.”

“Father, you will not die. Trust me. I have not seen your ****. If you can just help us—”

His fingers touched her face; he smiled through his pain. His eyes watered, “Wait, are you?”

She nodded, “I didn’t die. I should have died. But Olamide saved me. She is my mother.”

“My daughter. I have a child,” he smiled brightly.

“Help us, Father. I would love to get to know you.”

He nodded. He told Max how to find the house.

******

Sailing on the open waters can be peaceful. And for most of the journey, it was. But out of nowhere, the sky became violent. The rumble and crack of thunder and lightning sounded. The waves made the boat wobble. Yana woke up terrified, “Revna!” she cried out,

“It’s okay, Lady Yana. You’re all right. It’s just a storm. We’ll be fine.”

Sif and the men did their best to maintain control. It was chaotic. The rains pelted down on them as the waves pummeled the boat. They clawed and reached for anything they could to maintain their positions.

Just when they thought they had steered clear of the worst. A large wave towered above and crashed down on the boat. The ship capsized. They screamed as they went under.

******

Ife, Northwest Africa.

Max tiptoed into the house. His mother was there to greet him, “Where on earth have you been all day?”

“Uh, I was with Kwento,” he stammered.

She scanned him suspiciously, “What were you doing? Where is Kwento?”

“He went to his...place. Yes. He said he had to collect some things.”

She touched his face, “I can’t afford to lose you, son. I love you too much.”

He nodded, “I love you too, mother.”

“You should get some rest,” she suggested.

“I will, Mother.” He watched as she walked off to her quarters. He pretended to go to his. He remembered where Kwento told him to find Yande. He found the secret wall in the house. There was a passage that led to a flight of stairs.

He grabbed a torch and lit it. He made his way downstairs. The key was on a hook by the door. He grabbed it, pushed the door open, and paused. His soft brown eyes stared into her green ones. Yande studied him as he approached.

“Is she going to kill me now?”

“Kill you? Who?”

“Nneka. She wants my powers. She thinks she can have them if she kills me.”

He shook his head and reached for the shackles, “I’m going to release you, but I need you to promise not to kill my mother.”

Yande tilted her head, “Nneka is your mother.”

“Promise me.”

“She had my grandfather killed and she killed my cousins and their mother.”

“Promise me!”

“Why are you releasing me?”

“It’s Kwento. He’s hurt badly. My sister. She has a gift of seeing visions. She said you would be able to heal Kwento.”

“Who is your sister?”

“You met her in the marketplace. She is a girl, your age. She is blind.”

Yande nearly gasped, “Kwento is her father.”

“He nodded, “Promise me.”

Yande nodded.

“We have to hurry,” he insisted as he unlocked the cuff. She could barely stand. He helped her up. “Are you going to be okay?”

She nodded, “Yes. It’s hard to sit and sleep in one position for such a long time.”

They left the room. They hurried back to the main part of the house. Just as they made it to the door to leave, they heard, “Max!”