"Did she just pass us without greeting us?" Nkechi asked.
"Don't mind her, how will she greet? Is she not an Illiterate? Her mother didn't teach her how to greet her elders."
Ngosi said while kasima stopped walking and looked back at them because she heard what they said, her eyes became red, her mouth and face were poping and her breathing became high, she smiled angrily and continue walking because her firewood was heaving her.

"Kasima, where are you going?" Her mother asked following her but she didn't replied nor looked back, she just kept walking very fast. "Amaka! Amaka!" Kasima's mother called. "Mama!" Amaka answered and came out of the house. "Amaka, your sister just came back from the bush with firewood, she dropped them and ran out with the expression on her face tells that something is wrong." Said her mother.

"Okay mama, you go inside I will be back." Amaka said walking away. Please don't allow your sister to do anything tragedy to someone's child oh bikonu." Her mother said in a worried tone. "Okay mama." Amaka said and walked out of sight in a hurry. ("God please help me and my children not to fall into trouble in this village biko") kasima's mother prayed sliently within herself as she walked to the kitchen. **

Amaka succeeded in holding kasima while Ngosi and Nkechi ran away crying with their bodies dirty and their eyes swelllowed. Ngosi went home crying like child, her mother came out of the house and was surprised to see her daughter messed up.
"Ngosi nwam, what happened to you? Where is the water you went to fetch? Who did this to you?" She asked as she rushed to her daughter.

"It's not kasima the village illiterate." Ngosi said crying more.
"You mean kasima did this to you? My own daughter? Her mother asked.
"Yes mama, she even throwed my bucket of water away." Ngosi said.
"Come we are going to the palace right now, the king must hear this and kasima must be published for this." Her mother said taking her hand.
"Yes mama." Ngosi said as they walked out of their house.
Meanwhile, Nkechi and her mother were already in the palace when Ngosi and her mother walked in too.
"Igwe I greet you." Ngosi and her mother bowed their heads as they greeted in union.
"Who did this to my daughter?" Onowu asked referring to Ngosi.
"It's kasima and that's why we are here." Ngosi mother said.
"Kasima again, who is this kasima?" King Maduka asked.
"She is the daughter of late Mazi Okeke." Mazi Ejiofor said.
"Umm I see, young ladies what did you two do to kasima?" King Maduka asked.
"Your highness, we didn't do her anything oh, we were coming back from the scraem when she attracted us and pushed out buckets of water away and start beating us."
Ngosi narrated.

On the other hand, kasima and Amaka got home, they met their mother sitting outside looking so worried, she rushed to them when she saw them coming in. "Kasima what happened?" She asked with a worried tone. "Mama nothing is happening, is Ngosi and Nkechi is insulted me." Kasima said. "What did you do to they that makes them to insult you?" Their mother asked. "Mama I is doing nothing to them oh, I is coming back home, I passing them in the road and they is calling me village Illiterate." Kasima said. "So what then did you do to them?" Their mother asked.

"Good evening mum, hey kid sister Wat's up?" He said as he walked fully into the living room.
"Welcome son." Mrs Godwin said.
"Thanks mum." Wisdom replied.
"I am not a baby oh, we are twins you should know that." Cindy said jokely.
"That doesn't change the fact that I am still a man and the head." Wisdom said sitting beside her.
"Look at your head, you are a man? So if they say men should come out, so you will also come out?"
Cindy asked jokely while they laughed including their mother.
"Off course he is a man." Mr Godwin said from the stairs as he slowly walked down while they all turned their eyes to his direction.
"Dad, please tell her for me." Wisdom said and they laughed again.
"Bring yourself here." Cindy said and hugged wisdom.
"How was your day?" She asked feeling concerns.
"It was stressful as always." Wisdom said like a baby in his sister's arms.
"I know you must be very hungry, I have prepared your meal." Cindy said releasing him from her arms.
"Oh sweet sister, this is why I love you." He said happily and kissed her cheeks.
"Now go inside, take your shower and come back for your food." Cindy said.
"Yes ma." Wisdom replied and was about going upstairs when his mother's voice stopped him.
"Wisdom, Sophia was here today." Said Mrs Godwin.
"And?" Wisdom asked not facing his mother.
"And she complained bitterly that you have not been calling her and you don't even picked her calls or reply her messages, why it's so?" Mrs Godwin asked.
"Because I have no business with her." Wisdom replied still not facing his mother.
"Wisdom, I want grandchildren, I want you to get married." Mrs Godwin said.
"Mum please, I will get married when the time comes." Wisdom said facing his mother. "Wisdom when?" Mrs Godwin asked.
"When I find the woman that suit my heart I will marry and give you and dad as many grandchildren as you both want but for now no." Wisdom said.
"What kind of woman do you want when Sophia is there? She has everything you need in a woman." Mrs Godwin said.

"Mum sorry to ask, what exactly do you have in common with this Sophia of a girl?" Wisdom asked. "Good question, Sophia is beautiful, intertelligent, responsible and she came from a very important and wealthy family and I know that she will make a very good wife to you." Mrs Godwin said smiling.
"Umm I see, mum can you define the word RESPONSIBLE? Do you know the meaning of a responsible lady? Well if you don't know, let me tell you, a responsible lady is a lady that respect herself and others, a lady that is humble, a responsible lady is a lady that doesn't look down on others. I don't want to marry a lady that cannot cook, clean or wash her underwear, I cannot marry an arrogant woman that does not have respect. I want to marry a RESPONSIBLE woman with a good heart." Wisdom said.

"Why will she cook and clean when there is maid in the house." Mrs Godwin said. "Oh I can see that you are after wealth and status but unfortunately I can't please anybody and displease myself." Wisdom said and turned to his father. "Dad, did you heard what your wife said?" He asked.
"Son, like I always told you, you are a grow up man and an adult so you have the right to choose the kind of woman you want to marry but choose wisely cause whoever you bought home as your wife, I shall bless the both of you." Mr Godwin said.

"Then we shall see!!" Wisdom said and eyed her before walking to the stairs, Cindy and Mr Godwin also eyed her before they left the living room. ("Hmmm, wisdom is just too stubborn like his late mother, he has grow winds to talk back at me, he want to ruined my plains but I won't let it happen. He must marry Sophia dead or alive, hmmm anyway I know what to do.") Mrs Godwin thought to herself and took her phone from the glass stool beside the sofe she was sitting.

King Maduka and his cabinet members alongside with Ngosi and Nkechi with their mothers and prince Ikena could be see in the throne room waiting patiently for kasima when she was dragged in by the guards.
"Igew she is here." One of the guard said while king Maduka nod his head in respond. Kasima looked everywhere her eyes met with Ngosi and Nkechi eyes, they eyed her and hissed shaking their legs like the trouble makers they are. Then kasima understand why she was dragged there like a common their when she was not.

"What?" Prince Ikena shouted standing up from his seat when kasima's mother and sister ran in. "Did you just talk to my father the king in such manner?" Prince Ikena yelled at kasima. "If your father is wanting me to greet him, then he is sending for me and I is coming here and greeting him." Kasima said looking at the prince in the eyes.
"How dare you!?" Prince Ikena asked and slapped KASIMA, she raised her hand to slap the prince back but her mother held her hands that was when she realised that her mother and sister were at the throne room.

"You is not asking me what happen and why I is beating this two fat fools, Igwe I is not fearing you because me is knowing you as a wicked man!." Kasima said and looked away. "Kasima!!" Her mother shouted her name.
"Sister!!" Amaka also shouted, kasima didn't even mind or looked at them.
"Your majesty please....."
"Shout up your mouth!! I can see that you didn't bought your daughter up in a well mannered way but I am going to teach her a lesson that she will not forget in her life time." King Maduka said angrily. Ngosi and Nkechi were happy and were eyeing kasima. "Your highness, I suggest you allow kasima to explain why she beaten Ngosi and Nkechi this way." Mazi Okoro said...

"Shut up your mouth!! What did she have to explain?" Mazi Ejiofor asked in a yelling tone. "Don't mind him, if they were your daughters that kasima beat up this way I know you won't take it likely with her." Onowu said. "Onowu, kasima cannot beat my daughter when she didn't do anything to her, I strongly believe that Ngosi and Nkechi did something wrong to her that was why she beat them." Mazi Okoro said. "Exactly your majesty, you are been too harsh on her, you should at least allow her to talk before jumping into conclusion and......"

"Off course I will have mercy on her but she must receive punishment for what she did, you her mother will have to take this two young girls that your daughter had beaten to the hospital for treatment while your daughter will be in the palace cell till Ngosi and Nkechi get heal perfectly understood??!" Said king Maduka harshly. "Yes your majesty." Kasima's mother said fearfully as Amaka nod her head too. "Guards!!" King Maduka called while three guards appeared before him. "Take kasima to the palace cell and make sure nobody gives her food till her mother treat Ngosi and Nkechi." He said.

"We will have to be on our way now." Amaka said and took her mother's hands. "Okay go well." Queen mercy said while they nod and walked away, princess Adaeze starred at them till they walked out of the gate, she shook her head in pity then face her mother. "But mother, why is father so wicked?" Princess Adaeze asked. "My dear I don't know, I can't just tell why he is treating the people of this land like salves." Queen mercy said while Princess Adaeze breathed up heavy. "Come let's go inside and have some rest." Queen mercy said taking her daughter's hand while they went inside.

"That does not answer my question, I said what are you doing here?" Wisdom asked again.
"Well I came to check on you and also am preparing your meal." Sophia said and smiled.
"What? Preparing my meal as what? My wife?, My mother or my sister?!" Wisdom asked angrily.
"It doesn't mean anything if I cooked for you beside I am your wife to be." Sophia said.
"Wife to be? Who engaged you? Because I can't remember putting any ring in your finger." Said wisdom.
"You don't need to engaged her before you marry her." Mrs Godwin said stepping down from the stairs while wisdom turned to her.
"I see, then you will marry her and give her to your brother mitcheeew excuse me." He said and hissed before walking out of them.
He went upstairs to his sister's room to check on her but she wasn't at home so he went to his room and called his sister cause his father was not at home too.
He told his sister everything that happened and she promised to return home on time because of him. About an hour later, a knock came from the door

"Come in." Wisdom said thinking it was his sister or father, the door opened and Sophia walked in with a plaste of jollof rice and a glass of juice.
"What do you want?" Wisdom asked angrily sitting up on the bed
"Come on my love I bought your food, even if you hate me please don't reject my food." Sophia said dropping the food on the table in wisdom's room.
"Sophia I don't need your food so take it and get out of my room." Wisdom said pointing at the door.

"Take, eat this, let me go and cook something for us to eat." Cindy said as she dropped the gala and fanta on top of the bed drawer and was about standing up from when wisdom held her hands, she turned to him. "Sis, let's eat this together before you go and cook anything." He said calmly. "Come on brother, I bought this for you." She said. "I insist." Wisdom said and looked at his sister with a puppy face.

"Okay my king." The guard replied and left immediately, he took another with him as instructed by king Maduka to the palace cell. They dragged the already weak kasima out like a goat and lied her to a tree while they flogged her with no mercy as she kept screaming.
They kept flogging her till her fair skin began to red.
"Hey enough! You guys have beaten her enough or do you want her to die?" The guard that was standing at the palace cell door named Emeka said.
"The king asked us to beat her till her body becomes red." Ejike the guard that was beating kasima said .

"So because the king said so, that mean you will beat her till she died? Or can't you see that she is already too weak? Don't you have conscience?" Emeka asked.
"Alright, let's take her to the king." The other guard said while they loose kasima and dragged her to king Maduka leaving Emeka alone.
"Your highness." They said and bow their heads as they dropped kasima on the ground. "Uuummmmm!!!" King Maduka groan like a hungry lion.
"Why....you....is..is..(coughing)..you....is.. doing this to me? What me is doing.......to ...you?" Kasima asked weakly.

"Guards throw her out of my palace." King Maduka commanded while the guards dragged kasima out and left her on the ground outside the palace. She managed to stay up and start walking little little but was staggering backward, she managed to walked 9 miles away from the palace before she fell on the ground, close to the road that leads to Amanlinda's river, she was unable to stand up due to the pain and weakness. Ogechi and her brother Obinna were coming back from farm when they saw kasima lying down.

Cindy came down from the stairs, she met Mrs Godwin and Sophia watching TV..she walked pass them and went to the kitchen, she tries to open the kitchen door but it was locked... She kept the food Sophia had left in wisdom's room on the dinning table and went back to the living room. "Mum, who locked the kitchen?" She asked.
"I did, do you have a problem with that?" Mrs Godwin asked in a harsh manner. "Mum please can I have the keys? I need to prepare food for wisdom, dad and myself." "Cindy, the kitchen will be opened if you and wisdom eat the food Sophia cooked." Mrs Godwin said. "We can't eat Sophia's food". Cindy said.

She cleaned her tears and went to wisdom's room, she opened the door and walked in slowly with some tears in her eyes. Wisdom rushed to her and held her hands.
"Sis, I heard mum's voice and I was coming downstairs to know what was happening." Wisdom said.. "Mum locked the kitchen and I requested for the key but she refused to give me, she said we should sleep hungry if we don't eat the food that Sophia cooked." Cindy said sadly.
"Why is mum doing this to us? Do you think this woman is truly our mother?" Wisdom asked. "That's the question I have been asking myself." Cindy said.
"Is okay, come have your seat." Wisdom said taking her hand..she followed him and they sat on the bed.

"Sis, let's wait for dad to return meanwhile, eat this." Wisdom said handing over the remaining gala from the ones Cindy had gave him.
"Don't worry I will be fine, just eat okay?" Cindy said.
"No, we are in this together, so eat..you can't stay hungry." Wisdom said......she breathed down heavy before collecting the gala.

"I am just wondering if this woman is our mother." Cindy said.
"Me too, the way she treats us and the way she is so desperate about me marrying Sophia is just confusing, I can't just understand it." Wisdom said.
"You are right, I think we should talk to dad about this." Cindy suggested.
"Dad that don't has time for us, all he do is to travel from one country to another." Wisdom said moodly.

"Sit down my children, let me tell you the story." She said calmly while they sat down. "15 years ago, when kasima was four years and you Amaka was just two years old... King Okaka the former king before king Maduka died without a heir to the throne, accord to the tradition..when a king dies without a heir to his throne, the throne will automatically moved to the next family in line and any male child in that family will becomes the king.

So after king Okaka died, the next family in line was our family and your late father was supposed to rule as a king in this kingdom but king Maduka disagree to it, simply because the late Igwe Okaka was his brother so he requested to becomes king.
Your father, late onowu Udemba and some elders disagreed with him that your father must be crowned king..... King Maduka paid some boys to murdered your father and onowu Udemba in cold blood.
A month later after your father and onowu Udemba were buried, king Maduka was crowned king by the present onowu and Mazi Ejiofor. Then the staff of authority that makes one a king gone missing...

According to the former priest in sanit Martin's Catholic church said that the staff of authority king Maduka is using is fake and that the banishment of Godwin and his family was planned because of some reasons that will be know to the people at the right time...
That was how it all happened, since then we have been living in darkness and fear in this kingdom. ... He requested sleeping with me and I refused so he took your father's lands leaving only the one at umuake road, when I confronted him, he threaten to kill me if I ever talked about the lands. So my children please stay away from him I don't want anything to happen to the both of you, you two are the only family I have". Their mother said.

"Hmmm, m'ama, how come you kept all this from us your children all this year's?" Amaka asked.
" I am sorry my children, I never wanted to hurt you girls." Their mother said.
"But mama, you should have told us." Amaka said.
"I am sorry my children." Said their mother.
The already angryed kasima stood up from the bench, her eyes were already red, she was breathing heavily.

"Greetings father, greetings my queen." She greeted with her knees almost down. "Where is your mother?" King Maduka asked, queen Diana did not answer princess Adaeze's greeting, she just eyed her and turned her face but who cares.
"She is coming." Princess Adaeze said before sitting down on the couch just then kasima rushed in with a guard shouting at her that she can't enter the palace. They got to the living room where king Maduka and his family were.
"Your highness, I tired stopping her but she refused." The guard said with his head down. "Is okay, you can go now." Said king Maduka while the guard left and he turned to the already deadly Kasima.

"Are you mad!?" The prince said and slapped her.... KASIMA closed her eyes for about 45 seconds before she opened them, her eyes became more red and scaring.
The prince make an attempt to sit down when he received double slaps on his cheeks which makes he to fell on the couch.... kasima had just slapped him. She walked closer to the king.
"You evil king, you is killing my father and taking the throne and our lands why? What we is doing to you?" Kasima asked with pain in her eyes.
" You this idiot, you dare come to my palace to insult me... I will deal with you.! Guards!!" Said king Maduka.

"How dare you talk to me in such manner!" King Maduka interrupted and slapped her. "Father you are evil and you must pay " Adaeze said in tears before walking out of the living room. "Mother! Mother!" She called as she ran to her mother who was going to the living room.
"Ada, what is it?" Her mother asked.
"Mother, come with me." Adaeze said taking her mother's hand while she followed her, they went to their chambers and sat down on the sofa.

"Hello madam." A thick and scaring male voice said immediately he picked the call. "Hello zacco, we are about to leave the house now and we are going to pass through third express road, I want you and your guys to block us at the Fourth junction..kill my husband and his son but please don't harm the daughter, Sophia would also be with us." Mrs Godwin said.

"She will soon be here." She said.
"Here I am." Sophia said walking into the living room as everybody turned their gaze to her. Cindy and wisdom mood changed instantly.
"Mum, what is the meaning of this?" Wisdom asked angrily.
"Calm down son." Mr Godwin said tapping wisdom on his shoulder.
"Good day sir." Sophia greeted Mr Godwin then eyed Cindy and wisdom before hugging Mrs Godwin.
"Dad, I am not going to use the same car with her." Cindy said pointing at Sophia. "Me too." Wisdom said.
"Don't bother, she will use my car with me." Mrs Godwin said.
"Is alright, let's get going." Mr Godwin said while they walked out of the living room and went to where their cars were packed. Wisdom, Cindy and Mr Godwin used wisdom's car while Mrs Godwin and Sophia used her car.

As they were driving along the express road.. wisdom, Cindy and their father were gisting when a girl from nowhere suddenly ran into the road, it was obvious she escaped from danger, before wisdom could control the steering, he had already hit the girl with his car...she fell on the ground as blood was coming out of her head.... Wisdom jumped out of the car followed by his father and sister, they rushed to the girl on the ground.
"God, what have I done?!" He said bitterly carrying the girl who has already passed out.

" What?..how did it happen?" Mrs Godwin asked confusedly but get no response, wisdom place the girl in the back seat while his sister sat with her, his father joined him in the front.
"We are going to the hospital, are you coming with us??" Mr Godwin asked referring to his wife.
"Yes." She managed to say after a long starred. Wisdom start the car and zoom off. Mrs Godwin hitter her hands on the steering so hard in frustration, she was boiling with anger.

It was exactly 4:30pm, king Maduka came out of his throne room with guards around him, he walked out and went outside where all the elders in cancils, the prince, princesses, queens, maids, guards and some villagers were gathered waiting for his arrival. He walked in and sat on his seat prepared for him, everybody bow their heads and knees down as they greeted him, after everyone has settled down he began.
"As you all know, I am not a king that people messed with not even my fellow kings! A girl from this kingdom came to my palace yesterday and accused me of murder." He said and everybody shouted ("heeeyyyy!!")

" Go now, run as fast as you can before the guard return, may God almighty lead you." Adaeze said. "My mother, my sister." Kasima said. "Forget about your mother and sister now just go and save your life, go now." Princess Adaeze said while kasima nod and ran out...

"Take off the beads from her and her mother, lock them up in the in the palace cell alongside with Emeka and kasima's mother and sister. If after one week kasima is nowhere to be found I shall use their heads as a sacrifice you all to Ikuku." He said angrily as the guards dragged them away so they were begging apart from Emeka and Princess Adaeze... **

Kasima opened her eyes slowly, everywhere was very bright...she knew that was not where she was before and wondered how come she is in the hospital bed, she turned to her left, he eyes meet with wisdom, Cindy and Mr Godwin.
"Who is you people and what me is doing here?" She asked confusedly.
"Calm down okay?? My name is wisdom and here are my family..she is my sister Cindy by name and my dad and mum Mr and Mrs Godwin." Wisdom said .
"And what me is doing here na?" She asked trying to sit up in the bed.
"Take it easy please." Wisdom said helping her.

Exactly four days later, Mrs Godwin sat in the garden and called zacco, she told him to come over to their house with his boys like s theif and take money from them and kill Mr Godwin, wisdom and Kasima because she felt that kasima is a threat to her because she is very smart.
Kasima who was walking around the house over heard when she was making the call so she ran to call Cindy and wisdom.

"Yeah that's true! Wisdom call the dpo." Cindy said while wisdom took his phone and called the police emergency number, he explained everything to the dpo. He gave them the time zacco and his boys would be coming to their house and the dpo promised to send his boys over..

"If you talk I will blow off your head, just move quietly." The guy instructed and Kasima obeyed..she raised her hands up and went to the living room, seeing them Mr Godwin trampled in fear.
"Everybody lie down before I blow off your heads." Zacco said in a commanding tune.
"Please don't hurt her, she is my niece." Mr Godwin said sheviering..
"Oh really? Alright we won't hurt her, all we want is your money." Zacco said.
"Please I will give you any amount you want but please don't hurt me and my family." Mr Godwin pleaded.
"Shot up your mouth!! Now go in there and give us the money." Zacco said and turned to one of his guys.
"Spark, follow him." He ordered while spark followed Mr Godwin to his room, they took the money and came back to downstairs.
"Hey you stand up!" Zacco said referring to mrs Godwin while she stand up pretending to be scared.. "Please don't harm my wife." Mr Godwin pleaded.
"Shot up!!" Spark yelled at him.
"Spark, give her that gun." Zacco said while spark gave the gun to Mrs Godwin, she took the gun from him and smiled.
"Now kill your husband." Zacco said while she gladly cracked the gun and point the gun at Mr Godwin.
"Please Linda don't kill me." Mr Godwin pleaded.
"Why shouldn't I? Well since you don't know, I sent them to come over and kill you, wisdom and Kasima, you people would have be dead since last week if not for the accident that happened that day." She said.

"I hate you, I hate you wicked woman." Cindy said crying. "Yes I am wicked because Today you all wi die." She said and was about pulling the trigger when they heard voices from the door.
"Drop your guns and surrender." A police officer said as everyone turned. Mrs Godwin, zacco and his boys were arrested and taken to the police station that night. The next day, Mr Godwin told Cindy, wisdom and Kasima to get prepared that they were going to the village which they did.
They first of all went to the police station to see the already beaten Linda (Mrs Godwin) she begged for their forgiveness and they forgave her but didn't bailed her. They left the station and went to the village, in less than 6 hours they were in Ajima land. They first of a went to kasima father's house but could not find anyone so they decided to go to the palace to know if king Maduka has arrested them...

"You lied my late brother onowu Udemba and Mazi Okeke (kasima's father) and now you want to kill his daughters and wife.... today your cup have full and you shall face judgment." Mr Godwin said "How dare you accused my father the king of all kings of a murder!" Prince Ikena said. "Shot your mouth little boy, when next elders are talking do not interfere." Wisdom yelled at him back.

"King Maduka, if you know you are truly he king of this land come forward and take this staff." Mr Godwin said... King Maduka was scared because he knew he will die if he touched the staff but everybody were shouting that he should go.
" How dare you challenge Ikuku the great python!" The priestess said and pointed her staff at Mr Godwin but the staff of authority retaliated and burnt her with fire which makes her to disappeared, the fire also meet king Maduka and onowu and they died instantly.
"Kasima, come and take what rightfully belongs to you and give it to any man your heart leads you to and you shall become his wife." Mr Godwin said while kasima walked closer and took the staff, she moved around for sometime.

"Take it." She said calmly, wisdom was very scared because he don't want to die.
"Take it." She said again and wisdom gradually took the staff from her and raised it up.
"You is the king." Kasima said to him.
"And you are my queen, the woman I have be searching for all my life." Wisdom said and they hugged...Kasima was given the staff of a queen.
"Igwe!!!!! Lolo!!!!!" Everybody said happily. Princess Adaeze, queen mercy and kasima's mother and sister and Emeka were released...they were so happy for kasima.

Peace returned to the kingdom... queen Diana and princess Olachi later left the village because of shame. Mazi Ejiofor, Nkechi and Ngozi later apologies to kasima and she forgave them. Kasima later went to English school and she became perfect in English after one year...she and wisdom rule the kingdom together with peace, love, unity, understanding, patience, harmony and wisdom....