Novels by tinuolajioluwatobiloba5

SCENE ONE: THE GREAT ESCAPEThe night was a suffocating blanket of darkness, punctuated only by the occasional flicker of torchlight from the distant outpost. Amara crouched low behind a cluster of thick underbrush, her breath ragged, her body trembling from exhaustion and the deep gash on her arm. The wound had slowed her down, but she couldn’t stop—not when she was this close to crossing the border.The forest behind her was alive with movement. Darius’s men were near, their heavy boots crushing twigs and leaves as they advanced. She gritted her teeth, willing herself to stay still. The wrong move would mean death.Ahead, the border outpost loomed like a beast waiting to devour her. Tall wooden barricades lined the perimeter, with sharp stakes jutting outward like the fangs of a predator. Guards stood at their posts, their armor glinting under the moonlight. The only passage was the bridge over the narrow river that separated Darius’s kingdom from the lawless lands beyond.Crossing

Scene 1: The Bloodstained CrownThe throne room was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of burning incense and fresh blood. Darius sat on the iron throne, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. His gaze was cold, unfeeling, as he watched the last remnants of Rael’s execution being cleaned from the palace courtyard below.“Another traitor dead,” Queen Morenike murmured beside him, swirling a goblet of wine. “But do you feel safer?”Darius’s jaw tightened. “I will, once they are all gone.”Morenike exhaled softly, tilting her head. “Paranoia does not suit a king.”He turned to her, eyes dark with something unreadable. “Paranoia?” He leaned forward, his voice a whisper. “Lucian trusted too easily. Look where that got him.”Morenike held his gaze, saying nothing.Darius stood abruptly, his robes sweeping across the marble floor. “I want every remaining guard questioned. If even one hesitated the night of Lucian’s death, I want their head on a spike.”Morenike watched hi

Scene 1: Secrets in the DarkThe palace was quiet, but Chief Idowu knew that silence was never a sign of peace. It was the kind of silence that came before a storm. He moved swiftly through the dim corridors, his cloak trailing behind him as he reached the hidden chamber where the High Chief waited.A single candle flickered between them, casting long shadows on the walls. The room smelled of old parchment and damp stone, a reminder that this was not the first time whispers of treachery had filled these halls.“The investigator was right,” Idowu said in a low voice. “The palace guards were ordered to stand down on the night of Lucian’s murder.”The High Chief exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around the edge of the wooden table. “Who gave the order?”Idowu’s expression remained unreadable. He had suspicions, but without proof, accusations meant nothing. “That’s what we must find out before it’s too late.”Unbeknownst to them, beyond the thin walls, hidden in the darkness, someon

Scene 1: Darius Takes the ThroneThe grand hall of the palace was filled with an uneasy silence as the royal council gathered. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense, a tradition meant to cleanse the chamber of past spirits. Yet, no amount of ritual could wash away the shadow of Prince Lucian’s murder.At the center of the room, seated on the throne, was Darius. The golden crown rested on his head, its weight both literal and symbolic. His posture was firm, his face an image of control, but beneath his steady exterior, his blood burned with triumph.“My first duty as king,” Darius began, his voice echoing through the hall, “is to ensure that justice is served for my brother’s assassination.”A murmur rippled through the council. Some nodded in agreement, while others, like Chief Idowu, studied him with cautious eyes.“The people are restless,” one council member spoke. “They demand to know who is responsible. They demand retribution.”Darius clenched his fist. “We will no

Scene 1: A Summon from the Priestess.The council meeting had been tense, with voices raised and accusations flying like arrows in the wind. But beneath the chaos, a lingering unease settled in the hearts of the High Chief and Chief Idowu. As the council dispersed, the priestess—silent until now—had risen from her seat and fixed them both with a piercing gaze.“You two,” she said, her voice steady yet weighted with something unspoken. “Meet me at my dwelling before the next moonrise. The spirits whisper, and I must listen.”Her words were cryptic, but the command was clear.Now, as they made their way through the winding forest path toward the priestess’s secluded hut, Chief Idowu glanced at the High Chief, his mind restless. “Why do you think she called only us?” he asked, his voice low.The High Chief, walking beside him with measured steps, didn’t answer immediately. “She is not a woman to speak without reason,” he finally said. “Perhaps she sees something in us.”Chief Idowu frown

Scene 1: Chief Idowu’s RecollectionsIn the quiet solitude of his study, Chief Idowu sat at a heavy oak desk, the candlelight flickering across his lined face. His hands, steady despite his years, turned the pages of an old ledger, but his mind was far from the records. His thoughts were consumed by the tragic events that had unraveled over the last few months.He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something had been amiss in the days leading up to Lucian’s coronation, something in the air that even the sharpest of eyes had missed. He closed the ledger and leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing in thought.Lucian, the young prince, full of potential, full of life. Idowu remembered the quiet conversations they had shared, often in the shadows of the palace’s outer gardens. Lucian had been concerned, even troubled, about the state of the kingdom. He had spoken of his mother’s wishes, of his own desire to rule with fairness, but he had also confided in Idowu that