Karmagha

Promise of Salvation

*** 3 MONTHS LATER ***

It’s the Karmagha’s market day. On this day, people from different clans come to purchase commodities including agricultural produce from Karmagha due to the great yield it has yearly. The Wonderful Market – so it is being called – was 25 miles away from the palace. The topography of the place is one that you can be on this end of the market without seeing what is going on few metres from you but you can see what is happening in another part of the market 10 to 20 kilometres from you.

The air has been infiltrated with dust as a result of the movement of individuals and horses in the market place including camels and donkeys used to carry loads. People of Karmagha who have gathered their farm produce displayed it and then used their hands to beckon on passers by to patronize them. At one end of the market, there is this band of musicians playing instruments and displaying all kind of dance steps. Passersby who are intrigued by the music dropped money for them in the sack positioned on the ground for that purpose.

Sagamus, a trader, displayed his wares for people to see and patronize him. A lady approached him to inspect some of the clothes he displayed for purchase. Her love for fashion was top-notch. Her hair was solferino-red and it rested over her shoulders. She wore voguish clothes in a stylish manner making it match with her shoes.

“That dress will fit you well, it suits your standard,” Sagamus said to the lady.

“It’s like you have a nice sense of fashion, as I touched this particular one, I got attracted to it,” she smiled.

“It is raining! It is raining!” a man ran pass shouting.

Sagamus sighed in relief and said to the lady “This is the first rain since the past three months, come and sit inside so you won’t get wet.”

The lady entered the store and sat on the wooden chair with him. People began to run to shelter; a little boy’s feet clogged to the muddy soil and he fell on the ground but was raised up by his parents. Sagamus watched as the rain fell and enjoyed the scent oozing out of the ground.

One of his kinsmen raced towards him panting heavily.

“What is it that made you run to this place under the rain, hope all is well?”

“A toad does not run in the day time for naught, all is certainly not well.”

“What is it Emendy?” Sagamus asked curiously.

“Your wife just lost the baby.”

“Ahh! Poor baby, what’s all this? I thought I was becoming a father soon.” He exclaimed with his two hands on his head as droplets of tears rolled down his cheek.

Racing down to his home – a little bit far from the market square, not minding that he had no protection from the heavy down pour. Seeing relations and friends wailing outside, never bothered to salute anyone, he entered into the room where his wife was, breathless, just then he fell on the bare floor and became unconscious.

Vast majority of the people in Karmagha preferred it to shower directly on them, appreciating the sacred goddess Sarmandra for remembering them. Till this day, every fourth day of the sixth month is celebrated as one of the festive days in the whole land of Karmagha in remembrance of the goddess’ kindness.

The next day, Carrita went into her sacred room to consult and ascertain if the curse have been taken away from the kingdom. The things in the room where she was beginning to shake as though there was a mighty wind that entered into the enclosed room. She started seeing things double and it felt to her as though the world was turning upside down. Not being able to withstand it, she fell to the ground and suddenly a voice was heard from the direction of the carved image of Saramandra placed on the altar.

“The curse still remains, this is my great kindness shown to the land of Karmagha.”

Carrita was on her knees, her face bowed to the earth, while fidgeting she asked, “How then can we take away this curse?”

“A male child will be born to the king; he alone can do this.”

“How?”

“By defeating the evil sorceress who placed this curse on the land.”

***

Carrita was alone with the king in the palace while the guards were positioned behind the closed doors.

“I’m elated that the great goddess has remembered us in causing a great down pour on the land yesterday. I am very much convinced that the curse has been lifted. Wow! After three months,” he took a deep breath, “What do you think?”

Carrita had a furrowed brow and her upper lips curled into a scowl.

“What’s the matter, are you not excited?”

“My king, the curse is not yet over, the down pour was the kindness of the goddess shown to us which we will not experience again for decades.”

“What are you talking about? I seem not to comprehend,” the king said curiously.

“In the early hours of today, I inquired at my altar and that was the response I got.”

“So, what is the remedy? What is the hope of Karmagha?” The king inquisitively asked.

“There will be a male child born to the king, he it is who will take away this curse from Karmagha.”

“How can this thing be?”

“He has to defeat the evil sorceress – Evelyn for everything to return to normalcy.”

***

Days passed by, weeks passed, months passed but there was no positive change in Karmagha. No sign of rain, the agricultural produce was not yielding as before which led to a drastic decline of patronage from traders in other clans. Those who had the where withal had channeled waters from the sea to their farm. Miscarriage became the order of the day, at least in a month four families will weep as a result of it. Many went to the Sacred Ocean to beckon on Saramandra to come to their aid. The waters in the small streams began to dry up, hunters hardly get a catch because the famine has also ravaged the animals; things became very expensive that some persons began to use their properties in exchange for food. The king on his part provided the daily food for the nobles and the royal household out of the land designated for the royal family. Water has been channeled from different rivers to the farm. He also made provisions for the commoners once every week.

One year gone and no sign of conception, it’s as though there is no remedy to Karmagha’s ordeal. The incessant disturbance of the people left the king to sleepless night thinking on the next step of action to take. Carrita had assured the people that there is hope and it is commonly reported in the land that the Queen will give birth to a son who will take away the reproach.

“I just want to believe that this will happen.” Fandalia said to Agua’mie on the bush path while they went hunting.

“If it happens, then it is a miracle seeing that none have given birth over a year now in this kingdom.” Agua’mie asserted.

“Let the will of the great goddess be done” said Fandalia.

***

“Messengers from the Queen my lord” was echoed by Shammah at the entrance of the palace.

“Let them in” the king said.

They walked into the palace where the king was sitting with a trusted chief who he normally leans on and take counsel from for he was regarded as a man filled with knowledge and wisdom. Chief Manda’Uke knows the answer to every question and proffers solution where needed. The messengers made obeisance to the king.

“Speak on.”

“The Queen wants the message to be delivered to you alone.”

“Don’t worry, you can say it, Chief Manda’Uke is a good man and reliable. If the matter is difficult, he can proffer solution as well.”

Chief Manda’Uke smiled and nodded his head in affirmation.

“The Queen asked us to inform you that she’s conceived with a baby”

The king interrupted, “How? When? Is this really possible?”

“It’s 3 months now, she hid it so she will watch it to see if it will be like that of others”

“Why did she do so?” The King became furious.

“My King, this calls for celebration and not for all these questions. Finally, the great goddess has remembered us.” Chief Manda’Uke intercepted.

“That’s a wise saying Chief, Saramandra has visited us.” To the messengers he said, “Tell the Queen I will come see her but let no one hear of this for now.”

“Yes, your Highness” the messengers quickly left the palace.

“Shammah!” The King calls.

Shammah rushed in and bow before the king, “My lord, you called me.”

“Send and bring Carrita to the palace this minute.”

“Yes, my Lord” he went out of the palace.

“Your Highness, I will take my leave now.” Chief Manda’Uke said while picking his walking stick as he bade to go.

“I will speak to you later Chief, god speed.”

Carrita was escorted by four royal guards to the palace.

“The Queen is three months pregnant”

“That’s great news,” Carrita interrupted, “truly the great goddess cannot lie to us.”

“From now, your eyes should not move away from the Queen. You are to protect her and make sure the baby is safe. Use every protection spell you know to protect the Queen and the chosen child.”

“Yes, my King.”