Ifayemi was the most honest herbalist at Ayetoro. When the village lapsed into a state of turmoil years earlier and no one knew what was behind it and what was to be done to break off the disaster, to whom did the late King and the villagers run to seek the thoughts of 'Eledumare' about the issue, if not Ifayemi? Ifayemi was a man who felt hostility toward telling a lie. It was such an attribute that made the late King cherish him. Unlike the rest of the traditionalists, Ifayemi would never ask for a ram where a fowl was needed. Consumers with the most wicked missions-- like intending to engage in money ritual or killing an innocent person out of envy--- often got their purposes unaccomplished and disappointed because Ifayemi was not a man who supported evils. He was a great example of what it means to be a great herbalist.
When the late King had been buried and his exit had publicly been celebrated, the elders invited Ifayemi to the palace. They wanted to know the mind of 'Eledumare' about who was to succeed the departed King. Although it was already assumed that it would be Prince Adeolu, the elders felt it was necessary to hear from 'Eledumare' as the Creator of everything.
Where Ifayemi sat, he had 'Ọpọ́n ifá', a carved flat wood used for consultation and 'ọpẹ̀lẹ̀', the item to use for the research for desirable results before him. No sooner had Ifayemi tendered his 'Opele' on the 'Open Ifa' and recited some words of an incantation than he heaved a deep sigh. The chiefs found the sigh strange: it was in their collective thought that trouble was looming.
"What is it?" Otun and Balogun asked.
"Talk to us, Ifayemi," Iyalode intervened when Ifayemi's response was not forthcoming.
"There is no problem at all," he responded, " 'Eledumare' has not spoken much. He said it is not yet time to speak," The chiefs quickly exchanged incredulous glances at one another.
"When will that be then?" It was Iyalode that spoke.
"When we see the moon in the air," Ifayemi mumbled at the end of the consultation.
The meeting was about to be rounded off when blasts of siren intruded it. It was rare for anyone to hear such sounds around the palace. The chiefs halfway sat up and peered towards the verandah through the windows.
"Let's go outside," Otun said, leading the way because the rest of the chiefs crowded after him.
"We seek Prince Adeolu, sir," one of the policemen said.
"Is there any problem?" Iyalode asked, her eyes glinting in fear.
"No, madam. We only need his presence in the police station," he replied.
There was a deafening silence during which each person's attention fastened towards the other building in the palace where the late King and his family inhabited. It was not long when the Queen, the Princesses and the Prince himself came out of the building. The policemen bowed to greet the Queen who offered no response because she was most concerned about the mission of the uniformed men.
"We need your presence in the station, Prince,"
"What did I do?" he inquired.
"You did nothing wrong. Just a few questions to be presented to you for answers,"
"Present the questions to me here," he insisted, almost sounding angry now.
"It is the boss that would like to query you, not us, and he is waiting for you at the station,"
"What did you do?" The Queen asked, facing her son.
"You heard them right, mother. Just questions to be answered,"
"Follow them then. We shall meet you there,"
He did not follow the policemen immediately. He was as still as a stone on the spot, with thoughts running all over him. He wondered if the secret he thought would never be discovered was now exposed to the public.
"We are waiting, Prince," the policeman reminded, deflating his imagination.
He was not allowed to go in his car. He went with the policemen in the siren-blasting van they came with. When they got to the police station, Detectives investigated him. No confession was made during the first examination. Not even the cudgels applied on him baited confession from his mouth. It was when Nene was brought to his presence that he trembled. He could no longer deny the allegation. He issued a word that he had sent Jummy to destroy the reputation of the teacher. The policemen locked him in the cell while only Nene was pardoned.
•••
The chiefs paid one visit after the other to Ayetoro Police station to bail out the captive Prince. But the authority had sworn to take the case to the court. All plead to reverse the decision yearned futility. Only Ifayemi excepted himself from the repeated missions. His action displeased the chiefs. They challenged him about his refusal to quicken the Prince's release from the custody as a prominent herbalist to everyone, including the uniformed men.
"Ifayemi, why have you abandoned us in the struggle?" On asked when he visited him in the company of Balogun.
I did not abandon you, chiefs. I abandon injustice and unfairness," he replied in the parable.
"What do you mean?" Balogun asked.
"The Queen has a confession to make otherwise doom will come to this village," he said.
•••
"Who is the biological father of Adeolu?" Ifayemi dared the Queen when they all had assembled in the palace. The chiefs were also in attendance.
"Ifayemi, what are you talking about? Are you a stranger here. You and I know it was the late King," the Queen yelled, her voice was loud and scary.
"Woman, you cannot keep a secret for too long. It may be covered by the awareness and knowledge of man, but it is not to 'Eledumare'. You cannot fool the creator of heaven and earth. I repeat for the second time, who is the biological father of Adeolu?"
The chiefs folded their arms in incredulity as the Queen clasped her hands and the drama staged on.
"Ifayemi, I sense scandal from you, and I won't allow you to succeed in destroying me. Who paid you for my ruin?"
"I am not a man of evil. I speak what He sends me. I speak not on my own, and He who sends me lies not. Woman, confess now,"
The Queen got up in fury and paced the chamber, her head twitching. To the chiefs, it was like she planned to disappear like a ghost, but no, she was still much around.
"It is only your confession that can send your son out of custody. The more you fail to do so, the longer he is locked up in the cell," Ifayemi stated.
Everyone was silent. Only the sounds of the ceiling fan slung above the Palace, moaned and intruded into the cessation.
"Speak up, woman!" Ifayemi, a daring hater of absurdity, said. He was now almost amok.
"Forgive me, chiefs and I hope the spirit of Oba Ajisafe would forgive me. When I got married to Ajisafe, we were unable to birth a child in the first three years of our marriage. Members of his family mocked me. They said that I had used my womb to do evil when I was a school girl, and threatened to send me away from the marriage. In my striving to maintain my position as his wife, I decided to have a love affair with a late friend who impregnated me. I did not know that 'Eledumare" would later give me another child through King Ajisafe. The princesses belong to him. Forgive me, please," she slumped down and sobbed. No one proceeded to rescue her from the ground.
For a moment, the chiefs were paralysed. They found the confession unbelievable and disturbing. They became sad at the confession, sadder with the woman and saddest to realise that a bastard had been living under the roof of the palace. In a hurry, Ifayemi got up where he was sitting and left the Palace for his abode. The judgement passed on the Queen was to have her banished from the village. She vacated the palace with her children.
•••
On the day the moon showed in the sky, Ifayemi and the chiefs came together in the palace. It was the time to know who was to succeed the late King. They could not wait to know the blessed man. It was taboo for a woman to be selected as a King in the land of Ayetoro. Immediately after Ifayemi was done with the consultation from the Oracle, he grinned.
"Eledumare has finally spoken," Ifayemi announced to the chiefs whose faces creased in a smile.
"Who is the person?" they asked anxiously.
"His name is unknown. But where is he is known? Just follow me as I lead the way,"
They followed Ifayemi on the path that led to Ayetoro Police Station. When they reached there, Ifayemi narrated all he saw to the DPO who allowed them to the cell.
"Kabiyesi oooooooooooooooo," they prostrated when they were before the cell. Even the DPO and his colleagues joined in the prostration. It was Adigun, the teacher. Adigun was shocked, and he was at a loss for words. The cell was unlocked as a policeman led him out of the cell and released him.
•••
When he had been free and been coronated as the new King, Mama shed tears for days, tears of joy. Aduke, who later became his Queen, was grateful to her star. Her parents became Adigun's in-laws. The people of Ayetoro rejoiced and glorified 'Eledumare' for blessing them with a new compassionate King.
The End!!!