Spirits and Mortals

Image source

Karen went to the market to sell his palm wine to mem from the other villages that will be hosting traditional burial rites. Since it is the market day(the market sells every five days), everyone woman who had something to sell came to display their wares to make profits as much as possible. As the day sales went on, the cloud changed its looks, from the bright afternoon sun, it became very dark, announcing the emergence of rain. Both buyers and sellers began to park their loads to safety. Every August, the rain falls tentatively most times in the weirdest of times. Today is one of such.

Folklore has it that when it rains on a market day, the spirits are going home and don't want people to become a hurdle in their journey back to the spirit world. Another one has it that if you look through your legs, you will find spirits with their heads turned upside down among mortals, buying and selling their wares.

It rained heavily that day. Buyers and sellers had to stay in school if their customers on they don't get beaten by the rain. The rain was quite heavy and wouldn't stop till late evening. As it was getting dark, people decided to go home in the rain. The lonely path that led to Karen's hut became darker than every other part of the village because it had tall trees with legumes shedding the light of the broad day and sun from coming down.

Ahead of him were some men who were walking briskly and motionless into the forest part of the village. They were many and their faces are hidden that from behind, it was difficult to tell who they were. As the people negotiated a bend, Karen spotted that a lady was unwillingly dragged into the forest by these faceless men.

He followed them in a safe distance into the belly of the forest. The lady whom Karen discovered to be Moremi, the adopted daughter of Kofo the widow of the great blacksmith who died about two decades ago without a child. Karen kept following, he wanted to see the end of this.

When they got to the stream that demarcates the land of the mortals and spirits, the faceless men stamp their feet three times each and they disappeared. Karen followed, he stamped his leg three times and found himself in a land where there were no women.

Moremi was taken to the king of men in a very big castle with plenty of workers. On sighting her, they all bowed and portrayed to greet her. Moremi was to become the Queen and as such must be respected as the favored for the highest position in the land of the spirit.

Karen kept hiding. When he had seen the reason behind the forceful arrest of Moremi, he tea ed his way back home. When he reached the land of mortals, five years had passed. What seemed like a few minutes before the ordinary eyes has caused a stir in the village already. The villagers had given up hope on the missing Karen and Moremi.

He ran like he was been chased by some pursuers without anyone chasing after him, he ran to the King's palace where he narrated his experience. King Adiele summoned his chiefs in council to an emergency meeting where they sent a search party to the land of the spirit with Karen as a leader and the chief hunter as deputy.

In no time, following the experience he had earlier, Karen and the search team landed in the domain of the spirit. It was the very day they are marrying Moremi to the King of men. It was a huge celebration. The bride was worn and adorned with fine linen and jewelry of gold all over her body. The gold jewelry was so plain, beautiful, and of royalty.

Image source

Once Moremi sleeps with the King of men, she will not be able to come back to the land of the mortals. While the wedding procession was on, Karen and the search team stationed themselves in a strategic location so they can kidnap Moremi and bring her back to the hand of mortals. She excused herself to use the convenience where she was taken by men of the search party and they ran till they reached the demarcation between the land of the spirit and mortals. This time, another seven years had passed.

Karen and Moremi got married in a royal wedding with all dowry payments made by the village royal home and chiefs.