FLASHBACK
Before the Nkema's forbidden ritual
The Kingdoms of the Sun thrived beneath the watchful gaze of the old gods. Among them, none shone brighter than Elara, the City of Light, jewel of the Royal House of Imoku. Its spires reflected the brilliance of the sun as if the heavens themselves had poured their radiance upon it. Streets hummed with life, a tapestry of merchants, pilgrims, and nobles moving like a living mosaic. The scent of incense mixed with citrus and the tang of salt from the nearby harbor. Even in this vibrancy, however, a shadow lingered, subtle but deadly. It was not born of war or plague, but of a tradition both revered and feared: the Trial of Three Riddles.
Princess Adanna, blessed by the Sun Gods with the rare and sacred power of healing, had become the most sought-after prize across all kingdoms. Princes came from distant lands, hearts aflame with ambition, only to perish before the eyes of the city. Their deaths consecrated the Executioner's Field, now grimly called the Mound of Dust, a place where failure meant immediate sacrifice. The first riddle was deceptively simple: a small item hidden within the Princess's hand, a secret beyond the perception of mortal men. Hope faded with every suitor's failure, yet desire never died.
Across the silvered waves, a lone vessel cut through the sea, carrying two sons of Aziza: the elder, Odion, a seasoned warrior and strategist, battle-scarred and shrewd; and the younger, Nnamdi, a poet and thinker, whose mind sought truths beyond steel and blood. Their mission was clear: secure Princess Adanna, survive the riddles, and return to heal their ailing father, King Oba.
The Hall of Aziza
The Great Hall of Aziza gleamed like black obsidian. Pillars etched with centuries of battles reflected the flickering light of braziers. King Oba, frail and trembling, sat upon his throne, sickness pressing against a mind still sharp as obsidian. Beside him stood Queen Iyabo, protector and sorceress, her eyes fixed on Nnamdi.
"Nnamdi," she whispered, "it is madness. The Prince of Nkanu has already failed. What hope has my youngest, my poet, against riddles that devour kings?"
Nnamdi straightened, chin lifted, eyes unwavering. "Mother, strength of arms cannot pierce all doors. Wisdom is the key. The poet's mind may unlock what the sword cannot. Our kingdom suffers. Princess Adanna's gift may yet save our people, and I intend to prove that wisdom is as formidable as war."
From the shadows, Odion emerged. His scarred face mapped battles survived. "The boy speaks truth. Nnamdi may shrink from steel, but his mind is sharp. I will guard him. Together, we shall not return without Princess Adanna. She is said to possess a beauty that defies reason—enough to awaken courage even in timid hearts."
King Oba's trembling hands gripped the war-staff. "Go, my sons. Let the wisdom of the poet be guarded by the might of the warrior. Bring the healer, and preserve our kingdom."
Farewells were lavish and mournful. The royal war galley, The Spear of Aziza, carried gifts, provisions, and a small escort. But Odion had anticipated contingencies: hundreds of hidden vessels trailed the mission like shadows, ready should the first riddle fail.
The Isle of Ota
The Spear of Aziza arrived at the Isle of Ota, a bustling trading post of foreign tongues, briny wind, and colorful sails. Nnamdi walked among the docks, eyes alert, noting every merchant and traveler, when his gaze fell upon a grotesque scene: a dead man tied to a wooden frame, his back raw and full of bruises, whipped by a long queue of creditors.
"He is a debtor," a local chief explained. "Until his debts are paid, his body may be claimed."
Nnamdi's hand clenched. "Odion, our treasury can cover this. Spare him. Justice is not cruelty."
Odion's jaw tightened, torn between caution and morality. Reluctantly, he signaled his men to pay the debts. And they buried him swiftly before setting sail.
Hours later, a diminutive figure appeared aboard the galley. Small, dark-eyed, seemingly human, he moved with an awareness that seemed unbound by mortal limits.
"I come to witness the riddles," he said, voice soft but carrying authority. "I offer counsel, insight, and eyes where yours may fail."
Odion frowned. Nnamdi, however, felt an inexplicable kinship with the figure. This was Stowaway, though no one yet knew he was the spirit of the freed debtor. He ate, slept, and walked among the men as any human, yet his gaze carried the depth of knowledge few could comprehend. Nnamdi allowed him to serve directly, granting him food, shelter, and a place among the mission. Stowaway's presence was quiet, almost imperceptible, yet subtly guiding, nudging the currents of fate.
Arrival at Elara
Weeks later, the fleet arrived at Elara, seventy-seven vessels glittering upon the harbor like scattered jewels. King Imoku and Queen Nneka awaited, grave and regal.
"Prince Nnamdi of Aziza," King Imoku intoned, "the riddles are deadly. Many have perished."
"My King," Nnamdi bowed, "I travel for wisdom, to honor truth, to save my father, and to witness Princess Adanna's light."
The first riddle commenced in the Hall of Light. Adanna lifted her hand, cloaked in silk.
"What small thing, hidden from all sight, rests within the hollow of my palm? Guess and live. Fail and perish."
Guided subtly by Stowaway, Nnamdi observed the Princess's hands, noting minute movements, tension in her fingers, and the subtle shadow of what was concealed. He spoke calmly:
"Within your palm, Princess, is the hair from your right armpit."
A stunned silence fell. Slowly, Adanna unclenched her fist, revealing the secret. A spark of recognition passed between them, subtle but undeniable.
The Second Riddle
The second riddle tested knowledge and perception.
"How many heads does the Monster of the Obsidian Shores possess?"
Whispers of the Monster's legend filled the hall. Nnamdi's mind raced. He remembered fragments of lore collected during the voyage, tales whispered in shadows, patterns in moonlight on the decks. Stowaway's subtle nods guided him, almost imperceptibly, as if the spirit could see through the veils of impossibility.
"Fourteen heads," Nnamdi said. "Legends protect the innocent; the truth is fourteen."
Gasps echoed through the court. Princess Adanna gave a slight nod, acknowledging the answer. Nnamdi's pulse quickened; each correct answer was a heartbeat closer to securing not only the Princess's hand but the very salvation of his kingdom.
The Monster's Secret and Adanna's Possession
That night, Stowaway approached Odion and a select group of soldiers. "Follow me," he instructed. "Observe. Speak not. Interfere not. Understand only."
They moved quietly into the forest, moonlight glimmering upon a clearing where shadows writhed unnaturally. There stood the Monster of the Obsidian Shores, fourteen heads towering like living towers, scales glimmering blackly, each eye reflecting a fragment of the night sky.
Adanna appeared, alone, unaware she was being followed. Her emotions were torn: she felt a forbidden warmth toward Nnamdi, yet the Monster's presence twisted her heart, making her feel an unearthly devotion.
"Please…" she whispered, clutching her chest. "He wants to take me. He does not understand… do not let him take what is yours!"
The foremost head lowered, eyes silver and glowing.
"Little bride," it rumbled, "you love him, yet you belong to me. When the next riddle comes, demand one of my heads. Only the impossible may fulfill it."
Trembling, Adanna fled. The soldiers remained hidden, seeing only her shadow disappear. Stowaway's eyes glimmered faintly, a reminder that unseen forces had always guided the path.
Odion and Soldiers vs. Monster
Odion signaled his men. The Monster roared, shaking the earth, fourteen heads lashing violently. Blades struck obsidian scales; sparks flew, steel met stone-like hide with deafening impact. Each head moved with independent will, calculating, intelligent, alive.
Odion's men fought in deadly coordination. The first head fell, thrashing, then crashed to the ground. The second was severed with coordinated strikes. The third fell, screeching as it hit the forest floor. The fourth, thrashing fiercely, was cut down by Odion himself, the ancestral blade biting true.
Four massive heads had fallen; ten remained. Odion wiped blood and sweat from his brow, the forest eerily silent save for distant roars. Stowaway watched, expression inscrutable, a spirit orchestrating events while appearing human.
The Third Riddle
The third day arrived. Princess Adanna, pale and tense, lifted her hand.
"Prince Nnamdi, present a single head of the Monster. Only then may my hand be yours."
Nnamdi allowed silence to stretch, drawing the Princess into agonizing doubt. The hall held its breath. Finally, he revealed four heads. Shock froze the court. Adanna fled, tears mixing with relief and excitement. Their eyes met fleetingly—love now fully ignited, forged by courage, intellect, and destiny.
That night, the remaining ten heads charged the lodge. Spears, fire, and scalding water finished the Monster. A dark shadow fled the Princess but dissolved into nothingness. Adanna, freed from the burden of possession, rushed to Nnamdi. Hands glowing, she healed his wounds. Their embrace sealed a bond deeper than words, forged in fire, blood, and trust.
Stowaway's Revelation
Upon returning from Elara, the company paused at Ota. Stowaway stepped onto the sand, the wind carrying salt and memories of debt, mercy, and fate.
"You released me," he said, "and I guided you. You freed my soul, and through that act, destiny was set in motion."
He handed Nnamdi a black stone medallion, warm to the touch.
"I am the spirit of the man you freed at Ota. My flesh may have been mortal, but my purpose was bound to the living world by unfinished duty. Now I am free. Yet this medallion remains. Call upon me if ever your heart wavers. My guidance will be yours."
Nnamdi looked up, awe-struck. Stowaway had walked among them as human, yet always a spirit, shaping events, orchestrating fate, guiding with subtle wisdom.
Together, Nnamdi, Odion, and Adanna boarded The Spear of Aziza, ready to return home, heal King Oba, and usher in a new age of courage, wisdom, and light.