THE PRIESTESS OF KEBRA.
Episode 14.
By Amah’s Heart.
Aprin’s recovering process was taking so long.
She couldn’t even nurse her baby. Her breast milk stopped flowing, the midwife has to source for another option.
Some days she will look well and lively while the next she is unable to do anything.
Dembe did not leave her side.
He will take her hands into his and prayed fervently.
“What does he eat? How do I pray to him… what are the requirements to belong? I want to know the true God of Dembe before I leave this earth. Help me ask him what he requires of me and I will do It.
Aprin asked as she tries to sit up from the bed.
“Is not just my God my lady, is the God of you and I…of heaven and of Earth. He neither eat nor drink like we mortals do. You can talk to him wherever and whenever you feels like and he will hear you. He is able to do exceedingly and above all that we ask of him…it is our sin that seperate us from him but if we repent, confess and condemned our sins… his hands are not too short to save us nor his ears too dull to hear. He will welcome us with an open arms just like a father to his prodigal son…
Dembe enjoyed talking to Aprin about God, he felt a strong warm presence in the room.
His knowledge was limited to the things of God but whenever he opens his mouth to speak he realized that he speaks without fear and words keep pouring into his heart.
The priestess came to see Aprin immediately she learnt that she was getting better from her illness.
“I can see that you are almost well. is high time you two start planning and agree on a particular day for the sacrifice. It should be by next two weeks Aprin. The gods has been so patient with us. The first sacrifice was wrong and disastrous…it got the gods angry and they unleashed their anger and struck the child dead right away and now the right child is born and is a boy, the gods will be pleased. Get ready, in two weeks from now the sacrifice will commence. Aprin you are the next priestess of Kebra and your husband is a pending priest. He is yet to present his body for the marking… The blades have been sharpened and awaiting him but sacrificing your first child has to take place first before his initiation.
Dembe and Aprin remained quiet.
While their son slept peacefully besides Aprin who sat listening as her mother speaks.
“… no more delay because it can be dangerous. Nobody should take the gods patients and kindness for granted. That is why I’m urging you Aprin to sit up and take charge. The gods has restored your health they deserve your Thanksgiving and the sacrifice should commence quick. I want you and your husband to assume your rightful place and duty right in the temple. I just came to sound The warning and remind you of your awaiting sit. I will take my leave now since you don’t have anything to say…
She stood up to leave.
As she walked towards the door, Aprin looked over at Dembe who nodded, urging her to say whatever is in her mind.
Aprin hushed the priestess to stop.
She stood up from the bed and walked a little closer to her mother.
“Mother, I mean no disrespect but I don’t want to have anything to do with the gods or the temple. Dembe’s God is now my God and my child will not be offered as a sacrifice to…
Shockingly, the priestess slapped Aprin hard across the face hitting her hard with the rings she wore on her fingers.
Aprin felt dizzy from the slap and staggered back but Dembe caught her until she was steady.
“How dare you speak such treacherous words to my hearing. Aprin, have you forgotten who you are? Have you gone mad? You are the daughter of the gods and you owe them your deep reverence. You allowed your mind to be manipulated by this son of a nobody. getting married to him was a deep curse yet I tried to exonerate you in the presence of the gods and now you have allowed this cursed of a man to drag your fragile little mind to the dust. Don’t dare the gods or try their patients Aprin… they are watching and waiting for you to do the needful. Remember no man rules over us…we dictate and decide for the men and if they refused our orders we clear them off from the way. We are all called by the gods… they found us worthy to choose us as priestess, don’t disappoint them or allow a mere man to shuffle you around…
She looked at Dembe with so much anger in her eyes before leaving.
Aprin got scared after her mother left and began to shiver in fear.
“God has not given you the spirit of fear my Lady but of power and of love and of sound mind. Don’t be afraid of her or her words. you will give her the respect she deserves as a mother but do not panic over her mere threats…she maybe a mouth piece of the deities but there is no power in them. Listen my lady… there is no other name under heaven given among men that we must be saved except through the son of God… Jesus Christ.
As Dembe speaks, Aprin found her boldness again.
The following week the priestess came to remind Aprin about her awaiting duties.
Aprin did not say a word. When Dembe returned from tilling the land for cropping Aprin told him what her mother said to her.
Dembe decided to go and speak to the priestess.
Sheila was visiting and was with the mother when Dembe came in.
The priestess on seeing Dembe flared up.
“If you have come to talk me over sparing your child for the sacrifice then you have come to waste your time. The sacrifice is next week and your initiation follows immediately after. the gods and I have been patient enough but not again…
Dembe gasped out before saying.
“Please, I beg of you…i don’t want to be a priest. No offense to your gods but I and my family are secluded from all the rituals. We don’t want to have anything to do with the temple…
The priestess rushed to strike Dembe across the face but he quickly caught her hand mid way before dropping it.
Sheila stood and began to speak angrily at Dembe so that she can win her mother’s heart
“Who made you who you are? Who gave you family and freedom… Dembe? Answer me or has cat caught your tongue? The gods did all this… mother approved of your Union to Aprin and you know what was at stake before getting married to her. You can’t change the rules or law of Kebra. How dare you even held the great priestess hand from striking you… you are nothing but a common slave who thought marriage to Aprin could save him. You are an opportunist but your type do not last for long because no man has a say over us. Dembe… you are an ungrateful bastard. You live in a house you did not build, marry the woman you did not pay bride price, eat the food and drink the water you never worked for yet you have the guts to challenge mother and cast a spell on Aprin…
Dembe interrupted Sheila from speaking futher.
“Bridle your tongue my lady before it goes up in flame. I did not asked for any of those things you mentioned neither am I ungrateful for having them. I can provide and care for my family if priestess will let me do It… I’m not a lazy man. I wasn’t giving a choice to choose what I really wanted because I was a slave but that has all changed. I sometimes join the workers to till the land into ridge for cropping, I also join to harvest grains at the field because I’m sick and tired of staying idle…
The priestess stopped him from talking.
“I never asked you to join the workers and do any hard job. I forbid you from doing any sort of work. You are married to my daughter and you can’t be allowed to do any work except if it has to do with the temple. Your only work is serving as a priest along side Aprin who is the next priestess. Aprin owns this whole house and every land and many luxury because she is the next priestess after me. If she owns it then is also yours… She is not allowed to do any other thing so are you. There is enough workers and food store in bans that will last a lifetime. The people of Kebra also pays hommage to the gods and to me. They brings different gifts like money, food, materials and even offer acres of land…we don’t lack here because we have enough and your gratitude should be to the gods of Kebra and nothing else.
Sheila frowned at her mother’s words to Dembe. She knew Aprin has everything after her mother which was one of the reasons she was bitter and wish she can be made the priestess instead of Aprin.
She was going to talk to her mother about it later. Since Aprin is begining to reject the offer of priestess. is an opportunity for her to try her luck.
Dembe took a step closer and said with a firm voice.
“I’m not here to batter words or argue over anything, I’m only here to make it known that my blood and that of my child will not be spilled. Tell the gods that I said so… there is no dialogue in this. I stand strongly on my words for greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.
Dembe turned and left.
“Mother, he is daring you to do your worst… did you hear what he said? He has no fear and he just disrespected you. He deserved to be stoned to death and Aprin too for making a common slave to insult the great mother, the priestess of Kebra. Mother, I’m fighting this with you and I will make a better priestess. Bash will make a great priest and we are willing to offer not just our first child but also all our children to the gods if they decided to bless us with any. We don’t have a child yet but I promise that whenever we have we will offer them to the gods. We are ready to give all that we have just to make the gods happy. Mother consider…
Sheila was still speaking when the mother interrupted her.
“Enough, I’m not in the mood for your many words. Aprin is entitled to be the priestess and her husband the priest and no one else. Sheila go back to your husband’s place…I want to be left alone.
Sheila felt dissappointed at her mother.
She stood angrily and left.
Aprin became sick again, every of her breath chokes. Dembe took over in caring for her for their child.
She gets worst everyday, Dembe was afraid to admit to his fear as he looks down on his wife.
Sheila came with the excuse to visit her sick sister.
Dembe kept a close watch on Sheila who looks as if she truly cares.
Sheila knew that Dembe was watching and was mindful of the things she does.
The priestess did not visit, she remained in her temple and kept a distance.
“Take me to the fountain, get me baptized. I want to sit out there like you do and imagine what heaven will feel like.
Dembe agreed to Aprin’s request that night.
While everyone slept, he carried her to the fountain, deep her body into the cool water before wrapping her up with a thick cloth.
They prayed together while sitting out there.
Dembe was almost moved to weep as he saw that Aprin was slipping away from him.
“, Please, tell me a story of heaven, of angels and of God’s people…
Aprin asked Dembe and he went quiet.
He began to think of one of the stories that Jon, the tent maker read from the Bible.
As he began to speak, Aprin relaxed in his arms. Unknown to them that the priestess was close by.
She was watching and listening from a dark corner where no one can see her.
She listened to Dembe’s shaky but strong voice that sounded like a melody.
No one noticed her but she remained where she was and kept listening.
The moon light brightened up Aprin’s beautiful face and make it shone so bright. She couldn’t hold back her Joy as she went still in Dembe’s arm.
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