PRIESTESS OF KEBRA.
Episode 7.
By Amah’s Heart.
Dembe was in his slave quarters when he heard somebody calling his name.
He has chosen to remain alone after his usual daily task.
He retired to his quarters and remained there.
The person kept calling him and he decided to go out.
” Brami… what can I do for you?.
He asked the lady who was in charge of the house welfare.
“Are you alright Dembe? You have been inside all day. You haven’t eaten anything…
“I’m fine Brami.
“Lady Aprin was asking of you earlier.
Dembe sighed sadly before saying.
“Why? Why is she asking for me?
“I wouldn’t know. You are going to be her husband so is very normal if she ask. Dembe, listen… i know how hard all this most have been for you because is obvious you don’t want it. Many young men will jump on this offer… Please cheer up. a whole priestess of Kebra wanting you as a husband, is a dream come true for many. Especially since it will also mean your freedom. You will no longer be a bond servant but a husband to the daughter of the soil and not just any daughter but also the next priestess of Kebra. You will officially become a priest after getting married to her. You should be jubilating and stop putting up all this saddened face.
“I don’t want it Brami. I don’t want to get married to a priestess of Kebra neither do I want to become a shrine priest. Right now…I will rather remain a slave boy than all this trouble that comes with such a freedom. Getting married to lady Aprin doesn’t make me free. I’m still bonded to them… forever. I’m going to be a servant to their gods and goddess therefore dedicating my entire life into services to them and to their pagan temple. How exactly does that make me a free man? But it does not matter what I want or don’t want. I must do as they say. Brami… I wish I had a choice. I strongly believe in the unseen and ever present God of all mankind will save me from the clutches of the wicked.
Brami looks confuse, she was about to ask more questions when Aprin showed in the hallway.
She greeted her before walking away.
Dembe waited with his head bowed as Lady Aprin came to stand right in front of him.
“Greetings to you my lady!
Dembe greeted.
Aprin smiled, she took a step closer to Dembe while he took one back.
“You should begin to get used to me Dembe. I’m going to be your wife few days from now. Try to get used to it. You can’t avoid me. I expected you to be happy because it also means your freedom from slavery. You supposed to be rejoicing over what I’m about to do for you. I also know you will make a good priest of Kebra far more than Bash. Dembe i took a risk for you… please cheer up and don’t disappoint me. You saw how much I have to fight in your defense because I really wanted you…
Dembe’s head remains bent he did not say a word. Aprin continued.
“…I guess you are trying to get used to this whole new life. I understand and I know you will adjust with time. The seat fits you perfectly and you will make a good priest. You will no longer be the abbatoir boy. slaughtering animals for sacrifice will no longer be your duty. you will appoint somebody else for such task. By tomorrow you will be moving out of the this slave quarters to the main big building. You will stay there until our wedding ritual is over and you will be able to move in with me. My v!rginity, body and soul belongs to you and the gods. You should thank the gods for the many blessings that they bestowed on you through me…
Aprin waited for Dembe to say something or maybe thank her but he never said a word.
She quietly nodded before walking away.
Dembe returned to his quarters and remained there.
He was not allowed to go out, he must give a solid reasons if he must step out of the gate.
Dembe wish to see Lydia, he wanted to visit the tent makers place where he feels at peace but he needs to lie and convince either the priestess or Aprin on where he was going to.
Before the marriage ritual commerced Dembe managed to come up with an excuse. He lied about going to the hill top to collect some sacrificial leaf.
He went to the tent makers place. Lydia wasn’t there and it was neither a fellowship day.
Only the tent maker’s wife was home.
He decided to wait for the man because he doesn’t know when again he will be allowed to go out.
“We all are praying for you Dembe. God may have a better plan than any of us can see. Remember his ways are higher than our ways. We can’t question him on why unexpected things happen but instead we will remain steadfast rejoicing in every circumstances that we found ourselves. Me and my husband, Jon, are married for many years now and yet no child. We have every right to question God because we obediently served, risked our lives and opened our home up to other believers to fellowship together. We try to obey every commandments but God is not a respecter of person. He does things in his own ways and time. Sometimes is hard to keep trusting or believing but Jon makes it easy for me to remain focus in God alone. Jon’s faith can’t be shaken despite every challenge that Life throws at him. He is a true man of God and I’m encouraged with his strong faith. God remains true. If he can take care of the birds in the air, the lilies in the field how much more we, his special people who he created in his image. Dembe trust in no man but in God. We humans don’t have all the answers, our knowledge is limited but is not so with God. I know you love Lydia and is really a hard time for two of you but the almighty plans and purpose will come to past in your lives…
The tent makers wife was praying with Dembe when her husband Jon returned.
He joined them, releasing more encouraging words and also prayed for Dembe before he left.
Aprin was outside waiting for him as he returned.
“,I know you lied about going to the hill top to fetch the sacrificial leaf. Dembe I forbid you to ever lie to me again. I know you went to see your slave girlfriend who lives close to the market…yes, I know about her but let today be the last day that you will see her. I hate betrayers don’t try to play that game with me. You are going to be my faithful husband and no other woman must be seen with you. I believe I’m cleared enough.
Dembe apologize with a nod of head.
He had wish to see Lydia but couldn’t.
Yesterday was the fellowship day and he has been told by the tent maker’s wife that Lydia came and also joined everybody in praying for him.
It saddens him that he couldn’t see Lydia but he was glad that he spent quality time with Jon and his wife.
The marriage ritual commenced and after a week he will be married to Aprin.
The next initiation will be into the shrine priest.
Dembe will moved into Aprin’s big chamber after the whole wedding is over.
his slave identity including his belt and sash was already burnt to ashes even before the wedding commenced.
He was no more a slave but a free man but still bonded to the household of the priestess.
Sheila was not happy and she did not hide her disapproval over the upcoming union between a slave boy and her sister.
She planned with Bash to get Aprin drunk on her wedding night so that instead of Dembe to have her v!rginity which was supposed to be taken by her husband Bash will be the one to disflower her and he will make sure Dembe watch as it happens because he doesn’t deserve Aprin v!rginity.
Sheila was the chief planner and also Bash who felt betrayed by what Aprin did to him.
They sat to plan on how to either get Aprin drunk or make her fall into a deep sleep so that she won’t know what was going on.
Click 8 below to continue reading
