Akyeaa: Chapter 9

Two hours had passed since Akyeaa's return. The bird had been allowed to live and the first thing it had done was attack Fosuaa's face with its beak. Akyeaa had had to pull the bird away. It now drank from a nearby stream and kept a wary eye on the priestess.

'So how do we kill Ekuaba, Akyeaa?'

'Simple. We go to Ihikrom, find the Nyameakuma (godaxe) wielded by Ihi years ago, then find Ekuaba and kill her' Akyeaa shrugged. 'Feel free to lead the way to Ihikrom.'

'I don't know where it is'.

Oh, neither do I. I've read the history books and remember all the stories about the village but the actual location was never mentioned.'

Fosuaa took out her mobile phone and began texting.

'Texting Panin Ntim.' she explained. 'Maybe he knows....oh wait, he doesn't.'

Akyeaa rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Then she rushed over to the bird.

'Feathered one, if you know the location of Ihikrom, tap the ground once with your beak. If not, do it twice'.

It tapped the ground once.

'If you can lead us there, tap the ground once. If not twice.'

It tapped the ground once, stretched it's wings and took flight.
'You're putting your faith in the bird, Akyeaa?'

'Yes. In the abscence of any better ideas.'

'Wait, what about Panin Ntim?'

'Tell him to spend the night at Chief Hawa's palace. I have a feeling that this will be a long journey.'

They walked all day through forest after forest, following the bird, which occasionally alighted on a branch, waiting for them to catch up, before taking off again. By nightfall, both of them were tired of staring up into the sky. By midnight, both women and the bird took a well-deserved rest high upon the tree branches.
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