March 5, 2015
March 6, 2015
Nyansakrom: Chapter 12
Nyansakrom: Chapter 12
by safohen
As the three mbrewanananom got separated in the confusion, the 'fog' partly cleared and Adwoa found herself face to face with Akos, Antwiwaa. Adisa faced Serwaa and Ama noticed Aba the abrewanana osuani blocking her path. The two osuani attacked Adwoa but she blocked them with her own warstaff. They both used alternating swings, driving her back and eventually backed her into a corner. Several asafo surrounded her shortly after this and subdued her.
Serwaa dodged Adisa's attacks nimbly. 'That staff of yours is twice as strong as the average war staff' she observed.'But I wonder what happened to the convicts you had behind you?' she asked. Adisa suddenly realised that she was well and truly alone with no real backup. 'With those wasted movements, you're not going to hit me at all or are you trying to distract me long enough to hit me with those darts in...''
Serwaa paused as three darts flew at her and blinked as she knocked them away with her staff with one hand and threw five of her own at her seconds later. Several asafo led by Karikari emerged from the 'fog' having subdued the convicts who were supposed to back Adisa up.
Ama and Aba watched each other in silence. 'You're not going to attack me?' Ama asked.
'Not neccessarily' Aba said, 'I don't see why we can't settle this....reasonably once you hear what I have to say'
'Alright, osuani, I'm listening"
'From what I've gathered so far, you seek to create an ideal world. You once told me that one can never have too nuch wisdom. Creating an era where only sages rule will only work if the people willingly accept this. You can't force it on them. The mbrewanana were formed to guide the villagers to be the best they can be, through good counsel at all levels of village life.
'But it has failed, Ama said curtly, 'People do not appreciate our wisdom, our guidance. 'As long as we are only able to speak out against injustice without the power to enforce it with our own hands, things will keep getting worse'. 'You are willing to protect the status quo, to be ruled by fools who can dismiss the wisdom of sages and wage needless wars.
'You've gone too far, my former abrewanana'. 'In trying to establish reason, you've fueled madness. In trying to create an era of sage rule, you nearly destroyed the village. I know Oforiwaa may become a tyrant and bring ruin to the village but your violent ways fueled by your extreme views have made you a worse person than she could ever become!'
'As I expected, sighed Ama drawing out an akofena from the hollow of her war staff, 'you and I can never understand each other. 'One way or the other, I will start over, raising an even more powerful force to redeem Nyansakrom'. Step aside'
Aba did not move. 'Perish then' Ama said softly, before swinging the akofena at Aba who blocked it with twin war staffs. Aba dodged a blow aimed at her shoulder and struck Ama firmly across her belly. She swung again and again but Aba's swings matched her own, weakening the impact of her blows. Using a series of strikes, first at her abdomen and hands and then her feet, Ama lost the grip on her akofena and fell, defeated.
Due to the surprising nature of the attack, the Tumi were soon defeated by the beginning of the afternoon. They were rounded up, restrained and marched back to the village by the asafo. The mbrewanana were given tight security....for their own sake.
At her trial, Ama Amankwah, formerly an mbrewanana who was once thought to be next in line to become the head abrewanana, was now treated as a common criminal like the others. She remained indifferent during the trial and was sentenced to her own home which had become a sort of prison annex, like that of her colleagues.
Eventually, through cooperation between villagers and the royals, Nyansakrom was slowly becoming more and more like its former self, both in infrastructure and in community spirit.
several weeks later, three lone figures on a hill overlooking the huts watched as several girls gathered for the renewal of the abrewanana osuani training.
'There are more of them than I can remember,' remarked Aba.
'That's natural' said Akos,' because the mbrewanananom played a big role in defeating the Tumi, its likely that others will aspire to become mbrewanana as well.' 'More specifically by starting as a powerful osuani like me or a less powerful one like you two'.
'Still, it feels strange to have to go through all those group lessons and sessions after all that has happened to us' said Antwiwaa.
'It can't be helped' sighed Aba. 'We didn't even complete the first three group allocations when the attacks started. Now we'll have to complete them before we move to 6 group sessions, then 9 and then 12.' 'And even after that, we have to be approved by the mbrewanana council years later before we can become mbrewanana'
'By the way, wasn't Abrewanana Serwaa supposed to be here?" inquired Antwiwaa. 'And where is Badu too?'
'According to my sources, said Pokuaa, who stepped from behind a nearby tree trunk, 'she got promoted to a member of the council, so she's far too busy to see any of you today.' I have no idea where Badu is"
At the new grand cooking hut, they arrived earlier than usual but there was no instructor in sight. 'Suddenly Badu emerged from a room in front of the class.
'My mother Sika has been asked to help the palace cooks to prepare a celebratory feast for our recent victory and the safe return of Princess Oforiwaa's parents. As such, I will be your instructor for the next two weeks. Now please remove the pans and pots...'
As Badu gave out instructions, Aba noticed that Dede was in the front seat, following his instructions intently. 'Pay close attention to him, Aba, ' Dede said without raising her head.
Since asafo sessions were rolled back to the next 2 years, Aba went to the pottery class after receiving a nod of approval from Badu and Dede for her excellent cooking skills. Halfway through the lesson, partners were sought after to help each other with the pottery formation. She suddenly noticed a lot of murmuring and activity on her right. She noticed a girl much shorter than her moving towards the front row, with people unsure whether to let her pass or not.
Aba soon saw why. She looked just like Ama. Without waiting for any response, Aba boldly walked up to her and led her to her seat. The atmosphere then became less tense and the asuafo's murmurs quietly died down.
'What's your name?' asked Aba.
'Akua Amankwah, 12 years of age and ...'
'A relative of Ama?' Ama inquired.
'Her niece' she replied meekly, lowering her head.
'Your aunt did terrible things to this village, Aba noted, 'but for your part, I've heard only good things about you from the ahintafour'. 'That's the important thing. 'My good friend, Badu, was in your position once. 'But he's what he is, not because he wants to redeem his family name or be acknowledged, but because its the right thing to do. I sense that same intent in you too.
'As far as I can tell, you're on a good path so keep moving in that direction and you'll be fine' Aba smiled. Kuukua genuinely smiled back and in that moment, those two understood each other perfectly.
End
Serwaa dodged Adisa's attacks nimbly. 'That staff of yours is twice as strong as the average war staff' she observed.'But I wonder what happened to the convicts you had behind you?' she asked. Adisa suddenly realised that she was well and truly alone with no real backup. 'With those wasted movements, you're not going to hit me at all or are you trying to distract me long enough to hit me with those darts in...''
Serwaa paused as three darts flew at her and blinked as she knocked them away with her staff with one hand and threw five of her own at her seconds later. Several asafo led by Karikari emerged from the 'fog' having subdued the convicts who were supposed to back Adisa up.
Ama and Aba watched each other in silence. 'You're not going to attack me?' Ama asked.
'Not neccessarily' Aba said, 'I don't see why we can't settle this....reasonably once you hear what I have to say'
'Alright, osuani, I'm listening"
'From what I've gathered so far, you seek to create an ideal world. You once told me that one can never have too nuch wisdom. Creating an era where only sages rule will only work if the people willingly accept this. You can't force it on them. The mbrewanana were formed to guide the villagers to be the best they can be, through good counsel at all levels of village life.
'But it has failed, Ama said curtly, 'People do not appreciate our wisdom, our guidance. 'As long as we are only able to speak out against injustice without the power to enforce it with our own hands, things will keep getting worse'. 'You are willing to protect the status quo, to be ruled by fools who can dismiss the wisdom of sages and wage needless wars.
'You've gone too far, my former abrewanana'. 'In trying to establish reason, you've fueled madness. In trying to create an era of sage rule, you nearly destroyed the village. I know Oforiwaa may become a tyrant and bring ruin to the village but your violent ways fueled by your extreme views have made you a worse person than she could ever become!'
'As I expected, sighed Ama drawing out an akofena from the hollow of her war staff, 'you and I can never understand each other. 'One way or the other, I will start over, raising an even more powerful force to redeem Nyansakrom'. Step aside'
Aba did not move. 'Perish then' Ama said softly, before swinging the akofena at Aba who blocked it with twin war staffs. Aba dodged a blow aimed at her shoulder and struck Ama firmly across her belly. She swung again and again but Aba's swings matched her own, weakening the impact of her blows. Using a series of strikes, first at her abdomen and hands and then her feet, Ama lost the grip on her akofena and fell, defeated.
Due to the surprising nature of the attack, the Tumi were soon defeated by the beginning of the afternoon. They were rounded up, restrained and marched back to the village by the asafo. The mbrewanana were given tight security....for their own sake.
At her trial, Ama Amankwah, formerly an mbrewanana who was once thought to be next in line to become the head abrewanana, was now treated as a common criminal like the others. She remained indifferent during the trial and was sentenced to her own home which had become a sort of prison annex, like that of her colleagues.
Eventually, through cooperation between villagers and the royals, Nyansakrom was slowly becoming more and more like its former self, both in infrastructure and in community spirit.
several weeks later, three lone figures on a hill overlooking the huts watched as several girls gathered for the renewal of the abrewanana osuani training.
'There are more of them than I can remember,' remarked Aba.
'That's natural' said Akos,' because the mbrewanananom played a big role in defeating the Tumi, its likely that others will aspire to become mbrewanana as well.' 'More specifically by starting as a powerful osuani like me or a less powerful one like you two'.
'Still, it feels strange to have to go through all those group lessons and sessions after all that has happened to us' said Antwiwaa.
'It can't be helped' sighed Aba. 'We didn't even complete the first three group allocations when the attacks started. Now we'll have to complete them before we move to 6 group sessions, then 9 and then 12.' 'And even after that, we have to be approved by the mbrewanana council years later before we can become mbrewanana'
'By the way, wasn't Abrewanana Serwaa supposed to be here?" inquired Antwiwaa. 'And where is Badu too?'
'According to my sources, said Pokuaa, who stepped from behind a nearby tree trunk, 'she got promoted to a member of the council, so she's far too busy to see any of you today.' I have no idea where Badu is"
At the new grand cooking hut, they arrived earlier than usual but there was no instructor in sight. 'Suddenly Badu emerged from a room in front of the class.
'My mother Sika has been asked to help the palace cooks to prepare a celebratory feast for our recent victory and the safe return of Princess Oforiwaa's parents. As such, I will be your instructor for the next two weeks. Now please remove the pans and pots...'
As Badu gave out instructions, Aba noticed that Dede was in the front seat, following his instructions intently. 'Pay close attention to him, Aba, ' Dede said without raising her head.
Since asafo sessions were rolled back to the next 2 years, Aba went to the pottery class after receiving a nod of approval from Badu and Dede for her excellent cooking skills. Halfway through the lesson, partners were sought after to help each other with the pottery formation. She suddenly noticed a lot of murmuring and activity on her right. She noticed a girl much shorter than her moving towards the front row, with people unsure whether to let her pass or not.
Aba soon saw why. She looked just like Ama. Without waiting for any response, Aba boldly walked up to her and led her to her seat. The atmosphere then became less tense and the asuafo's murmurs quietly died down.
'What's your name?' asked Aba.
'Akua Amankwah, 12 years of age and ...'
'A relative of Ama?' Ama inquired.
'Her niece' she replied meekly, lowering her head.
'Your aunt did terrible things to this village, Aba noted, 'but for your part, I've heard only good things about you from the ahintafour'. 'That's the important thing. 'My good friend, Badu, was in your position once. 'But he's what he is, not because he wants to redeem his family name or be acknowledged, but because its the right thing to do. I sense that same intent in you too.
'As far as I can tell, you're on a good path so keep moving in that direction and you'll be fine' Aba smiled. Kuukua genuinely smiled back and in that moment, those two understood each other perfectly.
End
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