The knocking wouldn't  stop. She sighed,  turning around in bed. "Go and see who is knocking, di" She mumbled. She wouldn't open her eyes, yet. The sleep was too sweet.

The knocking didn't stop. "Di, go now" she drawed. The bed didn't stir, he still didn't get up. She sighed into her pillow and felt for him. "Di—"   She couldn't feel anything on the other side  of the bed and she remembered. That was true, Emmeso had been gone for weeks. When would she ever get used to sleeping alone? A bitter taste was on her tongue, disappointment.

The knocking was still going on. She hissed, determined to deal with the knocker.

"Who is that that wants to break my door? Who said I will not rest this morning?" The light streaming in through the window,  told her that morning had long passed but she was too cross to correct herself.

"Mistress, trouble, big trouble, please come!" That was Akena her servant. Her voice was choked with fright.

She shot out of bed, hastily tying her wrapper around her, securing it with a fold under her arm. With dread she unlocked the door. She had a terrible feeling something unpleasant was about to happen.

Akena eyes darted with unease. "Mistress, mistress!"

"What happened? Calm down! Calm down!"

"Trouble, trouble!"

"Yes, you have said it before," Esola sighed, "what's this trouble? Is your husband beating your step son again? Who's fighting?"

"No, no. This one is worse," a wail escaped her lips "All the gods deliver us, mistress, where do I start! Big trouble oh! Evil, evil!

Esola sighed. She wished this woman would  get straight to the point; her nerves and imaginations were terrorizing her with deadly anticipation.

"There's fighting happening in the City. Big one!"

"Who, where?" She shook Akena.

Akena wheezed like something being strangled. "Ah! Mistress, the children!"

The children, her children. What happened? Fright seized her even more violently than she seized Akena, shaking her. Something terrible had happened. It was in Akena's eyes. "What happened to my children! What happened?"

Akena wailed "They're gone!"

There was fighting in the city and her children were missing! She stared at Akena, not releasing her, unwilling to believe what she had heard.

Iyuca came at the point, calm and poised. But she didn't let that fool her. There was an agitation to the way his fingers moved.

"Iyuca, what happened to my children?" The calmness in her voice surprised her, it frightened Akena who shrinked away from her and it made Iyuca stand back a bit.

"Pull yourself together, my daughter."  "Ozians and Orians are fighting all over the city. Tasa went to the market. The market was attacked. She didn't return with the servant who went with her." Iyuca stopped. His anxiety was there to see.

Tasa!

"Aris went looking for her as soon he heard. I tried to stop him but it was too late."

Aris too!

She stormed passed them, heading downwards. Akena pursued. "Mistress, please easy, easy."

She pounded through the corridor, turning sharply into the living room.

Bibu sat on the floor, bored at his ayo.

"Mmaa, what's all the shouting about?" He was totally calm.

He doesn't know, he doesn't know. She simply hugged him and surged on.

Once outside, she screamed:"Someone should get Atriks for me!"

She couldn't be  calm. She could feel her shield waning . Her voice was ready to crack into helplessness. Why, why, why was this happening?

Emmeso, where are you?

"He's already here, look." Iyuca pointed.

And truly, Atriks was riding down the avenue, accompanied by several soldiers.

He had hardly dismounted, when she seized his arms. Her shield had finally broke. "Atriks, help me, help me. I'm finished!" She couldn't hold it in. Fear gnawed at her bowels.

Atriks was clueless. "Calm down. What happened?" He looked past her to Iyuca who just arrived. "The children are missing. They went out. Aris and Tasa."

His eyes bulged. "Donot say! Now that the world is tumbling!"

"You have to help me, please. Look for them. Search everywhere. The market, the market. I will come with you!"

Atriks sighed. "Don't be silly. You have to stay here. Things are that bad. Ozians and Orians are tearing themselves apart out there. The Assembly has ordered the City guard to restore order in the streets by any means necessary. There will be more bloodshed. Ah! I will go, I will go."

Iyuca face burst into joy instantly. She raged, how could he rejoice now! Had he no heart?  He pointed to the gates. "Our gods are alive, They're back!"

She  watched the horse canter down the avenue. Tasa! It was her. And Aris too! Why was he clinging to her with his head dropped so low?

She broke into a run.

She wasn't sure this was Tasa in the flesh, until she pressed her tender body tightly around her. She was holding Tasa, her baby. She was alive.

Aris looked on stolidly. His head was bleeding. She let go of Tasa. "You're wounded!"

"It's not deep." He fixed his gaze on the ground.

"It's swollen." He winced as she felt it. "Quick, get hot water, towels, balm and linen." Kaima ran off with Tasa.

"Come, Aris" She led him by the hand as she did when he was a boy.

She made him sit on the pavement. "Take off your shirt!"

The humming of the servants finally got to her. What were they all doing?

"Go inside, all of you!"

They dispersed like frightened birds. Only Iyuca hung around. He brought Aris water. "My boy, you're brave. Your wound will heal. The bump is  not too much."

Aris nodded, he seemed so fragile like the first day she met him. His eyes so tired, nearly shut as he took a swing from the bottle.

She flushed with gratitude and shame. He had saved Tasa.

She took his head gently, scooping warm water in the other, she began to wash the wound.  He hissed.

"Sorry, sorry. There's salt is in the water. It's for your wound to go well, eh"

Thank the gods, the wound wasn't deep. It was an ugly gash, tearing it's way across his left temple, coming close to the fore head. It would leave a scar, but it will. It will heal. She sighed.

Kaima arrived with the hot water. Tasa was carrying the balm and towel. For some reason Kaima was still crying. She hissed  irritated "Kaima,  go inside and hold yourself. I don't want useless tears here."

"Yes, mistress. But they're tears of joy, of joy." Iyuca led her away.

She soaked the towel in water. It wasn't scalding, that was good. She squeezed it. She took his head gently and began to massage. He groaned, his jaw was tightly set.

"Sorry, sorry. It's to  reduce the swelling."

He stared intently at her. His eyes were surprised.  She could guess why. She hadn't been this tender to him in years.  He didn't know how to react to this side of hers. This tenderheartedness she kept hidden from him most of all. 

She scrubbed his head with extra vigour, sweeping his locks out of the way. He tightened his face in pain, breaking  his glance at her. She was relieved. Just like him, she didn't know what to feel.

"There's blood on your dress!" Tasa's dress had a frightening blotch of dark red against her neck.

"It's not mine. It's his." Tasa explained.
Of course, he was leaning on her as they rode in.

"Go and change it then."

Bibu chose that time to come around. "What's all the noise for?" His eyes were clueless. Ah! Innocent child. Then he saw Aris'  wound, his confusion melted into fright. "Brother Aris, what happened to your head?"

"Tasa take your brother away," she sighed.

She saw Aris' eyes follow Tasa. Sigh, it is still there.   She couldn't endure it anymore, not since that dance in the Vona's mansion.

"I see the way you look at her. Do you  love her?" It was too late the question was out of her mouth.

His features rose in alarm, then he cast his eyes to the ground. Was he ashamed? So, she was right? He did love her! What sought of cruel fate is this. 

"How?" His voice seemed strangled.

"In a way a man loves a woman. I understand, Aris. You're young. Your body is bursting with fire and emotions. These things happen. You're probably confused about what you feel. But remember. Look at me," She broke off a  bit sternly. Not too sternly she hoped. "But for your sake, for the sake of this family, you must kill whatever you feel for her. It can't  be, it should not be. You can never have her. She's your sister. It cannot be." Though, I'm not your mother and Emmeso is not your father.  "Do you understand?"

He sighed. His face was hurt. She knew he was suffering a pain more intense than the wound in his head. A pain that would last longer. The silence stretched for ages. She was grateful when he broke it with an almost silent "I understand. I will do as you say."

She was relieved. "Good, let's apply balm to your wound."