They got to the palace, and everyone was surprised to see Amara again

They got to the palace, and everyone was surprised to see Amara again. The madiens eyes widened when they saw the prince holding her hand.he prince was walking, holding Amara’s hand for all to see. Their whispers began immediately.

“Is that not Amara”Onyiye muttered to Nkoli.
“Yes…how is she back? We made sure…..,”Nkoli stopped and the prince turned sharply.

The maidens’ faces twisted with shock. Murmurs spread like wildfire. Adanma’s frown deepened.

“Where is he? Ikenna!” the prince called sharply.

“Ikenna!” he shouted again. The king and queen stepped forward, The king and queen came out, curious about the commotion.

Ikenna stumbled out, wiping his mouth. “Yes, my prince, sorry for delaying… I was eating when you called” He froze immediately he saw Amara.

Before he could move, the prince seized him by the chest and delivered a heavy punch. “Speak the truth now!” he growled.

My prince” the queen gasped.

Two guards rushed to hold the prince back.
“Nobody should touch me!” the prince barked, shaking them off.

“Will you talk or not?” His eyes blazed like fire.

Adanma’s heart pounded. If Ikenna talks, I’m finished. She had poisoned his food earlier, knowing the prince would force the truth from him.

The other maidens shivered, silently praying he would keep quiet. Adanma gave him a quick warning glance to remain silent.

“My prince, I… I cannot lie against if she is innocent” He struck him another blow, blood spilling from his lip this time.

“Son, enough!” the king said.

“No, Father! Justice must prevail,” the prince snapped.

“I will tell you… please don’t hit me again…” Ikenna coughed blood.

Speak! Tell everyone I am innocent….Amara shouted at him.

“My king… my queen… my prince… please forgive me… I didn’t mean to…”

“Did anyone pay you to do that?” the prince demanded coldly.

Ikenna’s mouth opened — but a violent cough wracked him. Blood poured out.
“Amara is innocent…” he croaked.

The courtyard erupted in gasps.

“Then why did you do it?” the prince pressed.

“It’s… it’s” His trembling hand rose toward Adanma, but his body convulsed violently.

The prince’s eyes narrowed. “Stop pretending and speak!”

But suddenly he coughed hard blood spilling from his lips. His hands clutched his stomach and within moments he fell on the ground…dead.

“Ikenna! Ikenna!” The prince shook him, but there was no life left.

The maidens especially Adanma exhaled in quiet relief.

“Whqt is wrong with him?” the queen asked softly.

I think he is dead…the prince said shaking his head.

Dead? The queen exclaimed.

The prince’s jaw tightened. And he turned to the guards,Bring him inside,Let me run a test and find out what the problem is.

An hour later the prince stormed into the courtyard. “Ikenna was posioned.

The palace cook was summoned immediately

“Did you serve him food before his death?” the prince asked.

“Yes, my prince, but”

“Then you poisoned him!” a guard barked.

“No! I swear on my life!” I didn’t posion him the cook sobbed.

The queen crossed her arms. “You were the only one who handles the royal meal. So you killed him.”

The king waved his hand. “ I hereby banish you from this kingdom,you are nolonger one of us, you have an hour to leave this kingdom and never to return.” The king declared.

The cook cried as the guards dragged her away.

Two days later, the prince discovered some of his coins were missing.

He gathered everyone in the courtyard. ” Who among you took my money?”

There was silence until Onyinye stepped forward boldly.
“My prince… I saw Amara with it,” she announced.

Gasps filled the courtyard.

Amara turned her head slowly toward her” did you see me with it?”

“Yes!” Onyinye said, lifting her chin. “You were holding a small bag near your waist. I recognised the prince’s gold coins from the way they glittered.”

Nkoli stepped in quickly. “It’s true, my prince. I saw her slipping into her room with the bag. She even looked around to make sure no one was watching.”

“That’s a lie,” Amara said calmly.

Onyinye scoffed. “A lie? Then why were you walking so fast when you passed the corridor? And why did you close your door the moment you entered your room?”

Nkoli added, “If you’re innocent, you won’t mind if they search your room right now.”

The prince raised a hand. “Enough. Guards! search her room.”

They returned minutes later, shaking their heads. “We found nothing, my prince.”

Murmurs spread. Some of the maidens exchanged worried glances.

Amara crossed her arms. “My prince… if we are searching rooms, we should also check theirs. After all, people who point fingers often hide the truth in their own hands.”

Onyinye’s eyes widened slightly. “There’s no need”

But the prince’s voice was firm. “Search their rooms.”

Moments later, the guards came back holding coins. “We found the gold in Onyinye’s bag… and in Nkoli’s too!”

The courtyard exploded in noise. Some gasped, others muttered under their breath.

Onyinye’s voice shook. “I don’t understand! My room?
Nkoli cried, “This is not possible! Someone must have put it there!”

Amara stepped forward, looking from one to the other.
“I saw you both sneaking into my room to put it in my bag. But since you like sharing trouble, I shared it right back into your bags.”

The prince’s tone hardened. “How dare you?”

You both are so shameless,who knows how long you have been stealing from us…the queen said in anger.

The king stepped forward, lifted his staff, and spoke clearly:
“By the authority of the crown, Onyinye and Nkoli are hereby removed from the Queen’s Tournament, effective immediately. Guards, push them out of the palace grounds.”

A heavy silence followed his words. Then the courtyard erupted in whispers.

The guards seized Onyinye and Nkoli. They struggled and shouted.

“This is injustice!” Onyinye screamed.

“We didn’t do anything!” Nkoli cried, twisting in the guard’s hold.

Amara took a slow step forward. Her voice was calm, but firm.

“You two thought you were smart, didn’t you? You came into my room like thieves, thinking you could plant trouble and walk away smiling. You called me weak but look at you now caught in your own trap.”

Onyinye’s eyes narrowed. “We didn’t”

“Quiet,” Amara cut in. “I saw you with my own eyes. You wanted to put shame on my head, but the gods have put it back on yours. Now the whole palace knows who you really are.”

Nkoli spat, “One day, you will pay for this!”

Amara shook her head slowly.
“No… you will pay for thinking I was easy to break. You will pay for every lie you planted. And I will be here to watch.”

She stepped back and nodded to the guards.
“Take them away. Let them go and explain why they are no longer in the Queen’s Tournament.”

The king repeated calmly, for all to hear:
“My word stands they are removed from the tournament. No appealing.

Whispers rose like wild wind…

“Did you hear how amara spoke to them. One of the maid said.

Justice has finally spoken..the other replied.

Even some guards exchanged small smiles and the prince looked at amara with a quiet smile.

That same day,under the big mango tree at the market, a group of women gathered with baskets of vegetables. The air was thick with excitement.

“My sisters, have you heard?” Mama Chika asked, fanning herself.

“Heard what?” Mama Ifeoma replied eagerly.

Mama Chika leaned in. “Palace wahala! That guard Ikenna is dead. They said he opened his mouth to confess, but before he could finish, the poison finished him!”

“Ahn-ahn!” Mama Ngozi clapped her hands. “So it’s true? My niece who works as a palace cleaner told me! She said the boy was pointing at someone before he just fell and died.”

“And that’s not all!” Mama Ifeoma’s eyes shone. “Two of those beautiful maidens… the ones in the Queen’s Tournament… were caught with the prince’s money.”

“Ewooo!” Mama Chika shouted. “Shame will kill them! And they wanted to destroy that innocent girlwhat’s her name again?”

“Amara,” Mama Ngozi reminded. “That girl has a clean heart. You see how the god’s fought for her? The money they planted in her room… she caught she is such a sharp girl!”

They all laughed loudly.

“I like her,” Mama Ifeoma said. “If she becomes queen, at least we know things will get better in our kingdom.”

“Amen!” they chorused.

Another woman passing by stopped to join. “Did you people also heard the prince searched for her when she was thrown out and brought her back to the palace? Love is sweet o!”

They all broke into giggles, gossip flying like wind in the market.

To be continued…..
THE QUEEN’S TOURNAMENT EPISODE 25.
Written by Authoress Favour Sopuruchi

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