They said that the land was cursed and that the people were twice cursed, never to find a way out of the region. The white sands of the desert spread out for miles, as far as the eyes could see, with dunes doting the horizon to the east, west, and north. To the south was Mmiri – the salt lands. My people believed it to be a place of death covered with bones and shells of gross proportions. There were large boats called ships that were as ten men tall. It was unbelievable, the tales that they could float on water.
We lived underground in cave-like compartments, scurrying in the dark like moles. Long ago, my people excavated tunnels to keep us away from the unfavorable weather on the surface. As children, it was drilled into our ears not to wander – the world was a cruel place. As a young woman, I knew it to be true that the climate was unforgiving. There’s the sun, high up in the sky that beat down on us mercilessly during the day, sand storms were unpredictable with destructive force, the nights were cold, and in winter freezing. The curse and the devastation it caused was all around us. Hence, our lives were harsh and our skins tough as leather. We worked day and night to till the soil and protect the crops and the livestock. Stealing was unforgivable, and the punishment was death by beheading. The sand was everywhere – it got into our eyes, clung to our clothes, skin, and hair. It seeped into the water and entered our homes.
I was orphaned as a child and raised by my grandparents. My parents lost their lives on a return trip from the neighboring oasis where they went to pick up supplies with several others. They were yet another casualty of the terrible climate we lived in, and I had one more reason to despise the curse placed on my people. DeDe, my grandfather, the Chief, told stories to me of our history. It was customary for the custodians to pass on our history and knowledge from one generation to another. My name is Princess Uru, and I am the next custodian of my people. I was not treated any different from the next person even though I was royalty.
In the beginning, the gods roamed the world and lived among men. They were revered and worshiped. The land was young, lush and green, teeming with life. There were mountains that touched the heavens, the rivers and oceans stretched across the lands. For someone who has lived her entire life under the shadow of the curse, the world before was to me a paradise.
When a war broke out amongst the gods in the heavens, they took sides, as did the men who worshipped them. The battle was vicious, and the lands bled rivulets of blood. When the Great War ended, both the gods and humans came to realize the destruction they had caused. The world was on fire, and each side sustained heavy losses. Thus, there was a decree by the heavens that gods would henceforth live apart from humans. They restored the world, and the gods returned to heaven and ruled over the affairs of men. Hundreds of years passed, The Great War was forgotten by most men but not by the gods.
There was a strange illness at that time which caused the death of people and livestock. The healers could not find a cure for it, and the death toll rose alarmingly. As it was told, a god disguised as a traveler was passing through the village. He was Nduonwu, an outcast. He did not follow the rules and questioned the decrees of heaven. He was stripped of most of his powers and sent to The Earth for a season, to return when he was remorseful. Nduonwu had been alone for several years.
On that fateful day, Nduonwu, a stranger to my people, was received well by the Chief, treated to a warm meal, and sent on his way with provisions so that he would not spend the night and contract the sickness. Nduonwu marveled at the generosity and hospitality he received. He chose instead to stay and help, although he did not reveal his identity – it was forbidden by the decree of heaven for men and gods to live together. Weeks after he took up residence, the sick got better, and the livestock got stronger. The land flourished, and my people prospered.
Nduonwu fell in love with Princess Olaeze, the Chief’s daughter. The princess was beautiful, skin dark, and brown eyes flecked with gold. Olaeze had a pure heart and a fierce love for her people. They fell in love with each other, the god and the princess. Nduonwu couldn’t continue to keep his secret from Olaeze, and so he told her. They married soon after because she did not care who he was, and loved him truly.
Nduonwu angered the gods. Not only had he broken the decree of heaven, but he also went as far as to marry a human. However, when Olaeze got pregnant with their child, Nduonwu made plans and used his powers to create charms that hid her and the baby from the gods – a godchild, when he comes of age, would come into his/her full powers and could contend with the gods. The gods were enraged and struck Nduonwu down. In his weakened state he could not fight back and so he died. This was when the gods placed a curse on the land and the people. As long as Olaeze and the child were among my people, they were sure to die.
Olaeze cried and refused to eat, swore at the gods, and vowed to have her revenge. As the months passed, her body grew weaker, and her health deteriorated. It was no surprise that the baby was stillborn, smothered with grief before it could see the sun. Olaeze’s guilt and grief were too much to bear, and it was clear that she was not long for death. The curse was unraveling and my people were terrified for their lives. She left instructions with her father to keep the people together and protect them from the wrath of the gods – her love for her people strong to the very end. The people mourned the death of their princess and laid her to rest beside Nduonwu. The charms and the child’s bones were gathered up and placed in a safe place as she had instructed.
The gods locked the heavens, and the rains stopped. As the years went by and the drought continued, the lush green fields turned brown, and the rivers slowly dried up. My people tried but couldn’t break the curse. Our priests implored the gods but got no answers. To survive, we learned new ways of living, dug wells, and conserved the water. Years of toil and hardship and the gods abandoned us.
I believed that the gods were unjust. If not that humans helped during The Great War, many more of them would have lost their lives. Every day in this cursed land was a struggle to survive. I did not know what it felt like to be in the rain. I could not comprehend the sea, deep and vast, and as blue as the sky, just like my grandfather told it in his stories.
Olaeze and Nduonwu’s gravesite was sacred to our people – every year since her death, the charms and the child’s bones were a part of the coming-of-age ceremony.
As it was the custom of my people to hold the coming-of-age ceremony when a person turned sixteen, I had looked forward to when I would perform my rites before my people. It was something to be proud of, and it signified that I was a woman grown.
When the day finally arrived, I came back early from the farm and cleaned up before joining the rest by the gravesite. The sun was setting, and everybody was excited. My mates and I performed our rites, and DeDe recanted the love story of the god and the human, and how it became a curse that enslaved us. How we’ve lived and survived. People wept openly or into their hands, but I noticed that many of the older generations had dry eyes. I wondered if it was because they had no tears left. If all their lives of suffering had left them hollow inside. Then came the time for us to touch the charms and the child’s bone, and my heart started drumming in my chest. Darkness had fallen, and several torches were lit.
It was my turn to touch the sacred items, and I was trembling. As soon as I placed my hands on them, the charms latched onto my wrist, and the bones rattled violently, a light came pouring out of it and flooded the gathering, and I looked in horror as it rushed into me. I lifted off my feet towards the sky. The air crackled, and the wind was blowing strongly. I could hear my grandfather calling my name as people screamed in terror.
Another presence was inside me, but I wasn’t afraid. It made me feel complete and warm. In the air, my hands raised, and white light shot out like a lance towards darkened sky. I had no idea what I was doing. The light went out, and I was lowered to the ground. I could still feel the power coursing through me. Suddenly there was a crack like a whip and a blinding light arched and lit up the night. The wind was frenzied, causing the sand to move like wraiths. There was a loud rumble like a terrible beast as grey clouds gathered overhead. And then it happened. The heavens opened, and the rain poured in torrents.
Rain. Water. Wet. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. The water was cold. I opened my mouth to catch the drops and swallowed them greedily. The curse was broken. My people who had scattered earlier in terror raised their voices in a loud cry of joy. My heart was pounding in my chest and all my senses were enhanced. The thunder roared and I sensed another power that answered in frustration. Again I was hoisted in the air, but this time not by a mysterious power, but by my people. They chanted my name – Princess Uru, CurseBreaker, StormBringer – and rejoiced in the rain. To be certain the gods would find a way to get rid of us because once again their authority has been challenged. At dawn my people and I would decide on how best to battle against the gods. We have been toughened by our sufferings and this time we won’t go down without a fight. I clutched the charm and child’s bone to my chest. Let them come, we’ll be ready.
For my niece and nephew, Uru and Zoba💕
Photo credit: Pexels
Upcoming😊
Hey guys! I’ve got really great news. You are the very first to be invited to Thursday Talk Series😘🙌 Yay! I have been working on an interview series to feature here for y’all and I’m happy to tell you it’s coming along nicely. Truth is I’ve wanted to have a chance to share real stories and this is a wonderful opportunity. Now you know you want to MEET NEW PEOPLE THAT WILL TALK ABOUT THEMSELVES, WHAT THEY DO, THEIR STORIES AND THOUGHTS ABOUT LIFE IN GENERAL – THE REAL THING! This is it. Aren’t you excited? I am. I’ll be leaving updates as to when we will get started.
Waking Dreams Unmasked 