” It’s not about that. No it’s not. I would get you a new house and furnishings. I will pay back all your sufferings. Don’t be caught up with the comforts of the forest. Your place is in the city”
” Houses, furnishings and happiness? Would you buy me happiness?” She inquired in a sullen tone.
” No. But I will make you happy cause … Cause. Cause I love you Amelia.” Maximin Said in slow tenor that begged for her understanding. Catori hear every detail of their conversation. Being patient had thought him to take in my shits and he was being tolerant enough to be nice to Maximin. If for nothing, he was the friend of his fiancé.
” I don’t want love. I want understanding. I want peace and I want to stay here.” She said in falling intonation and did not gaze at him.
” What did he do to you?” Said Maximin and sniffed in desperation. ” Why are you choosing him over me. Why are you rejecting me Amelia.” He said and couldn’t restrain himself from walking to her, before squatting down before her. He didn’t care anymore if Catori saw him with her. Yes it’s the reason why had choose to stay back under the pretense of being sick. He held the hands of Amelia gazing at her straight into the eyes but she didn’t look back. She kept her gaze on the floor but was okay to let him touch her fingers. Catori watched with keen interest.
” In my life, I have it all. The money and the power. My dad thought me never to give up on acquiring what I like. He taught me many things on wisdom. The fact that Catori saved your life and mine doesn’t mean we owe him anything. To stay and fight for another man is simply a personal will and I have no interest. My interest is you. Get up and follow me. I have a clan just like this. If you want a local setting then I will gladly move back to my fathers clan in the woods. If you want the city life, I will build you a mansion that dwarfs all the skyscrapers In Cincinnati. If you want a village in the city, I will create you a clan in my villa and you shall be queen. I will do all this and more for you. Don’t choose Catori over me. Come with me my love.” He pleaded and this time around the innocence on his face was gone. He turned abruptly to the side and met the gaze of Catori, peering gallantly at him. Both men were unapologetic. Maximin wasn’t being discreet any more. He was out for war. In all what he had said, it hurt Amelia so much that he hadn’t made provision to help out Catori who saved him from the grasp of death. It was only about money and loyalty to him.” Is this how you really are? Do you think about yourself alone?” She asked, feeling heartbroken just to think she loved him so much.
” What else can a man offer a lady. What else would you ever want that I can’t give you?”
” Just a minute you bastard. You always love trouble.” Said Montana with a wild smile as he rushed down from the pavement and headed straight to his friend. He held his wrist and pulled him to bend before him down to hear him whisper.
” That Maiden you have chosen is already taken by another man. She’s not yet married though but preparations are on the way. You should let her be.” He said in a fierce whisper.
” God damn it man we are Royalty and we take what we want. Just like the good old days.” He said to Montana with a tone of vexation. His words however seemed to have intrigued Montana very much.
” Yes. Yes like the old days. It’s just that I have promised her out to a powerful chief of the redfoot. You know how furious those ones are. Take from the beautiful ladies. Infact man. I Will let you have two of them at once. It’s something I have never done for no one but myself.” Said Montana in a persuasive tenor.
” No! I want Damaris. If the chief wanted her so bad then he shouldn’t have taken her immediately.”
” Don’t say. He is a powerful chief and their marriages are done in a big way. I believe he may be preparing.” Said Montana as he gazed at crowd who had their hopes on the line.
” I don’t know you to be a coward. You asked me to take a bride and I have made my choice. If you won’t oblige by it then I won’t be taking a bride tonight or any other night after.” Said Agiyon in a whisper and turned to walk away. Causing the crowd to growls in a fear and frustration, if he walked away, then so was their free tickets to eat and drink to stupour.
” Wait you bastard. Fine, fine, you can have her. I believe Red khan didn’t appreciate my gift after all. I gave my finest maiden. It’s been three months and he hasn’t taken her hands in marriage. I will have to find him another maiden when he returns. Damaris! Come over.” Said Montana and signaled the shy maiden to come.
She arrived quickly and stood before the duo. Turn around my dear. Let my friend here see what a beauty you are. She nodded in chastity and slowly turned around, making visible her bubble but to Agiyon.” My goodness. What Is the thing of beauty. She’s… She’s beautiful.” Said Agiyon who was almost drooling on all the adventures he could have with a backside like that. He wondered why Montana hadn’t taken such a beauty for himself.
” You like her eh. She’s my niece. Her father is my cousin and his dead. She stays with my family in the palace. You must take very good care of her. I’m only giving her to you because you are my friend and because you are royalty.” Said Montana and spanked the head of his friend. The young lady didn’t smile neither did she let her sadness show. Those who knew Red Khan were very sure that she would have preferred to wait for the athletic warrior who was studded with a ripped physique even though he had more than a dozen wives already.
” Damaris don’t be sad. Agiyon here is the chief of the red clan and he has no wife. You will….” He said and was interrupted by the roaring cackles of his followers.
” Yes he has none. Damaris would be queen and the peaceful bond we enjoy would forever be enjoyed.” Said the drunk king and nodded vigorously in his Oblivion. There were many people present who has mixed feeling about such an abrupt decision yet they had to eat and drink to be able to air out their opinions among each other when they finally walked him.
” I am king and I will join this marriage before you all and before the gods. My friend here has paid the bride price in full and has fulfilled all obligations. Give me your hands Damaris.” ” Give me yours to Agiyon.” He said and brought them together till they were facing each other. Damaris was too shy to look at her new suitor in the eyes but Agiyon was just glad to keep peering at her beautiful face even when it faced to the ground. Their fingers were locked against each other and Montana got hold of a sacred Raffia twine which a servant had been holding in wait. He applied it their hands, binding the four palms.
” As I have knotted this sacred twine around your arms, so have I have knotted your destinies and as I shall untie it and let let your limbs free, so shall you two be free from the shackle and difficulty of life. I hear by pronounce you as man and wife. Serve my guest. We are all hungry. And yes Agiyon, you may take your bride and bring her to seat by you. We can’t leave this thread of bevies disappointed can we? He said and signaled the wild crowd to keep mum.
” You all know I’m a leader that never disappoints. We brought this ladies out here so that one of them would be lucky. Well I’m glad to say that one of them would indeed still be lucky. Hehehe.” He cackled with a smile on his face. It made the crowd go wild in ecstasy and it made the lost smile of the girls to return back to them.
” I will chose this girl over here. I had my eyes on her all this while.” Said Montana and hurried to one it the maidens, took her by the wrist and pulled her to his side. The crowd went wide in merry. Just at the side of the crowd was a man standing at the far edge of the gathering. He was without a smile as she stood gazing at the twist of events with nothing but resentment. Clutching to his spear. he spat to the floor amidst his fury, turned away and embarked on the path that led to the land of the Redfoot