Chapter 26: Chapter 26
The next morning...
"Master the council elders has arrived and are waiting at the council room," Robin said to master Damien who looked as though he just finished bathing and dressed in a long black cloak looking all fresh and clean.
"Ok, I will be with them shortly," he said and entered his inner room while Robin left the room to go inform the elders.
"Where is the Master Robin?" One of the elders asked looking at the door which Robin entered through to see if the master followed suit.
"The master would be with you shortly elders," Robin said, bowed, and left the room to stand outside the door.
You knew the master would soon arrive so why are you asking the poor guard as if he holds the master" one of the elders said looking at the elder who asked the question disdainfully.
"I beseech you to keep quiet and mind your business Harold" the elder yelled fuming.
"Elder Archibald do not forget that" elder Harold corrected with a glare getting Archibald more infuriated and he was about to lash out when the door opened to review the master and they all shut up pretending not to have been bickering.
"Welcome Lord Damien" they all stood up and bowed their heads. Master Damien walked towards the high seat and sat down before looking up to them.
"You can all sit" he muttered and they obliqued.
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****GIDA CLAN OF THE CARRAN COMMUNITY***
"Amos leave my money alone, you can't take it" Rebecca, Galene's mother shrieked as she came into her cottage to see her husband taking the coin she had wrapped in her wrapper.
She threw the clothes she was holding on the floor and immediately ran to him.
Snatching the wrapper from him, she turned and was about to leave when he dragged her back, landed a punch at her and snatched the wrapper, unwrapped it, and took the coins.
"The gods won't forgive you, Amos, you sold my only child and wandered all the money given to you so why do you still steal from me?
"Return my money to me Amos" she wailed, getting up to her feet, she chased after him as he was already outside and heading out of the compound.
"You cannot gamble with that coin Amos because it doesn't belong to you, return my coin Amos why are you this wicked and heartless" Rebecca shouted in tears.
"That coin is the only money I have in this house and it is not for me but for the market woman whom I've been owing for long" Rebecca pleaded, tears falling from her eyes heavily.
"You deserve no pity and since you decided not to give me a son, there won't be peace in your life. Leave my garment before I descend on you" Amos growled and pushed her off him before walking out of the compound.
"Amos the time shall come when you will beg me and my daughter but no one shall forgive you. You sold my daughter and all the money you got from master Damien you squandered all. It shall not be well with you Amos" Rebecca cursed and slumped to the floor weeping.
"What happened, mother? Why are you weeping?" Diana asked running towards her.
She had just come to help her fetch water and firewood, what she had been doing since Galene left.
"He took my money again, the only money I have left of me, he took it to gamble" Rebecca wept.
"It's ok mother get up let us go into the house," Diana said and helped her to stand on her feet before assisting her into the house.
"Mother you don't have to cry, crying will not only make him see how weak you are, but it will not also make him return the money so please wipe your tears and be strong for your daughter" Diana consoled, wiping her tears.
"Thank you, Diana, you are such a nice and good friend. Thank you for all the help you have been rendering to me ever since they took my daughter away, may the gods bless you" Rebecca prayed.
"It's nothing mother, assisting you in chores is the only way I could help you since my friend is no longer here but mother, I know Galene will come back someday, you just have to believe and be strong for her," Diana said and Rebecca smiled.
"Thank you, Diana" Rebecca sniffed smiling widely, and pulled Diana to a hug.
"I will go now and fetch water for you," Diana said after disengaging from the hug, picking up the water pot, and leaving the cottage.
"Thank you my daughter" Rebecca muttered. She wished her daughter was here, she have missed Galene so much and if not because of Diana's constant encouragements, she wouldn't be sure of still being alive.
She's happy her daughter had such a good friend and she prays and hopes Galene will return someday.
*
*
"Master, do you mean what you are saying? You want to take a wife?" Elder Archibald beamed staring at the other elders who also have smiles on their faces.
They wonder what changed the master's mind for him to decide to take a wife. They had been bugging him with that issue for a very long time but he doesn't seem to want to listen to them, but now they are very surprised to hear him saying he would take a wife.
Master Damien ignored their amused faces and stood up. "I have not made up my mind on who to settle for but as soon as I do, I would let you all know," he said and turned to leave but stopped when he heard one of the elders speak.
"What if we arrange the daughters of the most prestigious men of this clan and other clans for you to select the best among all?
"There would be no need for that Archibald but if there would be a need then Robin would convey to you all" Master Damien said and walked out of the council room with Robin and other guards following behind him.
Master Damien got to his chamber and sat down, looking out of the huge window. He doesn't know what came over him to utter such a statement to the council.
He shouldn't have done that because he had no intention of having a wife. What does he need a wife for when he has lots of slaves under him, ready to satisfy him whenever he wants.
His eyes darted to a lady squatting and drawing a figure on the ground. Her long black hair shimmer against the sunlight, dazzling fair skin shone brightly almost blinding his eyes.
"Galene" he muttered not needing anyone to tell him it was her even without seeing her face he knew there was no one who bear such beauty in the castle aside from her.
He stare at her, different emotions running through him, she seemed to be engrossed with whatever she was drawing.
He stood up after a while of watching her and walked out of his chambers going in her direction.
"What are you doing under the sun young lady?" His voice echoed and Galene sprang upon hearing the master's voice.
"I'm sorry my Lord, I was bored and decided to stay out here. I will return to my quarters now" she bowed and try to run away but master Damien dragged her back.
You said you were bored and decided to stay on the sun, scribbling down this?" He asked why staring down at the drawing of a man with two horns and an ugly face which she drew.
His eyes fixed on the drawing darting all over it confused about why she had to come out to the sun to draw this meaningless thing when his eyes darted to the letter inscribed under the drawing.
"Master Damien? This thing here is me?" He asked his eyes threatening to bulge out of his sockets.
"No my Lord, it isn't your own Master Damien, it is another Master" Galene muttered fearfully and quickly wiped off the name on the drawing.
"Another Master? Which other master bears Damien?" He asked pinning his gaze on her.
"The mas...master in my grandmother's stories" Galene stuttered swallowing hard and pinning her gaze to the floor.
"The master Damien in your grandmother's stories have horns and ugly, why does it bear my name? Master Damien asked again enjoying the fear in her eyes.
"I...I do n..not have any idea my Lor... Lord" Galene stuttered wishing the ground could open up and swallow her.
What has she gotten herself into, there wasn't any master Damien with horns in her grandmother's stories she doesn't even know her grandmother's. The woman died even before her birth.
It was him that she was drawing and never did she think he would appear there all of a sudden from nowhere.
You said you are bored so you decided to come out here and draw the master Damien in your grandmother's stories right?" Master Damien asked and Galene nodded in fear.
"Come with me," he said and started walking. "Aaargh!!! I'm finally going to die today" Galene mumbled following behind him in fright.
Master Damien who heard what she said let out a slight dangerous chuckle.