STORYTIME: ANANSE AND THE RAIN DRUM 2

 RECAP

Princess Asesewa's maid informed the King and Queen of Mpeasem and the audience present at her betrothal party that the princess had been kidnapped by the dreadful dwarf Iskoki while she was getting ready for the occasion. 

The cunning dwarf demanded the "Gods' rain drum", an important ancient relic hidden from humans and missing for generations, in exchange for the princess and the town's safety.  Ananse swore to himself to find a way to rescue the princess and save the town. 

We proceed...

CHAPTER 2

Ananse woke up early in the morning with one thought on his mind.  He paced up and down, deciding on how to go about his plan. He murmured to himself and occasionally nodded and shook his head. When he felt he had reached a reasonable conclusion, he hurriedly dressed and marched to the King’s quarters. 

The usually lively king and his wife looked solemn and sad.  Ananse told them of his plan, and the king vehemently shook his head in disagreement. 

The strategy Ananse had proposed was risky, and he didn’t know whom he could trust enough to undertake such a job. Ananse allayed his fears and told him he would do it by himself. 

For a moment, the king was uncertain. He looked at Ananse’s scrawny body and told him not to try it. It was too risky. He did believe in Ananse because, since he was a young lad, he had always been wise and intelligent, which is why he made him his advisor. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to allow him to do that.

 “My, king…” Ananse coaxed, “If anyone is right for the job, it’s me. This job is not meant for the hefty or strong, just the courageous and wise, and I assure you, your majesty, these are my greatest qualities. And sir, if I am to accomplish this flawlessly, I would like you to give me Princess Asesewa as my wife.” 

The king gave him a puzzled look. As his advisor, he expected him to know that he was planning to give the princess to the prince, Okonu of the neighboring kingdom. He nodded anyway. 

He agreed to give Asesewa to Ananse if he was successful. The king thought to himself, ‘In any case, we have not heard from Okonu since he fled to his town after the news yesterday night. If Ananse is unsuccessful, the princess would be a dwarf’s wife or worse, a slave, and if he succeeded, it is only fair since he is sacrificing himself to get her back, and once the princess is fine with the changes… oh, it wouldn’t matter.’ 

The king mentally evaluated Ananse once more and sighed. He wouldn’t get his hopes up.  Ananse’s face beamed as he thanked the king and promised no failures.

He left the palace immediately for where he believed he could find the rain drum. He kept going over his plans, thinking only of the positives and not the fact that if the gods found him out, they would snap the life out of him. 

He had been warned before, and yet, there he went again. All he could imagine was the big ceremony that would be held during his marriage to the princess. 

Soon, he arrived at his first destination. He gulped as he beheld the magnificent scene.

 

TO BE CONTINUED ...