Nkoli opened her eyes and was greeted with the sight of the thatched roof that covered her room. She sat up straight on the bamboo bed. Her arm still ached from her ordeal the previous day with Oke. For a moment, she wondered if he was alright. She had been too angry and shaken to think about his wounds.
"Nkoli!" Her mother, Akpugo called. She didn't reply. Her mouth only opened to let out a yawn. Akpugo entered the room.
"Why are you still sleeping?"
She stopped for a moment to look at her daughter. One could tell something was wrong with her. So she asked. Nkoli was her favorite child. As her only daughter, they had a special bond. She had always shared heart to heart talks with her. Nkoli took some time to tell her mother about her ordeal the previous day. She told her about the attack and how Oke had tricked Ofor in the last contest. Akpugo looked concerned.
Akpugo was a wealthy trader in her own right just like her father had been. Before she was even married to Nkata (Nkoli's father), she was already known throughout the nine great villages for the quality of her salt and oil. She continued her trade as a married woman. Her marriage to Nkata, the farmer had definitely helped a lot with this. Nkata had been supportive even after they had gotten five children.
...