THE ROYAL GOAT

Chapter 3 (Final)

And so it was that when the lion roared. The whole bad guys rushed into the tents owned by dogs to att@ck them and bring out the Royal Goat.

But going inside, they found the whole tent empty and void of dogs.
It happened that a dog had overheard the conspiracy and disclosed it to his people. So all the dogs agreed and sneaked out of the animal kingdom by midnight with the royal goat.

The lion was so angry, He even chased after them with his team but unfortunately for him and fortunately for the dogs. He didn’t find them because they had covered a very far distance from the animal kingdom.

Right at the king’s palace in Umunze village, the celebration of the prince’s return was over. It was time for him to choose a wife from the beautiful maidens of that Land, Everyone of them was putting on their best attires.

The arrangement was that 5 maidens would come out and dance before the prince, then he would choose the one his heart desired most.
The prince didn’t make his choice from the first batch, second, third, and so on. People were even getting impatient.
“Why is he not making any choice.”One man whose daughter had danced and left murmured.

“I wonder oo! Maybe he wants an angel to come down from heaven for him to marry. ” Another man added and shrugged.

Maidens kept coming out, dancing, and leaving and the prince still didn’t choose anyone till the last batch.

Adaku was among the last batch. She knew that the prince would choose no one else but her because she was the most beautiful lady in that Land.
And her guess was just correct because the moment he set his eyes on her, he stood up and smiled handsomely.

He grabbed Adaku’s arm and people started shouting and clapping happily. Though not everyone because some people whose daughters were not chosen were still there.

Okonkwo was there too but was still very sad about the loss of his beloved daughter (Adaugo). He would have just stayed back if the king hadn’t made it compulsory for everyone to come.

Now, the prince happened to be the same man at the stream. But Adaku didn’t know because he had dressed in a royal robe.
The first part of Adaku’s body that the prince looked at was her wrist. He was searching for the bead she wore Adaugo that day. But it wasn’t there.

“What is your name?” He asked her.

“Adaku,”

Immediately the prince heard Adaku’s name, he freed his grip from her arm.”
Where is your sister?” He demanded strongly.

“She has been £aten by a wild animal,” Adaku answered and feigned a moody face to convince the prince.

The prince’s wrath was kindled. “I said where is your sister?” He asked again with a yelling voice.

Adaku was in great tense that she forgot the witch doctor’s warning. “Adaugo has been £aten by a wild animal! ”
Immediately after she finished speaking, she shrunk and transformed into a white goat.

Everyone was terrified seeing how a beautiful lady suddenly transformed into a goat. Even Okonkwo couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Go and fetch me the chief priest.”
The king commanded one of his guards.
The guard was about to leave when the chief priest entered the palace followed by beautiful and elegant Adaugo and multitudes of dogs.

Everyone in the palace was confused.
Immediately the prince sighted the bead on Adaugo’s arm, he hurried and embraced her happily.
Adaugo was still confused, for she didn’t know the prince was the same man at the stream.

The native doctor took time and broke everything down to everybody’s understanding.

Okonkwo was so happy that his beloved daughter wasn’t eaten by a wild animal.

The king blessed the union of Adaugo and the prince and also declared that dogs would be permitted to live with humans because of what they did.

From that Umunze, other lands adopted the idea of keeping dogs as their pets. So people started coming from different places to buy dogs from that Land.
(That was how dogs became domestic animals).

Adaku was forgiven by Adaugo and she transformed back to her normal self but lost her dignity completely. No one ever sought her hand in marriage again.

Many years later. The king joined his ancestors and Prince Dike succeeded his father while Adaugo was Crowned the queen of that great Land.

Okonkwo was appointed as the prime minister and they all lived happily ever after except for Adaku who out of depression jumped into a river.

It pays to be kind
It pays to be loyal
It pays to be generous
Don’t just treat people based on their present conditions.
Treat them as fellow humans because no one knows the content of tomorrow.