A True King

King Ofona rules Igodo with two sons from different mothers, and while Odinaka is presumed heir, it is Eze who earns the people's affection through compassion and love for Urenna, the palm-wine tapper's daughter. Queen Obianuju, Odinaka's mother, despises Eze and encourages her son's arrogance, which erupts when Odinaka seizes wine from Urenna's father without payment and quarrels publicly with a creditor. When the king falls into a spirit sleep, the queen arranges Odinaka's coronation parade, but a council inquiry reveals her innocent use of pins on a window mat caused the king's sickness; she is forgiven, then a midwife's confession unearths the greater truth: Eze was born first and is the rightful heir. Reluctantly, King Ofona sends Eze to lead the warriors to war in Odinaka's place; Urenna, pregnant, begs him not to go, yet he entrusts her with his mother's protective charm and swears he will return. On the battlefield, Odinaka's jealousy turns murderous, and he stabs Eze with the very knife their father gave him, leaving his brother for dead before returning with a tale of heroic sacrifice. The kingdom mourns, but Urenna refuses to accept Eze's death and cries out that he lives; her faith is vindicated when Eze, saved by his chi, reappears and confronts Odinaka before the king and the assembled people, producing the incriminating knife. Odinaka denies the betrayal, yet the evidence mounts and he collapses; Queen Obianuju, his mother, then breaks down and confesses their schemes. King Ofona condemns Queen Obianuju to be buried alive, banishes Odinaka to the evil forest, and proclaims Eze the true prince of Igodo, setting the coronation in motion. Recognized at last as rightful heir, Eze embraces Urenna, now his betrothed, and declares his love to his queen, restoring peace and hope to the kingdom.