When The Gods Whispers

In Umuchie Kingdom the death of King Ogbonna leaves the throne empty and chief priest Ezenmuo calls on the ancestors for guidance. The spirits reject Prince Obidike and Princess Nnenna and decree that the true heir must be found among the kingdom's untouched virgin maidens. A town crier summons every eligible maiden and the gods choose Olaedo, an orphaned girl raised in obscurity. The choice gives her four market days to pick a husband who will rule beside her. The gods' choice prompts Queen Mother Uloma to push her son Obidike to woo Olaedo, and Elder Okoro schemes to marry his drunken son Ngaba to the heir. Warrior Enyinna once betrothed to Nnenna offers himself for the crown. Loyal warrior Ejiofor watches over Olaedo and palace servant Nma hides the secret of the girl's birth. Olaedo survives an attempted assault and a poisoning plot that close in on her. Later the truth of Olaedo's parentage emerges when palace servant Nma reveals she hid the pregnancy to protect the child from Queen Mother Uloma's wrath. Royal birthmarks confirm Olaedo as the late king's illegitimate daughter and the council accepts her legitimacy. Poisoned food meant for Olaedo is intercepted by Princess Nnenna and Prince Obidike, killing them both, and chief priest Ezenmuo confirms poison touched their lips. Queen Mother Uloma refuses to swear and breaks down, her guilt implied by her silence. With the rival claimants dead Olaedo exercises her divine right to choose a consort and rejects Obidike's manipulative suit and Enyinna's ambition. She selects loyal warrior Ejiofor, declaring him a man of truth and courage. Olaedo and Ejiofor kneel before the council as chief priest Ezenmuo blesses their union and the elders acclaim the gods' acceptance. The new king and queen preside over their first judgment, wisely resolving a land dispute between a farmer and a hunter by dividing the territory for both cultivation and hunting.