The Peninsular Kingdom was a mighty land, once ruled by four kings. The present ruler, King Tatara, was the fifth to sit upon the throne. He was a tough and difficult man, one who never bowed to defeat at the hands of his enemies. Fierce as a lion and stubborn as the iroko tree, he guarded the traditions and customs of his forefathers jealously. Anyone who dared to act otherwise was cast into the dreaded evil forest to face the consequences of their rebellion.
King Tatara was blessed with a wonderful wife, Queen Dorthy, and together they had two children—a boy and a girl. But what weighed heavily on the king's heart was a dark affliction that struck his household. His son became paralyzed, unable to speak, and blind. His daughter was reduced to an imbecile, and his only wife was struck with blindness. Truly, as the elders say, "When misfortune enters a home, it does not knock at the door."
In his despair, King Tatara summoned the high priest to consult the gods, but no remedy was found. Shame gripped him each time he saw his daughter wandering foolishly around the palace during council meetings. Night and day, his mind was troubled.
"Oh my gods, where are you?" he lamented. "My wife and children have suffered in this state for two years, yet nothing has changed. I have offered every sacrifice demanded, but why is the hand of the gods still heavy upon me? Hear me, O gods of my land!
One fateful morning—the very day Paramodice and Princess Oasi were destined to enter the Peninsular Kingdom—the high priest Jaguga, feared and hated, known among the people as "the Devil itself," arrived at the palace very early.
Surprised, the king asked, "Why have you come so early, priest? I hope nothing is wrong. You do not show your face unless there is trouble. Tell me, Devil itself, have we offended the gods?"
Striking the ground with his staff, Jaguga thundered, "You have not offended the gods, but they have sent me with a warning. Strangers are on their way to this palace. When they arrive, have them arrested, beaten, and cast into prison until the gods reveal their judgment."
The king bowed his head. "We shall obey the gods," he said. At once he sent messengers to the guards at the borders and throughout the kingdom.
Meanwhile, Paramodice and his wife, Princess Oasi, journeyed towards the Peninsular Kingdom, unaware of the storm awaiting them. Hunters sighted them as they came through the forest. They were seized and taken to the palace.
"Long live the king!" cried Okuda, one of the hunters. "I am Okuda, and this is my friend Dakure. We found these strangers and have brought them to you."
"Well done, great hunters," said the king. "You have served the kingdom well."
The king then commanded the head palace guard to have the strangers beaten and thrown into prison. The hunters departed, while Paramodice and Princess Oasi were dragged away.
Paramodice tried to shield the princess. "Please! Stop beating her!" he cried. "Beat me instead! Please, do not touch her!" But the guards paid no heed.
"Beat them well!" roared the head guard. "Do not stop until their strength is gone!"
The guards bound the couple, beat them mercilessly, and threw them into the dark prison without food.
Inside the prison, Princess Oasi turned angrily on Paramodice. "See what you have caused! Did I not tell you we should remain in the forest? But you insisted on following the words of that old man. Look at us now! I warned you! The world does not want us, yet you dream of kingdoms to rule. Now see where your foolishness has brought us!"
She wept bitterly, weak and sick from the beating. Paramodice tried to calm her. "Please, forgive me, my love. I only wanted the best for us."
But the princess shouted, "Leave me alone! In my father's palace, I was always protected by guards. Now see—guards of another kingdom beat me like a common thief!"
"Please, my love," Paramodice begged. "I am sorry, forgive me."
"Leave me alone!" she cried again.
Hours later, weakened and broken, the princess fainted. Panic seized Paramodice.
"Princess! Princess! You cannot leave me! You know how I love you! Please, wake up!" he cried, his voice trembling as it echoed against the iron bars of the dungeon.
"Help! Somebody help us!"
But his desperate cry only returned to him in silence.
"Oh my God," he groaned, falling to his knees, "is this how I am going to lose her? You never told me this, Lord. Please spare her life and let me die instead! Let death come for me, not for her."
Clutching the lifeless body of Princess Oasi in his arms, tears streamed down his face.
"I am sorry, Princess… I am sorry I caused this to happen to you. Don't leave me alone," he whispered, his voice breaking. Again, he lifted his head and shouted, "Someone is dying here! Please, help!"
But none of the prison guards paid him any attention.
A few minutes later, the princess stirred. Slowly, she opened her eyes and drew in a deep breath. Paramodice froze, then tightened his embrace as if afraid she might vanish again.
"Did I… die?" Princess Oasi asked weakly, surprised to find herself held so firmly.
Paramodice nodded, his eyes swollen from tears. "You fainted, my love. I thought I had lost you forever. I never believed I would hear your sweet words or your gentle voice again. Ah, thank the heavens you did not leave me! I don't want to lose you. I love you, Princess."
His voice broke again. "I am so sorry for dragging you into this. I was only obeying the instruction of the old man. He spoke of the challenges we would face, but…"
"The old man told you?" Princess Oasi interrupted, staring at him with searching eyes.
"Yes," Paramodice admitted softly.
"And yet you could not tell me?" she pressed.
"I was afraid," he confessed. "Afraid you would be too frightened, that you would not want us to come at all. But the old man never said I would have to face losing you. When I saw you lying lifeless, I thought it was the end—that I would never again hear your beautiful voice. Princess, forgive me. You mean more to me than life itself."
Princess Oasi smiled faintly, despite her weakness. She reached for his hand and whispered, "I have forgiven you. Remember this, Paramodice: our love is stronger than death. Even in the darkest hour, it will not wither. The rope of love, when tied well, cannot be cut by the sharpest blade."
He held her close, burying his face in her shoulder. "Thank you, my love."
But their tender moment was cut short by a harsh voice outside the dungeon.
"Where are they? They must be brought out. It is time—they are to be sacrificed to the gods now!"