Adanggaman

Ossei begins his journey to the court of Adanggaman after being separated from his village. This journey is arduous and leads him into a realm filled with political complexity and danger.

At the court, Ossei forms a crucial bond with a healer and seer who was taken from his village. The healer uses his gifts to mend Ossei's wounds, both physical and emotional.

The healer warns Ossei about a troubling future marked by slavery and oppression. This dire prediction hangs over them as both men grapple with their situation in the empire.

While at the court, Ossei catches a glimpse of his daughter Naka, who at first does not recognize him. Eventually, memories of their joyful childhood together begin to resurface.

The healer confronts King Adanggaman, warning him of an impending dark fate. This act of defiance angers the king, altering the course of their lives significantly.

The king orders both the healer and Ossei to be sold into slavery following the confrontation. This marks the beginning of their tragic descent into bondage.

As captives, the healer succumbs to despair, overwhelmed by grief and feelings of abandonment. His fate serves as a poignant reminder of the emotional toll of slavery.

Ossei manages to escape captivity with Naka, creating a bond of friendship as they attempt to establish a new life together. Their escape symbolizes hope in a bleak world.

Just as Ossei begins to carve out a new existence, he is captured again by soldiers from Adanggaman's court. This sets off a chain of events leading to his ultimate fate.

Sold to European traders, Ossei is transported across the notorious Middle Passage. This treacherous journey marks a significant turning point in his life.

Upon reaching his destination, Ossei is renamed John Stanford by a wealthy plantation owner. This name change signifies the loss of his identity and autonomy.

Ossei spends the rest of his life in captivity, enduring the hardships of enslavement. He manages to father five children with a fellow enslaved woman during this time.

King Adanggaman is betrayed by his aides, captured, and sold into slavery, experiencing the same fate he enforced on others. His downfall is a bitter twist of irony.

Adanggaman, now Walter Brown, loses his freedom and works as a cook for Europeans in St. Louis. The once powerful king's life contrasts sharply with his past glory.

Walter Brown dies from tuberculosis in 1698, concluding a tragic journey filled with lost power and identity. His death symbolizes the ultimate fate of those who fall from grace.