Chapter 8: Shadows on the Throne

For spring hunt, the new king remember me—the one wey lose throne—invite me go hunt. Everybody dey talk, some dey fear, some dey laugh for back.

When time reach, small steward come call me. E knock my door soft, eye dey look ground.

For carriage side, I hear laugh inside. Palace musicians dey play flute, but na king laugh loudest.

The new king dey play. "I just make wrong move—I no wan play this one." E voice light, like small boy wey nor get worry.

Musa Lawal voice follow. "Your Majesty, once you play am, you no fit change am." E dey talk with respect, but sense dey inside.

"So what if I regret?" King reply, voice playful, but small anger dey hide for corner.

Musa Lawal sigh, patient. "No wahala. You be king. Anything you do na correct." E nor get fear, e dey talk true.

New king laugh, then cough. Small cough, but everybody quiet.

Small steward announce me. E voice high, e clear throat before e talk.

I keep my eye down, enter carriage, kneel, bow well. "Your servant Sani Chi greet Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live long." The greeting long, my back dey pain me, but I nor fit reduce am.

Everywhere quiet small. Even the flute stop, only breeze dey blow.

Another cough, then new king talk soft: "Just few days, you don humble. You no dey close to me again." E voice low, small pain dey inside.

I still look ground. "Your servant no dare." My heart dey beat, fear dey run inside me.

New king no happy. "No kneel. Stand up." Him voice sharp, I jump stand.

I stand well. My back straight, eye still dey ground.

I see Musa Lawal hold small bowl, dey stir pear soup, wait make e cool before e give new king. "Drink." E talk soft, care full e voice.

Gentle care full everywhere—but never for me. Even the soup smell like home, but my own mouth nor go taste am.

Musa Lawal care for only Sani Umar. E nor dey look my side. All the love wey I dey find, e pour am for another person.

Even throne, na Musa Lawal win am for Sani Umar. E use him brain, him heart, carry the throne give am for public.

Before, my papa like me pass, but last last, e pick Sani Umar. My eye dey red the day e announce am.

Na Musa Lawal deliver the order. The day heavy, even the sun nor shine well.

I no believe, chiefs no believe. Palace dey shake, some dey whisper, some dey cry.

But Musa Lawal force everybody, clear people wey no gree, put Sani Umar for throne. The day I see am stand behind king, I know say nothing go change again.

He know say I want be king. Even the walls for palace sabi my dream.

He know wetin me and my mama do for that seat. All the secret waka, the tears, the promise.

He know say for Sani Umar and me, na only one fit survive. Palace nor get space for two sun.

He know all. Musa Lawal brain dey sharp pass cutlass.

But he still choose Sani Umar. Loyalty nor dey buy for market.

Musa Lawal always choose Sani Umar. My own foolishness be say I think say I fit win am.

Na my own foolishness make me think say I fit fight am. Now, I dey count my mistake like beads.

Now wey I lose all, I gree. My heart dey empty, na only regret dey inside.

I be prince—any servant I want, I fit get. But na the one wey nor send me dey inside my mind.

I go dey cry for eunuch? Palace people go laugh if dem hear. But pain nor dey hear laugh.