Chapter 2: Stab, Betrayal, and Desperate Deals

I open my eyes again. The air cold, like person dey wake inside river breeze for morning.

For my ear, na the same death message. E be like film wey dem dey replay, but this time I sabi the script.

"His Royal Highness don land with victory. Even if body dey shake you, you suppose drag leg enter palace go hail am," na so Uncle Bala repeat. The lie too sweet for im mouth, e fit sell ice block for Harmattan.

My throat still dey pain me from last time. I touch my neck—see say mark dey, even if spirit mark.

Na Uncle Bala setup me last round. That man na real snake for grass, e fit greet you good morning while e dey plan your burial.

So this time, I gree make I move first. Enough is enough; if to die, make I fight for my own.

I sit up, quietly find the dagger wey dey under my pillow. Na small blade but sharp; I dey thank God say palace guards still dey careless.

"Uncle Bala, abeg, I get one thing wey I wan ask you." I smile. My teeth dey show, but my eye dey watch every move.

As I expect, e come near me. Old man, but e still quick—years never dull im sense.

Sharp sharp, I hold e neck, use my other hand draw the dagger, try stab e chest and belle. My hand dey shake, but I focus; for my mind, na life and death.

I no expect say old man wey near sixty get that kind power. E twist my wrist, collect the dagger, use am stab me instead. Blood dey rush out, my ear dey hear am like rain for zinc roof for village.

I remember say His Royal Highness dey always laugh me say I no get strength. E talk say war no be for soft hand.

If I know, I for use time learn self-defense. Even palace maid fit defend herself pass me for this kind situation.

My body dey cold small small. E dey be like when Harmattan wind blow for early morning; my leg dey numb, my chest dey block.

This time, I no wan just die like mumu. I must find answer. Even if na last thing, make I know wetin dey cause all this wahala.

"Why Queen Mama wan kill me?" I use all my last energy ask. My voice rough, like frog wey drink dry gin.

"Musa... you no dey reason well... You be big man for the community, and you still young. How Queen Mama go gree make you dey? Why you no marry her family pikin, join their side?" Uncle Bala talk, e face full pain. I see small pity, but e too late.

Queen Mama pikin?

Amina?

She no marry Chief Danjuma?

Me and her own matter... how long e don tey? My brain dey try piece story, but everywhere just dey cloud.

Abi... if I gree with Amina, I fit survive? Na so people dey form alliance for this place; if you no wise, your head go enter soup.

I wan ask more, but as I still dey alive, Uncle Bala just dey shake, stab me again. Pain shoot my body; I no fit talk again.

This time, I die finish. My mind dey float, but spirit still dey reason say: Musa, you never finish your race. My spirit dey beg God—make suffering no turn to curse for my children.