Chapter 3: Unseen Power and a New Hope

06

Dayo vex more. He write big 'sword' word for air.

The air cold, the ground dey vibrate. All the small pikin wey dey play run enter house.

I quick pass am, write my own 'sword' word too.

I stretch finger, my mind dey blank. I just dey hope say village people no dey follow me.

"Hahaha!"

Dayo see my word, burst laugh. "You wan copy me, beat me with the same word? But you even write am wrong!"

E dey laugh, e finger dey point, e chest dey rise. Na pride dey full him eye.

Morayo just shake head. "True, you write am wrong. 'Sword' get like eighteen styles, but your own different."

She dey talk with small pity. For her mind, she dey wish I no disgrace myself.

She love sacred writing die, but as woman, she no fit do power. The words wey she dey write no get power.

E pain me for her. I fit see passion for her eye. If na olden days, she for don dey lead.

But I talk with boldness, "Who talk say I write am wrong?"

For this life, if you no talk for yourself, who go talk?

Morayo frown. "I don practice this word. E get at least eighteen styles, but your own, I never see before."

She dey reason am, her head dey turn. For her, na big wahala.

I smile. "Na simplified word."

I no wan talk plenty, but my heart dey beat fast. I dey hope say dem no go suspect.

"Simplified word?"

Morayo twist head, reason am, then ask, "Wetin be that one? Why I never hear am before?"

Her eyebrow up, her lips dey tight. She dey curious like pikin wey see new toy.

"Na my... own creation."

I no wan let dem know say I be stranger from another world, so I just talk small lie.

I dey hope say she no go catch me for my own yarn.

"You create your own sacred writing?"

Morayo shock, cover mouth. "You fit teach me?"

Her eyes shine, hope dey her voice. For this world, new thing na gold.

Then her face dull. "I know say my own no get power, but I just like am. I wan learn."

She dey beg with soft voice, her hand dey shake small. Na passion dey move her.

She hold my hand tight, as if hope go run if she loose am.

"If you wan learn, I go teach you."

My heart soft for her. If this world dey fair, person like her for dey rule.

I explain, "This writing, anybody fit learn am. Man fit learn, woman too fit learn."

My voice strong, make she know say equality still dey hope.

"Even woman?"

Morayo still dey doubt.

Society don tie her mind, but I dey try cut the rope.

I nod. "Of course, women fit learn."

I talk am like gospel truth. Na so I see am for my world.

Morayo happy. "If we survive this thing, you must teach me!"

She hold my hand, her smile sweet like sugarcane. Hope dey shine for her face.

Before I fit reply, Dayo shout, "You no go get that chance!"

Dayo voice loud, e face red. Jealousy dey burn him soul.

07

For sky, two long swords dey clash.

Na like festival for heaven. The blade dey shout, the air dey split.

Na real sword intent battle.

If elder dey here, dem for don gather dey watch. Na only special day you dey see this kain thing.

Before you know, Dayo sword begin cry, the blade dey shake, then e fall for ground.

Na shame dey write poem for him face. The thing pain am like pepper for eye.

"E don end. Now, na your own turn."

My eye sharp, the sword intent for my body nearly turn to real thing.

People dey hide for corner, dey peep, dey whisper. People for background dey whisper, “Na wah! Which kain power be this?” Even breeze calm down.

Dayo begin fear, come dey threaten, "You just be ordinary servant. You fit kill me? If you kill me, Prince Jatau go finish you and your family—"

E voice dey shake, but him mouth still dey run. Na only threat remain for am.

Before he fit finish, I just squeeze one word from my teeth.

I press my jaw, the anger for my chest dey boil.

"Finish!"

Sword light fly for sky.

Na like lightning for rainy season, the whole compound dey shine.

Everybody for inside and outside Commander’s Compound turn face.

Even mama Sade for kitchen carry spoon stop, dey look outside. People dey run come see who dey summon thunder.

Morayo whisper, "You sure say you no be reincarnation of ancient sage?"

Her voice dey shake. E be like say she dey pray make gods no vex.

Scholar wey specialize for 'sword' word fit only produce sword light wey reach ten feet. Even Grand Council no fit do this kind one.

For all the stories wey I don hear, nobody fit try this level. Na only for folktale wey grandmama dey talk.

Dayo fear catch am, he fall for ground.

Him leg dey shake, e dey cry small small. Na so pride dey vanish for face.

Ten-thousand-foot sword light dey hang for sky, like say god land.

The sword light stretch reach heaven. People dey cross sign, dey call ancestors for help.

For that kind power, he no even fit run or resist.

Even mosquito no fit escape. Na so power dey humble everybody.

"Abeg no finish me..."

Dayo dey shake like leaf.

E voice small, e body cold, na so tears dey start for corner eye.

Before he fit talk finish, the sword just come down.

Gbam!

The ground shake, dust fly. Everybody hold breath—waiting to see who go survive this one. For this world, even justice fit carry scar.