Chapter 10: No Be Only You Wise

Chief Chinedu look Musa Adigun; Musa Adigun look Chief Chinedu.

Eyes lock, room silent. Outside, owl hoot once, as if to underline the tension. The two men, both stubborn, dey measure each other like two okada men arguing price for market square.

Silent. The palace tonight na only silence dey work.

The fire from lantern dey flicker, casting shadow for wall. Even the palace cat wey dey chase cockroach stop, sit down, ears up, listening to their silence. The air thick like ogbono soup.

Musa Adigun laugh for inside. True, after my prime minister die, even old Okoli no fit beat Gidan.

For heart, Musa Adigun dey yarn, "Story pass power. Sometimes, spirit fit dey big, but na body wey go tire."

Even if Bala no fit reach their palace, at least e fit hold ground. Musa Adigun push Chief Chinedu, "If we fit hold, make we hold. E no better pass to dey beg for peace, dey do houseboy?"

He push am playfully, but the challenge dey real. Voice rise, confidence enter body, mouth wide in grin. Guards at the edge of room exchange glances, whisper, "Oba don ready."