Chapter 20: Ancestors No Dey Rest

Why fight Gidan?

The voice in head repeat Halima question. For palace, war na last option, but for Oba, sometimes na only way wey heart fit rest.

Halima Sani see say Musa Adigun quiet, add, "Your Majesty, even genius like Chief Olumide die for Idanre…"

She shake, words soft. The name Chief Olumide na taboo for some, na legend for others. Her voice almost break.

September harmattan blow from eight hundred years come now.

The breeze shift, cold air crawl for skin. For Musa Adigun, memory mix with present—history dey weigh shoulder down, harmattan dust dey scratch nose.

Musa Adigun turn, eye Halima Sani strong. "You get mouth mention Chief Olumide?"

His voice no loud, but power dey inside. Halima Sani step back, small, fear flash for face. The palace air freeze.

Halima Sani shake. "Your Majesty, I just dey worry for Umuola."

She bow head, voice thin. Her hands twist cloth, as if hope and fear dey wrestle for finger.

The fire for Musa Adigun chest dey burn more. E waka for Umuola street, dey see people dey smile, the old ginger dey push am, e dey clench teeth.

He pass vendor wey dey fry akara, children wey dey dance for street. The happiness for city dey mock am. The anger push am forward, legs heavy, but heart dey run.

E talk, Umuola dey here for our front—na all these people. Marshal Bala don protect dem for years, now you wan make I kill am, you still dey talk of Umuola?

The thought hot, like pepper for eye. He nearly shout for open road, but hold am. In head, the name Bala Yusuf dey ring.