Chapter 21: Make I No Fear

Musa Adigun wave hand, 'vex' full face. "If Chief Olumide fit do wetin e know say no go work, me too go follow am!"

He stamp foot, hand high. The anger clear, the decision stubborn, voice ring out. For Umuola, stubbornness na badge.

"Bala Yusuf, I no go kill am. I go keep am to fight north!"

His voice like drum—loud, proud. He almost expect thunder to respond. For palace, this na bold taboo.

This bold talk soon disappear for that cold harmattan breeze. Musa Adigun chest dey shake, energy just dey boil inside, dey mix fear and tears join.

The adrenaline fade, body cold, hand tremble. The reality of challenge, the fear for heart, all mix—body weak.

After e shout, Musa Adigun freeze, no move again.

He stand like statue for roadside, only the shadow of moonlight dey keep company. Even wind pause, as if e dey pity am.

Halima Sani dey look am, eye dey shine. Musa Adigun no look am, just knock am for forehead. "If you get something talk, talk am! Why you dey look me with corner eye!"

He reach, tap her gently, frustration show, but also affection. The gesture small, but palace maids wey see dey whisper, "Oba still get human heart."

Halima Sani quick bow head. "Your Majesty get big plan, but me get small idea, I wan talk am make Your Majesty clear. Na true talk, abeg no tell anybody."

She step close, lower voice, whisper the way only trusted servant fit do. Her hand shake, but eyes steady. The respect wey she give na real.

Musa Adigun reason, bend ear, dey waka. "Talk am."

He beckon, both of them step away from open road. Musa Adigun lean in, eager for secret. For moment, fear mix with hope.

September harmattan don dey cold, Umuola tree leaf don yellow reach one-third. Halima Sani, for that breeze, talk one kind spell wey go deep reach soul.

She clear throat, words slow, voice blend with wind. The trees shake, leaves fall, as if ancestors dey listen from bush corner.

"Your Majesty, to talk true, I no know if we fit fight. To clear am, na fear dey hold me. I dey fear Gidan, I dey fear say we no ready, we go fight dem. Why I dey fear? Because if we lose, all this Umuola enjoyment, our culture and wealth for Okpoko, everything go finish. No more Odo-Oro Palm Spirit, no more Lake Makurdi song and dance, no more fireworks for tea joint, no more ayo and shadow play… If Your Majesty order fight, I go lead first, but e pain me for you. Since sure road dey, why risk everything?"

Her words heavy, fall like rain for dry land. She list all the joys of Umuola, each one echo for night. The fear, the hope, the plea—dem all dey inside that confession.

Musa Adigun stop, e stand like iron.

He plant foot, look sky. For moment, time freeze—no past, no future, only the pain of now. His jaw tight, hands curl, resolve dey build.

Harmattan wind dey blow e robe, Musa Adigun hand dey shake. The energy for e chest finally reach heart, e come know wetin e really be.

He finally see truth—na fear dey control am. The night close round him, cold, sharp. In that moment, Musa Adigun know say even king fit tremble, but true king na who fit admit am and still move forward.

But as harmattan breeze cut through cloth, e swear for inside, “Tomorrow, I go choose my own road—even if e get snake.”