Chapter 4: Sweet Buns, Sharp Words

Musa Adigun wave am: "Come near, Chief Chinedu. This coconut buns—e too dey sweet."

His hand wide, voice carry that warmth wey dey make people drop guard. The tray of coconut buns dey shine under lantern light, smell dey tempt like market Saturday morning. Chief Chinedu sidon gingerly.

Chief Chinedu never waka two steps finish, e freeze again. Wait o, which kind accent be this, Your Majesty? You never even enter Okpoko before, abi?

The Oba voice get one strange twist, a lilt from far north, blend with southern drawl. Chief Chinedu dey wonder, "This accent get k-leg. When e learn am?"

And this coconut buns—no be say you never chop am tire before? How e come dey sweet you like this now?

Chief Chinedu sniff the buns, eyes narrow. "Na same cook dey do am since. Wetin come change? Abi spirit dey sweet taste?"

As Chief Chinedu dey reason am, Musa Adigun click tongue, jump from chair, push plate for Chief Chinedu hand, dey smile, dey bounce for floor.

Oba bounce, step light, as if new leg dey beneath old cloth. Chief Chinedu grip plate tighter, suspect the world dey shift small-small.

Tsk, this body wey dey early thirty-something, e make sense die.

Musa Adigun flex biceps, grin wide. The youthfulness for im body dey clear, skin dey shine like fresh palm kernel oil for market, back dey straight. For moment, all palace worry vanish—na only enjoyment remain.