Chapter 8: The Palace of the Chosen

Bronze Eagle Tower dey lock the two queens for inside spring. This famous tower wey dem dey use party before, now na stronghold. Bluestone wall high, iron full everywhere. Garba elite Lion and Panther Guard dey inside, dey patrol, dey guard. But for their eyes, na only fear dey. Fear for this world.

As I approach the tower, the gate stand like mountain. The guards dey march, but their leg dey tremble small. Na only for time of real wahala person go know say soldiers fit fear too. I carry my warrior face enter.

I ride reach gate, spear for back, sword for mouth, climb wall, ready for fight. But the Lion and Panther Guard wey get name before, now dey fear, just allow me enter palace. That time I understand. Dem still be human. Nobody for Bronze Eagle Tower don craze—dem still be themselves. I no miss road.

My heart dey soften small as I pass dem, nod for their commander, dey see say hope never die finish. Even small greetings like "How far, General?" still remain for their mouth, though their eye dey red.

I push pass two guards, enter main hall. Chief Garba dey hold dancer, dey chop, dey drink, look up as I enter. He dey hold suya stick, palm wine dey for table. He see me, take small time before him brain clear.

“Na Musa… Come, make we drink.”

Na this be the hero? I frown, carry palm wine, pour for him face, clear him eye.

Chief Garba hold himself, see say I dey sane, him eye bright.

“With General Musa help, we fit…”

But next second, him eye dull.

“Wetin we fit do… This wahala pass human power.”

As he dey talk, I understand wetin he don face. Chief Garba na first to notice say world don spoil, try stop am.

I fit see am for him eye, the weight of leadership heavy for shoulder. Him voice dey carry that kain tiredness of person wey don bury too many friends. I no blame am, even lion dey tire for bush.

“At first, na small people craze. I gather warriors fight dem, but… Chief Bako pikin craze overnight, tear Bode and Shehu, kill three thousand men!”

“People dey craze more, million warriors die, all chop for Palm Forest… I carry Lion and Panther Guard save the Chosen One, lose most for Royal City, finally run reach New City…”

“Everywhere na spirit land. Nowhere to run, na to dey drink dey survive.”

As he yarn, the whole palace dey quiet, only sound of palm wine drop for ground. The air cold, even for inside fire lamp. Sorrow dey dance for every corner of the hall.

I shout: “Oga, you no notice? You and people wey dey with you never craze. You know say Chief Obiora army all craze, no single person remain?”

“Wetin?” Chief Garba stand, shock catch am.

“Yes. I even hear say Southern rulers don craze—Chief Ade and Chief Sola rise, tear Chief Tunde, Seyi fight to escape, only small message manage reach.”

He look him son Musa Junior and others for corner, then the Chosen One for throne, look me.

Chief Garba take deep breath, him hand dey shake. Even strong man go fear after hear say everywhere don spoil. My own heart dey drum like bata drum for festival.

[Rule Three: If you dey for side of the one wey God don choose, na there sure pass. Na only him be hope.]

I repeat this rule, then talk with confidence:

“Hope still dey! I need your help to find Royal Seal and light the Seven-Star Lamp wey Pastor Lanre set.”

“He don already lock the biggest spirit army for Palm Grove Bridge. If Seven-Star Lamp and Royal Seal join, we fit clean the world and bring everything back.”

My voice dey loud, my back straight like person wey carry family name for court. All the warriors dey look me, some dey nod, small light enter their eye. Na so hope dey spread, even if na small.

“Good!” Chief Garba pull sword, clear table, spirit return. “With Musa help, I go support the Chosen One!”

As he talk, I laugh, but quickly serious. Suddenly, scream land from outside.

“Palace gate don break! Spirits don enter!”

My hand dey already for hilt, the ground dey shake. For my mind, I dey beg say make this fight no take my life before I fit finish the real mission.