Chapter 3: Musa Danladi's Shadow

"I no expect say elders people dey useless like this, just small knockout powder dem don fall finish."

The voice dey come from on top of me, full of mockery.

His accent get that Northern edge—words come out like person wey no send anybody papa. My mind dey fight sleep, but the laughter inside the voice dey slice like razor.

Na the man wey dey ride the horse with me.

That time, dem just throw me over horse back, I never even clear. All I dey see na horse leg and the man's army boots.

The boots no be cheap one, dust don cover, but the shine still dey. Na the kind wey only battle people dey wear. My head rest for rough leather, each bump dey knock sense back into me.

Another voice come talk, careful: "Young Commander Musa, my mind still dey shake for this matter. This time na royal family member o—if capital vex for us..."

That one voice low, like say make wall hear am but not Musa Danladi. I dey sense small fear—Naija man wey sabi trouble dey always get that whisper for voice.

Young Commander Musa. Musa Danladi.

Even his name get weight for border. When boys dey talk of fear, na Musa dem dey mention last.

For border, na only him dey answer Musa.

If you hear Musa for this side, just know say na wahala dey come. Everybody else dey use nickname.

The supplies suppose reach in a few days, but Musa Danladi come use his hand knock us out, carry the food himself.

No trust for anybody—na Naija way. If you want better result, do am yourself.

He dey fear say, like the last two times, person go thief the food, so he come oversee everything by himself.

For this side, person wey get responsibility dey carry am for head like load. No room for mistake.

But this time, na me dey escort am. Abi him think say princess like me go chop the food?

The thought make me laugh inside—princess wey never see yam farm, na she go thief beans?

I hear him laugh, mocking.

The laugh cold, like person wey dey look you and no see anything special.

I hear Musa Danladi talk, full of disrespect: "Those yeye people for palace, dem no be anything."

"You get mind sha."

Him dey insult His Majesty and the Crown Prince openly.

If na capital, by now, person go don slap am with slippers. But here, na mouth dey do fight first.

I push myself up for horse back, dey vex, dey look am.

My wrapper slip, but I no send. My eyes meet am—hard, no blinking. For palace, nobody dey look me like this.

"So you don wake up."

His voice steady, as if na normal thing to knock royal blood out for horse back.