Chapter 5: Justice and Pride

When I wake up again, I dey inside room, my body dey pain me, especially my shoulder.

The room cold, smell of herbs and old sweat. My wrapper dey rough, my sword for corner. Small candle dey flicker for window, make shadow dance for wall.

Everything wey happen before I faint still dey my mind.

Anger come back sharp, like fever after small rest. My eyes find my sword—my only friend for battle.

I grab my sword, ready to find Musa Danladi trouble.

My palm sweat, knuckles white. My mind dey play different ways I go show am pepper.

But before I fit move, door open from outside.

Wood creak, footsteps slow—like old person wey no trust leg.

"Princess... Grain Officer, thank God you don wake. If you no wake, this old man for carry my head go capital."

Na Old General Lin Nwosu.

Him beard white, voice deep. He stand with cap in hand, respect clear for face. His eyes dey worry, but relief dey inside.

I take deep breath, hold my anger, go straight to the matter. "General Lin, dem short anything for the food this time?"

Voice no get time for greeting. For war, no time to waste words.

"With Grain Officer escorting, nobody fit try rubbish."

He talk with pride—like say my presence be charm wey dey ward off thief. Some soldiers behind door dey nod head.

As I hear am, I relax.

Shoulders drop, breath come slow. The matter don dey clear for now.

Lin Nwosu still talk, "Here no safe. I don arrange soldiers to carry you go capital sharp sharp."

His eye dey sharp, hand dey point door. For border, e no good make royal blood sleep too long for strange bed.

I raise eyebrow, laugh small.

Laughter light, but no reach my eyes. "You dey rush to send me go? You dey fear say I go punish person for disrespecting royal family?"

Lin Nwosu look the royal sword for my hand.

His eyes linger—he sabi say this sword dey pass ordinary iron. E be like say the blade dey shine small for candlelight.

His Majesty give me before I travel, make people respect.

The way my papa hand am over, e heavy with meaning. "Carry am with pride," he talk. "No let anybody disgrace your name."

Lin Nwosu quickly form serious face, dey guide me as we waka:

He fix cap, stand straight, voice deep. "This way, Your Highness."

"That yeye boy wey do anyhow, I don flog am twenty strokes already; he dey kneel for door dey wait punishment."

He use small voice, like say make nobody hear. For border, quick justice dey work pass long talk.

Dem rush punish am first, so that if I wake, I no go vex punish am more.

For palace, e go be drama. Here, na sharp sharp.

Cunning old fox.

For my mind, I dey respect the sense. He sabi palace politics well, know say sometimes, quick flogging better than royal anger.