Chapter 8: No Rest for the Princess

After days of journey, I rest for one night.

Mosquito dey sing, but tiredness swallow the noise. I dream of home—smell of moi moi, sound of mama voice, cool bed.

Early morning, I get up to return capital.

Sky still dark, cock never crow finish. I dey ready to waka before trouble start.

As I open door, na Musa Danladi I see.

Him dey lean for pillar, arms cross. The early light shine for his face—no sleep for eye. I hiss for mind.

Bad luck.

Trouble no dey sleep. If wahala dey person destiny, e go wake you early.

I no even believe say Musa Danladi come to apologize or see me off.

After punishment and kneeling yesterday, Musa Danladi look fresh.

His skin glow, eye clear, body steady. Like person wey just finish market wrestling.

Clearly, punishment too small.

Maybe na flogging dey ginger am. Some boys no dey hear word until big stick enter matter.

I add more plans for my mind on how to deal with am.

My brain dey plan like military strategy: small small, I go break this boy pride.

"Your Highness wake early o. Soldiers don finish their morning training."

He talk am with half smile, words dey drip sarcasm. Even his greeting carry insult.

Musa Danladi dey smile, but the smile no reach him eye, words full of mockery.

His eye dey look me up and down, like say I no fit reach his height.

I frown small.

The frown deep—eyebrow tight, lips press. Some passing soldiers dey dodge eye, no wan enter wahala.

This man no get respect for superior or for woman at all.

His mouth dey run like tap wey no get plumber. No single respect.

No home training.

For my mind, I dey hear my mama voice, "Na so dem dey train pikin for bush?"

I just hiss, no look am, walk pass.

I swing my wrapper, head high. Even if na pride, I go carry am like chieftaincy cap.

Musa Danladi block my road, act like he no see my vex, continue:

His body dey block small space, his face blank, but voice dey playful.

"People from capital too soft, no fit stay one day, dey rush go house. E be like say our side na real bush—nobody need us."

He dey challenge my backbone, as if I no get liver.

As I hear am, my face strong.

I no blink, I no shift. The sun never rise finish, but my mind dey hot.

"Capital and border na one country, how you go talk say I no fit stay?"

My voice high, word sharp. Even a guard turn ear to hear better.

Musa Danladi step aside, fold arm, lean for pillar, sigh.

His chest rise and fall, the sigh loud. He look me, eyes half closed.

"You dey talk big, but you dey go now now."

The challenge clear. His mouth curl with small smile.

I bite my lip, chest tight.

My palm squeeze my wrapper, knuckles show. My heart dey drum small.

Wetin Musa Danladi talk get different meaning.

For my mind, e dey call me coward. For his mind, na small play. But for border, play and fight dey quick turn.

E fit mean say I no dey used to the place.

As if person from palace na just for soft chair and pepper soup.

Or na insult to elders, say dem no send soldiers for front, fit spoil morale...

If person hear for town, wahala go burst.

For this time, no need to cause wahala.

For war, person wey get sense dey pick fight well.

I breathe deep, glare at Musa Danladi. "I no dey go anywhere."

My voice cold, like well water. My eyes dey burn hole for him.

I turn go back inside, but Musa Danladi still block my road with hand.

His arm strong, veins show. His palm nearly touch my shoulder.

He smile, eyes bend, talk soft:

His voice drop, almost gentle. The smile sly, like cat wey steal meat.

"Here, we no dey keep idle people. Nobody dey chop and sleep for free."

His words hang for air. For border, even air dey work shift.