Chapter 2: Palm Grove Test

I fit climb tree too.

But I never thief bird nest before.

The birds dey raise their pikin well—why I go scatter their family? For inside my heart, I dey ask myself: If I fit wear crown one day, no be so I suppose protect small ones?

I go be Omu one day; I suppose get soft heart. For village, dem dey always say, "Person wey get power suppose get pity."

But I smile calm. "Musa—wetin be your name again?"

Dem shock, rush kneel. "Peace to Your Highness! I be Musa Danladi." The fear for him voice show say e no sure if I go vex.

Musa Danladi look me. "Your Highness, you wan follow us? E dey sweet." He eye dey shine, the way pikin eye dey shine when e see suya.

I just smile small. "No wahala." Na Naija way to show you no dey carry matter for head.

One of them, na Okoro family first grandson, just look me with cold eye. "Your Highness na crown heir—this one no fit you." Him voice slow, almost like warning.

I ask am gently, "And you be who?"

He bow. "I be Okoro Chukwudi." His hand still dey ground, like say ground dey swallow am.

I nod. "Then you go follow too." I use soft voice, but everybody know say crown heir word na final.

E no gree, but since I don talk, he no fit argue. Him face twist small, but he gree with head.

So all of us waka go Palm Grove. I watch as Musa Danladi remove him shirt, climb tree like monkey. He shout happy, bring down one nest. Inside, one small bird dey. "Your Highness, take am."

I smile. "Wetin I go do with am?" I dey test am, see whether e get sense pass wetin e show.

He just talk, "Roast am, or play with am." His voice still soft, like say na normal thing.

I nod. "Okay." I hold the nest, but my heart dey heavy.

Okoro Chukwudi just dey look us, no talk. His silence loud pass generator.

I turn to my people. "Since Young General Musa talk so, no let am go house for some days. Make him stay for animal shed—make he feed goat or chicken."

Musa Danladi shock. "Your Highness, why—" He no fit finish before I cut in.

I answer serious, "Young General Musa, if you check the bird age and human age, e be like your mate. If you fit separate am from him mama and papa, why you no fit try am too?"

I sigh. "General Musa na strict person—even if he dey surrender city, he dey keep order for people. But, Young General Musa, wetin this small bird do?" My voice deep, make everybody reason am well.

Musa Danladi don kneel down. Okoro Chukwudi face soft small; he just dey look me. For Naija, na respect be everything.

I talk, "Carry Young General Musa go." I wave hand, like Omu dey do for council.

After dem go, Okoro Chukwudi kneel down salute me well.

"I no respect Your Highness wisdom, I talk anyhow. Your Highness get good heart—I too proud before." Him voice low, shame cover am.

I help am stand by myself. "With your advice, my mind go clear like mirror." I clap him shoulder, show am say e no be enemy.

Okoro Chukwudi, him other name na Chuks, Okoro family first grandson, sharp since small, always follow Grand Tutor Okoro—show say him family like am. The elders dey talk say, "Na scholar go lead tomorrow, but na loyalty go keep am for seat."

Okoro family na mouthpiece for all scholars. If I want make dem follow me, next family head must dey loyal.

For this world, na people matter pass.

Today own, na for Okoro Chukwudi I do am. If I fit win am, na one leg for ground already.