Chapter 1: The Chief Adviser’s Last Breath

After my soul enter Ifedike body, na so I take see with my two eyes how the Chief Adviser kpai for Palm Grove Hills. The air thick with the smell of burning palm fronds and old sweat. Distant thunder dey rumble, like ancestors dey warn. For Palm Grove Hills that evening, everything just heavy pass wetin I don ever feel. Ground cold, palm trees quiet like say dem dey fear. Birds wey dey sing before, all of dem mute. As I dey look the Chief Adviser wey dey ground, him body no dey move at all. Small breeze blow, carry the last whisper wey him spirit fit talk. Fear and awe just dey fight for my heart—true true, my life don change.

Before he kpai, he hand me some secret plans. No be say he just give me like paper, he wrap am for small leather pouch, tie with red thread, whisper something for old language before he pass am. E be like say ancestral spirit dey pass into my hand, burden heavy for my chest as I collect the pouch. The pouch heavy for my palm, but the real weight na for my spirit. As I collect am, I hear him voice echo for my head—words sharp like cutlass.

First plan: No let anybody know say you fit see.

I press my lips tight—secret fit save life.

Second plan: King Sulaiman don craze; Eastern Kingdom na only for mouth, but true true, the place don scatter finish.

I hiss small, mind dey shake—palace matter get as e be.

Third plan: Wetin Big Drum Hall really wan lock up no be the two princesses, na the truth itself.

I rub my palm, feel cold for body—truth fit kill pass lie.

Fourth plan: Oluwa Kenechukwu na fake; the trust wey dem talk for Baobab City na pure scam.

My chest tight, spirit dey warn me—trust na blade for this place.

Fifth plan: No need to dey fear Musa Danladi—na no be our enemy.

I breathe out, small relief enter—enemy fit wear friend face too.

As I hear everything finish, I feel like person wey dem just dash heavy calabash full of snake, make I carry go market. I hold my breath, swear for my mind say I go follow these plans, no matter how darkness dey for road ahead.