Chapter 3: Council Table Scatter

The next morning for palace court, I siddon well for the lion throne inside Great Hall, dey listen as all the chiefs and warriors dey shout, "Long live the King!"

The Great Hall na real ancient beauty—big pillars, roof wey dey shine with carved wood, fine mural for wall. The smell of incense dey everywhere, and if you listen well, you fit hear market women voice faint-faint from outside, plus goat dey bleat for back yard. All the chiefs wear red cap and shining beads, dey form serious.

I dey yawn anyhow, sleep wan carry me for there sef.

My eyes heavy like say dem put stone for am. These their early morning meeting sef, na punishment. If no be system, who go leave bed by 5am for this kain ancient wahala?

Palace court by 5am — dem wan kill person?

If I talk true, I for like sleep till ten. But for here, dem believe say king suppose dey first to rise. Who dash me energy?

Chief of Traditions, Chief Uche, waka come front, hold talking staff, wan report something.

Chief Uche na tall man, old but still get small pepper body. Him agbada dey sweep ground as him step forward. The talking staff, dem carve tortoise and lion for body—sign say the matter wey he wan talk no be small thing.

"Your Majesty, the kingdom’s big exam dey come, you suppose—"

I just slap the lion table. "Court don finish!"

The sound of my hand na like thunder for hall. Everybody freeze. Palace guards exchange glance, one nearly drop him spear. Chief priest mutter under breath, 'Wetin dey worry this king?' My steward mouth open like fish.

Everywhere scatter.

Some people dey wonder if na madness dey worry king. Some dey struggle not to laugh, others dey fear say I fit throw person for prison today.

I grab my royal robe, japa from the hall.

Omo, na so I waka commot, no look anybody face. Royal robe nearly hook for door, but I just free am sharp.

Na so I dey hear, "Your Majesty, abeg no do am!"

Their voice dey follow me waka, like say I get long tail. Palace eunuchs dey run after me with slippers. Me, I no even send.

I no even look their side.

As I pass corridor, one small page dey peep, mouth dey wide open. Dem never see king wey waka like area boy before.

You dey whine me? If I allow una talk finish, how I go take act like foolish king?

I dey ginger myself inside. If I dey hear una, I no go fit scatter this show.