Chapter 3: Rebellion at Kano Gates

The madness no last. After some months, Bida Prince and Jos Prince don go, demote to ordinary people, Sule Prince finally face Kano Prince.

As dem dey say for town, “Na last born dey chop king meat.” Now e turn to Danjuma.

All wings don cut, no chance for "Rebellion of Seven Princes," wetin you wan take fight me?

Dem dey mock, dey call am ‘one-winged eagle.’ Nobody expect fight.

How e wan lose?

Court dey sure, dey arrange celebration. Even palace drummers dey practice new rhythm for victory.

So Kano Commandant, Civil Governor, and Kano Commander carry city seven garrison soldiers and farm soldiers, surround Kano Prince house, just dey wait order from Abuja to arrest am and carry go capital.

Na so soldiers dey block all road, dey shine sword for sun. Market people dey close early, dey watch from far.

Order soon land. Kano envoy lock up, Sule Prince get the confession wey e want: Kano Prince rebellion.

Na for palace wall dem paste am: “Traitor found!”

Everything set. Next na to arrest am.

Dem dey sharpen cutlass, dey wait trumpet. Even small pikin know say heavy wahala dey come.

These days, Kano Commandant Ibrahim Gaiya dey fear and happy. He never do anything big like arrest prince, especially one wey sabi fight.

For him mind, na promotion sure. But for midnight, e dey sweat, dey reason say, “If prince vex, how I wan take survive?”

So Ibrahim Gaiya dey careful. He look him colleague Umar Sani, wey just arrive, ask: "No wahala, abi?"

E dey expect Umar Sani to give am mind. E dey check if Umar go fear too.

Umar Sani relax, smile, wave: "Kano Prince house dey tight. Wetin fit happen? These days, even him own men no fit enter—na only one malam dey go inside dey preach."

E talk am as if na normal. Dey even cross leg, dey whistle small.

Ibrahim Gaiya frown: "Malam?"

E dey try remember if e miss anything for report.

Umar Sani tap am for shoulder: "Na late king order. Every prince get malam to preach and pray for dem. Wetin dey strange?"

E laugh small, “No be today e start.”

Ibrahim Gaiya think am, e agree.

E nod, still dey look road, just to clear doubt from heart.

But e still dey fear, ask about Commander Musa. No be him suppose help for arrest?

For him mind, “If wahala burst, na Musa go fit control soldiers.”

Umar Sani twist mouth: "Musa too soft. He don follow Kano Prince fight before. He talk say he no go come—just send soldiers."

E dey yarn like say Musa na old woman. Everybody for palace sabi say Musa and Danjuma dey close.

Ibrahim Gaiya frown: "Commander Musa no go leak the news, abi?"

E dey check loyalty, dey reason if e safe to move.

Umar Sani laugh: "For wetin? To die?"

E slap knee, laugh loud. “Nobody wan die for free.”

Ibrahim Gaiya nod, breathe deep, then smile at Umar Sani: "You think Kano Prince still dey act mad?"

E dey test am. Small talk, but e dey observe.

Umar Sani laugh: "Prince plenty. Mad prince rare. I go like see more of e madness."

Everybody dey reason say, “Maybe na true, maybe na show.”

Small time, dem disappoint. Person run come from Kano Prince house, humble voice: "My lord don tie everybody inside, dey wait for una two officers to come check. Abeg, make una show mercy."

E voice dey shake. Soldiers for back dey look one kind, dey adjust spear, dey check shadow.

The two look each other, relax, gesture make the other go first.

Na so Umar Sani push Ibrahim Gaiya small, “After you, oga.” Respect dey, but fear still dey. One mutters under breath, “Make God help us o.”

For July heat, Kano don dey get northern wind. Sky dark like iron. The two men, wey hold Kano military and political power, waka enter Kano Prince house.

You go hear only sand for shoe. Everywhere quiet. Even crickets hide.

People kneel everywhere. Inside, Danjuma dey sit for main hall.

E wear white wrapper, no crown, but presence dey heavy. Candles dey burn for wall, shadow dey dance.

Ibrahim Gaiya smile: "Ah, Kano Prince no mad again?"

E try play tough, but e voice dey shake small.

Danjuma no smile, just look sky. North wind strong, dark cloud look like e wan fall, turn to big rain.

For Hausa land, na sign. Rain dey come, something dey cook. Room cold, tension dey thick.

For the heavy rain, Danjuma look Ibrahim Gaiya and Umar Sani. He raise hand, wave.

All the guards dey grip sword, dey look him finger. E be like magic.

"Finish dem."

E talk am like king for battlefield. No tremble, no fear.

Ibrahim Gaiya and Umar Sani shock. The armored soldiers wey follow dem hold sword, but e too late.

Before dem fit react, Danjuma men move like shadow. Palace corridor dey ring with shout.

Main gate of Kano Prince house bang close. Eight hundred men show from back hall, generals Musa Yusuf and Bala Nengi dey lead, rush attack Ibrahim and Umar inside rain. The armored guards no expect, dem die for there.

Even the ground dey drink blood. Rain mix with sand, everywhere red.

Ibrahim Gaiya still no believe, shout: "E no possible! Where you see soldiers?"

E voice high. Na last hope. Eyes wide, mouth open.

That time, two people come from back hall. First, white jalabiya, na Dauda the malam, Malam Yakubu.

He dey recite prayer under breath, eyes dey sharp. Na real spiritual leader.

Danjuma no answer Ibrahim Gaiya. Malam Yakubu don dig big tunnel for backyard; to dig secret passage na normal.

Some palace boys say dem see goat come out for night—na cover e dey cover.

As for how Danjuma take know when to attack, e no be luck. He know say Sule Prince people go come arrest am that day.

Old woman for palace dey always talk, “Nothing pass the ear of patient hunter.”

Come out with Malam Yakubu na Commander Musa, wey follow Kano Prince fight before, now come arrest am by Sule Prince order.

E look tired, but e eyes dey loyal. For this north, old friendship still dey count.

As Ibrahim Gaiya see am, he know say the man really leak news.

Na so all the calculation end for sand. Betrayal na sharp knife.

But Ibrahim Gaiya no ever understand, even as e die, why?

E close eye with question for mouth. No answer.

Eight hundred men—Kano Prince only get eight hundred wey fit use—why risk everything?

Dem say, “If cow no get tail, na God dey chase fly for am.” Na this faith dey move Danjuma.

He no go ever know.

Story end for am there. The spirit world go judge.