Chapter 3: Snake Pits and Devil Kings

From 440 to 449, both sides rest, dey gather power for next fight.

For town, smith dey forge new weapons, mothers dey pray, young men dey train for bush. War drums dey silent but heartbeat dey loud.

For 450, fight burst—this time, Garba dynasty start am.

North people ready, dem sharpen spear, tie juju for waist, swear say this time, no going back.

Okafor Nwosu vex, start second northern expedition.

He call chiefs for midnight, share bitter kola, say, "If I die, make una bury me with sword." Everybody shout, "Igwe! Igwe!"

But because dem no prepare well, Nwosu army chop beating. Garba cavalry waka reach River Benue, almost enter Umuola (today's Onitsha), Nwosu dynasty capital.

If not for night rain wey flood road, dem for enter city. People for Onitsha dey still tell the story, how children hide under bed, and market women use mat to block palace gate.

After the fight, blame start, palace wahala worse, Crown Prince Chijioke even plan kill him papa, Okafor Nwosu.

Palace turn to snake pit—everybody dey suspect everybody. Even guards dey carry cutlass sleep, fear say their own friend fit turn enemy. Even the rats dey avoid council chamber.

Okafor Nwosu chest dey burn, vex well. He wan remove crown prince but e no fit do am.

Some chiefs dey whisper say, "No be this kind king we need o. Him own wahala too much."

Okafor Nwosu dey worry; Musa Garba sef dey vex.

For Musa Garba, even sleep no dey come. Him head dey hot, as if pepper dey inside cap.

Even though Garba dynasty win, the win no sweet, dem pay heavy price.

Plenty warriors no return. Some elders begin dey count loss, dey ask, "Na who go farm land now?"

Their skin dry, dust cover body, even their slippers no remain.

Garba dynasty na mixture of different people, wahala full inside. After war, rebellion scatter everywhere, Musa Garba tire, no rest.

Young men from villages dey form gang, dey shout for bush. Musa Garba dey use all trick—promise, threat, even small juju—to settle matter.

One palace servant, Baba Idris, wey no like crown prince, use the chance, accuse am of gang up.

Dem say Baba Idris sharp like razor blade—he sabi gossip, and him tongue dey cut pass knife. As he go accuse prince, everybody fear.

Musa Garba vex, kill all the prince supporters. Crown prince fear, no fit do anything, fall sick, die.

Old women talk say na heart break kill crown prince. Palace turn cold, mourning cloth full everywhere.

As prince die, Musa Garba begin regret. Baba Idris fear for him life, plan coup for 452, kill Musa Garba.

For market, rumour begin fly. Some say Musa Garba spirit go pursue Baba Idris forever. Some say Baba Idris dey sleep with eyes open, dey check shadow for wall.

As news reach south, Okafor Nwosu see chance, start third northern expedition.

He call juju priest, pour palm wine for earth, swear, "This time, na north I go reach!"

But the fight na just show—Nwosu army waka small, see say e hard, run go back.

Warriors complain say, "This journey na just waka for nothing. Only dust and hunger follow us return."

For February 453, coup happen for Nwosu dynasty: Crown Prince Chijioke carry soldiers enter palace, kill Okafor Nwosu for him own bed.

Na so palace blood flow for midnight. Even the moon hide for cloud, refuse see the evil wey happen.

So, both Musa Garba and Okafor Nwosu, wey dey fight each other since, die quick and painful.

Elders pour palm wine for ground, beg ancestors make dem accept the dead, but rain still fall, as if spirits dey vex.

People dey say, "If two elephant dey fight, na grass dey suffer." For this one, even elephant self no survive.

To hold the throne, Chijioke do the worst—kill him own papa. He sit for throne less than three months before him third brother, Ebuka, overthrow am, cut him head.

No be today head dey roll for palace. As Ebuka chop off Chijioke head, rain fall, thunder strike—some say na ancestors dey show say them no happy.

Chijioke wicked pass, but how Ebuka take do?

E no reach two market days, palace turn to house of tears. Old women dey weep, children dey hide, everybody dey wait the next bad news.

Nwosu dynasty elders soon find out say, compared to Ebuka, Chijioke na almost angel.

One elder for council even whisper, "If na so devil be, then Ebuka na the oga devil!"

Among Okafor Nwosu sons, Ebuka na the one nobody send. If Chijioke no spoil, he no for near throne at all.

Ebuka na like pepper for eye—no matter how you wash, e go still burn. Even for naming ceremony, dem dey watch am with corner eye.

As he get power, Ebuka no want make any of him brothers try am. He start serious killing, almost clear all him blood brothers.

Palace guard dey dig grave every week. If you greet Ebuka for wrong way, your head fit roll join. Na fear full everywhere.

Nwosu palace full of blood, Garba palace full of ghost.

People say if you walk Nwosu palace at night, spirit go hold your leg. For Garba palace, even the walls dey cry.