Chapter 13: The Blood Oath

If you put better reward, people go try.

Dem really find some people wey sabi work.

Dem talk say, everything get number, e dey rise and fall, light and dark: to make dark weak, make light strong; if you wan make dark strong, light must weak.

In short, if I weak, Chima go strong.

Somebody bring one method, say na blood oath, make my energy enter Chima body.

For secret room, I ready.

Just dey wait time to cut and draw blood.

For agbada-lined chamber, my body still dey as e be.

As I dey look, I dey worry—if Chima wake up for my body, e no go fear?

If person see, dem no go talk say I rise from dead? Wetin I go do then…

Before I fit arrange all these wahala for my mind, I hear voice call me:

Small shaking, “Oba Papa.”

I turn quick look the dagger. So e work? I never even cut myself yet.

I rub my eye, lean near agbada-lined chamber.

“Chima?”

But the person for bed no move.

I pinch my forehead. Maybe na my mind dey play trick. All these seer people dey argue everyday, noise full everywhere, e tire person.

I no know where dem learn, but none dey talk normal.

Time reach, I pick dagger to cut wrist. I remember old stories, how blood fit bind or break family. That beat of hesitation hold me.

That time, I hear worried voice for my mind:

“Oba Papa, abeg no do am.”

This time, I sure say I hear am.

My hand stop for air, heart dey beat kpom kpom like village drum. E be like say world wan change direction, and ancestors dey watch with full eye. My next move fit change everything—for kingdom, for blood, for me.