Chapter 2: Palace Night Wahala

Commander of Palace Guards, Sunday Yaro, hear Ifeanyi dey laugh from far: "Heh, hehe, hehehe."

Sunday Yaro hide for corridor, hand dey hold spear wey old pass am. The laughter waka reach him ear, sharp, odd. For palace, laughter wey loud for night dey mean two things: big news or big wahala. E tip-toe small, heart dey wonder if Oga head dey touch. Laughter for night? E fit mean wahala dey tie wrapper come.

Sunday Yaro shiver. E be like say Oga don craze?

The shiver run through im body like cold agbo. He rub arm, whisper for himself, "Na wah o, make devil no enter palace tonight o." The ancient beads for him wrist jingle, as if to ward off whatever dey for room.

Musa Adigun gather himself, remember say na eleventh year of Okechi, dem dey do peace talk with Gidan. If e no settle with Gidan, how e go get time chop, drink and flex?

Inside the room, calendar dey for wall, torn for edge, dem mark eleventh year of Okechi with red chalk. Musa Adigun mind fly go all the palace matter: peace talk wey dey drag like old Okada, Gidan warriors wey dey eye Umuola land. But inside im spirit, na only thought of enjoyment dey win. E touch belly, e eye the tray of meat pie.

Oh, and dem just sack Bala Yusuf as Deputy Chief of Secretariat, send am go Mount Idanre make e rest.

E shake head, remember how dem gather for council, voice dey high, talk dey scatter. The memory of Bala Yusuf face—sharp, proud, but now carry tired smile—flashes. "Mount Idanre na exile for dem. Person go rest, but no be happy rest."

Musa Adigun squeeze face like say him see wahala, stretch hand, call Sunday Yaro: "Go call Chief Chinedu. Something dey, something dey."

The tone sharp, get that Oba authority wey dey make even stubborn goat behave. Sunday Yaro rush like say bush fire dey chase am, leg nearly twist for loose tile. "Yes, Your Majesty!" he salute with hand for chest, rush out before question begin.

Sunday Yaro eye Musa Adigun, heart dey beat. The Oba face don change: e sharp, lively, get small innocence for eye.

He pause for door, peep from side, try read Oba mood. The change dey clear—body straight, eye dey shine, skin dey glow as if fresh anointing touch am. Even the court mopper wey dey pass look am twice.

Small time, Sunday Yaro understand.

Sunday remember old stories of ancestors, how spirit fit enter man, turn him strength to ten. He nod for himself, whisper, "Spirit fit dey move tonight."

The Oba no weak for body again.

Strength dey im voice, movement sharp like new knife. Guards for corridor dey look one another, dey pass whisper, "Oga don recover o." One even talk under breath, "Abi na new juju?"

Musa Adigun: …

Inside him chest, e dey feel new power—confidence wey no dey yesterday. For once, e mind clear. The silence after Sunday Yaro waka heavy, but for Musa Adigun, na moment to enjoy new sense of control.