Chapter 2: Miracle Cry

Wetin? After all the struggle, I no go let dem bury me just like that!

The thought of cold earth dey make my small heart beat fast. Even baby spirit no wan go back after touching this world.

Fear grip my small body like when masquerade dey chase children for village square. I open my mouth, cry like small kitten.

My old papa, as he hear my cry, happiness scatter him head. Tears run down him face, beard soak like sponge, palace guards dey look ground, no fit talk.

E be like miracle, like sango clap thunder for palace, the whole room begin buzz.

"Quick, call palace doctor! The royal child dey cry—she dey alive!"

He rush open my wrapper, rough beard brush my cheek gentle. The beard prick me small, but I feel love. The palace air sweet like fried plantain.

"Daughter… no leave Papa Oba. As you survive so, We go stop to fight, gather blessing for your sake."

I wave my small hand, too rough but full of hope.

Palace doctors, wey think say dem go follow princess die, rush check my pulse.

"She get pulse!"

"Na wa o, just now e weak, now e dey strong."

Chief Steward Musa kneel, shout: "Na His Majesty big luck dey protect the little princess o!"

As dem see me come back, Oba Adeyemi happy, wave hand: "Reward, reward everybody!"

Palace people prostrate, dey knock head for ground like yam. Joy full everywhere, even wall dey smile.

Soft hand wrap me for cloth, I smack lips, sleep carry me go.

Dem say for my last life I gather plenty good, so this life na to enjoy blessing. As I sleep, I dey dream say I dey suck honey from golden spoon.

So I come be pikin of wicked Oba for group-pampering novel.

My old papa get wound from horse for him youth. Even with three thousand fine women for palace, he still be lonely old man at thirty-eight.

Na story elders dey whisper for night, how Oba Adeyemi no fit smile until belle come. He pray to every god and prophet, just to get one pikin.

The Queen struggle for attention, force herself drink medicine. But pikin wey dem born with medicine no dey strong. She suffer seven months, born pikin quick quick.

Last last, the pikin die as e land.

When my papa see say the only pikin die, na so he scatter everywhere, dey fight up and down. Palace gate shake, even guards fear.

In the end, na female lead touch him heart, he adopt her as daughter, give kingdom to male lead, then dem tear am with five horses.

Village people still dey talk am for market till today.

Before cock crow, palace don turn upside down two times.