Chapter 6: Uche Pavilion

Who Crown Prince be?

People dey talk say e sabi book, sabi fight, sabi respect elders. Girls for palace dey wish say na dem get am.

Everybody dey talk say heir dey shine like moon, get sense, fine face join.

I dey hear girls dey whisper, "Na Fola I go marry, even if e no get money!" E get quiet pride, e dey calm.

Read book at three, write essay at five, never reach twenty, but don dey do chief work.

E dey go council, dey write letter for chief, dey advise elders. E sabi use words break stone.

All elders dey praise am.

Elders go say, "Na this kind pikin we need for Garba."

So, as I see this kind Crown Prince—wey defend me that time dem dey bully me—I give am chance.

I remember the day e save me for fish pond. That day, something open for my heart. I fit trust am.

If e reject me, I go waka.

My mind dey set. I no go force myself. If e push me, I go carry myself.

All those dirty, shameful things no go touch am.

Na only person wey get clean heart I fit near.

But e no push me comot.

E look me, eye full of pain, but e no fit send me away. That night heavy, silence thick.

That night, mama give me medicine wey dey make person want man, throw me enter Eastern Quarters.

I drink am, no know. My body dey hot, my head dey scatter. I waka go Fola room, no even know how I reach there.

Next morning, I wake for Crown Prince hand.

My head dey pain me. I see blood for sheet, my heart break. Fola dey beside me, face pale, eye red.

I cry sotey my eye red.

Tears full my face, pillow soak. I hug myself, dey shiver.

No be for myself, but for Crown Prince.

I dey pity am. This boy wey never do anything bad, now my wahala don follow am.

Na so dem drag am enter wahala.

Palace dey hot, everybody dey run up and down. Gist dey fly like bird.

Na from here my heavy sin start.

I carry guilt for chest. I no fit tell anybody, I no fit forgive myself. My prayer na for Fola, make e survive.

Mama grab Crown Prince weak point, go report am to chief.

Na palace wahala. As soon as she know, she rush tell Oga. She dey happy, dey rub hand together, dey plan next move.

To protect me, Crown Prince carry all blame for head.

Fola stand for front of elders, voice steady. "Na me cause am. No touch Princess Halima."

Chief accuse am say na abomination, say e break law.

Oga voice thunder for throne room. "You shame us! You disgrace Garba! You wan kill my name for this land?"

Thirty heavy cane land for him back, but Crown Prince no talk one word.

Each stroke loud, sound echo for corridor. I dey peep from window, dey shake. Fola no shout, no cry. E just hold ground, dey bear pain.

I throw myself cover am, collect small cane join.

I rush enter, block am with my body. Elders shout, "Carry her commot!" But I no gree. Small cane touch my back, pain sharp, but I no care.

I no fit talk.

My mouth dey shut, but my eyes dey beg.

But dem suppose understand wetin I mean.

I hold Fola hand, look Oga for eye. "No kill am. I dey here."

If no be say na family and law, maybe we for fit love each other.

For my mind, I dey reason, "If to say na another world, maybe we for be happy."

Fola face pale, but e still push me away.

E whisper, "Go hide, Halima. I go bear this one."

“Halima, no fear. I go protect you.”

E voice soft, e hand dey gentle. My heart dey break for am.

Oga really value Crown Prince, because e no too go far.

After flogging, Oga just lock Fola for room, no kill am. Elders dey whisper say, "Oga get soft for only this pikin."

Mama dey happy, look me with eye wey get both shame and pride.

She dey proud say her plan dey work. But her eyes still dey judge me—say I no sharp, I fall for Fola.

Shame say I no get sense, fall in love with heir.

She dey shake head, dey mutter. "This girl no sabi use her head."

Pride say I obey, become pawn for her and Prince of Blessing.

For her mind, na step closer to her dream. She dey calculate.

Now, as e be like this, I no go back mama side again, just stay for Eastern Quarters.

I pack my things, lock door, dey live like stranger for palace. No more mama talk, no more palace politics.