Chapter 9: Waiting for War

Before, to bring back the kingdom just dey like dream. But now, with this plan, na only time remain. The places wey I mark for map na where Garba army weak, or where our people still dey.

My head dey hot with plan. I dey pray say nobody go betray us again. I dey trust God and my people.

Most of these places dey far, dey dry. When Garba attack us, e use all him power, so chief no get enough to control those areas.

Dem dey suffer for those areas. My people dey hungry, but their spirit never die. I dey send word, dey gather them.

Three years go do. Fifty thousand warriors fit grow strong.

If we patient, Palm Grove go rise again. No power fit quench hope.

Fola no dey sleep deep. I no fit stay long. After I give order, I rush go back.

I sneak for dark, waka like shadow. Fola dey turn for bed, dey call my name for dream.

I no learn much from mama, but I sabi how to check defence map for corner.

Na papa teach me how to read map for night. I dey check corner, dey mark road, dey plan.

E dey shame me, I no even know when this cycle go end.

Sometimes, I dey tire. But I no go give up.

“Where you go?”

Fola wake as I enter, him voice low, soft like cat.

E eye dey red, but e dey smile. E know say my heart dey heavy.

I no talk, just enter him arms.

I hug am tight, dey take in him scent. For that moment, I dey feel small peace.

Fola think say na just night waka, so e no worry, just hold me sleep again.

E dey trust me. E no ask question. For him mind, anything I do, na for good.

Qudu dey shine, and as Crown Prince own, Fola dey stay here to avoid papa arrange marriage for am.

Chief dey pressure am to marry. E run come Qudu, dey use council work as excuse. For here, life soft pass.

Life for Qudu soft, work no too much, e dey carry me go out steady.

We dey waka for market, dey buy kilishi, dey laugh. Sometimes, we go swim for river, dey run for rain.

That year, I clock sixteen.

Na big celebration. Fola buy me gold earring. Village women cook rice, dey sing for me. For first time, I feel small joy.

Maybe God dey pity me for my lost home, because I come fine pass before.

People dey talk, "Princess Halima don turn woman!" My beauty dey bring me small trouble too.

Fola dey hold me, dey sigh.

E go rub my head, dey whisper, "You be flower, Halima."

E dey talk say I dey fine like flower wey dey open, now I don bloom, I dey even more beautiful.

E say my smile fit heal sick person, my laugh fit chase sorrow. I dey shy, but my heart dey sweet me.

Because of my beauty, everybody for Qudu dey talk about me. Fola come dey jealous, begin hide me.

E dey hide me for house, dey lock door. If I waka small, e go follow me. E no like make other men dey look me.

I no send, I no like crowd.

I prefer quiet. Na only for backyard I dey smile true smile.

Three months ago, I buy two girls wey dey sell themselves for street to bury their papa.

Dem dey suffer, I pity them. I pay their debt, give dem chance to start again.

My people arrange them to help us pass message.

The girls sabi road, sabi gossip. Dem dey loyal, dey use their waka to help my plan.

With their help, my waka easy pass before.

Now, information dey flow. I fit hear news from palace to market in one day.

So I no even care if I fit go out, my maids dey waka for me.

I dey inside, dey plan. My girls dey outside, dey work.