Chapter 20: Cutlass and Destiny

But for the whole army camp, na only the old man dey look me for face.

Others dey pass me like shadow, some dey spit, some dey whisper. My blue eyes dey make me stranger everywhere I go. Only the old man treat me like person.

Other people, once dem see my blue eyes, dem go frown, some even look like say dem wan use spear finish me.

The look dey hot, the kind wey make small pikin hide. I dey wish say I fit change my face, hide my eyes, disappear from all this hatred.

I no wan bring wahala for the old man.

For my mind, I dey plan how to leave, how to save him from my own trouble. His kindness dey big, but I no wan repay am with pain.

And I suppose go find mama.

The call strong, like drum for festival. My heart dey drag me, even as my body dey weak.

So, every night, I dey try sneak commot hut, try run go back grassland.

Legs dey shake, eyes dey search, but fear dey mix with hope. I dey plan, dey wait for right time, even if chance small.

But every time, na the Fifth Prince go catch me.

His shadow long, his eyes sharp. He dey wait, like person wey know my mind. I dey wonder if na charm dey his body, or if na luck dey fail me.

Because of that, he notice something.

His own eyes dey sharp. Even for dark, he dey watch me, dey catch small small things wey others no fit see.

“You fit see for night?”

The question come like thunder. My mind freeze, heart dey beat. For our land, to get special gift dey bring both blessing and wahala.

I no answer, just squat for corner, bury my head for my knees.

Fear dey press me down. I dey wish say earth fit open, hide me. The secret heavy, but his own words dey threaten my life.

He hiss, point spear for my head.

His movement sharp, like hunter. The threat clear, no space for joke. His eyes dey shine for firelight, like animal wey dey corner prey.

“No let anybody know, or you go die, nobody fit save you.”

His voice cold, warning strong. For our side, to get gift dey bring jealousy, fear. I dey promise myself, mouth lock, eyes down.

I no understand.

His own world different. But mama already teach me—secret wey fit kill, no dey play with am.

But mama warn me before—no tell anybody say you fit see for night.

Her warning dey ring for my head, like drum wey never stop. I dey vow to obey, no matter the pain.

I vex for Fifth Prince. Since he no fit save my mama, why he no let me go back?

The anger dey burn, but I dey hide am. For my mind, I dey plan how to escape, how to find mama, even if e mean trouble go reach me.

Mama go dey lonely for that sheep pen.