Chapter 1: Rain After Harmattan

When Madam marry me, she be just seventeen!

The first time I see her, she still get that fresh smell of rain—like earth after first shower, with small scent of ogbono soup from kitchen—young, new to life wahala, but eyes sharp like person wey don dey market before. For our wedding night, she squat near my wheelchair, dey look am with plenty curiosity: “How you dey hide that small dart? Wetin cause all these scars for your hand? Your leg really break? You dey feel anything for waist go down? You fit still... do that kind thing?” She throw me one kind side-eye, mouth bend like she dey plan mischief.

She just dey talk dey go, her voice scatter the cold silence wey dey inside General’s Compound! Her words dey waka everywhere for the room, no fear, no shame, like pikin wey never chop cane before. And for the first time, she wake my dead heart! I swear, I feel something warm pass inside me, small small like when dry harmattan dey yield to early rain.

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I guard border for king for five years. By right, I suppose don retire, marry, start family!

But as I grow up with am, I sabi the kind person wey he be! The kind wahala wey dey follow king matter nor be for here—man wey fit laugh with you, then turn you to sacrifice for council. Now, all these council people dey gossip say na Okafor family get this kingdom!

He dey vex! You know as power dey sweet dem for mouth; once dem hear Okafor, dem dey shake. So, that sword wey he give me when I dey go war, the power wey he dash me—now he wan collect all back!

E even use my wound as excuse, take my command, come arrange wife for me! The thing pain me reach bone—like say na punishment, not blessing. E pain me reach bone—like pepper enter open wound.

“Na Nneka the carpenter daughter from Makurdi, she get courage well well. General Danjuma dey loyal, get mind, do well for border. I dey give this marriage, to honour am!”

He sit for that lion throne, eyes full of mockery! He cross leg, dey tap the armrest with him big gold ring—kpom kpom—like juju priest dey summon spirit. This royal marriage na just disgrace for me, e go spoil one small girl life! As my body half-dead, I kneel dey beg: “Your Majesty, chief doctor say I no get plenty time again, abeg cancel this order!”

“Danjuma, king grace no dey finish. Wetin I give you, you must collect!” His voice heavy like raincloud for village meeting. Yes, me and am na just king and servant! If king talk make servant die, servant no get choice! Na so e dey for this kingdom—loyalty strong pass even family blood sometimes.