Chapter 5: The Price of Peace

After all the wahala e see, Papa Oba dey hope say the three of us go love each other.

E dey pray say, "Make my sons unite, make dem no repeat old wahala." Sometimes, e go gather us, share kola, preach about unity.

But na so people be—the more you want peace, the more wahala go show.

Na like soup wey too many hand dey stir—before you know, salt go pass pepper. Palace wahala get long leg.

Eldest Brother and Second Brother dey smile for front, but for back, dem dey fight like cat and dog.

For meeting, you go see dem dey hail each other, but for corridor, dem dey use eye fight. Even palace maids dey gist am for kitchen, dey bet who go win.

Even the palace people dey divide—some dey follow Eldest Brother, some dey follow Second Brother.

Cook, guard, messenger—everybody get side. Even for evening chess, you go know which prince dey reign for each table.

Some people even wan support me, like Lawal Musa grandpapa, Baba Lawal, wey send Lawal Musa come check my mind.

Elders dey reason say maybe if dem support underdog, e go pay for future. Baba Lawal send im grandson come dey press me, dey look whether I get hidden fire.

Fear catch me, I carry white wrapper for night, stand for front of am dey beg:

That night, breeze dey blow, heart dey pound. I tie wrapper for neck, stand gidigba for Baba Lawal front. "Abeg, kill me now if na to drag throne be the plan!"

“Sir, if you wan help me, abeg just use this white wrapper end my life quick!”

Baba Lawal just dey look me, im eye dey shine for lamp light. "Pikin, na only who want fight dey fear fight. Go rest."

Lawal Musa try reason with me again.

E go corner me next day, dey beg, "Bayo, see, if na fear, I fit help you." But my mind dey made up.

I raise my neck, dey do like martyr wey wan die:

I roll eye, make drama. "If na by force, abeg make I hang myself, finish story!"

“If you talk am again, I go hang myself!”

Everybody shock. Lawal Musa mouth open, Baba Lawal just shake head—"Na wa o."

E no sabi say na laziness dey my body, and my mama dey always warn me:

Inside my heart, na comfort dey move me, no be ambition. Mama Ronke dey always say, "No let palace wahala chop your happiness."

Wetin I fear pass na make people notice me, make Papa Oba eye shine, come block my two brothers road.

If I shine too much, wahala go land. If Papa Oba think say I wan drag, na early grave. I dey dodge stress like say e be flying arrow.

If dem dash me throne, I fit return am—make I no go lose sleep.

Eldest Brother na first born, pikin of Papa Oba favourite Mama Sade.

Everybody for palace sabi say Mama Sade get strong mouth. Her pikin na apple for Papa Oba eye. If e cough, dem go rush bring honey.

Second Brother na true born of Queen, and her family na big name—Okafor clan of Umuola.

Queen side get name—if dem call Okafor for market, traders go lower price. Her own pikin, Sulaiman, no fit fail for anything.

Me? Just pikin of wife wey nobody send, no family backup, dem dey even talk say my head no correct.

Some palace maids dey call me "lost prince"—na so dem dey gossip. I dey chop my own, dey carry last.

If I rush go compete, na early grave be that.

Life dey teach lesson by force. I no wan be another Uncle Akin. Soft life dey save person.

Lawal Musa no get choice, e go report to Baba Lawal.

Next thing, I hear say elders don wash hand for my matter. "Leave Bayo alone, him no get wahala."

From that day, everybody sabi say Third Prince Bayo no dey fight, no dey drag, na soft bone coward.

For palace corridor, small boys dey use me crack joke. I no send—peace dey my side.

Na that time I come get peace.

Na so my mind come settle. Na rest of mind pass gold.