Chapter 2: Thunder, Blood, and Broken Crowns

For 420 and 421, no serious fight happen between Nwosu and Garba.

Market and road people dey gist how north and south just dey look each other, dey test power, like two rams before fight.

For 422, Obinna Nwosu plan to fight north but kpai before e fit start anything.

Some say na poison from palace cook, some say na spiritual arrow. The real story pass as dem dey talk, but death still shock everybody, like early morning cold.

That same year, wahala burst for Nwosu dynasty because of who go collect throne. Garba Danladi, the northern emir, use the chance, carry him warriors reach the south bank of River Niger.

If you see as Danladi soldiers dey beat drum, tie red cloth for head, dance reach river, even fishermen dey run, drop net, hide. South people fear say thunder don land.

Garba Danladi na real workaholic, the man dey work till midnight, mix cola nut, bitterleaf tea, and strong coffee just to dey awake. E overwork himself die quick, just 30 years, dem talk say he "enter spirit world" for 423.

Dem say na stress kill am, as him eyes red like palm oil, body dey shake, but still dey give command. Even at death, elders pour palm wine for ground, beg ancestors make dem accept the dead, but rain still fall, as if spirits dey vex.

Obinna Nwosu die, south scatter; Garba Danladi, even though he no lucky for health, leave the empire for better hand—him pikin, Musa Garba.

For Ogbe market, another woman whisper, "Who dey for throne now? Na south or north?"

As people dey mourn for south, northern griots dey sing praise for Musa Garba, young lion wey go carry his papa legacy. Market square dey buzz as people dey wonder, "Which kind wahala this one go bring?"

Musa Garba na man wey sabi both book and war, even better pass him papa. If to say na by right, he for don use the chance invade south when Nwosu dynasty dey scatter. But after he become king, he no rush—no be say him no get ambition, but because e no fit.

Some elders say Musa Garba dey read book pass normal, night and day. Dem say him spirit na half scholar, half soldier. Yet, even with all e sabi, enemies plenty pass sand for river bank.

Northern Garba people back dey hot, Fulani horsemen wey strong dey look dem from the savannah dey wait chance.

For palace, dem dey whisper say Fulani warriors go fit collect kingdom if Musa Garba just sneeze wrong. Na so the tension high like dry harmattan breeze.

For 424, Fulani attack come from north.

Early morning, before cock crow, Fulani horsemen fall from bush like rain. Village people just dey run, dey shout, "Yau! Yau! Warriors don come!" Musa Garba no sleep, he gather warriors, begin dey pray make ancestors stand with am.

Musa Garba carry 20,000 warriors go face them. Even though he sabi, he still be small pikin for war, Fulani nearly finish am, but e struggle break out, drive them comot.

That battle, na so arrow and spear full ground, even vultures fear to land. Their skin dry, dust cover body, even their slippers no remain. Musa Garba survive by sense and by grace, e shock old warriors say young man fit hold ground like that.

As Musa Garba dey fight for outside, Okafor Nwosu for Nwosu dynasty dey inside palace dey fight political wahala, at last become king for 424.

For south, Okafor Nwosu dey use kola nut to settle chiefs, dey bribe palace guards with yam and goat, before he finally collect crown. E get as e be.

For 425, Musa Garba send five armies go north fight Fulani. Fulani no get mind face am, dem vanish for bush.

Old women for market sing, "Musa don pursue Fulani far, dem leg dey pain, dem head dey shake." Na so Musa reputation begin dey grow like dry season bush fire.

For 429, Musa Garba send army travel nearly 4,000 miles from capital, first rush dem with surprise attack, scatter enemy, then search everywhere. Fulani suffer, dem break, power reduce well well.

Some say, as Fulani dey run, even cow wey dem dey rear forget how to moo. Musa Garba name dey spread, enemies begin dey call am 'Musa the Storm.'

As Musa Garba dey fight for savannah, Okafor Nwosu dey arrange power for house. Na big men for palace help am become king, so at first, he calm down. But after e clear all him enemies, power enter him hand, he come face Garba dynasty wey just win Fulani and dey ready for south.

Na so Okafor Nwosu begin dey look north with one eye, dey clean sword, dey test loyalty of palace people. Na real game of mind and muscle.

For 430, Okafor Nwosu rush first, carry big army go north. At first dem dey win, later dem lose, come back shame. Na so the first northern expedition end.

Some warriors return with torn cloth and dry skin, people dey laugh say, "Next time, no carry yam go sell for snake market."

For Ogbe market, another gossip: "How many times dem go fight? My head dey pain from all this wahala."

From 431 to 439, no big war between north and south. Garba dynasty focus on gathering power for north of River Niger, clear small small kingdoms. By 439, Garba dynasty don join all northern Nigeria together.

Every village square in north get new chief wey dey answer Garba call. People dey fear, but dey respect order wey Musa Garba bring.

At last, the north-south fight don set.

Na like football match wey everybody don dey wait—"Who go score first?" people dey wonder.