Chapter 5: Poison, Juju, and Promises

Shackles dey jingle small small. E dey sound for my ear like juju bell. I fit see sweat for Musa Garba forehead, but him eyes never blink. Under his tangled hair, him eyes cold and proud. You go know say pride dey die last. Even if chain full hand, Musa Garba pride still dey shine for face.

Musa Garba just dey look me, hold wine with both hands, dey offer me. Everybody dey watch—chief eye, Queen Mother eye, even palace guard. If I no drink, wahala. If I drink, my skin fit burst.

All eyes dey watch. I go accept or refuse? My hand dey shake small. My heart dey hammer, I whisper, "God, abeg, cover my shame."

"Amina?" Shaoshan call me, confused. His voice dey shake, concern dey inside. I look up, try smile, but my lips no fit form.

I come back to myself, realise say I don pause too long, people dey look. People dey murmur, like say dem dey wait for fight.

Just as I wan refuse, talk say I no fit drink, Musa Garba lean forward, him big sleeve cover both our hands. For Naija, small move fit cover big secret. I look am, heart dey beat.

I feel quick pinch for my finger—cold touch. My eyes open—na only Musa fit try this kind thing for front of chief. I frown, freeze. For my head, I dey try act normal. Palace wahala dey pass be careful.

Small pill enter my palm. E be like stone, cold, but na life saver. Musa Garba remove hand like nothing happen, waka go. E steady—no shake, no fear. E sabi wetin e dey do. He sabi.

Apart from old friends, na only him know say I no fit drink bitterleaf wine. Old padi no dey forget your wahala. E fit read you even when you dey act strong.

My heart dey beat. I pretend drink, just wet my lips, then swallow the red pill wey I know well. The pill bitter, but I swallow am sharp. My hand dey steady now, rash go disappear. Soon, heat for my body go, rash for my hand fade.

I dey thank God, dey plan how to escape next wahala. Palace people don forget me, music don start again. Music and dance continue for hall. Musa Garba thin body for green cloth waka comot, blend for darkness, nobody notice. E be like shadow. For Naija, some people fit hide for crowd like spirit.

I remove my eye from am, just dey look my wine cup, lost in thought. I dey wonder if my luck fit last till end of feast. That time, I hear person dey call my ear.

"Amina, make we go. Queen Mother and Chief wan give us marriage blessing."

Shaoshan dey smile, hope dey for face. I stand, straighten my wrapper, ready for new trouble. I nod, press down my feelings, kneel for hall front with Shaoshan.

Floor cold, but I no dey feel am. Everybody dey watch, waiting for chief word. Shao Daoji give the marriage like say na nothing. Maybe na drink dey control am, him tone soft, even ask other adopted sons if dem get person for heart, make e give them marriage too.

Na so powerful men dey behave—big things dey small for their mouth. Everybody just dey laugh. Musa twist mouth, look Shaoshan.

I see the challenge for Musa eye—e dey test Shaoshan spirit. For palace, brothers dey always size themselves.

"Na only third brother get this kind luck—everything just easy for am, even marriage dey fall for him hand. Life go smooth now."

The others dey hail, but I fit feel small jealousy under laughter. Na so palace dey run.

Shaoshan bow steady to Musa. "Thank you, brother. Na Chief grace."

E humble, voice no shake. For Naija, humility dey open door for you even among enemies.

Musa smile but e no reach him eye, like say e dey plan something, suddenly change topic. "But third brother always dey respect papa, yet for this marriage, instead of do am for Chief and Queen Mother, you insist say you wan go Umuola. That place no be your home, no relate to sister-in-law. Wetin dey special for there wey you no gree do as papa talk?"

I feel the tension for air, like rain dey near. For Naija, if person ask you that kind question for family table, e get hidden meaning.

As e talk am, Queen Mother join mouth. Her voice soft but firm. Na so real mother-in-law dey talk when e suspect lie.

"Umuola good, and your land dey near, but marriage like this suppose happen for capital."

Everybody dey nod, dey agree. For big family, wedding na show for power.

Shaoshan hesitate, come gree. E no fit argue, na only to bow and smile. I dey watch am, heart soft.

My heart miss beat, but I just put head down, dey blame Musa for inside. Wetin Musa dey find? My own wahala dey plenty, I no need another test.

Queen Mother begin praise me, say she no get daughter, but like me well, hope say I fit stay with her before wedding. Her words dey gentle, like oil for wound. I dey feel small peace inside.

Shao Daoji never talk since, but now e just laugh, voice thick with drink, slow and deep. "So good? Mama like her reach like this."

His laugh na thunder wey slow. For palace, if chief happy, everybody dey relax.

Beaded curtain move, one hand with jade ring push am open. Curtain shift, moonlight fall for floor. Everybody dey wait to hear chief next word.

"Come here, make I see you too."

His voice steady—no shout, no laugh. Na order, no fit refuse.