Chapter 1: Messenger of Trouble

General, you no want make your babe suffer, abi?

As the messenger finish talk, e use back of hand clean sweat for im forehead, fear dey show for im face. You go think say na some kin matter dem just send am deliver, the way im dey look me, head bent, voice low like person wey dey confess for mosque, as if the words heavy am well-well. For this our land, if person dey carry another man message to Emir, especially this kain one, e dey always get as e be. So I just dey look am from corner eye, make sure say no wahala dey follow am come.

Na so the chief’s messenger wey dem send me talk reach.

I let the silence stretch small, just to make sure say the whole tent dey soak in the meaning of that message. All my council men dey shift leg, dey look one another, nobody wan talk first. Person wey carry bad news for emir palace dey always waka on top eggshell.

Oga Sarki Musa don order make dem carry my babe, Morayo, enter palace, use her life take threaten me make I surrender my army.

For this Arewa, e dey rare make Sarki carry woman enter palace by force—except say e wan show power. For my mind, as the news land, I feel hot vex boil inside my chest. For where? Person wey touch Morayo dey call trouble. The messenger still dey kneel, I wave hand make dem carry am commot before im wahala go rub me.

For the original story, as Emir of Arewa wey get control of one million soldiers, I suppose just surrender my power and waka go capital go wait for sarki to judge me.

Na so tradition dey. Once sarki summon you, as loyal subject, na to tie wrapper for waist, carry your slippers, waka go kneel down. Dem say, when king call, even stubborn goat go humble. But e be like say destiny get another plan for my own chapter. My heart dey beat fast, but I maintain composure, no let anybody see the storm wey dey rage inside me. My hand dey sweat inside my babariga, but my face strong.

Na that time the real wahala and love story dey start.

But the air already get tension—like before rain fall, everywhere dey heavy. Na from that moment I know say this one na journey of no return. My generals dey wait my next command, but I just dey stare my shadow for ground, lost for thought.

But…

I don transmigrate. The soul inside Emir of Arewa no be the original one again. I no dey from this world before—na another spirit waka enter this body, like say juju dey work.

I dey look my hand, flex my fingers—sometimes e still shock me say na my own body be this. If to say na before, I for just follow as tradition talk. But now, another spirit dey inside this flesh. Na me, but no be me before.

Before I transmigrate, I gats return capital go collect punishment. After I transmigrate, I still suppose return go collect punishment. E no make sense na! Wetin be the use of this transmigration?

I dey reason am well—God no fit carry me enter another man body just to suffer the same fate. Na for this kain junction man gats ask: destiny, abeg, why you carry my matter go extra length?

I just hiss, tear the chief’s letter scatter.

I fling the pieces for floor, stamp am with my leather boot. The men wey dey inside tent shock, mouth open. "If to say na Nollywood, this na the part soundtrack go high."

“His Majesty no sabi anything. He know say Morayo na my babe, yet he still get mind carry her enter harem.”

I dey talk am with chest, my voice strong, make sure say everybody hear. "E get some kin things wey dey above politics. Na woman wey save people life, na im dem wan dey use as pawn?"

“Na bad belle people dey deceive His Majesty. Make una hear my order: gather the soldiers, march pass the gate, go clear the sarki’s court, and finish all the traitors!”

The council gasped. Some people even drop staff. For Arewa, na only person wey get lion heart dey challenge Sarki like this. As I finish, my trusted bodyguard, Adamu, stand behind me, ready for action. I see the glint for Gidado eye; e resemble small pikin wey see suya for tray. This na real rebellion wahala be that.

Battle line dey drawn, but heart dey heavy. I dey pray for peace, but I dey prepare for war. Tomorrow fit change everything—if I fail, Arewa go bleed.