Chapter 4: Blood and Sacrifice

Until one day, guards catch me as I dey eavesdrop Musa lesson, beat me nearly die.

Na stick dem use, my back cut, blood soak my wrapper.

I dey beg for spirit, make my mama help me from wherever she dey.

I dey roll for ground dey cry, na so life nearly commot from my body.

Na Third Princess save me, give me medicine for my wound.

She bring ororo and clean cloth, her own hand dey shake. I look her, see say tears dey her eye. "Sade, no let dem kill you. You be better person."

To save person life big pass anything, I gats repay am.

Since that day, if I see Third Princess, I dey greet am with respect wey dey my heart.

Now, as war front don loss, the northern warlord, wey suffer for Olanrewaju Kingdom before, don come back strong.

Palace everywhere dey shake. Everybody dey talk, dey fear, dey hide money and pikin.

He wicked, no dey pity, but still escape back to north, kill him papa, then carry army come attack Olanrewaju Kingdom.

The story full everywhere—market women dey gist am, even beggars dey talk for roadside. Fear grip whole kingdom.

He capture fifty-eight towns for north, point sword to capital, talk say he no want throne, na only princess of Olanrewaju Kingdom he want.

Some people say na juju, some say na revenge. But all of us know say wahala don jam us.

Everybody talk say na Third Princess, Morayo, suppose go marry.

Morayo wey fine, proud, sabi book pass anybody. People dey pity her, but nobody fit do anything.

Senior Wife say Third Princess no fit chop or sleep because of am, even fall sick.

Morayo dey cry night and day, she no dey smile again. Senior Wife begin dey old overnight.

Papa King gather council for three days and nights, but all the warriors wey fight don wound or die, nobody gree volunteer. Last last, na to send Third Princess go marry remain.

Palace elders dey look floor, nobody fit talk. The burden heavy, nobody wan carry am.

Senior Wife no get choice, come give me full box of meat pies, beg me make I go instead of Third Princess for the alliance.

When I see the food, my mind calm. Sometimes, food dey solve wahala for small time.

I ask Senior Wife if better food go dey after I marry.

She look me, sigh, say, "Sade, as you dey go, better food go dey, wrapper go full your room. You go be queen for new place."

Senior Wife quiet small, then talk say not only better food go dey, but fine wrapper and jewellery too.

That one touch my spirit. Jewellery, wrapper, food—no be small thing for person wey grow inside hunger.

That one make sense.

I smile, nod, my heart dey sweet. Sometimes, na small promise dey give person big courage.

I happy, wipe pie crumbs from my mouth, tap my chest, talk like hero,

"Mama, no worry, na just to marry. If Third Princess no wan go, make I go instead."

I see as Senior Wife eye shine—relief dey wash her face.

But if Papa King wan make I marry Musa, na wahala be that.

My heart beat quick—Musa own na another matter. For my mind, I dey pray make e no reach that side.

I quick wave hand.

"No, no, Sade no wan marry Chief Tutor. Sade wan marry the northern warlord, Garba, Garba..."

Everybody stop dey talk. Palace dey quiet. My voice dey shake small.

Ah, wetin Senior Wife talk say the warlord name be again?

I dey think hard, sweat dey my palm. Na so the old steward whisper, "Garba Musa."

I look am with thanks, shout loud,

I gather voice, make sure everybody hear: "Sade wan marry Garba Musa!"

People mouth open, like say I just talk thunder strike palace. Nobody fit believe.

Maybe my voice too loud—everybody for hall shock, dey look me.

My heart dey race, but I no go back down.

"No!"

Musa talk suddenly, lift him agbada kneel down, salute. When he look up again, him face pale like paper.

For Musa eye, I see pain and something I no fit name. Maybe na regret.

"The princess still small, she no understand wetin marriage mean. Your Majesty, abeg think am well."

I feel his voice, heavy with worry. Palace elders begin dey murmur.

Papa King dey turn ivory ring for hand, dey look am, smile.

He dey reason matter deep, like say he dey see wetin other people no see. "Musa, our small Sade fit be pikin, but she get sense. I like this pikin, so I gats grant her wish."

As king talk, everybody just dey nod, even people wey no agree before.

He wave hand big, issue king’s command.

His voice strong, like thunder wey cut dry tree. "Announce am: Princess Sade get virtue, get dignity, her status high. Now as northern Garba Kingdom envoy don come propose for Garba King, she go get Ayo title, enjoy princess consort honour, and go marry enter Garba Kingdom to make peace between both kingdoms."

I dey shine like new koboko. New name, new status. My heart dey sweet, but small fear still dey hide for corner.

No be only that, Papa King still make Musa royal son-in-law, next month Third Princess go marry am.

Palace talk don start again. Everybody dey look Musa. Some dey pity am, some dey jealous. Na so life be.

Musa face pale, but for front of everybody, he gats collect command and thank king.

He bend, greet, but I see say his hand dey shake. Palace dey hot that day.

Me, na only my new palace dey my mind, I wan go see am quick.

For my mind, I dey sing—new bed, new food, better life. Who go believe say mumu Sade fit reach this level?