Chapter 5: A Deal in Blood

Musa Garba vex. In anger, he grab fan from maid, throw am hard at Musa Yunusa, the edge catch light as e fly.

"Useless son!" Him voice thunder, even oldest guard fear.

Fan hit Musa Yunusa for shoulder and neck. He frown but no move, still kneel, no talk say dem drug am, take all blame. Blood dey leak for him mouth, but he no talk.

"Na my fault. I no fit control myself, I spoil Miss Ifedolapo purity. Abeg, Papa, give her to me for marriage." His words calm, eyes down.

Musa Garba dey shake with vex, finger point Musa Yunusa, face dark as rain cloud. Fist tight, voice nearly break.

"You dey craze? Today na your aunty birthday feast, you disgrace us. She be Prince Sani wife-to-be. How you fit... how you fit..."

Him eyes land on me. Quick, he draw sword, point am for me, blade dey shine wicked for candlelight.

"This girl don jazz you. I go kill her now!"

Him hand sharp—sword move like lightning. No time dodge, I just close eye, ready for death. Breath stuck for chest.

But person jump front, cover me. Musa Garba barely stop sword, still cut Musa Yunusa shoulder. Blood soak him white robe.

Musa Garba point at am, voice broken, hoarse with vex.

"You—go take sword for woman? After all I do for you?"

Noble Consort Zainab rush out, kneel, beg for Musa Yunusa. Wrapper trail behind as she fall to ground.

"Your Majesty, abeg calm down. No harm crown prince because of this." Hands up, voice heavy with emotion.

She turn glare at me, lips twist in disgust.

"Just low woman, not important. If crown prince insist, make her concubine. No spoil father-son bond. Let her serve quietly, make peace reign."

I kneel, head bow. Her eyes dey burn me, like she wan swallow me. She hate me—blame me for Musa Yunusa trouble, for nearly destroy his future. Her anger heavy for my body.

But my sister—who go stand for her? Who remember her pain?

Before country fall, she be Princess Morayo, praise all over Kaduna. Her life no suppose end like this. She suppose dey laugh, not dey cry.

She and Chief Oche son, Chukwuma Oche, dey betrothed since small. After age, she suppose marry am, live happy—not end up for Musa Garba hand.

Tears rush my eyes. Injustice heavy for my chest.

After my sister become Lady Ifedolapo, next day na Musa Garba coronation feast. She sit beside me, hand dey shake, clutch my own under table.

Musa Garba give her dirty smile, eyes wicked.

"Since my wise consort dey, let me give you big gift."

Na Chukwuma Oche head, blood still dey drip, dem put am for tray. Smell of iron and sorrow full air.

Sister face pale instantly. Musa Garba clean dagger, say:

"When I enter Kaduna, all nobles surrender except Chief Oche house, especially this one—he shoot my general. When I catch am, he insult me. I vex, kill am."

He smile her way. "My consort, you like the gift? E fit you?"

Sister grit teeth, force smile almost break her face.

"Your Majesty, fit borrow your sword?"

He hand am sword, dey watch with wicked interest.

She deep breath, stab sword into Chukwuma mouth. She turn, smile at Musa Garba.

"I like am well. Since he insult Your Majesty, let me cut him tongue. How e be?"

Musa Garba laugh, hug am. But her hand never stop shake. That night, inside her chamber, she cry, hold Chukwuma love token. Her sobs echo, muffled for pillow.

She sabi say Musa Garba wicked and suspicious. If she show small pain for dead lover, na both of us go die. She swallow sorrow make we survive.

She tell me—na only to wait till death to beg Chukwuma forgiveness.

She stroke my face, voice rough with tears,

"Amara, we must live well. Even with ghosts."

I lower my eyes, shame and inspiration dey war for my chest.

But sister, peace no be wetin Amara want. My spirit dey boil.

I want all of dem pay—for every drop of blood, every silent cry, every stolen future.