Chapter 8: Princess Army

Late for night, I drag my tired body, go knock for one simple room for Uche Pavilion.

Night breeze cold, light from candle dey dance for wall. My heart dey beat, but I dey determined. I wear old wrapper, cover my face, waka like shadow.

For dim candlelight, I count everybody wey dey there.

Big men, strong women, old soldiers—all dey look me. Their face dey show pain, but also hope. Some dey cry, some dey hold hand tight.

Papa leave army for me.

Na secret only the old elders sabi. I dey hold that bangle for hand, e dey warm now, e dey give me courage.

The token wey e give me fit command fifty thousand warriors.

Dem call am the "Okpoko Medal." For our people, if you see am, you must obey order.

Even mama no know about this army.

E be like secret passed from chief to first daughter. Mama dey busy with her own plan, no sabi my own.

These people na the last loyal ones for Palm Grove.

Na old faces, some wey serve papa, some wey serve grandpapa. They get scar, get old war story. Na real warriors.

After papa die, some hide, some retire, swear never to serve new chief.

Dem dey wait for sign, for hope. Na me be their last hope.

I dey hide for Eastern Quarters. Fola dey treat me like egg, always protect, but no dey control me.

E dey respect my strength, no dey ask question, just dey support me.

So I use chance find papa old spies. With all the things wey papa do, e leave plenty people and resources for me.

I dey write code, dey send small message. Sometimes na through market women, sometimes na through small boys wey dey sell pure water.

And as Palm Grove princess, I fit gather dem under my hand.

Dem see my face, dem kneel. "Princess, we dey your back."

Few days ago, as I hear say Crown Prince dey come Qudu, I send secret message.

I use kola nut as code. If you see two kola for your door, na call for meeting.

Invite all of them make dem meet for Uche Pavilion for Qudu.

I dey pray say dem go show. If dem no show, na only God go help me.

Thank God, all of them show.

Room full, eyes dey shine. Dem dey ready, dey wait.

“We greet the princess.”

Dem kneel, hand for chest. The way dem call me "princess," I feel power for my blood.

I look candlelight, look the people wey dey bow for me, then I talk my first words since I be six years old.

Voice rough, but strong. "Who go follow woman fight?"

“I get only one question: Una go fit support woman as ruler?”

Silence. Some dey open mouth, some dey cover face. Na shock catch all of dem.

Dem shock.

One old man whisper, "Princess Halima dey talk? Na today I see miracle."

People dey talk say Princess Halima no dey talk.

Na legend for palace. Some say I don lose mouth, some say na vow.

But I no be mute; I just no want talk.

I get voice, but I dey use am when e matter pass.

I no want call another man ‘Father Chief.’

For my mind, na only one chief I get.

My own papa too good.

Na only him voice I dey remember for dream. If I call another man "papa," my spirit no go rest.

How I go call traitor papa?

Never. My pride no gree.

“Heaven dey fair. Na only you remain for Palm Grove royal blood. We ready to follow you, bring back our land, even if e go cost us our life.”

Dem voice dey heavy. Na oath. I see tear for one old general eye.

Good. As una ready.

My heart strong. I dey ready too. This time, na me go lead.

“Make una enter council, take am slow, build una power. Three years from now, we go act for Qudu. Before that, everybody gather una own strength.”

My plan clear. No rush. If we miss again, na forever loss.

“We hear you, princess.”

Dem bow, dey salute. The air dey heavy with hope.

“Where Eagle Guard commander dey?”

One big general step forward.

Na man wey war don chop ear, scar full body. E bend knee, no talk.

I watch am, then bring out the token and one map wey I draw, give am.

Map na old one, but I mark new road, new weak point for Garba army.

“Carry this army, use rebel name, follow the marks for this map. Remember—”

I raise finger, voice steady. "No rush. No dey greedy."

“No be to dey capture town, but to build strength. No rush, no dey greedy, just dey grow.”

The plan na to dey build, dey wait for right time. No let enemy know.

As I finish, the room wey quiet before come alive.

Voice, shout, hope dey full everywhere. "Palm Grove go rise again!"