Anatse greeted them and entered the large hall they called Shakallo, a private chamber where only a few were allowed. The room was built with a unique architectural design, almost like a museum—very wide, spacious, and decorated with golden ornaments. A huge carpet covered every part of the floor, and large, plush cushions were scattered across it, all adorned with royal patterns.
Five people were seated inside—four men and one elderly woman. The Elder Woman, the one in charge of the chamber, looked very old, at least around 76 years. Her eyes were reddish, and she was dressed in a long cloak, holding a tissue in one hand and a prayer bead in the other, which she occasionally pulled. There was also the Waziri, the Wambai, the Makama, and the Sarkin Dawaki.
Soon, two other elderly men who resembled the Elder Woman entered and took their seats. The sight of all these important figures made Anatse’s heart tremble. After the Emir, these were the most influential people in the palace. He stepped forward to the center of the room, found a place to sit, then looked at the Elder Woman and asked:
"Grandmother, were you the one who sent for me?"
She shook her head, then slowly raised the tissue to her face and wiped her tears before speaking:
"Your father’s trusted companions sent for you, as the eldest son of the Emir, Kabeer."
He quickly lifted his head and looked at the others who were all staring at him.
"I see," he replied calmly.
Then Makama, the eldest among them, said:
"Have all your brothers arrived? By four o’clock, we will perform the Emir’s burial."
With composure and restraint, he replied:
"Prince Halilu and Ibrahima are already here. Munir just called me—their plane has landed in Abuja. Umaru’s plane has taken off from Lagos. And as for…"
He paused suddenly.
All the elders in the room asked in unison:
"What about Prince Riyad?"
He released a small, hidden sigh and said:
"I’ve called him countless times. I can’t reach him."
The Elder Woman sighed loudly and said:
"I have never seen a restless child like Riyad. Today he’s in Egypt, tomorrow Cyprus, next Oman, then Zanzibar, sometimes China or Iceland. Ah! I, Shatu… maybe today he’s in France. Try calling his foreign number. If you don’t have it, go to Fulani and take it from her."
In a soft voice, Kabeer (Dan Buri) replied:
"Grandmother, even you know he has never stayed in one place for a whole month. Once he settles somewhere, he leaves for another. Even his mother, Fulani, doesn’t know where he is. I met her trying to call him and he wasn’t answering either. I don’t understand what Riyad’s problem is—that he prefers roaming around the world instead of staying in his country where his umbilical cord was buried. He grew up not knowing…"
Wambai raised his hand to stop him.
"Enough."
After a short sigh, he continued:
"Because of him, we will not delay the Emir’s rites. No matter where he is in this world, he will see the news of his father’s death. We will meet him soon. Now get up and go."
Kabeer rose slowly, left the room, and walked out angrily, grumbling under his breath.
One of the elders in the chamber, visibly upset, said:
"Grandmother, I have said this countless times to His Majesty—he should call Riyad to order. Among all the Emir’s children, none is as careless as Riyad. He refuses to stay and learn our traditions. What will we tell the people now that he is the only one missing?"
Everyone in the room looked at him until the one beside him, named Usmanu, said:
"No, Brother. Riyad is a calm young man; we all know him. His business ventures are what take him abroad. And His Majesty was the one who approved it and gave him permission because he saw that the boy had passion for trade. Riyad is a very well-mannered and compassionate child—we all know that."
The elder, Hambali, said angrily:
"I was talking—who gave you the right to answer me, Usmanu?"
They were about to start arguing when the Elder Woman said sharply:
"Quiet! Hambali, Usmanu—do you not realize your brother has died? And you want to start a fight because of his son?"
Description
Anatse greeted them and entered the large hall they called Shakallo, a private chamber where only a few were allowed. The room was built with a unique architectural design, almost like a museum—very wide, spacious, and decorated with golden ornaments. A huge carpet covered every part of the floor, and large, plush cushions were scattered across it, all adorned with royal patterns.
Five people were seated inside—four men and one elderly woman. The Elder Woman, the one in charge of the chamber, looked very old, at least around 76 years. Her eyes were reddish, and she was dressed in a long cloak, holding a tissue in one hand and a prayer bead in the other, which she occasionally pulled. There was also the Waziri, the Wambai, the Makama, and the Sarkin Dawaki.
Soon, two other elderly men who resembled the Elder Woman entered and took their seats. The sight of all these important figures made Anatse’s heart tremble. After the Emir, these were the most influential people in the palace. He stepped forward to the center of the room, found a place to sit, then looked at the Elder Woman and asked:
"Grandmother, were you the one who sent for me?"
She shook her head, then slowly raised the tissue to her face and wiped her tears before speaking:
"Your father’s trusted companions sent for you, as the eldest son of the Emir, Kabeer."
He quickly lifted his head and looked at the others who were all staring at him.
"I see," he replied calmly.
Then Makama, the eldest among them, said:
"Have all your brothers arrived? By four o’clock, we will perform the Emir’s burial."
With composure and restraint, he replied:
"Prince Halilu and Ibrahima are already here. Munir just called me—their plane has landed in Abuja. Umaru’s plane has taken off from Lagos. And as for…"
He paused suddenly.
All the elders in the room asked in unison:
"What about Prince Riyad?"
He released a small, hidden sigh and said:
"I’ve called him countless times. I can’t reach him."
The Elder Woman sighed loudly and said:
"I have never seen a restless child like Riyad. Today he’s in Egypt, tomorrow Cyprus, next Oman, then Zanzibar, sometimes China or Iceland. Ah! I, Shatu… maybe today he’s in France. Try calling his foreign number. If you don’t have it, go to Fulani and take it from her."
In a soft voice, Kabeer (Dan Buri) replied:
"Grandmother, even you know he has never stayed in one place for a whole month. Once he settles somewhere, he leaves for another. Even his mother, Fulani, doesn’t know where he is. I met her trying to call him and he wasn’t answering either. I don’t understand what Riyad’s problem is—that he prefers roaming around the world instead of staying in his country where his umbilical cord was buried. He grew up not knowing…"
Wambai raised his hand to stop him.
"Enough."
After a short sigh, he continued:
"Because of him, we will not delay the Emir’s rites. No matter where he is in this world, he will see the news of his father’s death. We will meet him soon. Now get up and go."
Kabeer rose slowly, left the room, and walked out angrily, grumbling under his breath.
One of the elders in the chamber, visibly upset, said:
"Grandmother, I have said this countless times to His Majesty—he should call Riyad to order. Among all the Emir’s children, none is as careless as Riyad. He refuses to stay and learn our traditions. What will we tell the people now that he is the only one missing?"
Everyone in the room looked at him until the one beside him, named Usmanu, said:
"No, Brother. Riyad is a calm young man; we all know him. His business ventures are what take him abroad. And His Majesty was the one who approved it and gave him permission because he saw that the boy had passion for trade. Riyad is a very well-mannered and compassionate child—we all know that."
The elder, Hambali, said angrily:
"I was talking—who gave you the right to answer me, Usmanu?"
They were about to start arguing when the Elder Woman said sharply:
"Quiet! Hambali, Usmanu—do you not realize your brother has died? And you want to start a fight because of his son?"
Silence fell instantly. No one spoke again.