The Sacred Lake (Shioni of Sheba Book 4)
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Shioni of Sheba
Book 4: The Sacred Lake
By Marc Secchia
Text and images copyright © 2014 Marc Secchia
Illustrated by Senait Worku from Addis Ababa
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher and author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
www.marcsecchia.com
Table of Contents
Shioni of Sheba
Table of Contents
Glossary
Map of West Sheba
Chapter 1: Shopping with Elephants
Chapter 2: Before the Journey
Chapter 3: A Parting Blessing
Chapter 4: Along the Takazze River
Chapter 5: The Bandits’ Gift
Chapter 6: Horseback Archery for Princesses
Chapter 7: How to Shift a Shifta
Chapter 8: Showers and Lakes
Chapter 9: Crossing Rivers
Chapter 10: Abba Petros Speaks
Chapter 11: The Trail to Gondar
Chapter 12: Ancient Gondar
Chapter 13: The King’s Demand
Chapter 14: Thump and Flee
Chapter 15: Who’s for Breakfast?
Chapter 16: Lion-Hearted
Chapter 17: Azurelle’s Ride
Chapter 18: Brotherly Love
Chapter 19: The Sacrifice
Chapter 20: A Family Reunion
Chapter 21: The Feast
Chapter 22: Party’s Over
Chapter 23: An Unexpected Caution
Chapter 24: Race to the Sacred Lake
Chapter 25: Little Boat, Big Hippo
Chapter 26: Tana Qirqos
Chapter 27: A Thing More Dreadful
Chapter 28: The Valley of the Shadow of Death
Chapter 29: Return to Gondar
Chapter 30: A Princely Kick in the Proverbial
Chapter 31: Elephants Can’t Run
Chapter 32: King in the Castle
Chapter 33: Awakening
About the Author
Glossary
Abba–Father, also abate is ‘my father’
Amole–Rock salt
Asmat / Asmati–Black or evil magic. An asmati is a small, trouble-making creature, thought to bring bad luck
Ayb–Cheese similar to cottage cheese, slightly more sour, made from goat’s milk
Beta Israel–The House of Israel, the tribe of ‘black Jews’ or ‘Falashas’ (this name is regarded as derogatory) who migrated to Ethiopia at some point between the 9th and 10th Century BC
Bilu!–Eat! A host encourages guests to eat more and enjoy their meal with this command
Shai–Ethiopian tea
Chiuleil–Fiuri term for a store of magic or magical capability
Doro wot–Stew made with red onion, oil or butter, lots of hot, spicy berbere, pieces of chicken and boiled eggs. Considered a delicacy
Ferengi–Foreigner or stranger, sometimes derogatory
Firfir–A mix of injera and sauce cooked together
Gabi–A thick, layered cotton cloth for men usually worn around the upper shoulders
Gashe–An honorific meaning ‘my lord’
Gorsha–A choice portion prepared by a host, which is fed to a guest with the fingers. Often seen between couples in courtship
Hiwot–Life, name of the castle in the Shioni of Sheba stories. Originally Castle Asmat (Black magic castle), it is renamed Castle Hiwot, the Castle of Life
Howdah–Platform strapped to the back of an elephant, used for travel or fighting
Injera–A slightly fermented large pancake made from tef (Ethiopian grain) used to scoop up spicy vegetable or meat sauces with the fingers
Karea–A large hot pepper, very similar to chilli
Kebero–Very large cowhide drum used in religious worship
Kolo–Dried, slightly spiced grain for snacking on, often combined with peanuts
Misgana–Praise
Mitmita–Hot red pepper, similar to a chilli pepper, in powder form
Mucha–Incense plant
Nettela–Traditional white cotton scarf with a hand-sewn border, worn by women around the head and shoulders, not covering the face
Selamta–Greetings, blessings, inquiries about family, health and life
Shifta–Bandit, robber
Shemagele–Old man, male village elder
Shuruba–Ethiopian style of braiding the hair close to the scalp in artistic designs
Spoor–Animal track
‘Tan–Incense plant
Tef–Local Ethiopian grain, fermented to make injera
Teshal–Taken from the Amharic for ‘heal’, a fictional medicine the Shebans believe will cure the King
Tibs–Meat fried in a skillet, often with onion, karea (chilli) and tomatoes
Tej–A mead or honey wine commonly brewed in parts of Ethiopia
Teyn’adam–A redolent herb often added as a sprig to tea or coffee in Ethiopia. It is called ‘the Health of Adam’ and imparts a strong, distinctive taste. As written, the name refers to the 930 years of Adam’s life (see Genesis 5:5)
Tosign–A herb, similar to oregano, used in tea (shai)
Wanza–Endemic tree of Africa, can grow to 30m tall, which has sweet-smelling white flowers
Map of West Sheba
Princess Annakiya’s hand-drawn map of the Kingdom of West Sheba.
Chapter 1: Shopping with Elephants
Shioni accepted the Bolt of blue silk cloth from the shopkeeper with a deliberate groan. “Haven’t you spent enough of the royal treasury already, your most incredibly royal Highness of Sheba?”
“I heard that.”
Princess Annakiya was neck-deep in a souk on Takazze’s main road, as usual, spending the royal purse as though money were the red dust her slave’s feet tramped through every day. Her best friend had already sent seven slaves to the Palace with armloads of her purchases–not that Shioni was counting. Of course not. But she would rather have been riding amongst the towering dark peaks of the Simiens, which frowned over Takazze to the west, than shopping with the Princess in the sun-drenched capital city of West Sheba.
The Princess was as happy as an elephant in a mud bath.
Shioni rolled her eyes at the molten afternoon sky and sighed. “Please, send me an eagle to whisk me away.”
“I heard that, too! Your job, o most incredibly cheeky slave, is to help me with my shopping. We need rich gifts to win the King of Gondar’s favour.”
‘So that he would allow them safe passage to the Sacred Lake, Lake Tana, and to the monastery of Tana Qirqos where they hoped to find a cure for the Sheban King,’ Shioni recited in her mind. Up there in the mountain fortress of Castle Hiwot, Annakiya’s father had been lying in a coma for two months since being struck down by Sheba’s deadly enemy, Kalcha. The King showed no signs of recovering. She shivered, despite the cheerful sunshine beating down on her head. Twice, the witch-leader of the Wasabi tribe had attacked the Sheban forces. Twice, a slave-girl had stood in her way.
She and Kalcha were not the best of friends.
Just then, two young deacons from the Church of the Mother Mary passed by, chatting about a prayer vigil for the King. Their richly brocaded robes swept along the dusty road, making it seem as though they had no feet. Annakiya said the priests had been praying for her father day and night. She said that a sick King made the whole Kingdom of Sheba sick, too.
Shioni could not have told from the main road of Takazze. It was bustling. Groups of men dressed in pure white gabis chatted in the shady places. Elegant and cool bene
ath their colourful umbrellas, in traditional nettelas and long white cotton dresses, throngs of women browsed through the bright souks with their red cloth awnings, chattering in excited tones. The souks sold everything imaginable: spices, food, weapons, clothing, cloth, animals … and stretched all the way from the edge of town to the gates of the huge, domed Church of the Mother Mary, which had been under construction since she could remember. Shioni looked in the other direction, toward the trail leading into the mountains. Not far from where she stood, a crew of slave-girls was hauling stones to help lay a new road. Building, always building. Oh, look–she brightened–here came two of the elephants from Castle Hiwot, from which they had travelled just two days ago. Dusky, her favourite, and by the size of those tusks and the jaw-dropping twelve-foot height of him, the bull elephant Chief, who completely overshadowed the smaller female elephant.
She could not wait to speak to them. Chief would have all the latest gossip.
“Falling asleep?” Annakiya asked her, dumping three more bolts of silk cloth in her arms. “Dreaming of your great victory?”
“It wasn’t–no, Anni.” She fought a blush and lost. “Talaku did the difficult part.”
“And you destroyed Kalcha’s Apprentices.”
Shioni winced. “The army ants–”
“Ate them–I know!” Annakiya crowed. “I wish I could have seen that.”
“You would have fainted.”
The Princess glared at her, but then changed her expression to a mischievous smile. “For that, I will punish you with five hours of extra shopping. Come along now, Shioni.” She snapped her fingers. “Bring my things.”
“You’re worse than Mama Nomuula stocking up her kitchen,” Shioni grumbled.
A hand clipped the back of her head. “Who’s you talking about, you rascal?”
“Mama!”
“Yes, Mama. Don’t you give me lip or I’ll be tanning your behind–mighty heroine of Sheba or none, you’s still my girl.” Mama Nomuula crossed her massive arms and beamed at Shioni. “You can use my carts, Shioni. I’s only filled four so far.”
They laughed together. The heat in Shioni’s cheeks spread to her ears.
But at that moment, someone screamed. Shioni whirled, her hand flying automatically to her long dagger. Was the Princess in danger?
The squeal of an angry elephant cut through the still afternoon air. Ears flaring, trunk raised, feet flinging dust into the air, the old elephant Dusky came charging down the main road of Takazze toward them. Shioni gasped. The crowd, which had frozen in place, suddenly began to scatter in all directions like a flock of chickens surprised by a marauding buzzard. People screamed, donkeys loaded with straw brayed and bolted, and a cart tipped over, spilling melons across the road. Unconsciously, she placed herself in front of Annakiya. “Get back.”
A glance over her shoulder. The Princess’ dark, beautiful eyes were wide with fright. Absently, she shoved her friend into Mama Nomuula’s arms. “Inside. Now!”
Whatever was the matter with Dusky? What had set her off? The elephant was enraged. Even from a distance, Shioni sensed Dusky’s fury so keenly that a red haze misted her own eyes. The elephant thundered along without a care for anything in her path, trumpeting again and again, unstoppable tons of wrinkled, grey bone and muscle–and a realisation speared first into her belly, making it clench hard, and from there up into her brain. Her feet moved.
Shioni catapulted herself out into the street, hurdling melons, dodging a crazed horse, and careening off the shoulder of an old man tottering along on two canes, completely unaware of the danger. She raced toward the charging elephant.
“My pet!” she heard Mama shriek from behind her.
But Shioni knew. She knew what had provoked Dusky. She knew that if Dusky reached her target, there would be nothing left but a trampled mess to clean up.
The elephant bore down on the group of slave-girls who had been working on the road. They had dropped the stones they had been carrying in order to flee, but one of them had tripped and lay unmoving, either stunned or too frightened to escape.
Shioni sprinted faster than she had ever run before, pumping her arms and legs, stretching her body as though she could somehow eke out the speed of a plummeting sparrowhawk, feeling the wind rushing past her ears, her blonde hair breaking free of the leather thong she’d used to tie it back that morning, her bare feet slapping the ground so hard they stung. A sense of exhilaration filled her body right up to her throat. Faster. Faster! Ahead of her, Dusky tore through a jewellery souk. Poles as thick as her wrist snapped and splintered. Crosses and gold chains scattered about the elephant’s feet. Dusky brushed aside a cart as though it were made of kindling.
She and the crazed elephant tore toward each other.
Suddenly a tiny child stood in her path, barely a toddler, sucking his thumb as he gazed about wide-eyed. Dodging the child, Shioni slipped and skidded across the stones on one knee. Here came Dusky, looming huge in her vision; she scrambled ahead, arms flailing to propel herself forward, to drop her body on top of the slave-girl lying beside the road works, screaming, “No, Dusky! No!”
The ground trembled as Dusky skidded to a halt. Dust exploded in her face. Shioni ducked and curled herself around the slave-girl, trying to protect her head and the girl at the same time. Feet slammed down either side of her body. Dusky, thwarted, vented her anger with a trumpet blast directed at the back of Shioni’s head. Her huge feet stamped and danced, kicking dirt and stones over the prone girls. Abruptly, she jabbed her trunk beneath Shioni’s belly and wrenched her into the air with irresistible strength.
“Dusky! Please, please listen to me,” she cried. “You can’t kill her. You can’t!”
“Get out of my way!” snarled the elephant. “I’m going to trample that wretch into–”
The ground and sky switched places. The trunk squeezed the breath out of her. “Dusky,” she pleaded, with everything in her, “Dusky, if you do this, you’ll be just like her.”
Dusky brought her close, gazing deep into her eyes–into her soul, it seemed. Shioni snatched a quick glance past her dangling feet. Yeshi cringed down there, a quivering lump in the dirt.
“That’s the girl who tried to drown you,” Dusky argued. “Elephants never forget.”
“But they can learn to forgive,” said a new voice. Chief laid his trunk on Dusky’s shoulder. “The slave-girl has been punished, dear one. Look, she is doing hard labour. That’s what these humans decided. It’s their justice.”
For many breaths, the elephants simply stood still, breathing hard. Then, very slowly, Dusky’s ears folded back against her head. Her grip on Shioni’s waist loosened. She set her down on her feet with exaggerated care, asking where she hurt, apologising for her behaviour.
“Just a scratch,” said Shioni, brushing her bloodied knee. “Dusky, you’re sweet. Don’t fuss, I’m fine. And you …?”
“I’m ashamed,” said the elephant, but she seemed pleased by Shioni’s spontaneous attempt at a hug. “Sorry, Shioni. I don’t know what came over me. And I do wish I could be travelling with you tomorrow on the long trail to Gondar. But you’ll be riding a new elephant, a strong young bull called ‘Shifta’.”
“Bandit?” Shioni chuckled. “What kind of a name is that?”
“He has a skin discolouration on his face that makes him look like he’s wearing a mask,” said Chief, clearly less than amused by her response. Sternly, he declared, “Shifta’s brave and reliable, if a touch inexperienced, but I will brief him this evening. He’ll give you no trouble; I can promise you that much, young lady.”
Shioni swallowed her smile and allowed Chief to ruffle her hair with the nubbins on the end of his trunk–which she hated. “Thank you, Chief.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
She wanted to ask about Beauty and her calf, but Shioni suddenly found herself surrounded by Sheban Elite warriors all asking about the incident. Before she could half-tell her tale, a horse and his rider came
galloping down from the direction of the Palace. The warriors and the curious crowd gathered around her immediately bowed low.
“Prince Bekele,” said Mama Nomuula, close at hand.
Shioni knelt at once, feeling her heart lurch. Not the Prince!
Bekele reined in his horse with a showy prance. Glancing up, Shioni saw he wore his well-worn training armour. He must have been training with the Elites, the finest warriors of Sheba. Bekele sheathed his bared sword and smiled. “No need to wave a sword about, is there? What’s all the commotion?”
Princess Annakiya pressed through the crowd, calling, “The elephant tried to attack that slave-girl, brother.”
He frowned. “But she’s–oh, her. The one you dismissed from the Castle?”
“Yes, Yeshi. She tried to drown–”
“The heroine of the battle at the Mesheha River bridge. I know, sister.” Shioni studied her skinned knee as an approving murmur rose from the crowd. Her head whirled with confusion. Why was Prince Bekele being so nice to her? Was he just trying to act in a kingly way … to fill his father’s shoes in front of his people? “Many of our Sheban Elites owe her their lives,” added the Prince. “Instead of the weeping of wives and children, I hear rejoicing. And now she saves the very person who sought to kill her? I, for one, will sleep better knowing such a brave and loyal servant will accompany you on your mission to Gondar, Annakiya.”
Shioni heard Mama whisper next to her ear, “Stop catching flies with your mouth and thank the Prince, girl.”
She looked over to Annakiya, watching her with an expression she could not understand. What, in the name of all Abyssinia, was going on? This same Prince had once encouraged Captain Dabir to wipe his dung-encrusted boots all over her hair. Her tongue seemed stuck in her mouth, but she had to say something, didn’t she?
“Uh … thank you, my Lord.”
The Prince gathered the reins in his fist. “Come and see me later, Annakiya. I’ve finalised the gifts for you to take to the King of Gondar, and the scrolls of greeting and the trading agreements have been prepared.”