Slaves to the Sword

by Jack Cage

  One day, while working on the Sefu huts, Amri noticed Nsia walking by him with a large group of children around her. She remembered him from the welcome ceremony a few days before and smiled at him casually. Amri did not return the favor; instead, he stared at her, and did not take his gaze off of her as she walked by. His gaze was uncomfortably broken by a small handful of sand thrown by Endesha. Amri emitted a slight growl as he barked, “Why did you do that Desha?”

  “You should introduce yourself to her, Amri.”

  “Fool. We don’t speak their language remember?”

  “You could ask Chief Chipo to introduce you.”

  “I don’t need anything from him.” Amri did not want to discuss it further, so he regained his train of thought and continued his work.

  Amri was truly smitten with Nsia and made a point of always knowing where she was. He did not ask anyone, and did not have to look very hard to find her. He would catch glimpses of her out of the corner of his eye and would be relieved to see her again moments later. It was almost as if she wanted him to know where she was and made sure Amri was in her line of sight.

  Days later, while Amri was sitting alone on the beach looking at the slowly setting sun, Nsia approached him from behind. He knew it was Nsia because of her familiar scent and smiled to himself as she neared. He turned to look at her and noticed she was wearing a long skirt made of braided grasses with seashells tied at the ends. Nsia slowly lowered herself to her knees beside Amri. In her hands, she held a small cluster of different fruits; she offered them to Amri, who graciously ate some, then smiled awkwardly and tilted his head in gratitude for the sweet tasting gift. Nsia smiled back, and slowly raised her a hand to touch his scarred face. He recoiled slightly as her fingers met his skin, yet she did not retract her hand. It was as steady as Amri’s hands in a battle. He surrendered to Nsia’s touch and allowed her to explore his scars. As she traced the lines across his face and bottom lip, she noticed there were more on his chest and shoulders, and ran her right hand down along them as well.

  Amri did not know why she was doing this and was uncomfortable with this intimacy he would never have allowed in the past. Nsia slowly reached down into the cluster of fruit in her hand and produced a small clamshell with a blend of oils and herbs inside. She presented it to Amri’s nose so he could smell it, and he nodded his approval.

  She dipped her fingers into the mixture, rubbed it between her hands, and proceeded to apply it to his scars. Nsia’s movements were measured and slow. Her touch reminded Amri of his mother’s delicate hands.

  A part of him loved the attention Nsia was giving him, and part of him did not understand what was happening. Amri felt undeserving of such compassion from a complete stranger. Nsia’s obvious bravery and sympathy for his wounds was a surprise for *7 [the greatest of Sefu warriors.]

  When Nsia was finished with Amri’s wounds she walked gracefully to the water and rinsed her hands. She then turned around and walked towards him, and as she approached Amri he could not help but notice her ample breasts and the long flowing hair that barely covered them. She silently returned to her initial position and picked up her items while leaving Amri with a slight smile escaping the side of her mouth.

  Amri was smitten and pleased with his beachfront visitor, but the feeling that he did not deserve such attention remained. In the back of his mind, he wondered if she would treat him as nicely if she knew what he had done in the past.

  Amri was pondering it all when he heard Endesha calling for him, “Amri!”

  “I’m over here!”

  “There you are! Mother wants us to come home. Chief Olamide says rain is coming tonight.” The two brothers jogged back to their hut in Kuno village.

  As a heavy rainstorm rolled in along the coastline, a Sefu tribesman came to Amri’s hut with a message from Chief Olamide. “The Kuno chief has requested you sit with him and Elder Chief Chipo. You must go now to Chief Chipo and escort him to the Kuno chief’s hut.”

  Lightening flashed, followed soon after by thunder that shook the sandy ground below. Amri set off for Chief Chipo’s hut. Upon gathering the old man, Amri could not move him fast enough to prevent them from being completely soaked by the now pouring rain, so he decided to carry the former Sefu chief on his back as he jogged through the village to the Kuno leader’s hut.

  “This way Amri,” said Chief Chipo as he directed him with his staff through the village. Once they made it to the Kuno chief’s hut, Amri very gently lowered the elder from his back, and helped him inside before the storm released its fury. Chief Olamide’s first in command, Chike, received the Sefu elder and escorted him to the back of the hut.

  Nsia was also present, and as Amri ducked to enter the Kuno hut, she offered to escort him to her father, and they sat down facing each other. Amri was seated to the right of his elder chief, and Nsia, to the left of her father. She offered the group some fruit and dried meats as Chief Olamide marveled at the size of the legendary Sefu warrior.

  “So, tell me Amri, how do you like it here in our village?” asked Chief Olamide.

  Amri looked at the Kuno chief, knowing only that he had heard his name spoken. Chief Chipo gestured for Amri to lean into him, and whispered the translation to him. “He wants to know if you like it here.” Amri had a very uncomfortable feeling come over him. He did not know how to respond. More importantly, he did not know how to compose his thoughts with the Kuno chief’s beautiful daughter sitting directly across from him.

  “Tell him I am grateful for letting us become a part of his tribe,” he finally muttered as his confidence escaped from every pore.

  Chief Chipo translated what Amri said precisely, and the Kuno chief replied, “Stories of how you mastered the lion traveled all across the land. Many of our people believe you are not real—more like a spirit that lives with us instead of a man of flesh and bone. How does that make you feel?”

  Amri knew Nsia could hear the conversation between Chief Chipo and Chief Olamide. He knew she would learn his true self, and he hoped she would not think less of him. For the first time Amri cared about what someone other than a member of his family thought about him. Chief Olamide was waiting for a response from Amri, and he knew he could not hide who he was from Nsia, so Amri decided to be himself. “I am many things to many people. I am a man, and I bleed like my brothers. The only difference is I make others bleed before I do,” Amri said as his confidence rushed back into his body like Kuno fruit going into Endesha’s mouth.

  Nsia could not help but smile after Chief Chipo translated Amri’s last statement.

  She knew he was a mighty warrior and had overheard the story of how the massive Sefu warrior killed a lion. When she had seen him sitting on the beach, she could not contain her curiosity, and had to get a closer look at the man called the “Black Lion.” Nsia thought a man of Amri’s size would enjoy some fruit, so she took some with her as a peace offering. The young Kuno woman knew Amri was dangerous, and made sure her movements were slow and inoffensive.

  When she saw his scars, she wanted to touch them, but saw his hesitation. Yet, he allowed her to touch them which made Nsia happy. Her intent was not to entice Amri, but she could not help feeling special when he was around her. She tried to maintain her grace as she left him that day on the beach, but Nsia could not hold back the slight smile that showed how he warmed her heart.

  Amri was becoming tired of the Kuno chief’s small talk. His highest-ranking officer, Chike, appeared to be equally unimpressed with the stories and adulation of Amri Sefu and his legendary temper. During the conversation between the two chiefs, both Chike and Amri locked and held glares with each other. Neither man wanted to suspend their stare—Amri welcomed the challenge, and Chike wanted to show his strength. As the two tribal leaders continued their conversation, a literal battle was commencing between the two chief’s warriors. Chike’s glare was imposing, and his commitment to beating Amri in this challenge was both juvenile and impressive at the same time—he even stopped
blinking.

  Amri took a darker approach, and channeled all of his fury to boring into Chike’s hazel eyes. Time slowed to a standstill—as did his breathing, and he, just like his rival, did not blink. Amri started to daydream about ways he could kill Chike.

  In his open-eyed blindness, Amri could see himself performing a slow-motion attack on Chike. It literally made Amri happy as he imagined what he would do to the Kuno warrior.

  Nsia noticed the masculine eye-jousting between the two men. She was hoping to break Amri’s stare but she knew by the way his face looked, she could not.

  Suddenly, the two tribal elders burst into laughter; Chief Olamide pat Chike on his shoulder and broke his stare at Amri.

  Chike looked at his chief, smiled, and laughed softly at the joke that he had not heard. After Chike finished acknowledging Chief Olamide, he glanced over at Amri, and to his surprise, he had not broken his stare. In fact, it seemed more menacing, and, for a brief moment, Chike’s heartbeat spiked as if he was running at full speed.

  Proud of his victory, Amri broke his stare and turned his eyes toward Nsia, sitting on her knees across from him. Unfortunately, he had not altered his gaze and had to shake his head to return to his normal non-combative state. He did not want look at Nsia with rage in his eyes. He already knew she would not be capable of upsetting him in that way. In fact, Amri had already started to feel she might be the only person who could make him happy on the inside. Smitten again, a slight grin escaped from the corner of his scarred right cheek.

  The evening rains had long subsided when it was finally time to end the meeting between Chief Chipo and Kuno Chief Olamide. The two leaders walked toward the entrance of the hut. As Amri ducked underneath the doorway to leave, he glanced back at Nsia, and gave Chike a bone-crunching handshake.

  Neither man had given an inch of ground to the other which pleased both warriors greatly.

  After escorting Chief Chipo back to his hut, Amri returned home to his curious mother. “So did you get a chance to see that girl?”

  “Yes, Mother. She was there,” Amri replied.

  “She probably looked good too, yes?” Endesha teased while smiling at his father.

  Amri did not respond. Instead, he sat down, and his mother gave him some food to eat.

  “Leave me alone, Desha,” Amri said sternly. “Besides, we do not speak the same language, so it is impossible to communicate with her.”

  “When has anything ever stopped you from accomplishing your goals?” asked Furaha.

  Sensing his eldest son’s temper warming, Zuberi wisely said, “Enough. The two of you need to let the man eat his dinner.”

  Furaha smiled and walked over to Amri, kissed him on his forehead, and sat down next to her husband. Endesha left the hut to go walk near the Kuno beach.

  Amri finished his dinner and noticed his parents were asleep. Endesha had not yet returned from his walk, which meant he had a brief moment to gather his thoughts and review the events he experienced earlier in the evening. He immediately thought about the way Nsia had looked. Amri could not get over her long, flowing, black curly hair.

  It was unlike his mother’s hair, which was very short and coarse in texture. Amri thought it reminded him of the ocean waves he was slowly becoming accustomed to seeing.

  The future seemed bright to Amri as he began to feel the Kuno village might be a place he could consider home. There were many things that made it better than their lost Sefu village: there was more food to eat which meant less hunting; the materials for building huts were stronger, and the Kuno beach was a welcomed difference as well. The only thing Amri did not like was the potential contender for Nsia’s heart—Chike.

  It was late, and Amri felt weary from too many thoughts. His mind requested rest, he complied, and laid down for the evening to sleep.

  16

  A fter several months of living in the Kuno village, the members of the Sefu tribe had become more accustomed to their new surroundings. Endesha became an avid swimmer, Zuberi was working with Chief Chipo on tribal relation topics, and Amri was aggressively learning the Kuno language. His teacher, Nsia, was not only patient, but also enjoyed the time spent teaching the massive Sefu warrior her language. Unfortunately, Furaha was becoming ill. She had developed a slight cough that would not go away, and more often was in considerable pain, but she did not let her children know.

  The sun was shining brightly, and the wind was blowing briskly when Endesha came into the hut and said, “Nsia is looking for you Amri.”

  “Did she tell you what she wanted?” asked Amri.

  “I think she said to meet her by the woods.”

  “You mean meet her at the trail by the woods.”

  “I guess. I’m still learning the language.”

  Amri noticed his mother was laying down with her hand resting on her abdomen. “Are you alright, Mother?” he asked.

  “Yes, child. Don’t worry about me. Go see what Nsia wants with you,” Furaha said softly. Amri kissed her warm, moist forehead and left to meet Nsia.

  Amri made his way to meet Nsia at the entrance to the trail.

  He found her picking through a bush for berries in another intricately woven grass dress. Her long, curly black hair barely covered her breasts, and a series of seashell necklaces added to her beauty. When Amri arrived she smiled softly. “Hello,” she said to him in her language.

  “Uh…Hello,” Amri awkwardly replied in the Kuno language.

  “Come this way.” She took Amri’s large hand and guided him into the lush wooded jungle. This terrain was much different from the beachfront village of the Kuno people. The ground was moist and unstable. Amri was unsure of his footing, and Nsia had to remind him to step where she stepped.

  Marvelous sounds of birds and creatures filled the air. Amri’s senses were overwhelmed by the scenery and various forms of vegetation. Every so often, Nsia would look back at the massive man behind her and smile to herself. She knew, no matter what they faced in the jungle, she was completely safe. That was a great feeling for Nsia. She loved the fact that this supposed monster was now relying on her for direction as they walked through the jungle. She did not believe Amri was incapable of love or tenderness. Amri’s awkwardness was evident even when words were not spoken.

  After a while, the couple approached a fabulous waterfall. Amri looked up in awe at the massive waterfall that was nothing like the waterfall he had seen in the Ema territory. The waterfall seemed to rise into the sky. Nsia looked at Amri, and walked along the edge of the pool at the bottom of the waterfall. She then stepped out of her grass skirt, walked out onto a rocky ledge that led behind the waterfall, and slowly moved into the stream of cascading water. Her hair glistened as the water rushed over her brown skin. She motioned Amri to join her, but he stood motionless.

  Not because he did not want to join her, or the fact that he enjoyed the sight of her naked body under the waterfall—he was simply afraid of the water.

  Thoughts of the dream he had back in the Sefu village ran through Amri’s mind, and his feet would not comply with his desires.

  Nsia could see that Amri was not comfortable with being under the massive waterfall, so she jumped from the ledge into the pool beneath her. It was shallow enough for her to stand in, so she walked toward Amri and reached for his hand. He extended his hand out to her, and she led him into the pool. The water came up to his chest, so Nsia had to maintain her position in front of Amri. He noticed her struggling and placed his hands on her hips as he walked backward into the deeper portion of the pool. Once again, feelings of security rushed through her mind as her monster of a friend came to her rescue without prompting.

  “This is nice, yes?” Nsia asked Amri in her language.

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “This is my favorite place.”

  Amri did not understand what she said, and Nsia did not repeat herself. She just smiled to the point her teeth were peeking from between her lips, and gave Amri a deep kiss. He did not know how
to react. No one, other than his parents, had ever gotten so close to his face, and parents do not kiss like Nsia did. Amri’s instincts took over, and he responded to Nsia’s kiss appropriately. Afterward, the two shared a deep embrace, then she motioned him to take her to the edge of the pool.

  Back on her feet, she reached under her wet hair, and presented Amri with one of her many seashell necklaces.

  Unfortunately, Amri’s neck was larger than Nsia expected, and the necklace that draped Nsia’s bosom barely went around Amri’s neck. He did not mind because he thought it was an extremely thoughtful gesture, and knew he would treasure the gift Nsia gave him at the waterfall.

  She looked into Amri’s eyes while caressing his scarred face and said, “Not a monster” in the Sefu language.

  She then raised both of Amri’s hands to her lips and kissed them gently. “We go home now,” Nsia said as she walked along the edge of the waterfall to retrieve her grass dress.

  Amri replied, “Yes” to Nsia in the Kuno language. She took his hand and led him back to the Kuno village.

  In the hills that surround the waterfall, Amri and Nsia were not only being watched by nature, but Chike was also monitoring their aquatic interlude. He was not pleased with what he saw. Feelings of jealousy entered his heart, and Chike felt slighted by the fact that Nsia so willingly chose Amri over him. Chike and Nsia grew up together, and their parents had made an agreement that the two would wed soon. After observing the interaction between Nsia and Amri, Chike knew he did not have a chance with her. Anger started to swell within Chike’s spirit. He stood from his perch on the hill, took the stick he had in his hands and angrily broke it across his knee. As he turned around, to his surprise, he saw Endesha leaning against a tree, looking directly at him.

  “You saw something you did not like?” Endesha asked in the Kuno language.

  Chike was further shocked that Endesha spoke his language so easily. He decided to say something complicated, so Endesha would not understand.