Slaves to the Sword

by Jack Cage

  “I was just going for a walk along these hills, and stopped to look at the waterfall below,” Chike said quickly in his native language.

  “Oh really? I thought you were looking at my brother and Nsia in the waterfall below just now,” Endesha replied quickly and easily in the Kuno tongue. “That is what I was doing, and I think that is what you were doing when I found you up here with me.”

  “Does the little brother always follow the big brother when he is in the company of a woman?”

  “No. I am a Sefu man, we are natural explorers, and I am learning these lands just like I am learning your language. I have been exploring this area for several days, and I knew where they were going. I was following them because I was hoping to find something. What was your reason?”

  “I do not have to answer to you, boy!” Chike barked as he walked past Endesha and intentionally bumped his shoulder with Endesha’s. The Sefu man did not yield any movement.

  After walking Nsia back to her hut, Amri returned home to see his mother lying in his father’s arms crying softly. “Mother, what is wrong?” he asked.

  “She is sick, Son,” said Zuberi. “She has a fever, and it is getting worse.”

  “I will get Nsia. She will have something that can help her.” Amri rushed out of the hut and ran to get Nsia.

  Within seconds Amri arrived at her hut and said, “I need your help, my mother is ill!” Nsia had a confused look on her face, and he remembered that he was talking to her in his language. “I need help,” Amri asked desperately in the Kuno tongue.

  He took her hand and they ran to Amri’s hut. Nsia looked at Furaha and told them she would be back. When she returned, she had two elder women with her, along with Chief Chipo. Nsia asked for the men to leave them for a moment, and they did.

  Endesha was returning from his confrontation with Chike when he saw the three Sefu men outside of the hut. “What is going on?” he asked.

  “Mother is very ill, Desha. Nsia and some of the Kuno mothers are tending to her,” Amri said.

  “They asked us to leave for a moment to give them some space so they can help her,” said Zuberi.

  “Then I will sit here with you until they tell us we can go inside,” Endesha proclaimed.

  Zuberi was visibly disturbed by his wife’s illness. Chief Chipo knew Zuberi did not want to show his emotions in front of their sons and told the boys they would return later. Amri wanted to know what the Kuno mothers were doing to his mother, and was praying Nsia had something that would make his mother feel as good as she made him feel. Amri could not process what was happening; the only two women he had cared about in his life were in the same room. One he could protect with his hands, the other he could not protect from illness. Feeling helpless, Amri looked to the sky for some form of comfort.

  A gentle breeze passed along the sandy ground where the Sefu brothers were sitting. Sensing his brother’s concern for their mother, Endesha put his hand on his older brother’s shoulder. Amri tapped his brother’s left knee twice with his hand as the two brothers exchanged acknowledgement of each other’s fear.

  “I saw you and Nsia at the waterfall,” Endesha said as he looked at the seashell necklace around his brother’s neck.

  “What did you see?”

  “I saw enough.” He would never reveal all of what he saw.

  “Why were you following us?”

  “I was hoping Nsia would take you somewhere I had not seen yet.”

  “So, you saw her in the waterfall?”

  “I saw you stand there like a rooted tree,” Endesha replied sarcastically.

  The two brothers enjoyed a small moment of laughter that gave them temporary relief from the worry and fear their family was experiencing that dreadful evening.

  Long after the moon was visible, Nsia came outside to talk to the Sefu men. Zuberi and Chief Chipo had already returned and joined Amri and Endesha outside. “You can come inside now,” Nsia said in the Sefu tongue. The Sefu men looked at Amri and smiled softly as they walked past her into the hut.

  “How are you, my wife?” asked Zuberi.

  “I am happy to be able to see you, dear husband. That is all that matters.”

  “Mother, we are glad you are feeling better,” Amri said as he and Endesha kissed her cool forehead. “Let Father be with Mother alone, Desha.” The two brothers left the hut and found Nsia waiting outside.

  “Thank you for your help with our mother,” Endesha said in the Kuno tongue.

  “I see you have been paying attention to my lessons lately,” Nsia said with a big smile. “Let us go for a walk.” She took both brothers hands and walked toward the beach.

  17

  T he ocean crashed violently against the Kuno coastline as the Sefu brothers and Nsia sat on top of a large sand dune that shimmered gloriously in the clear moonlight. “What did you and the Kuno mothers use to heal our mother?” Amri asked.

  “Your mother had a fever, and we have herbs and potions that we used to help heal her,” Nsia said.

  “Do you think she is cured?” Endesha asked.

  “One of our mothers said your mother cannot be cured, and she will become ill again.”

  “Is there anything else we can do to heal her?” Amri asked.

  “I’m sorry, but there is not,” she said. “But, there may be someone that can help us.”

  “Who? Where do we have to go to find this person? I will go tonight,” Amri said.

  “No. This person cannot be found in this land,” Nsia said.

  “I do not understand what are you saying,” Endesha replied.

  “There is a man that comes to us from there.” Nsia pointed to the ocean in front of them. “The man with the floating hut made from trees.”

  “Who is this man?” Amri asked.

  “I do not know him. He comes once a year to see my father, and when he comes, he brings items to trade.”

  “What does he look like?” Endesha asked.

  “He is old and crippled, and his skin is as light as this sand. The secret amongst the villagers is he is my true father, not Olamide,” Nsia said while looking down into the sand. “I have heard stories that the man from the ocean laid with my mother, and she had me. When he came back and saw my mother had a girl and not a son, he killed her.” She started to cry as she spoke. “My father will never admit what happened. He would never admit he allowed this man to kill his wife and ruin his family, because he valued the things this man gave him in return more,” Nsia said as tears now raced down her face.

  Amri took Nsia’s hand, and she dove into his massive arms, sobbing. As she wept, Amri looked to Endesha for guidance, and his younger brother motioned for Amri to embrace her. He did, and Nsia shrunk further into his chest.

  After a few moments, Nsia calmed down and said, “The man from the ocean should be coming soon, and he may have some potions that could cure your mother.”

  “Let us hope he comes quickly. We do not know how much longer our mother will survive this illness,” said Amri.

  The burning of exotic herbs filled Chief Olamide’s hut with thick, aromatic smoke. The herbs were a personal treat given to him by the visitor from the ocean. Such pleasures were awarded to Olamide in trade for many things. Most frequently, the access to the Kuno women, and occasionally a prisoner from another tribe had been exchanged for medicines, fabrics, spices, and wine. The latter was not shared with anyone; it was Olamide’s personal gift from the visitor.

  The Kuno chief was sitting in his hut calmly, his legs crossed under him, when Chike asked for permission to speak with him. “Yes, Son. Please join me.” Olamide replied. Chike sat down in front of his chief, and tried not to cough from the smoke. “What is on your mind, Chike?”

  “I have concerns regarding the Sefu man, Amri,” Chike said with a frown on his face.

  “What concerns you, my son?”

  “I believe he is a threat to us and our people.”

  “We know very well what he is capable of, and we should no
t risk our people’s safety by having him here.”

  “I understand your concerns, dear Chike, but I have known the elder Chief Chipo for many years, and the Sefu people are our allies.”

  “I agree with you. The Sefu people are our allies, but what is preventing Amri from destroying our village on his own? Amri is known to be an out of control menace to anyone he thinks is a threat to him, or what he believes is a threat to his people. If something happened to Chief Chipo, or any of his people, would we be able to keep Amri from taking it upon himself to make the Kuno land his?”

  “Are you saying you could not defeat Amri if he tried to challenge us for our land?” Olamide asked with a stern look on his face.

  Surprised by the severity of the question Chike replied, “Of course I would defeat Amri if he challenged you for our land, but I am only one person, and what would prevent the rest of his tribe from following him if he desired our land?”

  The Kuno chief pondered the words shared with him by his first in command. Olamide truly loved and respected the Sefu Chief Chipo, but Chike had valid concerns, and they weighed heavily on the smoke-altered mind of the Kuno chief. He remained in deep thought long after the smoke from the ocean visitor’s herbs stopped burning. Chike did not move either. Both men thinking different things within the mutual silence they shared.

  Chike’s motivation for the talk with his chief was rooted in jealously. Nsia had never shown him the same level of care and interest as she has with Amri. This seemed to be a greater threat to Chike than an Amri-led Sefu takeover, or anything else that could happen.

  As Olamide sat, he pondered the potential for a Sefu uprising. He did not believe, under the leadership of his friend Chipo, such an event would occur, but he could not discount the famously volatile nature of Amri Sefu. “Do you have a plan of action regarding Amri?” Olamide asked Chike.

  “I believe the best way for our two tribes to survive together is for Amri to no longer be a threat. I think we should offer him in trade to the man from the ocean.”

  “Yes, that could be a viable option, but we would have to talk with the Sefu chief. Such an action without his blessing could lead to a painful war on our own land.

  We would have to be cautious with our words, and convince the Sefu chief that it is in both groups best interest that Amri should go with the man from the ocean.”

  “What of his parents and brother?”

  “They may be the only people capable of quelling his anger, and the brother may prove to be just as unstable as Amri. Unfortunately, it may be best they travel with Amri.

  “When do you expect the man from the ocean to return to us?”

  “I expect to see him soon.” Chief Olamide stood and raised his hands above his head to stretch. “We cannot discuss this with Chief Chipo until the man from the ocean returns to us. Any possibility of Amri discovering what we have discussed could endanger us all. We must be careful with our actions going forward.”

  “Agreed. We have a plan,” said Chike.

  Moments after Nsia left the brothers at the beach, Endesha believed it was the right time to inform Amri of his confrontation with Chike. “I was not the only one watching you earlier today. When I was looking down on you from the hills above the waterfall, I noticed something moving on the cliffs. It was Chike.”

  “Chike? What was he doing on the cliffs?”

  “Watching you more than me. He did not detect me until he had seen enough of you two, and turned around to go back to the village. I was standing behind him.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Nothing important. Chike cannot be trusted. Do you think Nsia was with him before we came to the Kuno land?”

  “I don’t care. She wants to be with me now,” Amri replied with a renewed sense of purpose.

  “You should be careful, Brother. Chike has the Kuno chief’s ear, and that could be a problem for our tribe.”

  “You are right. We are in their land, and cannot afford to have any problems with the Kuno people. We have nowhere else to go.”

  “So, what do we do?”

  “Nothing.” Amri stood and looked toward the Kuno village behind them. “We do nothing.”

  “Let us go check on Mother,” Endesha said.

  “Yes. Let us go home,” Amri replied.

  The Sefu brothers became more guarded with their actions. Amri continued to learn how to speak the Kuno language, and Endesha continued learning more about the ocean and the Kuno lands. Chike kept his distance from the brothers, and, unfortunately, Furaha was not getting any better. If she were going to survive, she would need the potions from the visitor from the ocean.

  18

  W eeks went by, and the Sefu people were thriving in their new territory. Chief Olamide had offered to make them honorary Kuno, which was graciously denied by the elder Sefu chief. The two tribal leaders proved that with much grace and diplomacy the two tribes could blend together and thrive in the same space. The Kuno people were experts in crafting and fishing, and the Sefu’s strengths were in tracking and hunting; the two tribes collaborated on many things and shared thoughts on how to retain their own unique identities while working together to ensure their mutual success. A success that could be lost in an instant if Amri Sefu had his way.

  During the evenings, after everyone went to asleep, Amri would fantasize about the ways he could kill Chike. He replayed the special moments he had shared with Nsia in the water, and when he thought about how Chike had been above the two of them watching, it filled Amri’s mind with rage, glorious rage.

  It had been almost a year since Amri had killed the Ema’s chief, and he delighted in the notion that he had another foe standing in his way. But this time he could not act on his desires. He would not willingly destroy or kill without need or cause. He had to remember his people were now a part of a new tribe, and his actions could disrupt all of the progress the two tribes had made.

  With this conclusion being realized, Amri became even more upset, more rage-filled because now he knew he could not act on his desire to destroy Chike.

  For the first time, Amri had to consider his actions and the consequences that would be shared not only by him, but his people as well.

  Aggravated and annoyed, Amri decided to seek the only thing that could quell his intense anger—Nsia’s beautiful heart, long flowing hair, and comforting bosom. He left his hut to find her.

  Within moments, he was outside of her hut, and when he gently tapped the outer wall, she came out to see who was there. “Oh, hello Amri. It is you.”

  “I’m sorry to wake you, but I need to speak with you.”

  “What is wrong? You look like something is bothering you.”

  “Can we go to the water to talk?”

  “Of course, we can.”

  As they took the short walk to the Kuno coastline, Amri looked around, suspicious that Chike was lurking in the beachside darkness.

  When they arrived at their favorite sand dune, the two sat, and Nsia noticed Amri’s face showed distress. “What is troubling you Amri?” she asked.

  “Tell me about Chike. What is he to you?”

  “Chike is supposed to be like a brother to me, but he is not.” She started. “Chike’s mother is one of my father’s wives.

  When he was much younger, my father learned he was not his son, and when he confronted Chike’s mother, she struck him across his face.

  When the man from the ocean came, my father sent Chike’s mother and her lover away with him, and since then, he has been raising Chike like he was his own son.” Nsia looked at Amri for a visible reaction.

  “So, you are not allowed to be together?” he asked.

  “If my father desired it, then yes, but my father believes Chike’s blood is cursed with his father’s seed, and he forbids Chike from being with any of his children.”

  “Now I understand.”

  “What do you mean, Amri?”

  “The other day at the waterfall, Endesha caught Chike watching us from
above in the hills.”

  “What did Endesha say? … And why was he at the waterfall at the same time we were?” Nsia’s look of surprise turned into a curious frown.

  “He was trying to see where you were taking me. He was hoping to learn of a new place to explore, and that is when he found Chike looking down on us.”

  “Why are you so troubled about what Chike was doing at the waterfall?” She looked at him with a glowing smile. “Are you looking for a fight or protecting what you think belongs to you mighty Sefu warrior?”

  “If we were in my village, I would tell you immediately that I am always looking for a fight. But here, in this place, this village—I find myself only thinking about you.”

  Amri was looking out onto the moonlit ocean, then laid on his back and turned his face toward the sky. Nsia placed her head on his scarred chest and gazed at him adoringly.

  That night, the wind moved in and out mimicking the movements of the waves crashing below, a perfect symphony of nature that enticed the young lovers to fall asleep.

  The crashing waves of the previous night had softened as the sun eased over the coastal horizon. Nsia slowly opened her eyes, and as she looked toward her and Amri’s feet, she saw a frightening sight afar off in the ocean.

  It was a ship with open sails heading toward the Kuno coastline. She could tell, given its distance, it would arrive by early afternoon. “Get up, Amri! We must go!” Nsia shook him awake.

  “What? What is going on?” he asked.

  “Look to the water. He is coming.” She pointed at the ship in the distance. Nsia attempted to run toward the Kuno village to alert her father and noticed Amri did not follow her. He continued to look at the ship.

  He could not seem to look away—amazed that something could float on water like that. Remembering he had been told the man from the ocean could have what his mother needed to improve her health, he joined Nsia, and set off to inform his family that the ship would soon arrive.

  Nsia entered her father’s hut, and tried to capture her breath before saying, “Father, the man from the ocean is coming. I can see his boat from the coast!”