by Reni K Amayo
‘Of course I’m upset! We all know what’s going to happen tomorrow,’ Naala said agitatedly, as the ero fungi radiated red and white. I’m going to die, she added in her thoughts. ‘And I can’t remember their faces, and you keep looking at me—everywhere I turn, you are looking at me. It’s … it’s too much.’
Eni’s stern face exposed his self-doubt and vulnerability for the first time. The glowing insects floating around him worked to further soften his face. Just as quickly as the soft expression came, it was replaced with Eni’s usual hardness. His jaw tightened.
‘You look at me too,’ he finally said.
‘Sorry?’
‘You look at me too. It’s not just me,’ Eni replied; his eyes searched her face for some acknowledgement.
Naala kept her expression blank.
Eni sighed.
‘Fine,’ he breathed. ‘I look at you. I …’ he hesitated, before dropping his gaze. ‘I … I think of you. I think of you all the time, Esinaala. I can’t explain it—I’m sorry.’ He looked back at her nervously. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel uncomfortable. I’ll stop, I will, but you … you look at me too.’ Although his voice had softened, his expression remained hard, as though challenging her to refute his words.
Naala didn’t. Her heart quickened as she became increasingly aware of how close he was. The ground lit up with a deep royal-purple colour; it illuminated Eni’s face and drew Naala into his brightening eyes. He smelt of warm vanilla and pine, and it was making her dizzy. Focus, she thought, appraising his full lips and strong jaw. Naala did not know what to say. As time crept between them, disappointment and doubt spread across Eni’s face; he had exposed himself and she was leaving him out to dry. She simply didn’t know what to say.
‘I—’ Naala started, and his expression was expectant, but her words died on her tongue. ‘I … do you think that I’m going to die?’ she said eventually. Naala had wanted that comment to seem light-hearted and carefree, like something Kora might have said to pivot the conversation into something more digestible, but on her lips it was sombre and sad.
‘I won’t let you,’ Eni murmured; something in his voice made her heart leap to her throat. It was as if he had just sworn an oath to the gods and Naala knew that he meant it.
‘I won’t let you die either,’ she said, and the warmth of his smile spread through her entire body.
Naala took a step closer without thinking. Eni drew her to him with one arm around her waist. Naala relaxed. He brought one of his palms towards her face, cupping the back of her head with his hands, his fingers tangled in her coarse hair. A burst of electricity exploded within Naala, and yet she felt completely at peace. She raised her face as he leaned towards her; when she closed her eyes, he paused to watch her dark skin glisten in the moonlight.
‘You are so beautiful,’ he said suddenly, his voice heavy with wonder, as though he had never witnessed anything like her before. Before she could say anything, Eni’s mouth found hers.
The world stopped. Naala clutched his back as his weight engulfed her with a force that made her gasp. Thick, sweet adrenaline and desire rushed through her body, tingling every place that Eni touched her. His hands roamed her body; he caressed her buttocks, and clutched her closer. Naala grasped at Eni with desperation for more, she couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t think, she—
‘How can they say that small Gossy dances better than me? It is jealousy!’ Azu’s thundering voice pierced between Naala and Eni. They pulled away from each other in fright, gasping for air as they looked around the evening forest. ‘I know it, Gossy is so stiff—only jealousy of the highest degree would make anyone say that he can out-dance me.’
Azu’s voice carried through the forest, but his body was nowhere in sight. Naala spotted rustling leaves as Azu stormed off, accompanied by Isioma, using a quieter voice to reassure him that no one was against him.
Naala blinked as the forest settled down into its usual low hum. She could still feel the pressure of Eni’s mouth against hers. A dose of reality seeped into her. What am I doing?
‘I should g-go,’ Naala murmured quietly, afraid to look up at him.
‘Are you okay?’ Eni said, his voice laced with concern.
‘Yes, I’m fine,’ Naala replied quickly, before flashing a smile. When his face relaxed, a fresh trickle of desire shivered up her back.
‘Okay, goodnight!’ Naala blurted, before dashing to the hammocks before Eni could reply.
A PARCHMENT FROM THE EZE
CITY OF NRI
SINAI SAT with her deep brown legs dangling freely over the pale window ledge. The wind rushed against her toes and she breathed in the fresh morning air. The nnunu women had begun to sing again; their soft deep voices filled the city with a sad, desperately hopeful song. She looked over the waking city, just as she had done months ago when she had almost plunged to her death. Sinai was not afraid; she now knew what death tasted like, and its cold metallic pull was nowhere nearby. Sinai remained still as she heard movement stirring behind her.
‘Heavens, have you not learned your lesson? What is your obsession with these high windows?’ Ina scolded before approaching Sinai cautiously. ‘You’re … you’re not thinking of jumping, are you?’
Sinai laughed heartily, tickled by the concern in Ina’s voice.
‘No, I’m not! Besides, why waste the energy when I can get you to knock me off?’ Sinai joked, making Ina roll her eyes.
‘Well, I … could you just get down from there, please?’ Ina pleaded, as Sinai laughed, a sound that still stirred wonder within her after the weeks of painful gloom.
‘Okay, okay,’ Sinai finally said, before swivelling her feet inside the palace walls.
‘I’m sorry for that,’ Ina murmured quietly, as Sinai hopped down.
Sinai was about to ask what she was sorry for but, as guilt streaked across Ina’s face, the memory of her fall flashed through her mind. Sinai shook head as a small smile formed on her lips.
‘That was a horrible thing to do, but it was also a lifetime ago. You were so different then … I was so different then,’ Sinai said as she shrugged.
‘I was jealous. Incredibly jealous,’ Ina said.
Sinai nearly choked.
‘Jealous? Jealous of what?’ Sinai asked. In had rich skin, bright eyes, and perfect locs; she was stunningly beautiful, and Sinai was perplexed.
‘Of you!’ Ina replied, rolling her eyes at Sinai’s shock.
‘But you’re Ina—you have everything, you’re beautiful?’
‘Yes, I know I am,’ Ina replied in irritation. ‘But it’s not enough, it’s never enough. Eyes still wandered from my face to yours and I hated it. I tried so hard to be better, to rise above my station. I wanted to be the wife of an Obi, but it felt like every time that I had one on the hook, his eyes would wander to you.’ Sinai listened pensively. She had always thought Ina despised her because she was an efuọla; she never dreamed it was due to jealousy.
Sinai had always felt that Ina’s life was so easy. She had the entire court at her beck and call. She had always been surrounded by a sea of admirers.
‘And is that what you still want?’ Sinai asked.
‘Well, that was a lifetime ago; I’m different now,’ Ina replied with a smirk, as she threw her hands dismissively in the air, and then they both erupted in laughter.
As they settled down, Ina said, ‘I’m glad that you’re okay now.’ Sinai took in her statement. It was true, she was okay. While Meekulu’s death had scarred her heart, Sinai had finally found peace with it.
‘I’m glad to—’ Sinai stopped as a servant approached; a boy who often delivered messages for the Eze.
Sinai’s heart rate quickened. Curled around the parchment, the boy’s hands shook with nerves.
Sinai had gotten this response from people more often than she liked. In the space of a few short months she had gone from being invisible, to having a solid social grounding, to being a pariah. Rumours had spread about Sinai’s
manic behaviour following Meekulu’s death, and soon the palace was convinced that Sinai was cursed or infected by madness. Despite her recovery, they were afraid of catching the mystery ailment too, if they got too close to her.
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, hand it over, will you?’ Ina said. The boy’s mouth gaped before he dropped the parchment into her hand and scurried off.
Ina kissed her teeth in frustration before she opened the parchment. As she began to read it, her eyes bulged dramatically and she looked at Sinai with such pure terror it caused the girl to shiver.
‘What? Don’t tell me that you also think that I am cursed,’ Sinai asked jokingly, but her smile didn’t carry to her eyes.
‘He wants to see you, the Eze wants to see you,’ Ina whispered.
Sinai snatched the parchment out of Ina’s hand.
Meet me at in my quarters. Come alone – Eze Ochichiri
‘You don’t have to go,’ Ina whispered. ‘That boy didn’t put the note in your hand and he left before we read it. We could discard it, and we could get you out of the palace immediately.’
‘No,’ Sinai replied.
‘We can, there are ways—trust me, I know.’
‘Ina, it’s the Eze. You don’t think he will find me? Even if he doesn’t, you don’t think he won’t take out his vengeance on anyone I’ve ever talked to? You, Sergeant Olu, even little Chisi. He will torture and kill you all,’ Sinai said calmly, as Ina’s eyes darkened.
‘If you go, he will kill you,’ she finally said. Sinai knew that Ina was probably right. She also knew that she would spend her last hours alive trying to kill him first; even if she were somehow able to scratch him, that would be enough, for she too had a vengeful soul.
WOODEN BOXES
Furuefu Forest
NAALA WOKE with her fingers grazing her lips as the memory of Eni lingered on her tongue. Curse him, she thought. She couldn’t stop replaying their kiss from the night before, over and over. Her heart leapt to her throat when she saw him an hour later at breakfast. She quickly diverted her gaze towards Kora and plunged into an enthusiastic conversation about her new braids, while he lingered in the background for a moment before stepping away. Kora’s eyes jumped between the two of them after that, and her mouth seemed curved in a permanent smirk. Curse him, she thought again, as the four of them, led by Bayo, travelled out of the forest.
The trees became increasingly sparse, and soon the group reached an open road for the first time in months. They were greeted by a small stout merchant with a smile almost as wide as his well-used cart, which was pulled by a group of four strong large oxen. Bayo repeated his instructions for what seemed like the hundredth time; Naala heard nothing that was said. All she could think about was Eni and that all-consuming kiss. That is, until she entered the box.
Everyone winced when they saw the shockingly small size of the wooden boxes that would house them as they travelled towards the guarded palace walls.
‘Surely you can’t be serious,’ Kora gasped, when the merchant told them to hop into the most suitable box.
‘Yeaaah, I wouldn’t want to get in those boxes either,’ the merchant said with a chuckle. ‘But that’s exactly what you are going to do. You are going to get in, stay quiet and be still. If you do, you’ll get into the palace without getting yourself, or any of these fine people, killed.’ The merchant’s accent was a strange mixture of ones from different places.
‘Assuming we don’t suffocate first,’ Kora muttered, as she poked around her box. ‘You just can’t be serious.’
But the merchant was serious. Naala lay with her knees pressed to her stomach. She was consumed with the desire to stretch out her aching legs and release the tight knots in her lower back. She had never felt so uncomfortable in her whole life; fanciful thoughts of screaming at the top of her lungs tugged at her. She wanted it to end, and if a swift arrow or guard’s blade was the only way, then so be it.
They travelled non-stop through the night and well into the following day. Naala had had enough. Her only respite came when the cart jolted suddenly and sporadically on the bumpy road, sending a sharp pain through her body, a welcomed distraction from the aches that plagued her joints.
Suddenly the cart stopped moving and Naala heard distant voices. She turned her head to try and make out what was said, but all she achieved was to create a small creaking sound. Naala bit her bottom lip as she willed herself to remain still and silent. Without warning, a wash of pale light entered the cart, and Naala blinked as the rays filtered through the small holes in the wooden box. Someone must have opened up the cart doors, but who? Naala thought. No one was supposed to open the cart until they had arrived safely in the merchant’s home in the city of Nri.
Naala was certain that they had yet to arrive there. The merchant lived within the heart of the city, at the foot of the Eze’s palace. Wherever they were, it was far too quiet to be the bustling and busy city of Nri. But then, who had opened the door?
Perhaps the merchant was simply checking on them, or maybe they were being robbed, or, worse, caught by palace guards. Naala’s head swam with the endless scenarios and deaths that could occur before they had even stepped foot into the palace. Naala took a slow steady breath as she reminded herself to remain calm; regardless of whom it was, the merchant had made it clear: no one should draw attention to themselves until their box had been cracked open.
‘The cart is very full today,’ a deep voice said, as Naala’s heart pounded. So it was an inspector. We’re dead, she thought, as her heart sank into a dark hole. There is no way that they could pass an inspection; one decent look at the various boxes stuffed with random artefacts and four villagers, and they were done for.
‘Haha, well, I said it, didn’t I? Why do you think I’m in such a hurry to offload all of this! Once all of this has been sold off, I will be eating sweet for weeks, if not months.’ The merchant chuckled.
‘All this from Abyssinia?’
‘Eh-he, yes now. You were too busy doing this new kin’ inspection that you didn’t let me tell you the gist.’
‘Look at this guy—so you’re back with one of your stories?’
‘Listen, in Abyssinia, I have this girl—very, very, very fine girl—’
‘There’s always a fine girl!’ the guard chuckled.
‘No, this one is different, she’s not any kin’ fine—she is fine: skin smooth, body … just wow—anyway, her oga died suddenly.’
‘Wait, her oga? She has a husband?’
‘Had—he died—open your ears and listen.’
‘O’ Chinaka, you’re bad man,’ the guard laughed.
‘Bad, good, up, down—is it not all the same in the end?’
‘Mmmm. So the guy died.’
‘He died and so all his riches were just sitting there gathering dust. He wasn’t a nice man; he had a lot of enemies, even amongst his friends. She wanted safe passage out of town, and in return she handed me over all these beautiful artefacts.’
‘Mmhmm. So you mean to tell me that she just gave you all of this, just like that?’
‘Yes, now, she turned to me and said that I should quickly carry them and go.’
‘Carry them and go? What kind of nonsense is that?’
‘It’s true! She was afraid that if she stayed there, all his enemies would come and kill her. If she asked one of her neighbours to take her, they could sell her out to his enemies too. Me, I don’t know any enemies or neighbours; all I know is that the girl is fine.’
The guard chuckled. ‘Wonders will never end.’
‘Bunke! Hurry up with that inspection, it’s time for the guard rotation and I’m starving!’ another voice called from a distance.
‘Yes, almost done!’ the guard yelled back.
‘Hmm, well, if you’re really going to inspect all of this, I better help you take them out. Trust me, I nearly blew my back out trying to load these boxes.’
‘Mmm,’ the guard grunted. ‘Listen, you know the checks—no weapons,
no poisons, and no ụtọ?’
‘Can you repeat the third one? Haha! You are becoming too serious. Yes, of course I know all the rules. I have traded for over thirty years. I’d wager that I know them far better than you do,’ the merchant laughed.
‘I’m being serious. The Eze is getting … firmer about this; if there’s any trouble that would be both our heads on the stake.’
‘Bunke, what are you doing?’ the other guard roared.
‘Listen, if you are worried, feel free to check. Like I said, as old as I am, I can even help you if needs be, but I’m certain the cargo is completely fine, as usual.’
‘Bunke!’
‘I’m done!’ the guard shouted, as he shut the cart door and plunged Naala back into darkness.
THE GOLDEN DOORS
CITY OF NRI
SINAI SLOWED to a stop as she approached the same spot that she had stood in when she first heard Meekulu’s deathly screams. She took a deep breath and looked ahead at the opulent hall. This time, she could at least say that she matched the regal decorations. She had decided to wear the green and gold akwete cloth, wrapped around her body in the latest style, keeping her right arm bare.
The cloth had been gifted to her by the ladies in court for her coming-of-age ceremony. Every year the girls who had begun their transition into womanhood were celebrated at the coming-of-age festival, an event that was strictly restricted to the women in the city. Tales were told, music and food was abundant, and the women danced freely.
Sinai cherished the cloth dearly; not only was it the richest cloth that she owned, but it reminded her of her most loving moments in the palace.
As at all major festivals, the attendees were expected to dress their best; this was never more true than at a coming-of-age festival. The girls were expected to wear new and premium garments, crested with sparkling jewellery.
Typically it was the mothers that styled their daughters, draping them in the finest cloth that the family could afford. The motherless efuọla girls typically made do with gifts from friends, but Sinai had none. So she would have to fend for herself; she had imagined herself wearing one of her dated party garments to the festival.