“Wow!” Akhila exclaimed with a sigh of relief. “I thought that was going through.” She immediately tossed her own into the river, but it missed again by a wide margin. Akintunde found another promising stick, a bit lighter than the last and flung it in the water. It hit exactly where Akintunde intended but this time swept around the passage on the near side.
“This is hard!” Tunde commented but only paused a moment before starting his search for his next missile.
Akhila’s next throw was wildly off target and light and didn’t come close to pushing through the narrow channel. “It is, but I’ll get it first!” She insisted and Akintunde wondered where she got all her confidence. Except for her first throw she hadn’t been very close.
It took a bit of searching but eventually Akintunde found another heavy stick. It was too long and he spent a moment jumping on it to break it in half, but soon he was ready. He stood still, right at the edge of the bank, concentrating. Finally he picked out his landing spot and threw. Again it came up a bit short, but instead of getting caught in the cross current; the weight of the makeshift vessel allowed it to plow through the swirling eddies. Suddenly it was caught up in the powerful central channel and as they watched wide-eyed from the bank, it sailed neatly through the two boulders and sped off down the river.
“Hurray!” They yelled together and Akintunde was surprised that Akhila shared his excitement despite losing the competition.
“Good throw!” She congratulated him and then launched her last stick, but again, it was too light and swirled around the channel.
“Good throw!” She repeated and smiled at Akintunde who couldn’t help but smile back. Surprisingly he found he liked Akhila…he liked her very much.
“We should be getting back,” she announced suddenly, and they quickly gathered up their weapons, “but keep on the lookout for Roe,” she added and turned away from the river. She paused a moment, confused. The narrow trail was not readily visible. Akintunde felt a moment of panic before they found it again. He was surprised how far down river they’d come.
“Ssshhh,” Akhila advised and crouched low as she made her way deeper into the woods. Again, as Akintunde expected, they came across nothing. The trail was too overgrown to be used by any large animal.
“No Roe,” Akhila said disappointedly as they moved back onto the main trail and headed toward home. “I guess it wasn’t our day. Mother would have been so surprised if we’d come home with a deer.”
“Yeah,” Akintunde agreed, briefly fantasizing about his own mother’s reaction to such an unexpected feast. Both youngsters were caught up in their thoughts as they rounded a bend. Akhila stopped so quickly that Akintunde ran right into the back of her, pushing her forward several steps, but instead of turning around angrily she retreated until she bumped against him again. Akintunde couldn’t see over the taller girl so he tipped his head and look around. Up ahead, just off the trail, was a lynx feasting on a large jack. The cat looked up, its jaws dripping with blood and gore. The animal went still at the unexpected confrontation and eyed the pair fiercely.
Akintunde gasped, caught in the yellow stare of the predatory cat. His mind raced for a moment as he considered what to do.
“Ha!” Akhila yelled and charged the Lynx. Akintunde’s mouth popped open. Her strategy was not one he was considering. He stood frozen, watching, while in one fluid motion she launched her spear at the startled animal. Akhila continued to scream and run forward as the spear shot through the air. The cat tensed as the weapon sailed over its head and clattered against a tree behind it. Akintunde’s eyes went wide, utterly impressed by Akhila’s bravery, but now that she’d missed he expected her to halt her advance. Much to his surprise she continued to run, drawing her knife as she went. Akintunde was flabbergasted, awed by her daring. A lynx, though not a large cat, was not a beast to be trifled with, and though they almost never attacked prey as large as a man, there were stories of young children falling victim to them from time to time. Akhila apparently was undaunted by the tales and continued to charge, nearly weaponless in Akintunde’s mind, toward the startled predator. Tunde did not think even his father would be so brave.
The lynx hissed and spread its front paws, getting low, preparing to defend its kill. Suddenly without knowing why, Akintunde broke into a run, chasing after his new friend. It was too much for the cat, and with a loud growl it bolted off into the brush, leaving the bloody carcass of the jack behind. Akhila rushed to the area, jumped over the leavings and quickly retrieved her spear. She was still panting from the excitement when Akintunde ran up to her.
“I missed!” Akhila said dejectedly. “I can’t throw and run very well,” she admitted and then noticed that Akintunde still had his weapon in hand. “Why didn’t you throw your lance?” She asked.
Akintunde just stared at her. She was not afraid, not in the least! It was dangerous to charge a wild beast like that, especially without a long weapon to ward off attack.
“I…I was afraid I’d hit you,” Tunde stammered as Akhila studied the remains of the unfortunate rabbit. She lifted it by one paw.
“Pah! It’s not worth saving,” she told him in disgust. She dropped it in the leaves and without another word marched off down the path.
Akintunde stood stunned for a long moment, watching her retreating back with admiration…and with just a bit of love. It was a new emotion for the young man and he did not recognize it. He stood transfixed for a time, trying to understand what was happening, but the girl was moving away and would quickly be out of sight. Akintunde hoisted his lance and took off running after her, little realizing that he would be running after her his entire life.
“We should practice,” Tunde exclaimed when he reached her side; he was a big proponent of practicing. It had served him well with the sling.
Akhila beamed at him and Akintunde’s heart jumped in his chest. “Yes,” she agreed, “come over tomorrow and we’ll practice in the morning, and after we’ll come out and track the cat. Father says I’m an excellent tracker,” she told Akintunde again, who was less enthusiastic about trying to find the dangerous animal than he was about practicing.
Akintunde frowned. “I have to watch the herd in the morning,” he told her with immense disappointment, “but Eryx is watching them in the afternoon.”
“The afternoon then,” Akhila agreed readily, as daughter of the High Priestess most of her days were completely free. “He couldn’t have gone far,” Akhila assured him, mistaking his reticence for doubt in their ability to find the lynx. “Truly, I’m a natural tracker,” she repeated and Akintunde could only nod, knowing that he would return in the afternoon if he was able and help her. She was fearless and exciting to be around, and at the moment Akintunde was happier than he could ever remember being. He wasn’t sure exactly what kind of friend Akhila would be, but quickly realized he was destined to find out. This day had been one of the most exciting days in his young life and he found he wanted many more just like it.
♀
Three days later, Nari was not surprised when Akhila came sauntering into the house just before the noonday meal. Akintunde and his new friend had spent nearly every free hour together since that first unfortunate encounter. They seemed a good fit, Akintunde was a bit lighthearted for a boy, and surprisingly Akhila was a bit rough and tumble for a girl, the daughter of the High Priestess no less.
“He’s not back from the herd yet,” Nari told the young girl and suppressed a smile as Akhila’s face fell in disappointment. “Have a seat and eat,” Nari suggested. “He’s not often late for a meal.”
Akhila smiled at that. “My mother says I eat too much for a girl,” she admitted and chatted away happily, mostly about herself, but occasionally about Akintunde and their recent adventures together. Nari enjoyed hearing it; Akintunde, like most boys, was naturally tight lipped about his activities. Akhila didn’t even stop talking when Hiral and Eryx entered and sat down. She was a confident young girl, sure of herself and her station.
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She happily told them all about their game with the sticks and the river, though she left out the part about Akintunde winning and their encounter with the lynx. Hiral just grunted, and Eryx smirked at her.
“I’m surprised you don’t have Tunde playing with dolls yet,” he snipped and tore a large piece of bread from the center loaf.
“Eryx!” Nari admonished.
“I don’t play with dolls,” Akhila insisted and was about to tell them about all her weapons…but then refrained as Akintunde burst into the room carrying a large jack with him.
“Look what I got!” He exclaimed excitedly and held up the dead rabbit for his mother’s inspection. He beamed at Akhila, elated to see her, and she smiled back happily.
“That’s a big one,” Nari remarked proudly and quickly took it from her son and set it on the counter. “We’ll have it tonight,” she promised and shooed her youngest to the table.
“That’s your third this summer,” Hiral commented as he popped a wine soaked date into his mouth, “I’m surprised any come around the upper fields anymore,” he added while Akintunde fidgeted with pleasure.
“Hmmmphf,” Eryx added with a touch of disdain, “you bring in a Roe and then I’ll be impressed.” He told his little brother.
“Well if you’re not impressed,you don’t need to have any,” Nari snapped and Eryx turned red and went quiet. He wanted the rabbit, meat was hardly a luxury but it was certainly not an everyday occurrence.
“But Mother…” Eryx protested while Akintunde smiled and Hiral chuckled softly.
Nari sat down, still frowning.
“Nammu grants everyone certain gifts,” Hiral interrupted, his voice deep and calm, “you have your speed and strength, and Akintunde has a good eye and a steady arm. If we don’t celebrate such gifts, the gods are likely to take them away,” he extolled.
Eryx bowed his head, praying that the gods would not take away his speed. Of all the boys in the village, he was the fastest runner and only felt truly free when he was sprinting up and down the mountainside. “Yes father,” he answered humbly. “Tunde it’s good that you got the jack…I…I would like some please.”
Akintunde’s chest swelled for a moment, but in the end he was as softhearted as his mother suspected. “Of course Eryx…and I’ll get that Roe for you someday.”
“Ha! Not with a sling you won’t,” Eryx retorted and Akintunde knew he was right, the chances of bringing one of the large mountain deer down with a sling stone was remote indeed.
“The jack will do just fine,” Nari added and then they all got down to the business of eating. The meal consisted mainly of dates, flatbread and cheese. Akintunde and Akhila finished in record time and fidgeted in place until Nari finally set them free. She smiled as they raced for the door, pushing and laughing together, carefree as only children can be.
She turned on Eryx at once. “You leave those two be,” she scolded, not wanting anything to interfere with the burgeoning friendship.
Eryx looked briefly to his father for support, but Hiral’s expression was noncommittal. “Obey your mother,” he added gruffly.
Eryx deflated before their eyes and Hiral suppressed a smile.
“Yes Sir,” Eryx agreed, though how he was going to do as he was told was beyond him. His younger brother running all over the mountainside with a girl was almost too much to bear. He would try in any case; it wasn’t good to get on his mother’s bad side.
Once outside Akhila immediately turned to Akintunde. “There have been sightings of strange people wandering all over the mountain paths,” she told him in her most official voice, “but no one is sure whether they’re Lowlanders or Kadians from the city of Awan.”
Akintunde nodded, utterly serious. “Sounds bad.”
Akhila nodded pensively. “Mother and Father are very worried. We need to find these strangers and make sure the village is safe,” she told him with just a hint of a smile. “We’ll need weapons,” she added and without waiting took off at a sprint for her home.
Akintunde was caught off guard but recovered quickly and raced after her. He was gaining rapidly as Akhila turned a corner at Natine’s, the baker’s home, and ran heavily into Rafiki, son of Arasu, the chief warrior for Susa.
Rafiki, who was nearly four years older, grunted from the impact, but his solid frame absorbed the hit with ease.
“Ha!” he exclaimed and quickly folded his arms around Akhila. He glanced triumphantly at his two companions, Quay and Tasunke, also older boys and sons of the warrior class. “Why little Akhila I believe you’ve grown,” Rafiki commented as his hands roamed all over her backside, poking and pinching her personal places.
“Stop it!” Akhila commanded and tried to squirm out of his arms. Rafiki just laughed and tightened his grip as Akintunde skidded to a stop at the corner.
“Stop!” Akhila repeated but Rafiki and his friends ignored her.
“Think she’s a woman yet?” Quay asked with a laugh, caught up in the fun. Rafiki nodded with a smile and started to hike up the back of Akhila’s tunic. The older boys were completely unaware of Akintunde’s presence until the river rock struck Rafiki in his jaw.
“Ow!” The older boy shrieked. He released Akhila; his hands instinctively going to the hurt. He looked about for his attacker just as Akintunde threw another rock that struck Quay in the right shoulder.
Free, Akhila quickly scrambled away from the boys. Akintunde hurled another rock but it went wide over Rafiki’s head.
“Run!” Akintunde yelled just as Rafiki’s eyes met his.
“You’re dead!” The older boy screamed as both Akhila and Akintunde bolted away. Rafiki and his friends immediately took up the chase.
Fear and adrenaline flooded their bodies as they fled and it didn’t take long for them to out distance both Quay and Tasunke, who were very large and lumbering. Rafiki however, was much faster despite his bulk, and remained stubbornly on their tails.
In the lead, Akhila dodged carts and ignored the protesting pedestrians as she swerved down one narrow alley after another. Akintunde was right on her heels but refused to pass her even though he was faster and had several opportunities. He was scared. Rafiki was no one to mess with, all the younger inhabitants of Susa could testify to the fact, and most carried bruises and bad memories from their personal encounters with the bully of the village. Still, he was determined not to let the older boy get his hands on Akhila again, even if it meant getting caught, which seemed to be more likely as the chase went on.
Rafiki was very close behind him. Akintunde felt the brush of his fingertips several times before zigzagging away at the last minute. He knew however, that it was only a matter of time before Rafiki managed to get a handful of tunic in his strong fingers and then Akintunde would be in for a beating.
“Hurry!” he extolled Akhila as she streaked out of a narrow alley and immediately turned left and jumped onto a high porch. At the corner Rafiki made another grab for Akintunde, but again the smaller boy remained just out of reach. Akintunde, knowing he couldn’t take the corner and make the jump without getting caught, continued straight away from Akhila and into the busy market street. He weaved and dodged around a host of early morning shoppers leaving their grumbling protests in his wake.
His pursuer was dangerously close when Akintunde, out of utter desperation, tipped a small weaving loom into Rafiki’s path.
“Ha! You boys!” Laurzinda yelled as the loom fell away from her.
Rafiki, caught by surprise, tried to leap over the obstacle but didn’t make it. His right foot tangled in the strong twine and he fell heavily onto the cobble-stoned street.
“Rafiki!” Laurzinda hollered. “Your father is going to hear about this,” she added and bolted out of her chair and grabbed the boy by the nape of his neck as he struggled to his feet.
“It was Akintunde,” Rafiki protested as he watched his prey disappear around a corner. He silently vowed to catch the younger boy and even smiled as he imagined the pounding he wou
ld give him.
♀
“That was too close!” Akhila gulped excitedly when Akintunde finally caught up with her.
Akintunde nodded, bending over, still slightly out of breath. “He’s…he’s in trouble now,” he stammered and then glanced up at Akhila, and suddenly they were both laughing with relief.
“Should we stay in the garden?” Akintunde asked when they finally made it back to her house.
Akhila frowned. “The Lowlanders are still out there…watching and waiting for their chance to attack. We’re the only ones who can stop them,” she added importantly and Akintunde nodded with all seriousness.
“Let’s go then,” he replied and they gathered their weapons and quickly made their way outside.
They checked the streets very carefully before leaving the safety of the garden wall, ostensibly to check for marauding Lowlanders, but each kept a keen eye out for Rafiki. They’d have to be very diligent for the next few days. Fortunately, the way was clear.
“There’ve been reports of Sumerians sneaking about the south wall,” Akhila informed Akintunde, who nodded gravely.
“Lead the way,” he told her and they immediately set out.
But instead of heading south through town and risk another confrontation with Rafiki, they made their way quickly to the eastern gates. The eastern gates were just that…an enormous stone archway with thick wooden doors that could only be moved with the help of a large block and tackle arrangement. Sturdy, well-made and strong, but at the moment they stood utterly alone. The walls that would make the gates necessary were still being built and not yet complete…in fact they were not even in sight.
The children took no notice and ignored the guards as they made their way through and into the woods beyond. Once out of sight Akhila immediately turned south and followed the tree line, keeping the outskirts of the village just out of sight.
One Life Well and Truly Promised Page 3