Tribal Dawn: Mordufa: Volume Three Read online

  Tau hesitated and chewed his lip. He didn’t want to do this. Unika didn’t deserve a death like this. He didn’t deserve a barbaric one either, which given where they were and his poor reactions, would most likely be the case anyway. He passed the phial and took off the cap. “You’re not dying alone, brother.”

  “Tau, watching me die benefits… no one. I know I have my… brothers and my… family. Please… respect this wish.” He waited for Tau to step back. “When… when you return to the… Sun tribe, there are letters to my family. Please… please make sure they are sent.”

  Tau looked up, eyes stinging. “I will. You’re the happiest man I’ve ever known, Unika. I won’t forget the time we’ve spent together. Neither will Ebhi or Rura.”

  “Thank you… You’re the most honourable and good willed.” Unika smiled. He sipped the poison and closed his eyes. “Leave me to rest… Tau. May Luaani… and Solianga… always…” His voice trailed off.

  Tau didn’t turn to see if that moment was his last. Instead, he walked out of the room, respecting his friend's last wish.

  - CHAPTER NINETEEN -

  On the first day of winter, Zura arranged for a Kardier trainer to talk to her about what would be expected in the spring. She was attempting to lure them into training her in her home. The Modumas were reluctant to do it at first until she offered a comfortable place to stay and showed the orphanage. Maybe if the trainer saw her home and realised they could keep animals there, even if it meant her father hired people to build a temporary space, she wouldn’t have to worry about travelling at all.

  She brushed her hair into a plait resting on her shoulder and threw on a saffron-orange skirt and a sepia vest. The feast celebrations arranged for that night meant the orphanage gave her days off to prepare. The villagers volunteered to set up the area for her family. It was a blessing so she could ready for the Kardier’s arrival.

  Her mother peeked through the door. “I was making sure you’re ready. He’s arrived and is resting his horse in the stables.”

  “Yes, I’m almost done, though I’m nervous. Are you sure if extra spaces need to be built we can do it?”

  “Yes. We can’t fund a full Kardier camp, but there is enough to teach you and maybe future generations as long as they agree. I can’t see why they’d say no.” Jocelin stepped forward and brushed stray hairs away from Zura’s face. “You’re a beautiful young woman, Zura. They’ll see how much you want to help.”

  Zura smiled shyly. “I hope they do. Have Father and Dafari returned yet?”

  “No, but they are due. A few injured returned last night.”

  “Anyone we know?” Zura coolly asked.

  Jocelin twitched her nose. “No, no one of relevance.” She swiped Zura’s vest. “I’ll tell him you’re ready.”

  “Thank you, Mother. I’ll meet him in the gardens.” Zura took calming breaths and followed her through the trokhosi hall and outside. She settled beside the violet flowers and crossed her legs, waiting.

  An unfamiliar voice echoed through the corridors. It was a similar optimistic tone she remembered from when Tau had his Kardier traveller come to escort him across the desert. When he came through the door, he was dressed in the same way as that one had, except he wasn’t wearing the turban and lacked sunburn blisters.

  He had mousey brown hair in a loose ponytail and was weatherworn. His clothes were patchy, scratched and had seen better days. His eyes were bright blue and his smile beamed. The only thing about him newly polished was the boots on his feet. Although not fighters, the Kardier’s sturdy footwear was legendary.

  He grinned, directed by a warrior to sit opposite her. She welcomed him to the tribe and fiddled with her skirt while he took in the sylvan surroundings.

  “We don’t get many opportunities to come this far south,” he said, gazing at the large petals of an orchid flower. “I’m Musota.” He reached out his rough hand, missing two fingers, and shook hers. “You must be Zura.”

  “Yes.” Zura held back her revulsion and focused on his happy spirit. “I’ve written to your people several times for years. Now I’m reaching the age where I can train with you, I’d like to know more.”

  A cook delivered a tray of cooled drinks and a bowl of mixed fruits. After inspecting them, Musota gasped, holding the cup to his forehead. “Yes, of course. I understand you’re a Moduma already. That concerns me. Animals need full attention. It’s vital when they’re sick.”

  “I understand. I have ideas for a schedule to dedicate the time. I wanted to join your cause when I was fourteen but, of course, I was too young. When training finishes, I believe I can return home and care for creatures that are in my tribe rather than reside in a camp, can’t I?”

  “Yes, that’s correct. The training takes two years. After that, you’re free to do with the knowledge what you wish. Some become travellers, some, like yourself, want to help animals for their people, while others stay in the camp to care full time as animal tenders.”

  Zura curled a lock behind her ear and smiled nervously. “Yes. You see, Musota, I have a problem. I suffered a traumatic experience when I was fourteen. Since then, I’ve not been able to travel far without familiar faces accompanying me.”

  Musota narrowed his eyes. “I see.”

  “I know the training has to be at the camp sites and ordinarily you wouldn’t consider doing so away from them. This is something I really want to do, and my parents would help to build a secured area for it.” She gazed into his eyes, pleading. “My tribe wants a starting point to create our own Kardier site. We’re hoping that we can work together to make this happen. Some bandits hunt aimlessly, and the most incredible cats have ceased to exist because they’re wiping them out. If we had this as a base, we could expand it for our people.”

  Musota rubbed his brow. He took her hand in his and returned her gaze. “Zura, that isn’t the way our teachings work. It has to be in the camp. We can’t bring one person here. We don’t know this area well enough or how the animals would respond to physical aid. It would have to be a base from the start. Feral cats, poisonous snakes and then bandits on top of it could take out that one trainer at any given moment. I’m sorry for whatever trauma you suffered, but we can’t change the rules. You’ll have to come to us when you turn twenty-five. We’re more than happy to pick you up when that day comes.”

  Disappointed, she fiddled with the hem of her skirt. “I understand. May I ask, if I was to learn and return, could I start such a site myself?”

  “I wouldn’t recommend it on your own but in theory, you could. Your people understand the wildlife, the enemy camps and other hostile tribes better than we do. When you’re finished, we can’t order you to not do that if you wish.”

  Zura scooped up a handful of berries. “Musota, thank you for travelling to see me. I doubt I’ll be able to fight my fears, but I’ll try with all my might to attend. Please, take your time to recover. Any of the guards will escort you to your resting place.” After he had thanked her, she went to the trokhosi hall and towards her room. Males were cheering outside. Her mother got up from her seat and opened the doors.

  The groups from the night's hunt were returning, carrying their kills on their shoulders, in barrels and wheelbarrows. Others were covered in dirt and blood from the butchering. A few were tired and drunk from the previous night.

  Atsu and Dafari led the two groups. Dafari’s herd split to the cooking fires, his equally large mate linked on his arm. Atsu kept his head down. Jocelin rushed to him and inspected him for injuries he’d try to hide from her.

  At the back of it all, Vakaar separated and snuck off to his home. Zura instinctively wanted to go to him. The instant she saw her mother watching, she changed her mind. Her father slumped in his chair and removed his helm. Jocelin disappeared to order him food, even though his belly was bloated from the kills they’d eaten.

  Zura smiled. “Did you have a good hunt, Father?”

  “Yeah, it was alright. I don’t think anyone was fuckin
g stupid enough to get killed. Unless the ones we sent back died.” He clicked his jaw and settled in the trokhosi.

  “That’s good. Is it looking like a big feast tonight?”

  “Of course.” He kicked off his boots and bit off his gloves. “Should be plenty to spare for your orphans. That weirdo of yours with the scar on his eye, he helped catch a fat fucker of a gazelle.”

  “Kaari?” She hid her smile. “Yes, he told me of his passion for hunting. I’m glad he served well.”

  “Yeah, in the trial he nearly hit the centre five times. I offered him a permanent warrior place because fuck knows I need men that can aim.”

  Zura’s chest fluttered. “Oh? What did he say?”

  “Said he can’t. Has to return home as soon as he’s gathered enough coin. He did want a temporary place, though.” Atsu raised an eyebrow at her disheartened face. “What the fuck are you talking to him about?”

  “He’s helping me. He’s seen a lot of the world, and I’m trying to learn what to expect when I need to go to the Kardier camp.” She quickly tried to change the subject when her mother returned. “They can’t teach me alone.”

  Jocelin sat beside her mate and huffed. “It was worth a try. I suppose the distance is far too great between here and the closest camp to justify it.”

  Zura opened her mouth. Atsu raised his hand. “I offered the outsider a permanent place as a warrior, Joce. He said no.”

  Jocelin stuck her nose up and turned away. “Why did you offer him that position, Atsu? He’s a shady individual. I wouldn’t have him in the tribe at all, but we’re indebted for him aiding your pain and saving Zura from a rogue weapon.”

  Zura stepped back, holding her tongue.

  “He can kill, and we need more who can. We have Mala coming back, and he’ll be expecting a grand position as a result of his Sun tribe training. If Tau were here, it wouldn’t be a fucking problem. The outsider has been the only skilled young person who could even compare to Tau.”

  “Nobody will compare to our son,” Jocelin snapped. “You’re saying this after one night of hunting with the boy. It could have been a fluke.”

  “I didn’t say anyone would replace Tau. I’m saying he’s one of the few who doesn't have death lurking at his shoulder when he catches a fucking chill. The ones who have talent were trained by Pazade, and the next best we get is Mala. A fluke would be one shot out of five, maybe two. He hit four and twitched on the last. He shot two rabbits in the eye, and the gazelle was clean in the throat. The hunter in his group was fucking impressed.”

  “I’d prefer that someone harbouring this so-called skill didn’t lurk here, particularly around you and my children. We’ll talk about this later, Atsu; our opinions aren’t something Zura wants to hear.” She straightened and went to speak to her daughter. Atsu turned.

  “It does fucking concern her when she doesn’t want him to leave,” Atsu snarled.

  Zura widened her eyes. Jocelin disbelievingly blinked at her. “Zura, the man is not what he says. I don’t want to see you hurt by this ‘Inferno trader’.”

  “Fuck off with the mistrust, Joce. He’s been around Zura and saved her from harm. He was drinking with me last night and what do you know?” He feigned a gasp. “I’m in one piece.”

  “He’s gaining your trust and Zura’s. He can’t earn mine and never will. I’ve never been wrong about a person, Atsu; don’t you dare question my instinct on this.”

  “Your instincts top the fucking rest, eh, Joce? Let’s get to the heart of it. You wouldn’t want your daughter following your footsteps with a fucking ruffian, would you?” Atsu spat.

  Zura, who had been quiet, opened her mouth. She stepped forward, anger flushing her cheeks. “Excuse me? I don’t have any such feelings for Kaari! How dare you accuse me of that! You, of all people, know how much Dizelai means to me. My heart will forever belong to him.”

  “I saw your face change when I told you he said no.”

  “Because he’s a friend! Nothing more! Do you know how difficult it is to find something as simple as a friend when you scream every time you see a bow?” Zura stood defiantly. “If you want him purely to be a warrior, then I agree, I wish he’d take the offer. But if your intentions extend to having me bound when my heart was promised to another, forget it!” She stormed outside, ignoring her parents’ bickering.

  She feigned smiles and dried tears as people dashed past her, hurrying and juggling preparations for the feast. She saw Arda taking her break with a bowl cupped in her hands on the orphanage bench. She ran across before a warrior, or her mother or father, could rope her back into the discussion.

  “Zura!” Arda called, mouth full. “How did the meeting go?”

  “Not bad.” She dropped beside her friend and put her head in her hands.

  “That doesn’t look like ‘not bad’. That looks terrible.”

  “No, not that. My parents are arguing about other matters.” Zura sat back. “The trainer said he can’t come here on his own but if I went there, I could build the place here myself.”

  “That’s great news! I’d love to help all the baby creatures! Ahhh, the fluffy fur. They’re so tiny!” she squeaked.

  “Yeah, it’d be amazing to have it here. I know several of the children wish to care for animals.” Zura looked at the orphanage. Since Jinga’s death, Nola had undoubtedly improved in mood. She was playing with other children. There were no bruises on her body. She had started to talk about her uncle and hinted at some of the things he’d said to her. It wasn’t the full explanation but it was the beginning of a healing process for one of them. The issue now was the rest. Vakaar told her he believed that it wasn’t solely children inside the orphanage that were being abused. He was figuring out how to end the life of the next. “How have the little ones been?”

  “Happy and excited for tonight! I’m jealous you don’t have to work today… it’s a nightmare. The girls want to look like you or Jocelin, and the boys want to be as big and tough as Dafari.”

  Zura laughed. “I hope not! I don’t think even with the amount they’ve hunted there’d be enough for more men of his size.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Vakaar on his way to cut herbs, hunting gear equipped and the herb-picking basket tied to his waist. He gave her a subtle smirk and disappeared amongst the throng.

  “Who is he?” Arda asked, taking a bite out of an apple.

  “Kaari, he’s an Inferno trader.” Zura twisted around. “He’s helping me.”

  “He's not bad looking for an Inferno man. He has one of them dark, mysterious, lonely wolf auras.” Arda grinned and craned her head to nose. “Look at them scars. Was he a slave?”

  “I don’t think so. I don’t believe he had a very good upbringing.” Zura chewed her lip. She’d never asked about the scars. The ones on his back were from whips, the chest ones appeared ritualistic. The two that baffled her were the thick cut through his eye and the matching one lining his throat. His voice was unaffected, and as far as she could tell, he wasn’t partially blind. His twitch was something she had rarely seen in a person as confident as he was, too.

  “I might ask him to go to the feast with me tonight.”

  Zura shot up and frowned. “You can’t.”

  Arda, taken aback by her friend's hostile response, raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

  “Because he’s bound to someone.” Zura spat out the lie, a quick jumble of words that even she barely believed as she said it.

  “He’s not wearing anything to show it.”

  “He probably lost it.” Zura took out her flask, hiding her uneasy motions. “Yes, he’s definitely mentioned he’s bound… to a woman.”

  “Strange. He’s been trying to mate with something since he arrived, you know.” Arda narrowed her eyes. “Are you lying to me? If you like him, I’ll stay away.”

  “No! No, it’s not that. He’s bound, and we’re Modumas, Arda. We should be setting a good example. The children are going to be there and if they see you and him, when you
know now he’s taken, they’ll think it’s alright to do.” Zura shuffled, not looking her friend in the eye. “It’s about the children, nothing more.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” Arda finished her apple and threw the core into the bowl. “And, of course, my parents are going to be there.”

  Zura gave her biggest, false smile behind gritted teeth. Inside, an unsettling urge to slap her friend grew. That wasn’t as disturbing as how quickly she’d lied about Vakaar. She had no reason to tell Arda he was bound. She couldn’t risk sharing him when he was hired to do a job for her. Arda could find something that marked him as Silent-step and have him killed, or worse and more likely, he’d kill her before she got the chance.

  She returned home, cheeks burning. Whenever her parents argued, one of threes scenarios would play out. They’d be cuddled lovingly on the trokhosi, there’d be shards of vases and heirlooms littering the floor, or they’d disappear to the waterfall. Zura and Chika learnt of mating at a young age by their bad timing at visiting the waters. Her parents were sitting together like no argument had taken place, Atsu nipping Jocelin’s shoulder.

  Atsu cleared his throat when she tried to sneak past. “Zura.”

  “Yes, Father?”

  “I didn’t mean for my suggestion to upset you.” Atsu’s jaw was tense. If there was one thing he didn’t do easily, it was admitting he was wrong.

  “I’m sorry if I was melodramatic,” Zura mumbled. “I want to forget about it and get ready for tonight with no arguments.”

  Jocelin slipped off his knee and wrapped her arm around Zura’s shoulders. “Come, we’ll get ready and discuss what happened with this trainer properly.”

  - CHAPTER TWENTY -

  His mother and sister screamed and resisted the guards. Every step they dragged Nuru, they beat him. By the time they reached the familiar door, he was blood-soaked and numb. Reminiscences from the age of four rushed back. They threw him in their old quarters, untouched since they’d left.