Chapter 14 One: Tribes

The men held him tightly, and the people that followed them were shouting something like, 'Tahogajaki'. Gregory was carried up to the tree, and placed in a position whereby his head was used to support the rest of his body. The people believed that if they killed the foreigners by hanging, their spirits would not come back to torment them. The voices were evil; they worked with the people of the land to dissuade him from fleeing.

After they had tied the rope against Gregory's head, his breath seized, and he dangled lifelessly.

"Yah!" an approaching voice called out in Kyxhitu language. "Get it off! Now!" The men hurriedly ran to the tree and cut the rope that held Gregory firm. The people gasped in shock; they mumbled to each other about the abomination Kadi was committing. Gregory's body was pale when it fell. He was lifeless; he had died.

Kadi had returned from the battle with some other men. The Kyxhituians that came back with Kadi, carried the heads of the rival community indigenes. Although they came back fewer than they left, they still claimed victory and took over the land. The people they held like animals – a rope tied to each other's abdomen and neck region in a chain-like manner – were the surviving indigenes of the rival community. They made them servants and laborers in the Kyxhitu land if they wanted to live. The Kyxhitu land mass was increasing. The more they were in the population, the higher their chances were of conquering a rival community. They already had one-sixth of the island to themselves. Meanwhile, there were formerly thirty-two tribes that existed on the island. Kyxhitu had eliminated six of them, while another tribe, Daso, had eliminated two. The Daso and Kyxhitu people were the greatest rivals. But the distance between the two kingdoms was extremely long. Seven other tribes lived on the outskirts of the island, which included: Hanxo, Tinkinu, Kondah, and Indosatu. The remaining three tribes were on the verge of extinction, although one, Galaindi, was known for its profound magical background.

The Kyxhituians had just conquered the Jiso people, and taken their wives and children as slaves. Kadi's name was Hoditu. He didn't have a surname, as neither of his ancestors had proved themselves worthy. He had taken over five tribes in his reign, thanks to his wisdom, and his distaste for undeserving murder. He did not feel like Gregory deserved to die. He ordered his men to carry Gregory's corpse to the Gashi. Soon after, he left the scene of the dangling bodies, only to meet Hadi approaching with his men with a bitter expression.

"You sent men to disobey my orders?" Hadi said, approaching pugnaciously. His name was Jastafanbieki, meaning, 'they shall drink my blood.' Hoditu ordered his men to move ahead of him, and so did Jastafanbeiki. They were ready for another session of an intense conversation like it always was.

"This child comes with curses to our land; your ancestors said that. Do you know the sort of abomination you put your hands into? He deserves to die," Jastafanbeiki said, looking at Gregory's corpse and spitting on it. "I don't know why you don't think clearly. You think so women do."

"Pleasant way to bid your Kadi welcome," Hoditu said.

"You are not my Kadi. I am the Hadi. I have a part in the Kingdoms." The chest beating and the words coming out of his mouth forcefully irritated Hoditu.

"Firstly, I'm saving an innocent child from the hands of a blood-sucking monster," Kadi said, "and then, a woman would never do well to conquer a tribe, and send their men here for labor. So, will a woman not share the tribe with her Hadi." Jasta's eyes widened in surprise and fury when Hoditu said that. "Who will occupy the tribe? The laborers and your sons who will be writing their tributes. They will sit among the slaves, and they will serve the slaves."

Hoditu laughed at Jasta's vainglory. "You speak so much of yourself. Anyway, I will bring the innocent boy back to life – any way that can be possible – but, I will kill you if he doesn't wake up. I've said my best and I will say it again." Hoditu smiled as he began walking behind his men, who were a little distant from him.

"The fire is still burning. The water will never quench it." Hoditu narrowed his eyes on hearing that. It was a common proverb used in the Kyxhitu language which was translated in various directions.

"What did you do with the Dasos?" Hoditu asked angrily. Jastafanbeiki smiled at no one. He paced a little ahead of himself and asked the surrounding bodyguards to step back and turn away.

"You conquered the Jasos. Why are you afraid of the Dasos?" Jatafanbeiki asked mockingly.

"I fear no tribe. I respect tribes, and I don't toss my dignity for laypeople to catch."

"Dignity," Jasta smirked, "You are the first of many," Jasta looked into Hoditu's eyes. "Your ancestors dug a deep grave for the rebels, butchered the disloyal servants, and had many children with different concubines. Your father would never have hesitated to kill you if he knew you would turn the tribe into a feminine paradise. You were very lucky; you won the love of the people. Yadismina, your brother, is the rightful person for the position. He has more courage, and he will deliver more efficiently.

"Maybe the rebels wouldn't follow him to battle, and the disloyal wouldn't be brought down to nothing, but buried in a deep and hideous grave. The Jasos would never have come to ask us for our women. Your grandfather, Kintobihu, wanted to change that because he thought they did the wrong thing. But look where it got him: he was killed by a lady," Jastafanbeiki laughed, "a lady, hahaha, now you want to ride on his path of foolishness.

"Always remember, 'those who drink the blood of a thirsty person, think the clearest,'" Hadi said.

"I disagree," Hoditu started, "My father was a man of honor and dignity…"

"Dignity," Hadi clicked his tongue.

"You dare not interrupt me again in this conversation, or else, I will hang you on the Simga tree, and then we'd know our conversation has been over."

"I will hang your sons on the tree. I will butcher you with a branch. I will sleep with your wives and daughters," Hadi said with a snarl, "You can do nothing. Your father did the right thing. He will always be honored by that."

"If you talk to me like this ever again…" Hadi said, his expression vividly clouding his bitter expression.

"You can do nothing…"

"I will give your blood to the Dasos, and make merry with it," Hoditu looked into Jastanfanbeiki's scornful eyes. "My father was able to achieve the Randastis because I helped him. And that was his only achievement. I have achieved five tribes, and what have you done? Nothing! We have the largest portion of the island now, but we don't have the largest population because there's a blood-sucking animal that eats its brothers raw.

Jastafanbeiki scoffed. "We could have had an army marching to the Dasos right now, but we're outnumbered. They could be anywhere plotting against us, and don't you even think about that?"

There was a bit of quietness that was assumed to bring Jastafanbeiki a second thought about what he wanted to say. "Right here, I will waste you and your children. Your bodies shall be thrown into the forests like those of animals."

"We'll have to see about that, Hadi, My Lord," Hoditu said sarcastically.

The men laid Gregory's body under the scorching sun. The Ditu (native doctor or herbalist or wizard) had arrived: Ditu meant 'native doctor', while Hoditu meant 'the greatest native doctor'. Hoditu, however, couldn't prove his name. He claimed that a name did not have to prove itself if the bearer had integrity.

The Ditu's guluri (men or followers) carried his Adiba (medicine or native herbs) along with him. They approached performing an enigmatic dance. Any of them that failed the dance steps, dropped dead instantly. That was an irrevocable death. The Ditu approached Kadi, still performing the dance, and having a negotiation. They didn't make any contact whatsoever when they spoke. The negotiation was made, and Hoditu offered the Ditu a sacred house where he could perform the ritual.

Inside the building, the guluri took the adiba from the clay pot. They held it as if they held pure heavy gold; they had to be careful. The adiba would not work well if mishandled, or in the wrong hands. Hoditu's men brought in Gregory's corpse: his body so pale and drenched.

The Ditu began with a song. A song that was known to invoke dead spirits. The ground was shaking as if an earthquake was happening. The guluri sang along where necessary. His legs folded like he wanted to listen to moonlight tales, he washed his hands in the chichi (a sanctifying liquid) and started ordering his guluri for the adiba, little by little. He was presented with three major adiba for the exercise, two of which were obtained from Galaindi. They can only bring people back normally if they've not crossed the yomaniwa – the point at which the person cannot be brought back. People cut and sliced, perhaps, crossed the yomaniwa immediately because there was nobody to begot. If the first phase of the incarnation did not work, but the recipient insisted on the person's incarnation, a second and drastic step was taken. It only occurred with young people, and the recipient's idea had to be signed by a noble person in the community.

The Ditu tried to bring Gregory back to life. He used three major adiba to perform the ritual: shinlo and ibodu (the one gotten from Galaindi), and hie. Gregory did not come back to life.

The guluri told Hoditu what had happened. Hoditu was desperate. He had an aching feeling about bringing Gregory back. He wanted to send him home. Hoditu tightened his face and breathed a heavy sigh. "Take the basu," Hoditu said. Basu meant the 'second phase' of the incarnation: the phase where the incarnated didn't come back the same as they were. They turned out to be strong, had special abilities in some cases, and were almost immortal. Not all turned out to be like that. Hoditu hoped Gregory wouldn't turn out to be like that, especially as a young boy.

The guluri's eyes narrowed when he heard that. "He crossed the yomaniwa, Kadi," the man said.

"I said, 'Take the basu'," Kadi said again. This time his teeth clenched.

"I'll tell my Lord, Kadi," the man said, and went back into the shelter.

The Ditu came out with an enraged but promising look. Kadi remembered that he was not supposed to set an eye on the Ditu, so he turned around.

"Are you mad?" the Ditu asked calmly.

"You dare not speak to your Kadi in that way," Kadi said.

"You're making a deadly decision. He's a boy who lost his home. He's a boy who ought to be killed," the Ditu said.

"He doesn't deserve death. He deserves the opportunity of life. A second chance."

"The cost will be more. I want to get it tripled."

"Deal."

The Ditu went back into the shelter. He began singing aloud. A fire burnt the walls of the house, the guluri were no longer there, and people were told to leave the surrounding region, including Kadi. He set out the two powerful adiba: chandirafiti and koko. He sprinkled the liquid substance all around Gregory's thorax and blew the powdery substance on his face. Dancing around and singing an incantation song, the Ditu began hurrying towards the exit. He ran as fast as he could and did not turn back for any reason. Perhaps Hoditu would meet him in his section for the made deal.

Back in the shelter, the fire quenched slowly, and Gregory's eyes opened with a dark gray color.