Chapter 9

We make it to the nomadic tribe's settlement sometime around midday.… thankfully.

The moment our caravan is spotted by their guards, a small crowd of people is formed at the entrance of the settlement. I can see some kids sneaking in the crowd, and I almost fall from my ride.

The children… some of them, they are standing as naked as the day they were born. How could their parents allow them to walk around like, are they not going to catch a cold?

Thank goodness it is only the younger ones.

But then I am proven wrong.

Almost every one of them wear some kind of thick red piece of cloth with stripes on it, some garments have vibrant golden, dark blue, or white patterns etched on the red fabric. The men wear them tied around their waste, or have it strapped on one side of their shoulders.

And the women… while wear the cloth so that it separately covers their lower and upper bodies or in a one-piece set. Others have… they have completely discarded the upper part of the garment, leaving their chests bare to the world.

I can't help but stare at them and feel embarrassed at the same time too, even when I am not the one exposed. Strangely enough it does not seem to bother anyone, both from the people of the tribe and the people of our caravan, like... it is a normal thing.

A man steps out from the crowd, form the strong peculiar energy coming from him, he must be a warrior. He is tall and very muscular, almost as imposing as Ike is. He also wears the same type of garments his tribespeople except that in addition to the red cloth, he is wearing a coat of animal fur and a headwear made of gigantic feathers. I think that it is obvious enough he is the chief.

We stop at a non-threatening distance from them. Kayin marches forward to meet their leader. For some reason, the agitation has stop among the tribespeople, as if they are all holding their breaths.

Kayin and the tribe chief stare at each other for what seem like hours, not moving a centimetre, not saying anything. As if they are gauging each another.

Kayin is the one who breaks the long silence.

"We are the guests sent to you by the Most-High."

The leader remains quiet, he preferring to further observe Kayin, then his gaze focuses on our caravan.

Finally, he responds, "And we shall receive you in his grace."

I relax, as does everyone else.

Kayin had also taught me this salutation. He said that if one day I ever found myself without shelter, I could go to anyone's door and greet them like that, and they would welcome me. It did not matter who I am or where I came from. We are all the children of Lord.

In Nchāre too we had a similar custom, even if we did not know them, we would welcome them without asking questions.

Still, it was possible not to offer hospitality to someone we thought to be dangerous or ill willed, both then and now.

It was also considered sacrilegious to harm one's host when being welcomed, a sin no different than kin slaying which could bring upon a cursed life.

The tribe chief pats Kayin's back in a half-hug and motions him to pass with a smile on his face. We follow suit when he then acknowledges us with a nod of the head.

It doesn't take long for the tents to be placed, it went quickly thanks to the tribespeople who graciously offered their assistance.

I find it particularly interesting how the general mood changed, from weary curiosity at our arrival to excitement now. Maybe because they don't get the chance to see other people often.

Life in the wilderness cannot be easy every day. I wonder why they would inflict such a harsh lifestyle upon themselves, why not settle once and for all?

"Excuse me. May I enter?"

I close the book I was reading and look up to where the voice came from. There is a feminine figure standing outside, and I don't recognise the voice either, it can't be someone from the caravan.

"Please do."

The flaps of my tent are opened, to reveal a woman. She is young, according to this world's lifespan she should be in her mid-twenties I think, she is beautiful. She has the bronze skin and toned body which seems to characterize pretty much everyone in her tribe. Thankfully she is properly covered, she is wearing the same thick red fabric as everyone else, with the addition of strings of pearls and beads around her waist neck and forearms. Her hair is a mess of curls on her head which she wrapped around a silky yellow scarf.

"Hello, my name is Yango" she greets me as she extends her hand.

I stand from where I was sitting to shake her hand.

"Vyswe'eyaga, nice to meet you."

"Oh! I have never heard of such a name, but it has a nice ring to it."

"Thank you."

"I here to check if you are in need of anything, we don't have much, but I will assist you to the best of my abilities."

"Ah! Ummh… I am alright, I do not need anything."

"I hope you like it here, have you visited the village yet? I could show you around if you want?"

I suddenly find my hands trapped in hers. Her enthusiasm is a bit overwhelming. I don't really want to explore the settlement now. Due to our arrival, I am quite certain that the area will be crowded, too crowded to my liking. I had hoped to explore after things calmed down a bit, but… I don't find the heart to turn her down.

I sigh internally, "I would love that…"

She did not waste time to drag me out and do a grand tour of their settlement. From their pen where they keep their domestic animals, to their smithy, then she presented me to their jewel makers and weavers, and so on. She ended the visit by showing the best spot—also her favourite one—to have a panoramic view of the highlands.

"Can I ask you a question?"

She curiously looks at me, then shrugs.

"Why do you and your people not settle in a single place permanently? Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to criticize your lifestyles, but it can't be easy every day."

She ponders on my question for a while, then looks me in the eye and shrug once more. "It is true that constantly moving from place to place is not the safest thing to do in these days, especially with the presence of Junjus lurking in every dark corner… But it's all we know, for generations we have been migrating according to the seasons, this habit is so ingrained in us that it's now part of our culture… and I think that we have been so used to this that settling for good will feel too unnatural."

That… is an interesting way of living.

"Since I answered your question, can I ask one of my own?" Yango asks.

"Hmm? Sure."

"You… Are you a sorceress?"

I blink at her question, "Why do you think that?"

"Well… I have never seen eyes quite as peculiar as yours. It is usually sorcerers who have such… eccentric appearances. No offence."

"None taken. Do you usually encounter sorcerers during your travels?"

"More frequently than one would think actually, I think that practitioners of the Arts are unable to stay in one place, not all of them of course, but most seem to have this crave for adventuring."

"Oh?" I raise an inquisitive eyebrow. "…Then it must be quite convenient for you to have been born in a nomadic tribe."

Surprise spread on her face.

"How did you know?"

"I can sense the flow of your essence, it's a much more dynamic than the others… hmm… I sense an affinity to… water?"

Her surprise turn into bewilderment. Her mouth falls open, she moves her lips, but no sound comes out of it.

"It's part of my abilities…" I have the strange feeling that for some reason, I did something wrong. "What?"

Yango crosses her arms over her chest with a deep frown. "That was quite… Papa Eidu said it's of great importance for a sorcerer to keep their abilities a secret. You need not had said it out loud, what if someone is spying on us?"

"I see, I apologize..." I pause before asking, "Who is Papa Eidu by the way? Is he your mentor?"

"Yes," she answers with pride. "He is a sorcerer too. He only the basics though, since I don't have his ability to speak with animals, the rest I figured it out on my own."

"Hmm… Didn't you say that it is unwise to reveal one's ability?" I ask evenly.

Her eyes widen in realization, she hiccups and then looks down, she suddenly found the grass a lot more interesting.

"You… You will keep it a secret, right? Papa Eidu will kill me he finds out that I outed him."

Given how small their community is, I doubt that there is anyone who does not know the art they both practise.

"My lips are sealed."

She thanks with a sigh.

"Oh… I almost forgot, there will be a big party tonight and you're all invited to attend."

"What's the occasion"

She shrugs, "Nothing really… it's just an excuse for everyone to be together."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The party is like every other party I have ever known… Loud.

The rhythmic beating of drums and flutes merge with the singing and laughter of people. A large bonfire has been lite at the centre of the village, people are dancing around it, adults, and children alike. Others are sitting on stools or mats placed a bit everywhere, contented to just enjoy their beverages and food while watching those dancing… I am among those others.

Ewa, whom I did not see since setting up the tents, is dancing around the bonfire with Ike. I cringe a bit at how awkward his dancing is, all the opposite to Ewa's graceful movements. He has the face of someone who wants to be everywhere but there, he must be doing it for the sake of Ewa.

Not far from is Yango, she is also dancing with four other women, they are about the same age as her. She must have felt my gaze on her because she momentarily turns to my direction and shakes her hand at me, which I return.

"I hope you are enjoying yourself lass."

I turn at the owner of the voice; it is the village chief. He is holding a horn shaped cup which he takes a deep gulp from, then looks at me from the corner of his eye.

"I am, thank you for asking."

"Don't you drink" He asks as he points the cup of water near me with his eyes.

"I don't like alcohol. I am more of a sweet tooth." I say as I show the food on my leaf, in it is a pastry called maize cake. It is absolutely delicious. "I'd be grateful if you would give me the recipe."

"Sure, my wife will be more than happy to share it with you. She has a great impression of you, talked about you for hours long to her co-wives."

I blink at him, not quite understanding what he means. "Really? I don't remember being presented to her, though."

He fully looks at me, raises an eyebrow, then turn his gaze back to Yango and the group of women dancing with her… Oh?

"Oh!"

"So, you're here to check out the truthfulness of her statements."

"Yango is a very naïve young woman, and tends to overly trust others, I am sure that you would understand my wanting to shield her from some aspects of life."

I absentmindedly nod as I finish my food. I don't take the insinuation that I might be dangerous to his wife personally. In fact, his intentions are commendable, but it is not exactly the best way to protect someone, he will not always be there for her.

Eh… It's not my place to judge.

"Then what's your verdict sir?"

He is completely focused on his wives when he answers, "You are not ill intentioned at least, but I feel that you are going to bring in a lot of trouble."

Huh?

"Are you saying that because of my appearance? That is not very fair."

"It has nothing to do with how you look, call it a gut feeling I guess."

I was about to ask why he taught that but was cut short.

"I'll take my leave, have a nice evening."

And he is gone as abruptly as he came… Why did it seem like he was running from something, I saw him glance at something behind my back and—

"Hmm?"

As I turn me gaze meet with that of Ike, he is sitting on a mat not far away behind me, watching like some kind of angry guard. I frown at him, but all he does in response is take a seep from his wooden cup, his eyes never leaving mine.

What an odd man.