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042 SIGNS OF EVIL
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Rayuwa 043 THE RED SKY
ADAM It had been two days since we returned from Binta's home. Binta was still mourning, and I couldn't blame her. She had refused to leave her room. Feeding her was difficult. We even had to postpone the Gaisuwa. She wasn't herself anymore. She also pressed me a lot on what the wizard had told me. I would have loved to tell her everything, but she was not on the council. It was forbidden to inform anyone outside the council of such matters, even if the person was a noble. If she were already my wife, that would have been a different issue. I finally told her that I could not divulge the problem to her. I have never seen Binta so gloomy. Every night, I crept to her room to hold her and remind her that she wasn't alone. She was practically an orphan now, but she needed to know that she had me. Everyone knew that no one escapes the forbidden forest. I hated Mai'Aljanu for the pain he brought into her life. He was the one who brokered the deal that cost her her brother and father. He was
Rayuwa 44 FOR THE CRIME OF LISTENING
ADAM. I couldn't believe it. Binta was out of bed. It made me begin to wonder how long she was at the entrance and how much she had heard. I was afraid because eavesdropping on the council meeting was a serious crime. "Young lady, you have no business here." I heard the chief Boka caution her. "How much of our conversation did you hear?" my father asked her. There was a tinge of anger in his voice, and I hoped the anger wasn't directed towards Binta. "Your majesty." Binta began humbly, "I heard enough to know that we are not safe," she replied. "And why do you say that?" He asked. "If the island is at the mercy of Aljanan Daji, then we are doomed. She is dubious and never keeps to her promise," she explained. "And who made you an expert in the things of the spirit?" Chief Boka asked her. "I am speaking from experience," she replied. I heard the Boka begin to laugh. "So you admit you have used Mai'Aljanu's services?" The Boka asked. "No," she replied, "I do not need charms or
Rayuwa 45 PAIN AND CHANGE
ADAM. I refused to speak to my father after they took Binta away. I was denied access to see her, and that enraged me. I didn't sleep at all. My soul was troubled. I was afraid she might die. I felt like a child all over again, and I hated myself. I felt useless. I felt unworthy. The image of the guard tearing her blouse played on and on in my head. The chief Boka even wanted her stripped naked. How could my father do what he did to Binta? And he claimed he loved her like his own daughter. I hated him and began to think of ways I would hurt all of them. There was a knock on my door, but I refused to answer. Whoever it was, I did not want to see. After a while, the person went away. A while later, someone was turning the nob on my door, trying to get in. "Get lost!" I shouted in anger. "Open the door." It was my father's voice. I reluctantly got up to open the door. I knew the guards would break in if I didn't let him in. "Why did you refuse to come when I sent for you?" he asked
Rayuwa 46 NEW MOON SELECTION
ADAM. The herbalist had asked me to leave Binta's room. He needed to perform some rituals. My father sent for me, and I headed to the throne room. The new moon would be upon us the next day. News had been carried to all the villages to assemble their maidens in the community centre of each village. Each priest of each village would perform the selection ritual. The girls that were picked outside Buchum would be brought to Buchum to be cared for and fed till the full moon when they would be sacrificed. Mai'Aljanu would be the one to handle the selection process of Buchum. When I got to the throne room, the place was silent. Most of the chiefs were afraid to look me in the eye. They knew what they had done, and they knew that I would never forget. "Adam, my son, so kind of you to join us." My father greeted me, "I know Binta is getting the best treatment available; she will be well." He said. I knew he said what he said to calm the atmosphere, but it didn't work; I was still angry.
Rayuwa 47 NEW MOON SELECTION 2
ADAM We left Binta's room and returned to the throne room. We were having a long night. When we arrived at the throne room, I found Malam Bamali pacing back and forth. He was clearly impatient about something. "If I may speak, your majesty," the swine began. I hated the man, and the fact the Mai'Aljannu had confirmed his hatred for Binta made it worse. "Speak." My father told him. He cleared his throat and began. It was apparent he was trying to summon the courage to speak. It meant we wouldn't like whatever he planned to say. "We all agree that we deserved to hear what Mai'Aljanu said about Miss Binta. What happened in there was unusual, and it calls for concern. I have never seen the selection stone turn red before. It might be a sign of trouble for Rayuwa. We need to know what deity has chosen to defy Aljanan Daji; we do not want to incur her wrath." My father took a deep breath and then spoke. "I do not appreciate you instigating the council," he began. "Binta is a part of
Rayuwa 48 WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE SHOULD BE GOOD FOR THE GANDER
ADAM The villagers returned to their homes. The chiefs were asked to return to their homes and revert to the palace for a meeting by 10 am. My father pleaded with Mai'Aljannu to wait until then before leaving. He agreed. When we returned to the throne room, I noticed how uneasy Malam Bamali was. "Please, your majesty," he began, "she is my only daughter. We can do a swap. There should be a rule that exempts nobles from being selected." He pleaded, and some of the chiefs nodded. "After all, it was because people were reluctant to bring someone forward for the sacrifice that the rule of using the selection gem to decide was employed. When Rayuwa started, they normally selected people and sacrificed them. The deity did not have to choose, and they were still satiated. Please let me do a swap." "And what will we tell the people?" the chief hunter asked. "We will tell them the deity has reconsidered," he said. It was apparent the man was mad. "You mean we should lie?" the chief warr
Rayuwa 49 Thralldom
ADAM I couldn't sleep through the night. Binta's fever was high, and she kept mumbling nonsense. It had been three days since the injury she incurred from the whipping. I wondered what the herbalist had been doing, and he forbade me from turning her over to check the wound myself. He claimed it would impede the healing process. I began to feel really stupid. There was a loud knock on the door. I had been unable to sleep all night because of Binta's situation. I hoped I wasn't being summoned for another council meeting. When I opened the door, I saw the head herbalist of Rayuwa along with two witch doctors. "Your Highness, good morning," the head herbalist began, "I am here to continue miss Binta's treatment." He said with a bow. "Ok, why are the witch doctors here?" I asked, addressing the two old men that had accompanied him. "There is a spiritual matter involved with Miss Binta's issue." He began, "I believe the spirit of death is upon her. These men are one of Rayuwa's best wi
Rayuwa 50 HOME AND NOT HOME
LEILA. I had been home for over a week, and my father had refused to speak to me. Zuwaira and I had decided not to tell my father about the Sarki's promises. I was glad he hadn't made good on them yet, and I hoped he wouldn't. Somehow I was glad to be back in civilisation, where there was phone network and the Internet. Where I could visit the cinema, and I had a variety of foods to choose from. I wondered how a very primitive part of the country could have so much power over the entire country. "Are you still thinking about the Sarki's threats?" Zuwaira asked, entering my room. I hated her behaviour of never knocking before entering. She startled me, and instead of apologising, she began to laugh. It was typical of my cousin to forget significant and life-threatening events. A boy was sentenced to be decapitated in our presence while she was to await her judgment. A judgement that would be made by the same people that had sentenced the young boy to death by beheading. Did she ever
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