Maliha

Every morning Maliha and Enzo ate their first meal together. Then they would venture to Makula’s tent where Maliha would learn the ways of the tribe and Darsan would accompany Makula in the teachings.

This morning was different though. Without telling Enzo, Maliha had decided that it was time for the him to become a little more integrated into the tribe. He clung to Maliha like she was his safety blanket and though she did not take his trust light heartedly, she also acknowledged that Enzo needed to have friends his own age.

Maliha clasped his small hand in her palm as they made their way to Makula’s tent. Once they reached, she encouraged Enzo to wait outside while she spoke to the elderly woman. Confusion creased Enzo’s face when the three women exited the tent with a small basket full of scrolls, instead of inviting him in as was usual.

“The day is too nice to sit by my tent. We head to the river.”

Enzo’s face darkened as if he was prepared to argue with Makula but, Maliha’s gentle touch to his shoulder, jarred his mutinous gaze away from the woman.

“Trust me?”

Maliha could see the battle in his eyes, she could sense his desire to deny the small change that they were implementing but she could also see his trust in her. Such unequivocal trust in her made her heart soar with love for the young boy.

“Daz.” He whispered, head bobbing as the tension glided from his shoulders.

Maliha placed a reassuring kiss on his forehead before they set his f to the river where all the children and parents would be. The river seemed to be a crucial part to the Der Surjaz tribe. It almost served the purpose of a social hub during the day, where parents kept watchful eyes on their children while they went about their daily chores of washing clothes, gathering water and basket making with the reefs that lined the water’s edge.

And that was where Enzo’s reluctance derived from. He was hesitant and disinclined to join the social gathering and had Maliha truly given him a choice, he would have stayed away but Maliha was persistent. She was determined he come with them, and it was obvious in the way she gripped his hand in hers, the way, she kept peering down at him to ensure he was still with her.

Enzo didn’t want to admit that he was as excited as he was hesitant to be around the children of this tribe. For too long he had hidden in the outskirts, an involuntary wall built around him that warded everyone off but Maliha had broken down that wall and now she was creating a door that would allow people to pass freely beneath his guarded wall.

It was daunting, but he trusted her.

“Where do you want to sit Enzo?” A bright smile split Darsan’s face as her head moved around in her attempt to see what they could not.

Enzo looked around the riverbank, his eyes scouring over every section before he picked a patch furthest away from the tribe.

“Pick again Enzo.” Chided Darsan, her high-pitched voice causing chuckles to rise from Makula and Maliha’s chests.

“There.” He grunted, pointing to a patch that was only marginally closer to his previous one.

“Pick again, Enzo. But if the spot is not satisfactory, I get to choose, and I will pick a spot right in the middle.”

At Darsan’s threat of forcing them to sit in the centre of the social hub, Enzo took his final choice seriously. His hands clenching at his side in annoyance at Darsan’s threats. His lips pouted in displeasure as he picked a new spot, but Enzo’s sulking face only made him that much more precious to Maliha.

“That one.”

Maliha’s breath held as she waited for Darsan to decide whether the choice was good or not. The area was closer to the tribe. A small spot slotted just between the edge of the circle of people and the centre where the most activity seemed to be happening. Short blades of grass covered the area but nearby long reeds that carried the sweet sap Maliha loved, swayed in the breeze. It was a good spot, not too close to the boisterous and loud tribe but not so far away that they would have to walk some distance to reach the rivers cooling waters.

The girls nose wiggled as if she were trying to determine the areas scent. Her head tipping to the side in consternation until she finally conceded.

“I suppose it will do. What do you think Makula?” Her head whipped to the side as her cloudy eyes landed upon Makula’s face.

“It’s perfect, ashra.”

Darsan beamed at the heavy praise before bouncing off into the long-grassed area, but by the time they caught up with her, Darsan’s disposition had changed. She seemed forlorn and withdrawn, as if she did not want to be so close to the tribe any longer.

“Darsan?” Maliha questioned, as she approached the young girl.

“Are you okay?”

Darsan buried her face into her hands and snivelled her response. “I’m okay. There is just a small piece of grass in my eyes.”

When her red rimmed eyes that were damp with tears, met Maliha’s unseeingly, Maliha knew that Darsan’s tears went beyond a mere piece of grass in her eyes. Maliha clasped Darsan’s cheeks in her hands and levelled their gazes.

Maliha could almost feel the stilted silence of everyone watching them and she knew it was their words and obvious hostility that had made Darsan cry.

“You belong with us, Darsan.”

Such simple words but they had such meaning. They lifted the burdensome weight off of Darsan’s shoulders and gave her some belonging. Maliha did not fear Darsan and neither did Enzo, she belonged with them, and that was final. Maliha did not doubt that at some point, Darsan would to accept that meeting the approval of everyone, would never compare to having the true love of a select few who genuinely saw her for who she was. Until then, Maliha would try to give Darsan the same sense of belonging, Maliha felt when she was around her small tribe of friends.

“You are making a little tribe Maliha.” Chuckled Makula as she patted Darsan’s shoulder in a motherly type of affection.

Maliha released Darsan’s face before turning to face Makula. Her voice carrying as she spoke to Makula but addressed all those who had their ears sharpened to their conversation.

“Yes, I am. The Der Surjaz do not know, the gems they discard so easily.”

Makula’s mouth widened before she encouraged Maliha to take a seat in the grass, but Maliha was now reluctant. She wanted to tick Enzo somewhere safe, somewhere far away from these people who seemed to be so cruel that they would a hurt a young girl’s feelings just because she was different to most. Maliha could not understand this tribe.

One moment they were like one large extended family, full of unity and harmony and the next, they were cheek and harsh. Maliha couldn’t say how long she would be able to hold her tongue but her restraint was wearing thin. Soon she would snap.

Her hackles we’re raising as she gripped Enzo tighter to her hip, glaring at every face that she locked eyes with

“You are a beautiful Darsan, no matter what anyone whispers behind your back.”

A delicate smile lit up Darsan’s face as she tucked one of her unruly blonde strands of hair behind her ears. Her freckled face deepening in colour, set Maliha’s heart alight. Darsan was so pure of heart that the thought of anyone hurting her, really infuriated Maliha.

Darsan was such a softly spoken girl, who was slowly growing into a woman. She had to be no older than fifteen, but she carried herself with such a maturity and wisdom that almost put her on the level of Makula.

“You are worth ten of them.”

Gasps carried into the air, those nosey people hearing her words just as she intended. Any person who thought to bully anyone whilst Maliha was around, would hear her displeasure. Maliha didn’t care if that meant no one would welcome her, she didn’t care at all.

Makula’s husky voice pulled Maliha from her angered thoughts and centred her in the present, where both Makula and Enzo looked to her.

“So, you want to learn about the mating and marriage rituals for this tribe.”

“Yes” Maliha nodded, hastily expanding upon her words when Darsan’s eyebrows shot skyward.

“It is not for me personally but I-”

“Speak no more, I already know.” Makula grunted, a welcoming and somewhat loving smile upon her face.

“Our rituals are simple, but significant. We typically have an engagement period of sorts worth three weeks.”

Maliha’s eyes bulged wide.

“Three weeks is long néh?”

Three weeks was such as long time for anybody to be engaged for. Most tribes that Maliha had travelled through, had only had an engagement period for as long as it took to gather everything for the ceremony which was typically four days to one week. The Melikit tribe that she had been raised in, did not even have a waiting period at all. Two people would court each other for however long, but once they asked the Razi for approval, the ceremony took place that very night or morning.

“In order to bind two people together, they must bathe their skin in a specific oil that takes three weeks to make the right quantity of. The oil is then mixed with white clay and their skin is anointed in it.” Explained Makula.

Darsan’s head bobbed in agreement as she jumped into the conversation.

“The female’s hair is wrapped in four bands of wild flowers and the male is given a headdress made of leaves and feathers. Though, in some cases the headdresses are mixed with both.”

Maliha imagined that this was often done when there were same sex partners who decided to mate together. There seemed to be a few within this tribe but Maliha had never seen such a practice for the same sex couples, carried out in any other tribe she had visited.

“Each element is represented in the ceremony. Earth is represented by the clay and flowers. Wind by the feather in the headdress. The fire that burns the band with a piece of both of their hairs twined together.”

“And water?” Maliha questioned. Water was a life giver. Surely, they incorporated the important element into their rituals.

“Water is what the newly accepted couple wash their skin in, amongst other things.”

Maliha’s skin tinted pink at the implication, and Darsan let out a bashful giggle that had Enzo’s face distorting in confusion.

“When they return, we have a feast prepared and all those who are unmarried and of age, dance around the fire in thanks and praise.”

Maliha’s head nodded as she took in all the pieces of information that had been given to her and all that she still did not know.

“Who typically overseas the hand-fasting”

She already had an idea that Ujarak would be an important factor in the hand-fasting as that seemed to be the typical consensus in all the tribes she had visited. However, some tribes had multiple holy people. There was sometimes a holy person who only saw to ceremonies of life, such as marriage or the birth of a baby and another who saw to ceremonies’ surrounding death or illness.

“Ujarak is the head that anchors the ritual to our physical bodies and a healer represents our spiritual bodies.”

“What happens if Ujarak isn’t present,” or if it were his hand fasting.

Maliha did not verbalise those words for fear that Makula and Darsan would think she was entertaining ideas of hand-fasting with Ujarak. She wasn’t entertaining those ideas but at the same time, Maliha was curious to know all the ins and outs of this complex tribe. That was what she told herself anyway.

Maliha’s face whipped away from Makula’s piercing gaze that seemed to see into the very root of Maliha’s mind. Her bashful gaze landed on Darsan who seemed to be staring at her in the same way, a delicate smile upon her pink lips.

“When a Razi marries there is usually a large celebration throughout the Dahsolik nation. One of our brother, or sister tribes’ Razi will oversee his wedding.”

“But they cannot oversee someone’s else’s wedding in the place of Ujarak?” Maliha questioned, not quite understanding.

“No,” Makula’s head shook. “Only the Razi of each tribe can complete a hand-fasting for the tribe as only they can fully represent us.”

“Which is why those who chose to marry will be swarming to Ujarak’s doors the moment he returns.” Added Darsan.

“Yes, especially as the annual meeting between leaders, will be coming up soon”

This was one thing Maliha did know. In her previous lessons with Makula, she had learnt that not only were the Der Surjaz part of a nation of other tribes that worshiped Savuriya and had similar gifts such as their own, but twice a year these tribes met up to have a council and renew trade agreements.

Apparently, it had previously been a meeting of every member of the tribe, but with the growing activity of the Svolik, they had limited it to only a select few council members and the Razi’s.

“So, it takes three weeks to make the needed amount of oil and Ujarak needs to be present.”

He had only been gone for a week at the most and would be gone for no less than a month. He would then remain in the tribe for a few months before heading to the Dahsolik meeting. The timeframe could work. It would have to.

“Thank you for informing me.”

Maliha noticed the way both Darsan and Makula’s eyes twinkled with acknowledgement of Maliha’s thought’s.

“Now, how about we head to the river.” She grinned at Enzo, another plan forming in her head.

Enzo looked reluctant to agree but after explaining her desire to gather the reeds for their late meal, he reluctantly agreed.

-------------

By the time Maliha was able to pry Enzo away from the river and the trio of children he had been playing with, the day had already progressed far more than she had anticipated. Enzo had been hesitant at first but with both Maliha and Darsan’s gentle prodding, he had approached the water and from there, Maliha’s plan had progressed beautifully.

The thing about children was that regardless of the faults of their parents, they were pure and malleable. What had started off as an argument between boys, had quickly turned into Enzo forming his own little cohort of friends.

Maliha’s heart was full at the pure joy that lined his face. She truly hated pulling him away from his friends, but Makula had long since retired to her tent and Darsan would be too overwhelmed by all the splashing noises of children to watch Enzo.

“We will go back tomorrow, I promise.” He huffed a little breath of reluctant acceptance, that was quickly replaced by excitement when Maliha told him he would be helping her cook.

Together, they cooked their mid meal of vegetables and a salad, in a happy routine before they went to the field where bodies and bodies of tribeswomen and men, were working for their share of the corn and wheat.

Maliha wanted to make a sweetened meat that would go well with bread and seasoned corn, but she would not get any unless, either she helped or Kamir provided them with some. Kamir was hunting for meat this day and would not be entitled to the bread and so Maliha and Enzo would have to help out.

They spent a few hours harvesting the wheat before both of them were tired and sweaty. They returned back to their tent, to gather clothes and to have a wash in the small pool that they seemed to be the only visitors of.

As they approached the outskirts of the living area of the Der Surjaz tribe on their return from their wash, they ran into Kamir who carried a large dear on his shoulders.

″Let me help” Maliha called to his retreating back.

Kamir’s eyes lit up as he turned to the calling voice and noted that it was Maliha offering help.

“I caught a dear.” He grinned boyishly.

“I can see.”

Maliha chuckled at the pure joy and pride that radiated from his chest, he was like a young boy who had caught his first animal.

“She will be happy néh?”

No names were needed between them, as both knew that everything that Kamir was doing, was to gain Xiuri’s attention, acceptance and most importantly, her love.

“Daz.” Maliha agreed, trying to help with carrying the meat but he shook her off.

“You have just washed, it is best if you don’t have to do it again.”

Maliha grudgingly agreed, as much as she wanted to help Kamir she also didn’t want to smell of blood and sweat, especially not when she had just gotten the scent of sweat from her skin.

“At least let me hold your weapons.”

He hesitated for a moment, before swinging the dear around and unarming himself and handing his bow and arrows to Maliha. The bow was made of wood, but the head of his arrows were made of some sort of dark metal. The end of each arrow was decorated in the same pattern of red, yellow and brown feathers. At Enzo’s slight poking at her side, she placed the bow in one of his hands whilst still holding the top, so he could get a good look.

“Wow,” he murmured in awe. “Can I have one?”

Kamir, shifted the dear on his shoulder before contemplating Enzo’s question.

“I’ll tell you what. I won’t give you a bow, but I will teach you how to make one of your own. How does that sound?”

Enzo’s wild scream of excitement was answer enough to Kamir’s question and sent both of them into peals of laughter.

Enzo ran around erratically before he ground to a halt and faced Maliha.

“I need to tell my friends.”

Maliha loved that Enzo now had friends that he felt he could share these important things with. She also loved how Enzo looked to her for permission to do things that he had previously done without thought to authority or seeking permission from his guardian. It was a testimony to how far they had come in such a short amount of time and so she released the reins that kept him happily glued at her side.

“You may go but return before the final meal or else I will cook without you.”

His head nodded vigorously as he ran a short few steps away from them, before he turned back around and ran straight into Maliha’s legs and her welcoming embrace.

“Thank you.” He murmured.

“It is not me you need to thank.”

Enzo’s eyes widened in realisation before he yanked out of her embrace and hugged Kamir tightly.

“Thank you, Kamir.”

Enzo’s dimpled grin was so infectious that neither adult could stop themselves from smiling just as wide as him.

“You are most welcome Enzo. Now run along to your friends.”

Enzo called his thanks one last time before he bounded through the tented structures of the tribe land, so he could find his friends.

When he was clearly out of sight and hearing range, Maliha turned her gaze to Kamir who had long since discarded the dear to the floor.

“Are you sure about this Kamir?”

“My father taught me how to make this very bow when I was his age.” He pointed at the bow held in Maliha’s tight grip.

“It is my honour to continue that tradition with a deserving young boy, such as Enzo.”

Maliha’s eyes watered at his admission. “You are amazing.” She snivelled, pulling him into a brief hug before wiping her tears and heading into the tribe with Kamir at her side.

The more time she spent around Kamir, the more Maliha began to see how perfect he would be for Xiuri. He was gentle, considerate and caring. Maliha had never met a man like him and she was so happy that he was the man that her friends heart and soul desired.

Kamir followed Maliha to her tent, and as he left he called one last final parting that left Maliha’s head reeling with both excitement and trepidation.

“My friend Ray’et, will be joining us for our last meal.”

The wink he shot Maliha told her all she needed to know.

Kamir was playing match maker and she didn’t know how to feel about it.