Ayinde led Nuru back to the side of the room with her friends after their dance.
“You’re so good at those dances already, I’m sorry,” Ayinde said shyly. “It was my fault we hit Oni.”
Nuru notched up her head with a satisfied smile. “Oni insulted Hadhi earlier, she deserves it.”
Ayinde laughed. He was always good fun. He and his twin Arya were just two years older than Nuru and lived near the mansion where Nuru had grown up, until Baba died. They used to play together, run to the docks, or dance together. Ayinde and Nuru taking turns having Arya on their backs so she could truly enjoy the dancing. They were some of her closest friends.
He walked Nuru back to join Arya and Neema who seemed to have gathered a pair of Azize’s friends. Arya was bearing up on the crutches with a smile though Nuru knew it was harder just standing on them than it would be walking or even dancing.
Nuru didn’t want to try to flirt with strange men from strange places like Mzaa wanted. But if she went back to her mother, Mzaa would force her to try and find Azize to flirt with, and she wanted that even less. At least this way she could be with her friends.
“Nuru!” Neema shouted when Nuru joined them, as though they had not seen each other earlier. She reached out and pulled Nuru to her side, beaming wide as she introduced her to the men.
“This is my dearest friend, Nuru. She will join the Spirit Dancers one day and put us all to shame. Nuru, these are some friends of the prince, Masahiro, of Uukio, and Tareek, of Reethurn.”
Nuru smiled at the men. “Welcome to Maltuba,” may spirits preserve you, she said the last bit in her head. Mzaa had told her the traditional Maltuban greeting would make strangers uncomfortable, but Nuru’s mind couldn’t seem to greet people without it.
“It is our pleasure,” Tareek said with a grin. “How will you put the other dancers to shame?”
“I shall not.” Nuru laughed, shaking her head. “Neema was being kind.”
“Ha.” Arya scoffed aloud and, at once, looked at her feet to stifle her embarrassed laughter.
Ayinde smiled calmly. “Neema is a talented dancer, so it should be no insult to her to say that Nuru is a great one.”
“And it isn’t,” Neema said sharply, her eyes boring into Arya, who could not stop laughing. “I was the one who said it.”
Azize’s friends looked distinctly uncomfortable. The man named Masahiro opened his mouth to change the subject. “I have never seen a building of such an intricate design as this palace. Six sides and six towers with the open central courtyard...it’s lovely! Even the outer walls have such lovely reliefs carved into them. I did not get a chance to see it as closely as I wanted today; hopefully tomorrow will afford us more time.”
Nuru appreciated the change of subject; she couldn’t very well say that she was a better dancer than Neema, it would be rude. But nor could she say honestly that she didn’t know that there was a difference in passion between them. Neema liked to dance, she knew the motions and she loved being a part of things. But Nuru felt the dance even when there was no music; she felt the dance though she was not among the Spirit Dancers. She felt the passion with Arya on her back or standing alone beneath the moon. There was a difference, but she did not want to hurt her friend by agreeing that it was so.
“I hope you get the chance to see the walls closely. Each side of the building has an hour of the day when the sun hits it and makes the design shine,” Nuru said. “But make sure you look closely, they aren’t carved, they are formed out of mud and clay, and sometimes wood or rocks and gems.” Nuru said helpfully. “They depict two stories each for the three great spirits that surround Maltuba: Ether, the spirit of the desert, Gitonga, the spirit of the jungle, and Nur, the spirit of the sun.”
The two strangers smiled broadly at Nuru. “Is it the art, the architecture, or the subject you enjoy?” Tareek asked.
“Oh, all of it!” Nuru said brightly. “I suppose my least interest would be the architecture.”
The men laughed.
“Nuru was named for Nur,” Arya announced, trying, Nuru thought, to latch onto the change in subject as well. “The god of the sun. Ruler of all other gods.”
“Were you indeed?” Masahiro asked asked, he was clearly just being polite, but Nuru found herself talking about it as though he were truly interested.
“Yes. My mother loves the old stories. She had dreamed of naming all of her children for the spirits. But my sister Hadhi was born early and ill, and my grandmother thought it would insult the great spirits to name her after them. When I was born, she was determined to have at least one great spirit among her children.” Nuru rolled her eyes. “A shame it has not worked out.”
Everyone chuckled, and Nuru was relieved to find this not the chore she’d expected.
“Forgive me my curiosity,” Masahiro said shyly and leaned nearer. “All evening, I have heard the same beings referred to as both gods and as great spirits; is there a difference?”
Neema smiled softly and lay a hand on Masahiro’s arm in a flirtatious way Nuru would have expected of her own mother. Neema was only a year older than Arya, but she was a far bolder flirt.
“Many tribes make up our nation, and they all believe in different ways. The Ga’ogo, and the Maumai were the first two tribes to comprise Maltuba, so you hear those beliefs most. The Ga’ogo, like Nuru’s family and mine, believe the great spirits are part of nature voices that emerge to guide, but not gods to rule us. The Maumai,” she waved at Arya and Ayinde, “believe that these same beings are gods and must be worshiped.”
“And this causes no strife?” Tareek queried.
“It did in the past,” Neema remarked. “As recently as eighty years you could say.”
Nuru was surprised that Neema would bring up the war that neither of them had been alive to see. She knew some Ga’ogo families still greatly resented King Enzi’s father for taking the throne. Proclaiming it as his right bestowed by Nur. Nuru never really thought about it. It was the past. Ga’ogo had ruled, now Maumai did. Perhaps one day the Bor or the Tikoo would take the throne. As long as they were all one nation, did it really matter?
“There was infighting between the Maumai and the Ga’ogo, but that was over the right to be the ruling tribe, not over religion.” Ayinde argued.
“Ruling tribe gets to, among other things, decide which religion is most honored. If the Ga’ogo ruled, the vaashta would not hold such high positions in our society.”
“Perhaps,” Ayinde conceded. “But now we are one nation of many nations. The vaashta are important, yes, but they do not dictate to those who do not believe as they do. We are a nation that respects and honors many beliefs. If Nuru believes only that Ether is a spirit, it does not diminish my faith that Ether is a goddess. Nor does my faith challenge her belief, all are valid and our own. Provided we respect each other.”
“Well said,” Nuru beamed at her friend for the lovely peaceful sentiments, but in the back of her mind, she wondered why Neema was so vehement. It felt personal.
Nuru knew it was the vaashta who had made an offering on her friend’s behalf so she might join the Spirit Dancers. Neema’s family had always been poor, almost as poor as Nuru’s family were now. The vaashta took pity on her and offered gifts to Eshe so she could join the Spirit Dancers. Why do that, when Neema did not believe as they did? And why did Neema seem so greatly to resent them?
“Indeed, very wise,” Masahiro remarked.
“Maumai and Ga’ogo,” Tareek said thoughtfully. “I believe Azize said he was part of two tribes.”
“Yes,” Nuru said, quickly latching onto a simpler subject. “But not Ga’ogo. He is Maumai and Tikoo. His mother was the leader of the Tikoo.”
“The people with the head wrappings?” Masahiro asked.
Arya giggled. “No. They are Qi’on, worshippers of Ether exclusively. And then there are the Bor, who worship no one and think we are all fools.”
“They do not think we are fools.” Ayinde sighed put-upon. “They think the old stories are lessons, but not about real beings.”
“Exactly,” Nuru smiled and tried to help Arya out. Every time she spoke, the men looked to someone else, treating her like a child or an ill creature to be ignored. “The story of Sekou and Gitonga teaches us that everyone is valuable no matter how different.” Nuru notched her head up sharply.
“Yes.” Arya giggled high pitched and shy. “While Nur and the travelers from the sea teaches us not to trust foreign men.”
Nuru giggled at her friend, subtly telling her she didn’t need help with these men.
“There are stories to teach you not to trust foreign men?” Tareek laughed.
“Oh yes,” Neema said with a grin. “Many.”
“Do any teach you not to trust the men of your nation?” Tareek returned Neema’s flirtatious look.
“Only life teaches one that,” Neema said, and everyone laughed. But Nuru noticed an oddly serious expression in her friend’s eyes and a sharp stiffening of her spine. “Anyway! The Tikoo, Queen Imara’s tribe, are worshippers of all, but followers of Gitonga. A warrior tribe.” Neema said with exaggerated intrigue.
“I see,” Tareek said, nodding slowly
Nuru laughed. “A lot to keep track of, no?”
The two men laughed again. Nuru liked that she could amuse them. “Do not worry, we will not be offended if you ask again and again what we believe. We like to share. Tell us something about your homes that we will have trouble remembering.”
Masahiro smirked. “I could confound you just by listing the names of my seven brothers and four sisters.”
“Twelve children in one family!” Ayinde exclaimed.
“The spirits have great faith in you.” Both Nuru and Ayinde said in unison, though Ayinde had said gods. They looked at one another and began to laugh. Nuru lost her breath a moment as Ayinde’s eyes flared wide and he looked at her so intently she couldn’t think.
But the strangers laughed, breaking the spell.
“Is that a kind way of saying my family is cursed?” Masahiro asked, seeming to grasp the humor himself as his smile was wide and his voice was warm.
“No! It is a blessing.” Arya shook her head wildly. “Many people want large families, but to have more than ten, and to have all the children survive to maturity is so rare, even in homes where men take many wives, that we say only those parents that the gods, or spirits, have great faith in are so blessed.”
Nuru was finding it easier to breathe now, she glanced at Ayinde from the corner of her eye, but he was not looking at her. She felt an odd sort of tingle running over her skin. It wasn’t bad, it wasn’t good, it was just new. He’d never looked at her that way before. She didn’t think anyone had.
It was easier to focus on Azize’s friends. They were bright and friendly and safe in an otherworldly sort of way.
“Well,” Masahiro said lightheartedly. “I’d say it is a bit of a blessing, and a curse. I nearly starved. I was the youngest child and everyone got to the food before me. It’s why I left home.”
Nuru laughed hard, though everyone else was looking at him in pity. Nuru didn’t mind being the only one to laugh. She was certain it was a joke. And indeed, the man winked at her. And the oddest thing happened. Nuru felt her mother’s voice leaving her mind and Hadhi’s entering it.
Do not let Mzaa’s rules intimidate you. The foreigners are just people. They will come, we will meet them and they will leave. You need never be anyone but yourself.
“May the spirits preserve you,” Nuru said with a little wink of her own.