Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen: Ogjeno
Although Kiya closed her eyes she could not close her ears to the screams of Yidini and the shouts of Ana. She felt the tension build unbearably, then there was a twanging sound followed by silence.
Kiya opened her eyes slowly, dreading what she might see. To her astonishment Yidini was unharmed and staring up at an arrow embedded in The Devourer’s neck. The monster’s eyes grew round and his mouth gaped open releasing a rattling noise. He still held the axe high and it seemed that even at the moment of his demise he was going to strike, but his eyes glazed over and he slumped sideways letting the axe fall to the ground.
With heartbroken moans and wails the two brothers let go of Yidini and knelt beside The Devourer’s body.
“Release us,” Kiya shouted to them, but they took no notice and continued to sob and wail over the corpse.
“I will release you.” A young man, carrying a bow and with a sheaf of arrows on his back emerged from behind a tree. He walked over to Yidini, who sat motionless in his mesh prison, still wide-eyed with shock. The stranger pulled a machete from his belt, cut the ropes that bound the soldier and helped him climb from the net. Yidini embraced him and then, on shaking legs, hurried to set Ana free.
The man came towards Kiya and she saw that he was tall and slim, with a smooth ebony skin that reminded her of Eopei. He grinned and his teeth shone white and even against the darkness of his face.
“What have we here?” he said. “An Egyptian beauty trussed up like a mummy?”
“And begging for your help,” she said.
He cut the rope that held Kiya’s net and gently lowered it to the ground. Then he pulled it open so Kiya could climb out. Her limbs were cramped and stiff and he had to help her emerge from the netting.
“Thank you,” she said. “And thank you for saving Yidini from a hideous death.”
“I was pleased to administer justice to that creature. He has killed many from my tribe.”
Kiya looked beyond him to where Seize and Bind were still weeping over the corpse of The Devourer. “Will his brothers not attack us?” she asked.
The man shook his head. “Without The Devourer to direct them they are harmless.”
Yidini had released Ana and now knelt before the Princess his head bowed and his hand on his heart. He muttered a few words and Ana replied kindly. She then turned to the young Nubian who had saved them. “We owe you our gratitude, young man. When I am able to do so, I will ensure that you are well rewarded.”
The man smiled. “It is fortunate that I was here. Few visit this place, despite its beauty. I must ask what you three are doing in my country. I hope your intentions are friendly.”
“We are on a trade mission,” said Ana. She indicated Kiya. “And my friend, Kiya, wishes to visit her father on the plateau.”
“That is interesting,” said the man. “I am going to the plateau myself - for my initiation test. I must bring back a metal feather to prove that I am worthy to follow my father as leader of my tribe.”
“I have never heard of metal feathers,” said Kiya.
“They can be found on the floor of the forest, but they are rare. I may have to spend months looking. The test is as much about survival in a dangerous situation as it is about the feathers.”
“You are to be leader of your tribe?” said Ana. “You are just the person I am looking for. I am Princess Ana, one day I will be Queen of Crete and to prove my worth I need to find a source of ivory.”
“My name is Ogjeno, I can provide you with all the ivory you need. But first you must help me pass my initiation test.”
“You want us to go up there with you?” asked Ana, pointing to the swirling clouds that hung above the distant cliffs.
“That is correct. Four of us can find a feather quicker than one.”
“Is that not cheating?” asked Kiya.
The young man grinned. “Not at all. It merely shows initiative.”
He walked towards the mourning brothers. They looked up as he approached and cringed away in fear. Kiya felt sorry for their distress, they were as bewildered as lost children. Ogjeno stooped to pick up the spear, which was lying close to their feet.
“Does this weapon belong to you?” he asked Ana.
“No, it is mine,” said Kiya and saw with dismay that the shaft had snapped in two.
“Don’t look so worried,” said Ana. “It is now a javelin. It may not be so good at catching fish but at least it will be easier to carry.” She took the weapon from Ogjeno and showed Kiya how to tuck it into the back of her belt.
“If everyone has recovered, we must be on our way,” said Ogjeno and set off along the path beside the lake.
Yidini said something and Ana nodded.
“What did he say?” asked Kiya.
“He asked my permission to deal with the problem of the two remaining brothers,” said Ana.
“You mean he wants to kill them?” Kiya was shocked. “Surely they were only acting under the orders of their brother. Can we not let them live?”
Ana frowned. “Your sentimentality is a weakness.”
Kiya shrank from involvement in such a deed and hurried to catch up with Ogjeno, who was already some distance away.
“How is it that you speak Egyptian?” she asked as she joined the Nubian.
“When I was a child, my father was an ambassador in Thebes. We lived on the East bank near the King’s palace.”
“I come from Thebes,” said Kiya. She longed to tell him about Eopei, but the terrible ending of their friendship stilled her tongue.
Ogjeno smiled. “It is a beautiful city, but we were not there long. When my grandfather died my father became the next tribal chief and we returned to Nubia.”
“I am glad you still remember the language,” said Kiya.
“It is a delight to practice my old skills.”
There was the sound of hurrying footsteps behind them and they turned to see Yidini and Ana rushing to catch up. The soldier’s sword was stained with blood and, as he wiped it clean, Kiya shivered at fate of the mindless brothers.
“We must follow the river to the plateau,” said Ogjeno and quickened his pace to a loping stride. There was no more talk as Kiya concentrated on trying to keep up with him. As they drew nearer the cliffs Kiya could see that the wall of rock rose vertically from the grassy plain. It was as if a giant had pushed the plateau up from the depths. Ogjeno stopped to allow the others to catch up. He was breathing easily but Kiya’s heart was pounding.
“How can we climb those cliffs?” she gasped
Ogjeno pointed to a vertical split in the rock face. “The river emerges from the base of that gorge. My ancestors carved a pathway up the sides so they could reach the many medicinal plants that grow in the rain forest at the top.”