“I’m for Daba. It’s just me. Lekan won’t come.”
“Well, we’ll do the work of three,” Tau said, glad Lekan wasn’t joining them. It gave him the day with Jabari, and that was an opportunity for Tau to tell him his plan. It was a chance to ask Jabari for his help.
His father stood outside the hut, watching them leave. He liked seeing them together and had always encouraged Tau to spend time with the umbusi’s second son. Tau waved and Aren gave him a nod in return. He was playing the part of the stoic, but Tau knew he was proud that the two of them were lending aid to Daba.
“It’ll take most of a season to make Daba what it was,” Jabari said as they walked. “I’ll go up for the first few days, but then it’ll have to be training all morning and afternoon.”
“The testing.”
“It’ll be here before we know it, and Father is relying on me.” Jabari kicked at the dirt. “It still shames him that he failed his.”
“Your father has done well by Kerem,” Tau said. “Besides, he’s an umbusi’s husband. That makes him military.”
“Honorary. He hasn’t trained a day and the mandatory military status does him no favors. It means anyone in the service, even Lessers, can challenge him to a blood-duel.” Jabari shook his head. “The Ruling and Guardian Councils give military status to men like my father to keep them in line. It’s no compliment or benefit.”
Tau was half listening. He’d never cared much for politics and was worrying over how to tell Jabari his plan. He figured he’d start with his feelings for Zuri. Jabari would understand that, he hoped.
Truth be told, Tau would have preferred not to involve his friend at all, but he needed his support. It was the only way he could guarantee himself a position in the Onai keep, once he was… injured.
Jabari picked up a small rock and began tossing it from hand to hand. “It didn’t help when Lekan was rejected either,” he said, still going on about the family’s failings. “Now I’m the last hope. My mother is the umbusi and the war needs warriors. I have to pass the testing and become an Indlovu. If I don’t, none of the men in the Onai family will serve and the fief will face tithes we can’t pay.”
Jabari pulled out a hand’s span of dried meat from his pack, and Tau’s mouth watered. “You’ll make the citadel,” Tau said, trying not to stare.
“From your lips to the Goddess’s ears,” Jabari said as he broke off some of the meat and offered it to Tau.
“Thank you, nkosi,” Tau said, bowing his head.
“Don’t call me that.”
Tau had trouble listening. He was focused on the meat. It had been a long while since he’d tasted some. He’d have to take it slow or his stomach would toss like ocean driftwood. He took his first bite and the taste was the Goddess’s own gift.
Jabari took a bite of his half, speaking as he chewed. “It should be fine. I’ve trained hard. We both have. You’ll make the Ihashe for sure.”
Tau swallowed, trying not to sigh with pleasure. Root and soft vegetables had their place, but meat was something else. “Beg pardon?” he asked.
“You’ll make the Ihashe and be a great addition to the war effort.”
Tau refused to let the words spoil his last bite or weaken his resolve to go ahead with his plan. He plopped the meat into his mouth and chewed slowly, savoring its texture and flavor. When the last of it was gone, it was time.
“I hope to make the Ihashe,” he said, “but I won’t serve.”
“Neh?” Jabari turned to him, mouth full and an eyebrow raised.
Tau dove in, deep and fast. “I’m in love with Zuri Uba, and I’m not a killer. I want to marry her, but I can’t if I have to leave her to fight in the war as an Ihashe or Ihagu. And if I refuse either option, I’ll be made a Drudge and we’ll never be together.”
Jabari had stopped walking and tilted his head to one side, staring at Tau. He was completely still, except for his mouth. It continued to move, chewing. “What now?” he asked.
“I have to pass my testing for the Ihashe. After I do, I’ll be sent to complete my training. I’ll… I’ll be injured badly and have to come home.”
“Injured? You can’t know…” Jabari’s eyes went wide. “Oh…”
“When I come home, I hope I can work in the keep. It’s better than I deserve, but… Jabari, I’m begging.… I’m…” Tau sighed. “Will you help me? When I’m back? Will you put in a good word?”
“You’re joking.” Jabari’s face remained still, and Tau couldn’t read it.
“I’m not,” he said.
“Tau, don’t let Daba define you. It was your first battle, you can’t—”
“Nkosi, I’m not a killer.”
“Don’t ‘nkosi’ me. We’re friends. Sword brothers…” Jabari swallowed the last of the meat. “You’re serious about this?”
“I am.”
“How do you know Zuri will even ask you to marry her?”
“I… I don’t know, but she came to me yesterday.”
Jabari shrugged. “And?”
“She kissed me.”
“Oh…” He rolled the stone around in the palm of one hand. He seemed to have forgotten he was holding it. “Did it seem serious?”
“Ah…”
“She kissed you? On the lips?”
Before Tau knew it was coming, he’d broken out into a cheek-straining grin. “Yes. Yes, she did.”
“Nceku!” Jabari swore, grinning too. “How was it?”
“Jabari…”
“If I’m going to help you, I deserve every detail of this kiss.”
Tau’s breath caught. “You’ll help me?”
“Sword brothers, that’s what I said… even if you’re being stupid enough to think your life will be better without the sword part.” Jabari sniffed. “Anyway, we’ve a while before you test and head to the isikolo.”
That was it, then. Jabari believed Tau would change his mind. He probably thought the kiss had done this to him and that a little time would undo it.
“You’ll put in a good word for me, if I come back?” Tau asked again.
“If you come back looking for work in our tiny keep, I’ll feel sorry for you, but that won’t be what I’ll tell my mother. I’ll tell her Tau Tafari is the best, hardest-working Lesser I know.”
“Thank you.”
“Nceku! I can’t believe Zuri Uba kissed you.” Jabari laughed and started walking again. “We’re talking about the same person, right? The pretty handmaiden?”
“She’s the beautiful handmaiden,” Tau said.
SONS
Tau and Jabari returned to Kerem that evening, exhausted but satisfied. The Lessers in Daba had lost much but refused to surrender to despair. The hamlet would survive.
As they approached Tau’s hut, Tau noticed light from the fire pit. Aren never lit it at night. Tau ran the rest of the way. They found a bleary-eyed Zuri inside the home.