The Asters of Ogaza

Baby steps

          Angel tore the slightly ripened white star apple into equal halves. He stuck one half of the orange fruit in his mouth and handed Zina the other. Both their faces scrunched up as the tartness of the fruit dazed them.

          “It is not white star apple season yet.” Angel smacked his lips.

          “Definitely not.” Zina took out the seeds—they were always sweet regardless of the taste of the flesh, licked them up and put away the bitter flesh. They had finished Archery training a couple minutes ago, and so they sat under one of the breezy shades that the many trees in the Palace had provided.

          “Knowing Amare, he wouldn’t be bothered by what the Asters are saying about the both of you. If anything, he would relish in all the gossip and side talks.” Angel craned his neck to face Zina “But you, how do you feel about all of it?”

          “Upset.” She hugged her knees, clasping her fingers in front of her legs. “No wonder she wasn’t in my room last night. Jael is so annoying.”

          “I know. But don’t pay any attention to it.”

          “It’s hard not to when they all look at me with either suspicion or slight disgust. I enjoy the quiet of my life and space. Being noticed and talked about is noisy and it makes me uncomfortable. Especially when what they are saying is nothing but lies.” She buried her face in her thighs. “The life I lived at home is so different from what I’m living here and I don’t like that.”

          Angel nodded, like he knew how her life used to be before the Palace. “I’m sorry, Warrior Z. I’d talk to her, not as a fellow Aster but as her Captain. And I’d ask Marjani to talk to her too. They seem kind of close.”

          Zina’s head emerged and she stared far ahead, not really looking at anything. “I don’t know, I guess. Jael’s usually in my room to see her anyway.” As much as her plans to cross the Obsidian were beginning to seem possible, Zina just wanted to go home now. To the serenity she used to be familiar with. To helping Pa bring his cloth-making ideas to life. To yelling at Zo and pulling her back in the next minute. Everyone in this Palace was so infuriating, save for Angel who she had initially thought weird. And Master Poja, who always seemed inhospitable but sincerely wanted to see hem thrive.

“Amare.” She faced Angel as soon as she remembered “Speaking of closeness, what is it with you two and the sudden care and concern? Have you been friends all along?”

          “Brothers, really. When I met him, he was a scrawny seven-year-old boy, too shy to even look anyone in the eye. He had lost his Mama and sister to the war, and we visited when things had started to calm down. Our Dadas worked together as Royal Statesmen at the Council. It was sad, to watch him run out of tears to cry. To watch his Dada sit, unable to say anything at all. I didn’t have any younger sibling. I still don’t so I didn’t know what it felt like to lose one, but I wanted to see him smile. I didn’t want him to feel unloved, so I went to visit often. I took food, and story books and some new clothes, whatever I could get my hands on.” Zina watched how unhappy his eyes got, like Pa’s whenever he spoke about Ma, Mama and Dada.

          “It took a while, but he started to talk to me and trust me. He switched schools to mine and so I started going to his house early so we could walk to school together. I walked him back home after school and we made that a norm. One day, I ran into some careless thugs in an alley, and when Amare saw them fighting me, he rushed towards us and beat them to a pulp. I got mad being the reason he got a few bruises, but then he stopped massaging his swollen eye, looked at me and said ‘I lost the chance to fight for my little sister, I’m not going to lose any chance to fight for my big brother.’”

          The Asters sat in silence. Zina let her mind brood over the information. Just like Pa, just like her, Amare had an emptiness that never seemed to fill.

          “I’d rather be dead than ever think about losing Zo,” she said. She had told Angel about her. He was with her when their letter came for her last week. And when he saw how joyful she was while reading it, she told him about her family, though almost unwillingly.

          “Don’t worry, you’re never gonna lose her. You are Warrior Z, after all.” They shared a brief laugh.

          “You’re a good person, Angel.”

          He shook his head, “I am human. We should be compassionate, shouldn’t we?”

          “You even sound like him now.” Zina tsked and rolled her eyes.

          “Hey there Captain and i*********e mate!” Amare strolled towards them, his bag dangling on his waist. He squatted in front of them.

          “Are you crazy?” Zina glowered.

          Amare leaned into her, staring somewhat wantingly into her eyes. “Crazy about you? Oh, heck yeah!”

          Zina got up and dusted her bottoms. “Okay, Angel. I’d see you later.”

          “Hey! Are you really going to leave without your reproductive partner?” Amare sprang up. The stored-up laughter in Angel’s tummy was threatening to burst and so he spilled it.

          “Say that one more time and I’d paint the dorm walls with your blood!”

          Amare sucked in a breath. “Ouch, feisty! C’mon, vulture. If that’s what the Asters think about us, why don’t we actually try it?”

          Zina was so done with Amare. She flung a stone at him but he ducked in good time.

          “Okay,” Angel said, using his palms to prop himself as he got up too. “I would not be a party to anyone’s death. So, Amare, keep your mouth shut. The legends have it that Warrior Z is dangerous.”

          Amare drew an imaginary zip over his lips.

          “Bye, Angel.” Zina put on her cloak and started to leave.

          “Yeah, bye Cap. We’d see you around,” Amare said.

          “Wait, ‘we’? You guys are going off together?” Angel’s amused gaze shifted from Zina to Amare. The two exchanged looks.

          “No,” Zina said. “We’re not. Why would I want to go anywhere with him?” Her feet moved swiftly. Angel was going to catch on if she stayed any longer, and none of them wanted him to know what they were up to. At least not yet, if ever. Amare waited a little longer for her to leave, before joining her in the streets.

                                                          ****

          The two swerved through people and carts. The road was almost always busy. They moved on silently till they got to a line of local shops. They stopped, scanning the shops to make a decision. Some sellers were outside, beckoning them to check their wares out.

          “Which do we go to?” Amare faced her.

          She squinted, looking from one shop to the other. “ I’m not sure. Do we split up? I’d go into one and you check another?”

          Amare shook his head. “Let’s stick together. I want to be close to you.”

She tiptoed to swat the back of his head. “I’m really going to kill you sooner than I thought.” She observed the small buildings one more time. “Treasure land. It’s a weird name, but it’s kind of popular around town. It may have what we need.”

          “Agreed,” Amare said and they made their way into the shop. They pushed aside the beaded curtains and were welcomed with nostril harassment by the pungent garlic stench the shop had.

          Amare coughed. “Holy mountains! What is this smell?”

          Zina took in the shop. It was small, cluttered and almost run-down. There were all sorts of items displayed. From food products, to daily supplies, jewelleries, books and even some jaded clothes.

          “Hello! Is anyone here?” Zina pinched her nose. Garlic is one smelly vegetable. A pudgy man came out of a small opening that used to be a door but now lacked both door and frame.

          “Forgive me, dear customers. I was busy with offloading. My grandchildren are little rascals, they don’t help.” His dusty moustache danced above his lips as he spoke. “You are highly welcomed to Treasure land. We have everything and anything. Please, have a seat.” He grabbed a towel and moved to clean out some seats.

          “No, sir. We’re good. Thank you.”

          The man noticed how Amare tried to hold his breath while talking, and he searched through the messy counter for a small bottle. He spritzed the air, flailing his meaty arms in an attempt to disperse the mists.

          “I am sorry about that. My wife is cooking some stew out in the back.”

          Amare exhaled. The content in the bottle was slowly giving the room a better fragrance. “We want a map.”

          The man’s eyes widened. “A map?” He narrowed them. “Why do you want a map? North Ogaza is a small community. Everyone has a map right in their heads.”

          “Well . . . uhm, we want a detailed map. Not just a general one.” Zina added.

          He watched them quietly, and then he clapped. “Aha! I see why you want a map. Are you travellers? Travellers always shop from this side of town. Is that why you want a map?”

          “Yes. Exactly. We’re travellers, from. . . Dunes.”

          “Bale,” Zina said the exact time Amare said Dunes. She bit her lip in frustration.

          “She’s from Bale, and I’m from Dunes.” Amare’s eyes begged the man not to probe further.

          “Ahh, I see. So, if you are from different places, why then are you travelling together?”

          The Asters exchanged worrisome glances. They had planned to pick a shop, go in, get a map and get out. Period. But this man, oh this nosy, old man. His intrusive questioning reminded Zina of the Princess and she cringed inwardly. They had to leave here quickly.

          “We’re. . .” she started. “We’re . . .”

          “Engaged.” Amare blurted and pulled the now stiff girl to his sides. He settled his arms on her shoulder. “We are engaged, and travelling around to find . . . you know, wedding things.” He exposed his teeth in a very insincere grin. Please, stop bothering us.    

          The man’s mouth formed a giant ‘O’ and a deep gasp slipped out of it. “Oh my, my, my!” He pulled them into a bear hug, swinging them left and right like little babies. “Why didn’t you say so all this while? I have the perfect items for you!” Before they could stop him, old mister ask-a-lot had scurried into the door hole.

          Zina yanked Amare’s hands off her shoulders and stepped away from him. “Engaged? Really?” She stared him down so fiercely, her blazing eyes could melt him into a puddle.

          “Well what was I supposed to say, vulture? We’re magicians?”

          “You could have said anything. Anything else!”

          “At least I said something. The most you did was stammer.” He buried his hands into his pockets. “We’re . . . We’re . . .” He mimicked her. She opened her mouth to retaliate, but the old man spoke before her.

          “Here!” He brought a large carton and dropped it on the counter with a thud. “This right here is everything you would ever need in marriage. Books to read to each other, clothes for ‘you know what’.” He said this in a whisper and roared. Amare laughed nervously whilst Zina’s expression remained ice cold. “Clothes for your children when you start to have them—”

          “Stop!” Zina yelled abruptly and the old man jumped. Even Amare flinched a little, but Zina didn’t care. She was fed up with all the recent s*x talks and insinuations. “Thank you so much, sir. But we really, really need to get the map and be on our way.”

          “Exactly. “Amare added.

          The old man eyed them warily. “Ahh, I see. New couples sometimes tend to shy away from the ‘baby talk’ because of fear. My wife was afraid too. But look at us, 35 years later and we have 6 kids and 10 grandkids! Don’t worry, when you start to have them, you would love them so much that you mock yourself for being scared in the first place!”

          “We would keep that in mind.” Amare laughed nervously. “So, can we get the map now? A detailed one.”

          The old man nodded and disappeared again.

          Amare puffed his cheeks and blew out air. What a day! He looked at Zina, whose arms were folded and her head bent. She probably was uncomfortable, he thought. The old man returned.

          “This map, it’s the most detailed you would ever find. And I usually would not give it to just anyone, but you both are newlyweds. You need all the help you can get.” He handed the map to Zina as her hands were already outstretched.

          “We’re engaged. Not newlyweds” Amare corrected and then moved to assess the map. It was so defined. It outlined the paths that led to various provinces and streets. But most importantly to them, it outlined the path that led to Obsidian from the Royal Palace.

          “Amazing!” Amare’s face brightened. “This is exactly what we want. How much would it cost?” He fished through his waist bag.

          “30 cowries. But for you adorable lovebirds, it would be 25.”

          Amare counted 25 cowries and gave him. “Thank you, sir.” He bobbed his head and Zina did same. They began to leave.

          “Wait,” the man said, running towards the counter and lifting the box. “You are forgetting to pick essential wedding items from here.”

          “We’d be back for it!” Zina pulled Amare out of the shop and back into the busy streets.

          “Would we be back?” Amare asked.

          Zina met his eyes. “If you have someone to get married to, you can come back for it.” She returned to reading the map. “We need to break this down. And we can’t do that successfully at the Palace. That weirdo would come looking for me, and if the Asters see us together, it’d give them more things to talk about.”

          “Then let them.” Amare shrugged.

          Zina shook her head. “I know where we can go.” She folded the map and started leaving.

          “Hey, vulture! Where are you going?”

          She didn’t stop or turn. “You either follow me or keep standing. The choice is yours.”

          Amare scoffed before picking the better option.

                                                           ****

          Long rivers of sweat trailed down Angel’s face. But he didn’t stop practicing. He wasn’t the only one in the training field. Two other Asters were working on their aim in Archery. Marjani and Jael had finished their Archery practice and were doing little stretches. Angel was the only one working with waster swords and a sparring partner who had agreed to train with him in the absence of Amare. He had mastered blocking the opponent’s move and parrying the attack. He was making slow progress with maintaining balance too. When he noticed Marjani and Jael leaving, he dropped his sword.

          “I’d be right back.” He excused himself and hobbled towards them. “Jael! Please    wait.” They did. “Hi, guys. Good practice?” He smiled.

          “Yep, hectic one too.” Marjani replied.

          “What’s up? Do you want to talk about something?” Jael asked, tightening the cap of her water skin.

          “Yes. Did you see Amare and Zina go out yesterday?”

          She turned to Marjani briefly, and then back to Angel. “I did. Well, they didn’t go out. They were about to, but the Princess was looking for Zina. Why?”

          Angel nodded. “Which means you did not see them have s*x?”

          Jael’s large eyes enlarged at the sudden straightforwardness of Angel’s question.

          “Of course, she didn’t. Are they supposed to do it where people can see them?” Marjani’s face was almost green with disgust.

          “Then why did she go around telling people just that?” Angel kept his eyes on Jael whose breathing had deepened.

          “They seemed suspicious. And they were in a hurry. It was the only reasonable explanation.” Jael grumbled. “Why do you even care?”

          “Nobody enjoys hearing lies about themselves, Jael. You shouldn’t do that. Especially knowing how bad it would be for her if a little lie like this got into town. She may never be married for already ‘sleeping’ with a man.”

          “Then, do you know where there were about to go? You’re friends with the both of them anyway.” Jael’s googly eyes widened again. The effect gossip had on her. Angel wiped sweat off his forehead. He was talking but the clearly dense girl wasn’t listening.

          “Do you also know why the Princess is interested in Zina?” Marjani said, trying not to sound anxious.

          “Aren’t you two roommates? Ask her, she’d have the answers.” Angel smiled at Marjani and then craned his neck forward to face Jael.  “Apologize to them.” He squeezed her shoulders and started to walk away. “Oh, Marjani,” he whirled. “Please make sure Jael does apologize and refrains from spreading anymore rumors. Do it as her friend and her Captain. This is an order. Captain’s order.” He served his usual pretty smile and left them.

          Jael fumed as she watched him walk away. “Who does he think he is?! And is he calling me a liar?” She looked to Marjani for support.

          “I don’t know. He acts like he’s their guardian angel. And I can’t help but wonder, what are those two up to? What is my roommate up to?”