The Courier’s Collection

Chapter 17

17

JOLA OSTARI DIED THE following morning. It was as sunny day as the one before. Jak felt betrayed by the weather. Why wasn’t it raining? They buried his mother, and he stood with his jaw tight and tears streaming down his face. Ebere was on his right side, and his ex-wife stood on his left. Duna was racked with sobs as neighbors helped put his mother into the ground.

She’d told him to forgive his father. On her deathbed she’d made him promise. He didn’t want to think about Xeku. This day was for his mother, and he wasn’t ready to think about anything else. She’d protected him and cared for him his entire life, and in the end only asked that he forgive his father. He wouldn’t begrudge a dying woman her last wish. Before she took her final breath, she added something. The words that echoed in his mind even on this day.

“The princess, Rasha. You care for her.” It hadn’t been a question but a statement.

Jak didn’t need to reply.

Jola nodded, as if he’d spoken. “You understand what it means to love someone now. She’s already changed you for the better.” Jola swallowed hard. “She’s the one.”

She’d gone into a coughing fit a moment later. When he lifted the pitcher and found it empty, he rushed out to get water. He hadn’t meant to let it get that low.

“You seem so sure, how do you–?”

Jak knew the moment he saw her, she was gone. Her last words echoing in his heart.

After saying goodbye to his mother Jak’s thoughts returned to Rasha and what she meant to him. He realized he’d already decided on Rasha. She’d become his closest friend, and he loved being the one she turned to when she needed to talk. If he was being honest with himself, he could say he’d found her attractive that first day, and his desire for her increased every day. Rasha had a fierceness and strength that drew him to her. Having his mother’s blessing only meant he’d do whatever it took to keep her.

Rasha might forgive him for being married, but he’d have to return with more than his heart in his hands. He needed to do what none of her messengers had been able to. He would bring the Wilds into the war against the beasts. They had the numbers and fighters needed to tip the scale. He only hoped they wouldn’t kill him on the spot for what he was about to suggest.

Jak and Ebere ventured to the city center, where what passed as leadership for the Wilds gathered. Communities that came together because they didn’t care for government and lived without laws didn’t have formal leadership. Jak pulled up to a local bar called the Hub. Most of the men who had any kind of influence met there to discuss business, trade, and entertainment.

Today was no different, and near the end of the workday it was busy. Jak chose a table near the back of the room with an exit door nearby and a view of the bar.

Many of the men who dealt with the banks and commerce sat at the bar. Their jovial personalities made the bar a lively one. The merchants were a mixed group, some with smiles and handshakes while others were somber and serious.

The most interesting thing about the traders, Jak remembered, was their generosity. They were the ones buying drinks and sharing their meals. A typical day at the Hub.

“I found your exchange with your wife very interesting. Should I expect something similar here?” Ebere asked. He was leaning forward in his seat with his elbows on the table. There was a light in his eyes that Jak had only seen a few times—when Ebere looked at Ladi. She never saw it because he shut down the minute she looked his way.

“Like I said before, we married young. We mistook innocent infatuation for love.”

Ebere sipped his vegetable drink. It had a green tint and an orange stalk he stirred it with. Jak gulped down his fermented fruit drink and hoped that he had enough courage to do this. He focused on Rasha and imagined her fighting alone on the front.

“Well, Jak Ostari, or should I say Prince Ameenu?” A man with purple skin wearing a business suit greeted him. Jak smiled back at Mr. Waza, a banker he’d had occasion to deal with before.

“Mr. Waza, let me introduce you to my friend Ebere,” Jak said, ignoring the question. Like Rasha, he neither liked the title and was happy it was temporary. The only good thing to come with it was her.

“A pleasure, young man. If you need to do any bank business while you’re here, I’d be happy to attend you, personally.” Mr. Waza held out a meaty hand to Ebere.

Ebere shook it and then discreetly wiped the sweat off on his pants.

“I bring important news from Adalu, Mr. Waza. Is there a chance I might have an audience?”

Mr. Waza looked around and laughed. “You want an audience to discuss the Adalu? You’ve come to the wrong place. These people are not interested in what happens to the ten kingdoms.”

“I must speak with you, it’s urgent,” Jak insisted.

“I heard about your mother.”

Jak bit back the sadness that gripped his heart at the mention of her.

“She reminded me of something before she died,” Jak said, leaning in towards the older man. “She asked me to stop holding on to the past so I might have a better future.”

“Wise words from a wise woman.”

“Which is why I’m here today. The Wilds have been living in the past long enough. It’s time to move forward together.” Jak’s voice carried above the bar chatter. A few of the patrons stopped to listen.

Mr. Waza wasn’t laughing anymore. His purple face looked at least a shade darker, and the sweat dampened his suit. He looked around the room at other prominent members of the community, then shrugged.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it appears the courier-turned-prince, Jak Ostari Ameenu, has something to discuss with us today. Shall we give him an ear?” Mr. Waza made the announcement and glasses stopped clinking and people stopped chatting to hear what Jak had to say.

Jak cleared his throat. He’d never spoken at the Hub before. He’d listened to their debates in the past, and they got heated at times. The last thing he wanted was to make things worse for Rasha. He took another swallow of his drink and then cleared his throat.

Ebere sat with his eyes closed. Maybe he was praying to Mat`ka of Poda, the nature goddess, for help. Unlike Lu, Ebere seemed to take his religious beliefs seriously. With the whole room watching, Jak couldn’t ask him.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you news from the First Kingdom of Adalu.”

There were groans around the room and a few audible discontents. Maybe he shouldn’t have brought up Adalu. There were still bad feelings there.

“As most of you know, I’m Jak. Just Jak,” He added with a sideways glance at Mr. Waza. “I grew up here, and most of you know me.

“Our way of life has always suited us just fine. We don’t get involved with the ten kingdoms of Bolaji, and they don’t bother us.”

“Live free, die free,” someone called out. The roar of applause was overwhelming.

How was he supposed to reach them? What he wanted was diametrically opposed to the people they were.

“I won’t bore you with the details of the war that’s happening on the borders of Adalu with the beasts of the north. I know you don’t care about that.” Several of the community members vocalized their agreement with that statement. “Let’s talk about something you do care about: your livelihoods, your homes, your future, and the future of your children.” Jak paused and waited for them to take that in.

“I don’t want to try to persuade you with fancy words or shower you with pleas from the council or their royal representatives.” He smiled, understanding how many considered him a lackey for the council. “I’ll speak to you the way I was raised to speak here in the Wilds: with truth. The war is not going well. People from every nation and kingdom are being slaughtered. It’s only a matter of time before they’re snarling, slashing, and feasting at your front door.”

The room grew silent again as they listened.

“These creatures show no respect for borders or people. How long do you think it will take them to figure out this land is ungoverned and unprepared to defend itself?”

“We’ve fought off kingdoms before,” someone shouted.

“They don’t call this the Wilds for nothing,” a woman’s voice agreed.

“Let them come!”

Jak nodded. It was the exact response he’d expected. They were indifferent, and they couldn’t see the danger coming.

Ebere stood up and spoke.

“Many of you understand my people to be a neutral intelligence-gathering people. I would like to say something on behalf of them. When the beasts come and kill off all the other kingdoms, you’ll have only yourselves with whom to trade. Communications all over Bolaji will be down. Trade will cease in every corner of the realm. No one is safe unless we come together. Please, for the sake of your own family and friends, reconsider.”

Jak waited a moment. He hoped they would listen, but he didn’t believe they would. He was right.

“What’s in it for us?” Mr. Waza asked.

Ever the banker and businessman. It all came down to this.

“How about saving your people?”

“Not good enough. Sorry folks, I have a way off of this rock if I need it, and it’s a lot cheaper than a war.” Several others agreed with him.

“What do you want?” Jak asked.

“Something your council would rather die than give us,” Mr. Waza said.