Griots

by Charles R. Saunders

  “I don’t care!”

  “Nandi you’re my daughter, the daughter of a king,” Adegoke continued patiently. “One day you’ll marry a handsome prince, he will take you away to live in a new palace. Your every wish will be granted. Doesn’t that sound nice?”

  “No!” tears rolled down Nandi’s cheeks. “It sounds horrible! I don’t want to leave you and Mama! I want to stay here and fight!”

  Too late her father realized he’d botched the fairytale meant to cheer his only daughter up. Behind them Tomi, her older brother, shuffled impatiently, in a hurry to be off. He’d just turned 12 and his head had been shaved like her father, as a rite of passage. Now he would begin his training as a warrior.

  Adegoke sighed. “You’ll understand when you’re older. Now go home. I’m sure your mother’s looking for you.”

  Later that day while Nandi’s sisters, Iverem and Effiwat, the daughters of Adegoke’s two other wives sat in the garden playing with wooden statuettes, Nandi tossed aside her own doll and found a large stick instead. She charged at her sisters brandishing the stick and stabbing at them. The little girls scattered, screaming and laughing and threw clumps of dirt at her.

  Mariama, tall and dark like a daughter and still beautiful, strode into their midst. “Nandi!” she shouted. “What are you doing?” At her intrusion, the girls fell silent. Mariama was Adegoke’s lead wife, and had a higher rank than their mothers. She was someone to be feared.

  She grabbed the little girl’s arm and shook her. “What’s wrong with you? This behavior is unfitting of an Oba’s daughter!”

  Nandi hung her head. “I’m sorry Mama.”

  “You are a young lady. Ladies do not fight. They do not cavort about in the dust like monkeys. Do you understand?”

  “Yes Mama.”

  Her mother softened. “Good. Now come.” She took the little girl’s hand. “I have a new dress for you to try on.”

  * * *

  Nandi tossed and turned upon her low bed. The night was cool but she was sweating. Maybe I have a fever.

  She hoped not. If she was sick the witch doctor would be called with his effective but disgusting concoctions of herbs. She hoped that if she was sick there was an evil spirit plaguing her instead. That would be more exciting and she wouldn’t have to drink anything.

  The little girl slipped out of bed and tiptoed through the ivory castle, past the exquisitely carved wooden furniture and brass sculptures. She stood in the doorway letting the cool breezes dry the sweat on her forehead.

  She saw that the two men guarding the palace were asleep – asleep standing up, and holding tight to their spears.

  How...? Then Nandi saw long black cat skulking toward the door.

  A silent scream exploded in her mind. Panther!

  She froze. In a moment he would see her and that would be it. He would crush her small neck between his powerful jaws, before ravishing her home. How many would he kill before the men could corner him? She should run back inside and—

  In the next instant he stood before her: gazing at her with his green eyes. Preternatural intelligence stared out of those eyes. And knowing. He knew who she was and what moved her. What she longed for.

  The panther vanished.

  That night the dreams began.

  Sword in hand, she spun like a top swinging it left and right – opening the jugular veins of her enemy. She led a vast conquering army...

  And her name would be written upon the wind.

  * * *

  Nandi, a tall young woman with braided hair, high cheekbones and a wide mouth crouched behind thick brush. She followed them every day, but always from a distance.

  She knew how to keep quiet, how to stop when they stopped; although how’d she come about this knowledge was still a mystery to her. The warriors were traveling to the savanna bordering the Bini city, scanning the wide, flat grasslands for signs of the Edo.

  If the warriors found signs of violation, they would prepare for war. Perhaps they would go to war anyway. She hoped so.

  Nandi was 18 now, and brave enough to even consider following them when they went to battle so she could watch. It would be dangerous—she risked capture by the Edo even death—but it would be worth it.

  The warriors stopped and she did too. General Chinua turned and looked directly at her hiding place. He singled out a young man who she recognized as Sule with a wide nose, and full lips, his head shaved like that of his fellows; and three other warriors.

  “It’s probably nothing, a leopard perhaps.” the general said. He handed Sule a tiny, brown flute. Nandi knew what it was. Her father had one such whistle. When blown it made the sound of the Black-Throated Fire Finch.

  “If you find spies blow this,” Chinua smiled humorlessly, “and we will come.”

  Nandi’s heart was pounding. If she was discovered, her mother and father would be shamed and she would be punished. Worst of all, she’d never be able to follow them again.

  The young woman shut her eyes. She was trapped. If she stood up, they would see her. If she stayed where she was, they would find her.

  A crackle of leaves just above her made her open her eyes. She looked up into Sule’s face. He put his finger to his lips, and began to tread away from her in wide circles: pretending to search to keep his friends from coming any closer.

  At length, he loped over to the other men. “I think the general was right. It was only a leopard.”

  “You didn’t see anything?” a brown warrior asked him.

  “No. Come on, we’re missing all the fun.”

  “I wish an army would attack,” another said. “I’m itching for battle.”

  Sule bared his teeth in a predatory smile. “As am I.”

  They took off, their powerful legs carrying them easily in a light run. Sule glanced over his shoulder at Nandi and smiled.

  * * *

  The next day he joined her as she strolled to the marketplace to buy fruit. Bini was city of long alleyways, its houses built close together along the streets. In the savannah bordering the populated areas, goats and oxen in were kept in thorn fences, with markers designating ownership.

  “Ah,” Sule smiled, his white teeth flashing in his dark face. “I’ve caught a little bush rabbit.”

  Nandi gifted him with a smile of her own. She glanced around the market to make sure no one was listening. “Thank you for not giving me away,” she said softly.

  Sule followed her gaze, and lowered his voice. “I would never do that. I’ve seen you before.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. “You—you have? Did anyone else see me?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  She relaxed. “Probably not. If they did, they would have told my father. Everyone likes to tell on me. They delight in getting me into trouble.”

  “I don’t.”

  There was an awkward silence. They’d reached the fruit venders. Nandi chose the ripest papayas and mangos and placed them in her woven basket. They continued walking through the market.

  She reached into the folds of her dress for coins to pay the vendor. “Why aren’t you sparring today?”

  He grinned. “General Chinua is meeting with your father and the council of elders.

  “Ah...” Nandi nodded knowingly, “They discuss the possibility of war.”

  “Yes, the Edo have been violating our borders for months now. It’s time to teach them a lesson.” He broke off, eyeing her appreciatively. “How do you know of such things?”

  “People talk, I listen.”

  “Nandi why do you follow us? Are you bored?”

  She snorted derisively. “I help the servants clean, prepare food, buy fruits, vegetables and watch my mother supervise her household.”

  “Your mother is preparing you for the position of lead wife.”

  “Yes.”

  Understanding and admiration shifted across his face. “But that doesn’t make you happy.”

  Nandi sized him up. Can I trust him? “You’re right
Sule, I am bored,” her voice dropped to a whisper. “I want to be a warrior.”

  “You cannot be a warrior; you are a woman!”

  “Keep your voice down! I know it’s forbidden, but it’s what I want.” She smiled sadly. “That’s why I watch you.”

  He hesitated a moment, coming to a decision; before he spoke: “You don’t have to follow us anymore. I’ll teach you.”

  * * *

  For two weeks they met after dark, sneaking away to the outskirts of the city, to practice in the high grass under the moonlight. It was dangerous, if caught they would both be punished. But that only made it more exciting. And Nandi was an amazing quick study.

  “It as if the ancestors themselves are sleeping under your skin!” Sule praised her.

  The next night, Nandi slid out of bed and crept into the main room. As she headed for the door her mother pounced out of the darkness to grab her arm.

  “What do you take me for?!” Mariama fumed. “You should know by now that nothing happens without my knowledge! I’ve had it with you and your strange behavior! And now meeting men at night—! You’d better still be a virgin! And Sule—!”

  “Leave him out of it! He didn’t do anything wrong! He was just—!”

  Her mother advanced with gimleted eyes. “Just what—?”

  Who told her? How much did they see? Nandi decided she had nothing left to lose. “We ...we were talking.”

  Mariama shook her head in disgust. “You sneak out after midnight to talk? Go back to bed. I’ll deal with you in the morning.”

  * * *

  Nandi watched them file past, two servant women flanking her. Among the warriors was Sule who still bore the marks of her father’s anger on his face. He gazed stonily ahead. He knew better than to even look at her. Tomi spotted Nandi in the crowd and threw a murderous glance in her direction. She’d embarrassed him.

  She’d had to submit to an examination by a mid-wife to be certain that she was still a virgin. If Sule had made love to her, the Oba could have had him executed. As punishment, her chores were doubled and she’d been confined to the palace.

  And war had come to Bini after all. It was traditional for everyone to see them off with much singing and dancing which was the only reason she’d been allowed to leave the palace.

  She would never see battle. Sule would never hold her.

  Nandi fainted.

  * * *

  She thrashed on her bed, her long body slick with sweat. Mariama kneeled beside her sponging off her face with cool water. Burning pots of incense were placed about the room.

  Behind them stood Bolajl the witch doctor. “She journeys in the spirit world, there’s nothing I can do.”

  Mariama choked back a sob. “It’s because of me isn’t it? I was too hard on her!”

  “She has been called by her ancestors. When she returns – if she returns – it will be their choice.”

  The older woman twisted her around to look at the healer. “Why would they do this? What could they possibly want with Nandi?”

  Bolajl regarded her solemnly. “I cannot answer. I only know where she dwells. Keep her comfortable and wait. That’s all you can do.”

  * * *

  Nandi picked her way through the trees bordering the stream. I don’t remember this place...How did I come to be here? Above her, a luminous full moon gleamed down upon her. She knelt gazing at her reflection.

  It’s too quiet. There were no insects chirping, no monkeys, no birds... Her reflection disappeared. In its place, a black panther stared up at her.

  The young woman jerked violently and backed away on her knees. In the next instant, he stood in front of her: staring at her with green, luminous eyes. She froze—an image of her body, mangled and bloody flashed through her mind.

  The great cat opened its mouth and spoke, his deep voice resonating through the forest: “Do not fear me Nandi. I have no need of your flesh.”

  After a long moment she found her voice: “I remember you. You came to me when I was a little girl... Who are you?”

  “I am Ogun.”

  “The god of war,” she breathed. “You honor me!”

  “There’s something I wish to show you.”

  * * *

  The forest disappeared and Nandi was riding astride Ogun through the high grass, her arms clasped tightly about his neck. Hundreds of Bini warriors on horseback raced alongside them.

  “Where are we,” she said in his ear, “and why can’t they see us?”

  “We’re just outside the Edo kingdom,” the panther rumbled, “And I have cloaked us. They will only see us if I desire it.”

  At length, they stopped in front of ten-foot sandstone enclosure that stretched around the clan farms and ditches. Towering above the fortress was the Edo palace. They dismounted and ran for the fence, led by Adegoke. At his command they threw rope with grapple hooks over the side and began to scale the fortress.

  In moments an alarm was sounded, and warriors appeared at the top picking off them off with arrows. Bini archers positioned in the grass returned their fire.

  She climbed off the panther’s back, looking on with disgust. “What is the point of this? They’ll never kill enough of them to get inside!”

  The panther turned his head to her and smiled. “They’re not supposed to. What you see is a distraction. Look there...”

  Bini warriors broke away and ran along the side of the fence to the back, led by General Chinua. At the back of the fortress, two hundred more waited. The Bini tossed their grapple hooks over the side.

  But this time the rope burst into flames; in mere seconds it had burned to ash.

  “Damn Edo magic!” the general cursed. “I don’t like this! I fight with spear and sword—not magic! Bolajl...!”

  Instantly the witchdoctor appeared, a specter not of solid flesh but of spirit – his image blinking in and out in the darkness. “The only way inside this fortress is under it.” Bolajl said. “I can create a door, but I cannot hold it open. Enter at your own risk.”

  He took a gourd from his belt and began to chant, then smashed it against the wall. Green flames crawled up the side of the fortress, sizzling like acid... and a doorway appeared.

  Chinua jaw dropped. “Well I’ll be—! This is it, let’s go!” They thundered through the door.

  Now Nandi smiled. “So that’s the plan, distract them with arrows while we sneak through the backdoor. But why have you brought me here?”

  “Because your heart cried out to me. Would you like to join them?”

  “Oh yes!”

  “And so you shall . . .”

  In the next instant, she stood armed with shield and sword—still female and with her breasts covered with a strip of cloth, with her head shaved. Nandi rushed through the door with the men—Sule among them—into a narrow, dark chamber.

  The passageway led to a flight of stairs and above it they could see moonlight shinning down. Suddenly an inhuman screech exploded reverberating in the hall. They clapped their hands over their ears.

  The banshee cry ended.

  And the walls came to life.

  Ten foot, hulking creatures with only eyes in their smooth faces pulled themselves from the sandstone to attack.

  General Chinua uttered an oath. “The Edo must have a counter alarm!”

  They fought on grimly, but it was no use—severed arms regenerated, machetes sank into strange clay-like skin, but drew no blood. With arms like steel the monsters snatched up warriors and crushed them. In the darkness, the screams of the dying and injured echoed in the passageway.

  Behind them, Bolajl doorway vanished. “We’re trapped!” Sule shouted.

  Suddenly Ogun was beside her. The panther opened its mouth and roared. Warriors rose from the chamber floor – specters with the heads of leopards, and the bodies of men covered by black fur. At this new intrusion the Bini knew all was lost...

  But the panther warriors fell upon their enemies with the claws and teeth of jungle cats – disembowe
ling them – severing necks and arms. The Bini raced up the stairs and across the city square.

  Fighting in the torch lit square, Nandi waited for someone to shout that a woman was among them. But the cry never came.

  The god has cloaked me!

  She found herself fighting alongside Sule. He stabbed the Edo warrior he was grappling with in the gut, glanced at her...and his jaw dropped.

  He knows! The moment almost cost them both their lives. In that instant, an Edo sprang forward, and slashed her across the chest. As Sule rushed to help her, another stabbed at his throat. Sule leaped back, the sword point pricked his neck drawing blood and Nandi thrust forward with a killing stab to her opponent, then like lighting sliced across the other Edo’s chest.

  They cut a bloody path toward Oba Fela’s palace. Their enemies now beset from the front and back, were falling under the Bini swords.

  “You!” Nandi pointed at Sule and fifty others. “Follow me!”

  They cut a catacomb to Fela’s palace, thundering from room to room searching for him. Finally, they came to a resplendent chamber with a huge veiled bed and two overstuffed chairs.

  Oba Fela his four wives and six children were hiding there. In the next instant, the Edo witch doctor appeared, hissing a mantra, and at the time smashing a glass ball to the floor. Smoke exploded in their faces.

  When it cleared, the king and his family had vanished.

  “It’s doesn’t matter!” Nandi shouted. “The city is ours!”

  * * *

  She awoke with a gasp. Her hand flew to her head and she felt the braids.

  It was a dream – a wonderful, wonderful dream! The sounds of battle still echoed in her ears. Nandi rose up on her elbows and looked around. Mariama slept on the floor beside her.

  How long have I been out?

  She slipped out of bed, and walked through the group room to the palace entrance. In the distance she heard the sound of cheering.

  * * *

  Tomi dragged the Edo though the ivory palace followed by five other warriors and threw him at his father’s feet. “We found this one lurking outside the city!” The Bini encircled him with spears. “I started to kill him but I thought you wanted to question him first.