The Blinding

Chapter 22 -

I hurried to my room after spending the evening with Tissa and Hani. How could I have been so foolish? I berated myself for sharing my life story with them. It was unwise to say the least. The girls were unlikely to find any use for that information, but it could prove dangerous, especially considering the Council's business. I was notorious in Bulhar for keeping things close to my chest. I rarely spoke when spoken to. In fact, the only other people who knew much of anything about my life were Aweys and Hibo, and most of what they knew, they experienced with me.
I was able to keep my composure until Tissa challenged me. I found myself so curious about her life that I made a deal to tell my story once she told hers. I wasn't quite sure what it was about her. I found her rather frivolous and annoying. But when she shared her story, all I felt was empathy. Growing up without parents was hard enough, but harder still if one never got the chance to know them. My parents' memory was the only thing that kept me going sometimes. Without everything they'd taught me, I'd be lost, purposeless. I made a mental note to do some digging about her family once I returned to Bulhar. Aweys was aware of nearly all the Magician families in the country. If anyone knew who her parents were, it would be him.
Morning came too quickly as I arose. Today I would not waste my time with silly chatter. I had a job to do. As far as I could tell, Gadiid had kept his word the last few days. I had not seen one protest since my arrival. But that meant I would have to have a few choice words with the Sarapion leader, Raage. From what Gadiid told me, he was not doing his job. Gadiid might be green, but what he lacked in experience, he made up for in passion. This was a sensitive task. I would have to approach Raage gingerly. He must not know that Gadiid had already given me a report of his laziness.
I dressed quickly and headed towards the door. Tissa was already up, dusting the lobby tables. I attempted to walk past her, but I wasn't swift enough. "Good morning!" she greeted me in a chipper manner. It was clear that she expected us to be friends after sharing our stories. I had no time for friends, as she now knew. I grunted at her in response before walking out. I noticed her frown at my attitude, and I nearly apologized before thinking better of it. Her feelings were not my problem at the moment.
I found Gadiid and the rest of his crew quickly. They were in the same place they'd been the other day. He stood straight up like a soldier when I approached. I chuckled to myself; he was eager to prove himself to me. But there was no need for that yet. First, I would have to deal with Raage.
"Take me to Raage, then," I said to him.
"Yes, sir."
"No need to be so formal, Gadiid. You haven't got the job quite yet."
I could feel him bristle next to me. We had a deal, yes, but it was not set in stone. If there was any evidence that he was not worthy of the position, I would have to find a more suitable replacement. Deal or not, the Council always came first. Though I expected him to lead me towards the huts, we walked back towards the cluster of buildings near the Banadir. He pointed at one of them. "That's his building; you'll find him on the top floor," said Gadiid.
I thanked him and made my way to the structure. Of course, he was on the top floor. If Gadiid was right, he was using the funds from the Council for his own gain. We might be in the slums, but a flat like that would not come cheap. The top floor turned out to be the seventh floor. A few people came down the steps as I made my way up. The building was reminiscent of the Banadir. Everything in it looked like it had been nice once upon a time, but the curse of time had aged the decor. The steps were made of wood, and each one creaked loudly. His door had his name on it, giving it an air of importance. I rolled my eyes before rapping on the door once.
"What do you want?" I heard a gruff voice ask. Choosing to ignore the question, I knocked again.
"Are you deaf?" came the voice again, this time booming as the door flew open.
I was greeted with a man who could only be described as disheveled. He stood shirtless, with his torso rounded out by a rather large belly. His hair, or what was left of it, was messy, as if he'd been running his fingers through it all day. He could do with running some soap through it, I thought. The unfamiliar smell of alcohol wafted into my nose. Though the substance was banned in Macrobia, for a few dollars, it was accessible from one of the many smugglers that the palace had left unchecked for years.
"Who are you and what do you want?" he asked. His body leaning against the door frame, his eyes looking me up and down.
I pushed past him easily. Judging by the stench of him, I was surprised he managed to stay upright. His apartment was just as dirty as he was. Clothes were strewn all over the shabby furniture, papers were in disarray on a small desk in the corner. His dining table was covered with empty bottles and bushels of green leaves. Khat, another banned substance. It was clear that Raage was spending the Council's money on drugs and alcohol. What a shame. A part of me had hoped he was spending it on something meaningful, like a sick relative, or at least something useful. He would have to be replaced. And fast. Casually, I shuffled through the papers strewn across the desk. They were all memos sent from the Council, covered in brown stains from the liquor. I clicked my tongue in anger.
"Who do you think you are, walking in here like you own the place?" he slurred his words.
"You're the head of the Council in Sarapion, are you not?"
"Who's asking?"
"The name is Samkaab."
Regardless of his drunken state, recognition dawned in his eyes. He gathered what little sobriety he had to straighten up and right his macawiis.
"Sir, I—"
"Save it, Raage. I don't have time for your excuses. I've heard you were misusing the Council funds, but drugs and alcohol? This is worse than I imagined."
Shock showed on his face at being dismissed so quickly. He ran over to the desk and pulled out a pouch full of coins. "Please, this is all I have left. Take it, but don't replace me," he begged, grabbing at my shirt.
I pushed him off me and threw the coin pouch at his feet. "Keep it, and straighten yourself up. This is just pathetic." I had kept my composure up to that point, but his spinelessness only increased my anger. I stormed out of the flat in a huff, praying that Gadiid had what it took to be the new leader.
When I made it back to the Banadir, I was still seething. Luckily, Tissa was nowhere to be found. Cook was there, though, and he promptly laid out the lunch spread. Between bites, I scribbled out a note for Aweys.
"Will need to stay longer. Unforeseen business with the Sarapion faction. Will update as soon as I can."
I kept the information vague and brief, as was custom, in case it fell into the wrong hands. I stopped by the messenger building, which Cook kindly gave me directions to. I hoped the note would get there soon. I hadn't had any contact with Aweys or Hibo since leaving Bulhar, and since it wasn't meant to be a long trip, I didn't want them worrying.
I contemplated going back to Gadiid, but the woes of Raage left me exhausted. A part of me yearned to sit and chat with the girls again. As much as I hated to admit it, opening up to them gave me a small sense of relief. And whether I liked it or not, we had bonded last night. Hearing what they'd been through, however brief Hani's tale was, felt nice. Like we'd all been through the same thing. I shook it off, though. The constant need to remind myself why I was here was wearing me down. Instead, I figured it was past time to begin looking for Elmi. I was at a loss on where to find him. Hibo was meant to gather up her connections and send word when she found something. Her lack of communication meant she'd heard of no such news.
In the end, I forced myself to turn back to Gadiid and his followers. If he was to be the leader, I would have to trust him. Considering he was the only person I knew aside from the girls, I would begin by questioning him about the Seer. I found them in the same place, this time eagerly awaiting a report on Raage.
"Is it done?" asked Gadiid fervently, his group surrounding us. I nodded once.
"Raage has been officially removed as head of the Sarapion faction." The group cheered, a couple of the younger boys clapped Gadiid on the back in congratulations. Despite myself, I cracked a smile at their exuberance, giving them a minute longer to celebrate.
I watched them and their excited faces; they may be young and perhaps naive, but they wanted better for themselves and our people, that much was clear. I hoped that they would one day see the Magicians prosper with the rest of the clans.
Eventually, I pulled Gadiid to the side. "Can we speak privately?" I whispered to him.
"Of course, sir," he replied, pulling himself away from the rest. They cheered after him as we left the tent. We walked slowly, and I examined him. He looked anxious to start his business in the Council, yet I could see he was a bundle of nerves. He reminded me a little of myself at that age. It made me wonder where his parents were. There was no time for that at the moment, however.
"Gadiid, your role here is not going to be easy, I want you to know that. I believe that you never meant for your protests to become riots, and that you were only protesting for the rights of our people. I commend you for that."
"Thank you, sir," he mumbled, shifting on his feet, clearly uncomfortable with compliments.
"You will be needed, I believe, in the coming months, especially, and the tasks may prove to be dangerous. Your leadership will be important not just for your group but for the rest of the Council in Sarapion. Are you up for it?" I asked, stopping to look him in the eye, hoping he saw the seriousness of the situation in my face.
"Yes, sir. I know what this means. I'm well aware of the goals of the Council, and I am ready to swear my loyalty."
I eyed him up and down. Though I was unsure of his abilities only hours ago, his face was determined, and there was something about him that told me he would be great, with a little guidance.
"Okay," I said after a while, satisfied with his answer. "Then you will take the oath here and now. In a few days' time, I will gather the rest of the Sarapion Council members and try you, as well as them, on some of our recent reports."
We faced each other, and I held his hands as was customary. "Do you swear to keep the secrets of the Council even if your life depends on it?"
"I do."
"And do you agree to further the plight of the Magicians by any means necessary?"
"I do."
"And do you promise to keep the peace of Macrobia, in the way the Giants intended while keeping your promises?"
"I do."
I shook his hand then. "Gadiid...?" I was dumbfounded, realizing that I was unsure of his second name.
"Gadiid Barre, sir," he offered.
"Yes, Gadiid Barre. I proclaim you the head of the Sarapion faction of the Council."
He shook my hand vigorously, and I could have sworn I saw the hint of a tear welling in his eye. He was our future, and for all of our sakes, I prayed the future was bright.