Say Walah

12: Gwari's Reach

As the chaos of the raid swirled around her, Mairo fought her way through the panicked crowd, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Each step felt like a battle against the crushing weight of fear that threatened to overwhelm her. She strained to hear Rimi's voice over the din of clashing weapons and shouting men, her heart pounding so loudly in her chest that she feared it would give away her position.

"Rimi!" she called out, dodging a stray camel that had broken free of its tether. "Rimi, where are you?"

Suddenly, a hand grasped her arm, pulling her behind a stack of crates. Mairo whirled, ready to fight, only to find herself face to face with Amina, the elderly woman from the caravan.

"This way, child," Amina hissed, her eyes sharp and alert despite the early hour. "Your friend is safe. Come quickly!"

Trusting her instincts, Mairo followed Amina as they weaved through the chaos of the camp. They ducked behind tents and slipped between fighting men, Amina moving with a speed and agility that belied her years.

Finally, they reached a small tent at the edge of the encampment. Amina pulled back the flap, revealing Rimi huddled inside, her eyes wide with fear and relief.

"Mairo!" Rimi cried, throwing her arms around her friend. "I thought I'd lost you!"

"We're not out of danger yet," Amina warned, her voice low and urgent. "These are no ordinary raiders. They seek someone specific – someone of great value."

Mairo's blood ran cold. Had her disappearance been discovered so soon? Had word spread this far already?

Amina fixed Mairo with a penetrating stare. "You're more than you claim to be, aren't you, child? These men – are they here for you?"

Mairo hesitated, torn between maintaining her deception and trusting this woman who had already done so much to help them. Before she could decide, the sound of approaching footsteps made the decision for her.

"No time," Amina muttered. She thrust a small bundle into Mairo's hands. "Provisions. There's a hidden path beyond the eastern dunes. Follow it south. You'll find a small oasis – seek out a man named Kabir. Tell him Amina sent you. He'll help you past Ttu and take you to the Great River because these men are from Ttu."

"How do you—"

"Don't worry about that, child," Amina hissed. "Just do as I say. When you find him, tell him, 'The night sky shines clearest after a sandstorm.' It's the code. He'll know you're from me, and you'll know it's him.""

"But what about you? And Sani? The others?" Mairo protested.

Amina's weathered face softened for a moment. "We've survived worse, child. Now go! Your destiny lies beyond this place."

With a final, grateful nod, Mairo grabbed Rimi's hand and slipped out of the tent. They ran, crouching low, using the confusion of the raid as cover. As they reached the edge of the camp, Mairo glanced back one last time. She caught a glimpse of Sani, still fighting fiercely, and Amina, who had positioned herself near the raiders' leader, engaging him in conversation – a distraction, Mairo realized, to aid their escape.

The desert stretched before them, vast and unforgiving in the growing light of dawn. With heavy hearts but determined spirits, Mairo and Rimi set off towards the eastern dunes, the sounds of battle fading behind them.

As they walked, Mairo pondered a lot of things carefully. If the raiders were indeed from Ttu and she and Rimi had yet to set foot in Ttu, how extensive was the Gwari Empire's reach? The notion that word could travel all the way from Garin Gabas to Ttu in search of two runaway girls was both alarming and perplexing. What kind of power did the Gwari wield that could summon such swift action from a distance? Who was Kabir? Could they trust Amina's word? And how long before their pursuers realized they had slipped away?

"Mairo," Rimi said softly as they crested a dune, "what do we do now?"

Mairo squared her shoulders, her jaw set with determination. "We keep moving. We find this Kabir. And we pray to Allah that he can indeed help us reach safer lands."

The sun climbed higher in the sky, its heat already beginning to beat down upon them. But as they walked, following the hidden path Amina had spoken of, Mairo felt a glimmer of hope. They had survived the bandits, they had escaped the raid. Whatever challenges lay ahead, she was beginning to believe they might just have the strength to face them.

"Come on," she said, giving Rimi an encouraging smile. "We have a long journey ahead of us."

For a while, there was silence between them, punctuated only by the crunch of sand beneath their feet. Before it was finally broken by Rimi's wistful voice.

"Do you remember," Rimi began, her voice slightly hoarse from thirst, "that time we snuck into the kitchens during Eid al-Fitr preparations?"

Mairo couldn't help but smile at the memory. "How could I forget? The look on old Halima's face when she caught us elbow-deep in the date paste!"

Rimi chuckled softly. "She was so furious, I thought steam would come out of her ears. But then..."

"Then my father walked in," Mairo finished, her voice taking on a hint of sadness at the mention of her father. "And instead of scolding us, he just laughed and asked for a taste."

"The Waziri always did have a sweet tooth," Rimi mused. "Remember how he used to sneak you extra pieces of masa during formal dinners?"

Mairo nodded, her throat tightening with emotion. "He'd give me that little wink, as if we were sharing some grand conspiracy."

They walked in silence for a moment, lost in their memories. Then Rimi spoke again, her voice softer this time.

"What about the time we decided we were going to learn falconry, like the boys?"

Mairo groaned, but there was laughter in her voice. "Bismillah! What a disaster that was. We spent weeks trying to catch a hawk..."

"Only to end up with a very angry chicken from the coop!" Rimi finished, giggling despite their dire circumstances.

"Poor thing," Mairo said, shaking her head. "We chased it all over the courtyard, convinced it would make a fine hunting bird if we could just get close enough."

"Until it flew right into your mother's favorite tapestry," Rimi added. "I've never seen the Waziriya so shocked."

The mention of her mother sobered Mairo. "She was furious. But later, when the guests had gone, I heard her laughing with my father about it."

Rimi reached out and squeezed Mairo's hand. "They love you, you know. Even if they don't always show it in ways you understand."

Mairo squeezed back, grateful for her friend's comfort. "I know. I just wish... I wish things could have been different."

They lapsed into silence again, each lost in their own thoughts. The sun continued its merciless journey across the sky, and their steps grew heavier with each passing hour.

Just as Mairo felt her strength beginning to fail, Rimi suddenly gasped. "Mairo! Look!"

Mairo raised her head, squinting against the bright light. The oasis shimmered in the distance like a mirage, its emerald-green palms standing out against the relentless beige of the desert. The sight of it offered a glimmer of hope amidst the harsh landscape, promising relief from the unyielding sun and the punishing journey.

"The oasis," Mairo breathed, hardly daring to believe it. "We've found it!"

With renewed energy, they quickened their pace. As they drew closer, the mirage solidified into reality – a cluster of palm trees surrounding a small, clear pool of water.

"We made it," Rimi said, her voice filled with wonder and relief.

Mairo nodded, scanning the area for any signs of habitation. "Now we just need to find this Kabir. And pray he's as helpful as Amina promised."

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