Love In The Land Of Gold

a sliced heart - liari

could I get some feedback on this? I haven't written in a while so tell me what you guys think, please!

She was getting closer to me.

She began with slow, measured steps but soon burst into a flying sprint. I could hear her every step pounding red dust into the air. Hear her every breath becoming heavy with determination. She was probably smiling now, knowing that I was ready for her. Even though I wore a blindfold, I was ready.

My fingers coiled around the curvature of my yub staff. They were met by the soft indents where I'd always grabbed the long, wooden weapon.

I had to calculate this correctly. Without my sight, everything fell on my other senses. First, my hearing. But more importantly, the way my insides churned as I felt her rapidly approaching my backside.

Lion pose. Wide stance. Strong shoulders. Nimble feet.

With a yell, I spun around and slashed my yub staff in the air. To my delight, it cracked against a strong body. Yusra cried out in pain, but I could hear a tinge of amusement in her voice. A soft rush of amused whispering rippled through our audience, but no one could hear whether Oludari Tawenyu was talking.

This realization quieted the background chatter immediately and for a moment, the air remained still. But then, the oludari barked an order, "That is enough! The sun is setting, everyone may return to their rooms."

My ear cocked at the sound of young girls' feet running toward the compound. With training over, I was more aware of the scorching sun piercing my skin. I couldn't wait to return to my cool bedroom.

Yusra complained as I unwrapped the coarse fabric covering my eyes. "Ay, Liari! You've probably given me a bruise!"

I laughed at the sight of her exaggerated frown. "I'm sorry. Next time, I'll make sure to be gentler."

"You're becoming very keen," She noted, punching my shoulder. "Do you think the oludari will be impressed?"

"Speaking of whom," I murmured under my breath as I noticed Oludari Tawenyu walking in our direction.

Earlier today, she had ordered us to demonstrate sightless fighting in front of the entire upper class. Initially, Yusra and I had been beside ourselves with worry, but we soon realized it was an opportunity few were given—the chance to impress the most well-respected oludari in all the kingdom.

"Yusra. Liari," The tall woman stated.

We straightened our posture and wiped our faces of emotion before responding, "Oludari."

"Your performances today were ample," She nodded as if agreeing with her own statement. "Indeed."

And then she walked away.

"We did it!" Yusra squealed once the oludari was out of range.

An inkling of self-consciousness infiltrated my thoughts, making it difficult to share in her excitement. It appeared less as if Oludari Tawenyu had been impressed and more as if her low expectations had been met. "She called our performances 'ample'." I said grimly.

Yusra paused and the speculative glint in her eye meant she'd detected something other than practicality in my tone. "Why are you so hard on yourself? You were excellent, everyone could see that."

I hated when she did this. It was if she was peeling away all my layers of confidence. Exposing the deep-seated insecurity of a myingi warrior who felt like a fraud. "Everyone acts as if I'm going to be the next oludari, but did you see the way I fought? My yub staff was too close to my chest when I struck you and my grip was atroc—"