Sangriala

Chapter 6: Mana-Mana

(Trigger warning: This chapter includes some use of the N word, but it is used by a peculiar coastal community of smugglers as a part of their creole dialect.)

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Peryantay, the educated mahi warrior who didn't have the local tribe's white stripes as a war paint, looked at us who sat along the long table like disciples at communion. His large black eyes were hard to decipher, but whatever was there was not hatred. Pride, perhaps. The hidden sense of triumph of the one who used to be taken as a subordinate or a noble savage, but whom the tall, pale aliens would now have to look up to. Did those eyes see in us an arrogant race who deserved to be taught a lesson? Or had they, from the very beginning, seen us as an inferior race who didn't understand the mahi ways but whose ways Peryantay would study – to eventually master us?

The other mahis in the room seemed much more reserved at us. The guardian mahi behind Peryantay, who stood with his foot on the bench, and another similar one by the door, would have preferred to humiliate us, judging from their grimaces and gestures, and they clearly saw no point in Peryantay, a mahi commander, bothering to speak to us aliens in our own language. Yet this was what Peryantay did. He even seemed to take a pride of mastering our language. I was not sure if he wanted to impress us with it, or his mahi kinsmen, who both respected and feared him for his extensive affiliation with and understanding of the urdren intruders.

The white-gowned Hugtree and the three war-painted mahis who had arrived with him, started to converse with Peryantay in a mahi language. Hugtree seemed to master it, though he spoke it humbly and as if emphasizing every word. I noticed a mysterious smile appear on Professor Itikain's face, and I concluded he was able to follow the conversation. Something in it seemed to secretly amuse him. If that was so, then we were unlikely to be in lethal danger. I sighed with relief in my mind and stopped my futile attempts of figuring out what went on between the mahis.

Eventually, Peryantay sent Hugtree and the three mahi warriors away. Hugtree made bows at departure, while the mahis strode out proud, their chins up. Only the two guardian mahis remained in their places, besides Peryantay.

Peryantay was ready to speak to us, and we were listening.

"I surprised – you here", he said. I noticed he had now shifted to use the first person of himself, instead of the third. In the village, he had still said 'Peryantay this, Peryantay that'. A fast learner, apparently. "I thought, you travel, from Apion to human head city."

"That's what we did", said Itikain, who seemed to assume the role of our negotiator. "On our way, all kinds of things happened that forced us to change our route. But how are you here, Peryantay?"

Peryantay watched Itikain the wiseman. His black eyes remained mysterious. Yet this was a human he undoubtedly respected. Itikain-dholo had a mahi title and the jungle's permission to study, for the humans to understand this world. And Itikain-dholo had allowed the ren Peryantay to study the humans, their ways, and their language. Much, he had learned.

"I commander", he said. "Resistance has war, fight against Palatine. Against oppressor. Cruel Palace. Mahi has own war. Evil human, enemy to good human. Evil human, also enemy to mahi folk. Peryantay bring own tribesmen, warriors to Apion. Mahi fight with Resistance. Resistance help mahi, mahi help Resistance. Enemy strong, but enemy lose. One battle, another battle, then..." Peryantay tapped the human skull with his fingers. "We see, the time is come."

"But these here are none of the Khansun Lake tribes", said Itikain. "Yet you're here as a commander. How come?"

"I know much about humans", said Peryantay. "Very much, I know. Because that, Peryantay commander. I seen: human fight human, kill, oppress, expel. Human kill, oppress, expel also mahi. Mahi peoples and tribes have common cause. Because that, Peryantay come to Tau tribes. Peryantay speak. Tell, we defeat enemy humans. Build army. Army ready. Ready to attack. Come days, Sangriala fight, but Sangriala lose. One battle, then another. Much mahis die, but mahis more, more, more. Much children, mahis. Humans not understand. Human child, take twenty years, become warrior. Mahi child, ten years, full warrior."