March 2012 Blog Posts (7)

Kadira stormed out of the jackal house, Omari chasing close behind.

"That went well," he said.

"No it didn't!" Kadira snapped. "I should have cut that bastard's throat!"

I don't think you would have gotten that close," Omari said. "He's a Kashite priest, you know."

"I would have gotten close…

Kadira and Omari strolled away from the armory, ignoring the glares of the Fezzani merchants. Kadira gave her new sword a final inspection then slid it back into it's sheath while Omari spun his new ax, playing with the weapon like a new toy.

"Thank you," Kadira said. 

Omari shrugged as he twirled…

The armory door opened to a damp, cavernous dimly lit room. Kadira strode inside, ignoring the long wooden tables stacked with hundreds of knives, swords, shields and various other implements of death. The Fezzani were no different than any other merchants, displaying their cheaper creations to distract an…

The vigorous market crowd thinned as Kadira and Omari neared the Fezzan market section. The folk making their way down the street with them were not wives seeking food for the day's meal or children hunting toys and trinkets. These were folks seeking more ominous and powerful items. Kadira frowned as she walked between stalls of talismans, potions, powders and other charmed items. Her visit was a necessary evil for someone who traveled the road as she had. A skilled sword and intelligence…

Olea's hungry wail woke Kadira. She slid from atop Nguvu, dressed then pattered across the floor to the cradle.

"Hello, hungry girl,' she cooed. "You may have my looks, but you have your baba's appetite."

Kadira winced as Olea took to her breast.

"I think it's time to put you on…

Kadira blinked in shock. "What?"

Nguvu stood and folded his massive arms across his chest. "I said I think you should go."

Olea was still feeding, so fainting was not an option. "I can't go. You know that."

"We could hire a wet nurse for Olea," Nguvu said. "She's still young so she won't miss you too much. If she does, you'll have plenty of time to make things right...if you come back."

Kadira stepped closer to her man, raising her head to look into his…

She was greeted by the rhythmic clanging of a familiar hammer striking a worn anvil. Kadira crept to the smithy and peered at Nguvu as he worked over a long red hot length of steel. Olea's cradle sat on the opposite side of the cramped shed.

"What took you so long?" Nguvu asked. "You know I had work to do. I had to bring Olea out into this hot shed. I'm surprised she's still asleep."

Kadira placed the groceries on the cluttered table and went to her daughter. Olea…