The soles of my feet were aching and sore, my arms felt heavy as lead and my crop of thick black was matted from sweat after a long day of working the fields and sparring with staves; I was glad to finally reach the oasis. The water was cool and refreshing, providing relief to the sweltering heat of the season. In it's reflection I could see the man I had become, how my features had matured and hardened to resemble those of my father, or from what I can remember of them. My shoulders, chest and arms had grown broader every sun from my days of labor and I stood a head taller than anyone else my age. Though I tried to hide it, I truly was my father's son. Luckily no-one had seemed to take any notice of the boy from far away, and no-one here had heard from Dalisto in a long time.
I stripped my tunics and bathed in the watering hole, washing away the dirt, sweat and blood that clung to my arms, back and face. The city of Kibwe had always been known for its gargantuan oasis. Legend had it that the water had been their for a million suns and never once dried up, making it the largest and oldest source of water in Tendai, the country. The elders told me stories of how, before the cities of Tendai had broken away into separate cities and houses, people from all corners of the country flocked to live by the water's edge and Tendai had been a prospering country. Sadly, those days had died long before even the Days of the One had perished. The Kayode family had risen an army and pushed the other houses away from the oasis and claimed it for themselves.
Now the only thing that flocked there was the animals, so house Kayode basked in the wealth of the water for many moons. They placed a tariff on any travellers who wished to use the water, and the animals who came to drink made for good game and trade. It had not been long before Kibwe became the richest city in Tendai, dwarfing even my ancestral home, Numba. I heard rumours in the taverns that after my departure from Numba, Dalisto had made quick work of marching on the other cities of Tendai and forcing them to surrender their thrones, building a system of what he called democracy instead. I had seen what Dailsto's democracy looked like, without a King the other cities began to collapse and could not run themselves properly, making Numba look even more powerful than it already was. However, Dalisto did not march east towards Kibwe, making it the only city west of the watering hole to still have a King. The Days of the One had not died here yet.
As I finished bathing, I looked across to the other side of the oasis. The water stretched as far as the eye could see in either direction, Kibwe itself looked tiny in comparison to the water. It made controlling who had access to the water harder, but they only had to monitor one side. Ever since the War of the White Men, no man had dared to venture east of the watering hole; it was the there the White Men had come from the sea on great wooden structures and ravaged every city in sight, riding west on beasts my father had called horses on warpath, until they reached Numba and King Thoko and General Chike had smashed them at the battle of Mount Mahi. The men who patrolled the water's edge often gave reports of sounds like whinnying from the other side of the oasis, and tales of shadow stallions racing across the top of the water at night.
I laughed it off and began journeying back to my hut in Kibwe, Amade was probably wondering where I was. The walk was not too long, and I was back well before the sun disappeared west, but he was waiting for me nonetheless. Adawe was short, stout man, but he bore immense strength, possibly rivalling even my father's before he died. He looked at me then, his frown creasing the red marks down his cheeks. Adawe has a member of the King's personal guard and was well respected throughout Kibwe, especially for his fighting prowess. He held the record for the most trials by combat won in the city. "Masozi," he said softly, "where have you been, child?". Though Adawe could be gentle when he wanted to be, angering him was dangerous, so I had to cautious of what I said.
"I went to the watering hole, to clean." I explained, which was true, but I was supposed to tell him where I was going before I went anywhere.
"Child, you did not tell me where you had gone. I worried." Adawe chided.
"Forgive me," I replied, "I only meant to wash, I will remember next time."
"I do not anger at you washing, I anger because it is dangerous for you to be out in Kibwe, this I have told you before. How old are you now, child?"
"I have had seventeen blessed suns, Adawe, my next is soon. I am no child." I countered, perhaps a little too boldly.
"That means I have kept you safe for ninety-six moons since you came crawling through the streets of Kibwe, no? You are almost a man grown, but I have kept you safe in the fields. The work has made you into a strong man."
"I am strong, Adawe. Let me use my strength by your side. Let me fight in the pits tomorrow." The pits were the fights that happened once each moon, any man could enter. There were no weapons in the pit, and it was everyone against everyone. The man who beat all other opponents emerged victorious from the pits was give an audience with the King and allowed to compete in the spear fights that occurred every twelve moons on the King's blessed sun.
"Masozi," Adawe warned, his voice lowering.
"Please Adawe, I am wasted in the fields. My shoulders are young but I can beat any man in the pits, I know I can."
"Masozi," he warned again louder.
"I can win, I can win the spear fights too." I probably could, Adawe knew that. The man who won the spear fights got to join the King's guard.
"Masozi!" Adawe boomed, "the spear pit is to the death! I killed seven men to join the guard, I will not have you taint yourself with another man's blood, especially not so young." His tone told me that this was not to be negotiated; I punched the wall of our hut and stormed out, fuming and cursing as I went. Adawe did not chase me, he knew I would return in my own time. To do him credit, he had done a good job of fathering me after Chike died, but he could never be the same as my father. My father always made me listen, was always fair, and showed me he cared, whilst Adawe tried but could never get it right.
He probably expected me to come back before the sun set, but this time it was different. He had no right to stop me from entering the pits, boys of fourteen often entered the pits, even though they were orphans. I could not go back to the hut, not that night. Instead, I made use of what little money I had earned from that day's labor and looked a tavern to put a roof above my head. Brothels and inns made for good company, but took their toll on your wealth, but anyone was always welcome at a tavern, so long as they put money behind the counter. Essentially, taverns were just very big huts with stone benches around a fire, with areas around the the edges for sleeping. Not the best standard of life Kibwe could offer, but not everyone was fortunate enough to share in the wealth of the King.
I found a small, cosy tavern tucked away at the outskirts of Kibwe; it would have to do for that night. As I entered, I noticed that the benches were strangely empty, and no men lay anywhere in the hut. The old master of the house stood looking solemn and alone, spear clutched in hand. "Greetings, friend," he called as I strode towards him, "come, share in comfort of my house."
"Greetings," I replied, probably more glumly than I should've.
"You sound troubled friend. Sit." he gestured towards a stone bench, we sat. The fire was lit, the days in Tendai were hot, but the nights got cold, fast. "What is it that troubles you, friend?" the master of the house asked politely.
"It is my father," I said, "he will not let me enter the pits tomorrow." It was only half a lie, Adawe was not my father, but he liked to act like he was.
"The pits, you say? They say it is the way to rise to the top, if you are skilled enough that is," he replied.
"I am skilled enough," I said defiantly, fists curling into a ball.
"If this is true, then why not fight? Why not become as great as you can be?" The master questioned.
"My father will not let me," I repeated, had he not heard me?
"Maybe, but can he stop you?" he smiled, his eyes glinting mischievously. I looked at him and smiled myself. The old man was right, Adawe would not be happy, but he could not stop me from entering myself into the pits on the morrow. I embraced the master of the house fiercely, likely catching him off guard.
"Wake me before the sun rises," I said as I releases him and went to rest, though I found it hard to sleep. For a while my head was full of the stories Adawe had told me about the pits and his fights. Though he was modest, Adawe was a brilliant fighter and renowned brawler. He had been the first person in many moons to win on his first entry in the pits. I often met men who had fought against him that day when I sneak out to inns and markets during the day, they told me that his strength was like the stories from myths and legends, one man even told me that he saw Adawe cave a man's chest in with a single punch, who luckily survived the ordeal but was crippled and didn't live to see his next blessed sun.
One man even told me that he saw Adawe in the spear pit to join the King's guard. He said that he had never seen such a slow yet powerful man in the city of Kibwe. I believed him, my foster guardian had always been slow to move but could deliver the mightiest of blows. The man described how Adawe had slain at least five men at the very beginning of the fight with his bare hands after misplacing his spear in the neck of another. With a smile, the stranger had told me of the battle between Adawe and the other last man standing, Nkrumba. Nkrumba was said to have won his pit with speed and cunning rather than brute force like Adawe had and was one of the best fighters the pits had ever seen. The fight would have been legendary to watch, unfortunately I was still but a child in Numba back then. Adawe had emerged victorious, but only just, the man told me.
The ball of excitement in my chest kept me awake; I was going to compete in the pits tomorrow, a chance to finally be someone instead of hiding my true heritage. I was the rightful heir to Numba, the second most powerful city in Tendai, but yet I was hidden away in a field miles from my throne. Tomorrow was my chance to be something more, and I couldn't wait.