The Mad Giant (Shioni of Sheba Book 3) (16 page)

“M
ama, you’re scowling again.”

“Am I?”

“It’s that scowl which says, ‘No girl of mine’s a thief’,” said Shioni. When would Mama stop looking at her like that? Three days since their return from the mountains, and she was showing no signs of relenting. Annakiya had been kind enough–apart from the odd loaded glance that betrayed her feelings. But Mama…

Mama Nomuula’s brows
gathered into dark batons over her flashing brown eyes. “You graduated to reading human thoughts too, now?”

The Princess
glanced up from her scroll. “You’re in a bad mood, Mama.”

“Sorry. Lots on my mind. Wounded warriors, wounded King–”

“And the General left for Takazze without so much as a goodbye kiss…”

Shioni caught her breath at her friend’s audacity. When would Mama…?

“He did, so he did,” Mama said absently, turning over her stitching in her fingers. Her fingers froze. “Annakiya, Princess of cheek! You’s a wicked tease!”

Without a word of warning, Mama suddenly
tossed her stitching onto the Princess’ writing desk, swooped upon Shioni, and gathered her into one of her rib-bending hugs. Mama collected Annakiya with her other arm, and Zi bounced across the bedding for good measure and was lifted onto the top of the pile by a careful hand.

“Ooh, you’s too good to me, you are,” murmured Mama Nomuula, crushing them to her bosom. “Rascals and cheeky monkeys you may be, but you’s my rascals and I’d not have you’s change for all the gold in West Sheba–”

“Ahem.”

Shioni stiffened as a familiar cough sounded from the doorway.
Pulling aside the cotton hangings, General Getu entered the room. He seemed chock-full of energy.

“Disturbing a little family moment, am I?” said the General. His famously sly grin made its appearance.

Shuba was right on his heels, sweeping her customary black robes about her lean frame as she managed to chill the room instantly with her presence.

The Kwegu Ascetic threw back her h
ood as she entered. She cried, “I bear news! Good news!”

Amazement and suspicion
raced across Annakiya’s features. “Not even an eagle could have returned from Ma’rib with such haste, Shuba. Explain yourself.”

“Quite simple,” said Shuba,
as dismissive as she was unaware of her tone. Shioni, who was watching the Princess closely, saw her bite back a hot word. “I travelled only as far as the Danakil Desert, where I was met upon Erta’s stinking slopes by a group of my Kwegu acolytes. Understanding the King’s need, they had already decided to follow their letter in person, having copied the necessary texts–with meticulous care, naturally–onto fresh parchments. I sent a runner ahead to Takazze in an attempt to speed a decision. General Getu met us there.”

Annakiya was on the edge of her stool. “What decision?”

“A decision to mount an expedition to the ancient Kingdom of Gondar,” said the General, “and thence to Holy Lake Tana, where on the island of Tana Qirqos, we shall find the holy relic we seek–”

In their excitement, General Getu and Shuba were talking across each other. The Kwegu, who had been frowning at the General while he interrupted her story, now threw her hands in the air, hissing, “No, no, not a relic! Not the Ark of the Covenant!”

“The Ark?” the Princess arched an eyebrow. “That’s a legend, isn’t it?”

“Old women’s
chin-wagging, that one,” put in Mama, who, as everyone knew, was the undisputed queen of chin-wagging.

“Well, perhaps not entirely,” Shuba said, her voice deepening
for emphasis. “The legend that the Ark of the Covenant travelled secretly from a Jewish outpost on Elephantine Island on the Nile, nearly six hundred years ago, to come to rest at a monastic settlement on Tana Qirqos island, is one of those tales that may well hold more than a grain of truth. Be that as it may, we seek healing powers, not the destructive powers of the Ark.”

Shuba raised a bony forefinger into the lamplight. Her face, severe
as always, hardened to resemble a slab of carved marble. “Meles, a powerful Priest-King, sits upon the throne of Gondar. In the past he has treated our emissaries graciously. But he mistrusts Sheba’s power. We would have to win his favour in order to be granted access to the lake.”

“Secondly, Prince Bekele agreed wholeheartedly to this expedition, as well he should. But I am no chick born in yesterday’s nest. I smell danger.
I wish I had a good word for your brother, my Lady,” and she bowed to Princess Annakiya at this point, “but I find the words rather stick in my craw.”

Shioni would have liked to cheer Shuba’s words. As it was, she had to settle from looking to the Princess for her cue.

Annakiya had become as still as a petrified tree. Was she even breathing? Her friend had a habit of considering her words, Shioni thought, which made her seem both reticent and older than her years. Perhaps it was because a Princess’ words weighed so much in the affairs of West Sheba? The lamplight accentuated the softness of her eyes and the high planes of her cheekbones so praised by the courtly praise-singers, and on the side where Shioni sat, she was surprised to mark a tear laying a sparkling trail down to the corner of Annakiya’s mouth.

Nevertheless, her
response was unexpected. “I value you for your honesty, Shuba, and not for your diplomatic tongue.”

She looked across at Mama. “And you.” And then at Shioni. “You too–and you, Zi.” A chuckle, laden with sadness, escaped
her lips. “Even you, my Lord. This is no false hope you offer… is it, Shuba?”

The Kwegu Ascetic bowed deeply. Her face, usually an emotionless mask, seemed to soften as she regarded the Princess. Shioni could see sympathy and understanding written on her harsh features. “I see no other, my Lady.”

Getu’s fingernails rasped against his beard. “You did not answer her question.”

“That is because I cannot, my Lord General.”

For the first time, Shioni saw through Shuba’s façade, and it shocked her how worn out the woman looked. She noticed the dust on Shuba’s robes, the dirt streaking her neck and arms, even the scuffed state of her shoes. Her limbs were fairly trembling with exhaustion. Shuba must have pressed herself beyond all reason or rest in her pursuit of a cure for the King. What dedication!

Respect
for Shuba blossomed in her breast. “What is this cure, Shuba?” she asked.

“A medicine called ‘teshal’, said to be the most potent in the world. A drop should be all the King requires.”

Mama Nomuula folded her arms across her chest and shrugged massively. “Never heard of it. It’s not more holy water mumbo-jumbo, surely not? What’s in it?”

Shuba smiled thinly. “You’d have more chance of flying to the moon than of
learning that recipe, Mama Nomuula. The papyri record that it is made from a plant or herb which grows only on Tana Qirqos, guarded by a monk who never sleeps, and is distilled to a ten-thousand-fold concentration before being steeped in–you get the picture. But my sources are impeccable. I can explain in detail. There was a Pharaoh of Egypt who was poisoned with mercury slipped into–”

“Shuba. Let the Princess speak.” Getu’s
interjection was low-voiced, but still had a snap in it that froze the Kwegu scholar mid-sentence.

“
The Kingdom of Gondar is how far from here–twenty days’ solid travel? Twenty-five?” said Annakiya. “It would take a well-equipped expedition… who would lead?”

“Prince Bekele asked me,” said Getu. “And
you
. He sent this scroll.”

“Me?”

Taken aback, Princess Annakiya broke the seal on the scroll and scanned its contents rapidly, twice. After that, she allowed it to rustle closed in her fingers and her gaze turned inward. Everyone was holding their breath. Finally, she said, “On the morrow, we have an appointment to make–our friend Tariku, to Captain of the garrison of Castle Hiwot. Dabir will return to Takazze to become my brother’s advisor. We are to take warriors, elephants, and rich gifts for the King of Gondar. You will lead the expedition, General Getu. And I am charged to secure, as Prince Bekele puts it, ‘whatever our dear Father needs’. Friends, there is hope for the King.”

She turned to give Shioni a long, level look–a look which
she could not interpret, not even a little bit. It made her insides squirm. “General Getu.”

“
Er… my Lady?”

The Princess kept her gaze fixed on
her friend. “In order to travel, I will require the services of a certain slave-girl who has a miraculous talent for finding trouble, wrestling it into submission, and emerging victorious.”

For once,
Getu seemed utterly flummoxed. “My Lady, what can I…?”

“You thumping big oaf!” cried Mama Nomuula, clapping him
upon the back. “Have you forgotten
already?
You’s given orders, you know,
them
orders? About
her?
” She pointed at Shioni with her chin. “You take them right back!”

“I command a thousand of Sheba’s finest in battle,” General Getu said dryly, “but when it comes to ruling my own affairs… very well! Shioni, while I still have a scrap of dignity and authority
left to me, I hereby recall my orders regarding your freedom. Go find trouble! Go wallow in trouble! Sheba needs more warriors of your ilk.”

Shioni felt a slow smile creeping from her heart to
delight the corners of her mouth. “As you command, my Lord. My Lady.”

F
reedom! At long last!
Shioni sighed. Her life was about to gallop off in another direction, yet again. Yesterday she had been released from her confinement to the castle. Earlier that morning, at the fifth hour, Tariku had received his promotion to Commander of the Garrison of Castle Hiwot. And tomorrow? This slave-girl would ride to Takazze with the Princess of West Sheba to prepare for their expedition to ancient Gondar.

Right now, she had one more mystery to solve. Why had Azurelle requested a short ride west of the castle?

She raised her eyes to the hills. The valley stretched out before her, rising to meet the bluest of blue skies above. Black volcanic cliffs framed a vast, golden-green expanse of meadow, made lush by the recent rains. This was the route west of Castle Hiwot, a route that merely hinted at the fractured interior of the Simien Mountains, with its secret, scoured-out gorges, hidden waterfalls, and extraordinary animal and plant life. This was Shioni’s favourite ride, and today, for the first time, she could share it with Annakiya and Azurelle.

And a dozen warriors. Babysitters. Princess-sitter
s! Shioni was annoyed by their presence, even though they were keeping a respectful distance from their small party. She knew why General Getu had ‘requested’ the escort, and even agreed with him. Yet it still rankled! Who was the Princess’ bodyguard? Who had proven her capability? Who…?

“You look like you’ve swallowed a cup of sour milk,” the
Fiuri piped up, helpfully. “You look like you bit into a rotten egg. You look like a hyena’s sister. You–”

“Zi! Enough!”

“Then just you wipe that look off your sad little face and–”

“Azurelle of
Fiuriel!” Tittering, Zi executed a cross between a dance and a bow on Thunder’s neck. “I’d slap you if you weren’t so tiny!” But Shioni could not keep from laughing.

“That’s better,” said Azurelle. “Now, if you would kindly head over to that dead tree, someone is waiting to meet us.”

Both Shioni and Annakiya cast questioning glances at the Fiuri, but she would not be drawn. She preened, fluttered her wings to catch the best of the luminous late afternoon sunshine, and said, “I was so happy for Tariku today. A lovely ceremony, wasn’t it?”

“I
had a wonderful time surprising him,” Annakiya admitted. “General Getu planned it well–all that build-up! The look on his face! I didn’t realise he was so popular.”

“You should have seen him at the Mesheha bridge,” said Shioni. “He kept discipline while Captain Dabir–” Thunder laid his ears flat on his skull and harrumphed in disgust at the mere mention of the Captain, making them laugh, “–
while the Captain was apparently stuck beneath a cart.”

“Pathetic
,” snorted Annakiya.

“And Thunder was amazing.”

“I’m told that after Thunder finished with him, the Captain couldn’t walk properly for a week. He had a bruise as though he’d been kicked by an elephant. Wasn’t it worth being tied up just for that?”

“More than!
” Shioni patted Thunder’s neck. “You lovely, brave, magnificent son of the desert winds!”

“
Any time,” said Thunder, who arched his neck and slipped in a fancy parade-ground prance that made them laugh again. “Biting that spineless popinjay was one of the high points in my life since I crossed the Red Sea.”

They all laughed as Shioni repeated Thunder’s response.

As they approached the dead, time-hollowed baobab tree, standing as if it were a lonely sentinel in the midst of that endless reach of meadow, a shadow hulked out of its belly.

“My God!” said Annakiya, making a superstitious sign. “The giant.”

Shioni masked her irritation behind a smile and a wave. “Talaku! How are you?”

“As well as God allows,” he rumbled. They reined in the horses. “My Lady.”

“Talaku. I haven’t seen you to thank you… what you did was so amazing… and to tell you–you’ve been pardoned. I’m sorry about that…”

“Haven’t ever kidnapped a Princess befo
re. If I hurt or frightened you, I’m sorry.”

The two
of them were as awkward as new born calves struggling to find their feet, thought Shioni. Was it a mistake, bringing her friends? Not that she had known Zi’s plans. Sneaky Fiuri! She supposed that matters between her and Talaku were clear. They had been through so much together.

The Princess was making a sign to their anxious guards that all was well. She turned back to Talaku and, in a sudden rush, told him about their imminent journey to Gondar.

After a moment’s reflection, the giant looked to the horizon. “I wish you every success in restoring your father’s good health, Princess. A kingdom without a King is… well. You know better than I. Just promise me one thing.”

“Anything.”

“Bring Shioni back safely, will you?”

Annakiya’s jaw hung open like a lioness having a midday yawn.

“I’ve a feeling… no, no, it’s stupid.”

Talaku was wringing his hands.
Without pausing to think, Shioni reached out and took his left paw in both of hers. “You can tell us, my friend.”

“
It’s weird. I dream a lot, you see. All sorts of crazy things.” The giant drew a shuddering breath. “But last night I had this dream. Two dreams, in fact. Both as clear and vivid as we are standing here right now. The first I’ll tell you in a moment. But in the second, I saw a place I have never been before, where a King sat upon an onyx throne, surrounded by warriors with headdresses made in the likeness of the manes of lions, with golden breastplates and greaves and shields, and this King was looking at you Shioni–that was my dream. But what I saw in this King’s eyes, it was… it filled me with
fear
. He had power. I was reaching out to you from another place, filled with this dread that turned my bones to water…”

His voice trailed off. Talaku shuddered
. Shioni found herself shivering in response. But before she could reflect upon his words, he added, “I’m a giant. What should I fear in this world? Yet I was afraid.”

“And the first?
In my first dream, I was standing on what I thought was a mountain peak in the mist. I saw a path and followed it. It quickly dropped down into a gorge, so suddenly it was as if the ground had been cleft open by a sword-stroke.” Words were pouring out of Talaku now, an unstoppable torrent. “I came to an archway, a huge archway built to accommodate a giant three or four times my height. And there, graven upon either side of the portal in great letters, were the words ‘Valley of the Giants’. And below, ‘No mortal man shall enter here, lest the curse of the mighty Giants befall him’. I walked through the archway and it was as though I was in another place. The mist was gone and the sun warmed my back; yet, I was cold. I felt my destiny before me.”

Shioni looked up at her friend. The muscles of his jaw were clenched
; a vein throbbed away near his Adam’s apple. He seemed as taut as a bowstring.

“I promise you, when I return–no matter where you might be, Talaku–I will come and find you.”

His throat worked as if he wanted to cry. But instead, he burst out, “Make no such oath, Shioni!”

His need was as clear to her as the sunlight falling all around them.
“You might need reminding of your humanity,” she said, simply. “You might need friendship. Every person needs to know they are not alone, that they do not need to be an outcast. That you will be accepted no matter how big, or strange, or crazy you might become.”

She turned awkwardly to Princess Annakiya. “Uh–with your permission, this time, my Lady.”

With a huge smile lighting up her face, Annakiya nodded ceremoniously. “Already granted, Shioni. Thank you for asking, this time.”

Talaku squeezed her hand.
If she was not mistaken, there was a moistness of unshed tears in his eyes. “You’re the crazy one. So, I will go seek out this Valley of the Giants. That’s what I wanted to tell you. Call it destiny, call it what you will. I have to know what is happening to me.”

He began to draw away. “Farewell,
Fiuri.” He stepped backward again. “You too, my Lady. I pray you find what you seek at the Sacred Lake. And Shioni–”

“I’ll see you when you’ve eaten every goat in these mountains.”

Talaku grinned. “The Mad Giant bids you farewell!”

Turning, he loped away up-valley, toward the broad shoulders of Ras Dejen. His arms began to pump, his great bare feet to slap up a cloud of red clay dust. He was sprinting. The giant was sprinting toward his future for all he was worth, Shioni realised, awed
by the power and speed of his ascent.

“Even I couldn’t beat him now,” Thunder breathed in her ear.

Shioni shaded her eyes to follow Talaku’s progress. “No more giant racing? It’s a sad day for Sheba.”

A pair of tiny hands squeezed her neck. A clear voice piped, “You don’t honestly think we’ve seen the last of him, do you?”

The Princess of Sheba linked arms with her slave-girl. “Come on, we’ve a heap of packing to do if we’re ever going to make it to the Sacred Lake.”

Talaku had reached the brow of the hill. His hand rose in a gesture of parting.

Shioni bent to dab the corner of her eye. “Farewell, Mad Giant. Until we meet again.”

W
hen she looked again, he was gone.