Yera Shiri Tribe
Tanaka stood on the balcony of Koku's home with his hands on the creaking wooden railings. Drunken people slept on the pavements with a bottle still clutched in their hands. He looked at Gazi, who was a step behind him. The breeze pushed his long dreadlocks, flowing slightly above his back, as he also looked over the squished-together houses.
"I know it's a big risk, but it may be our best chance," Tanaka said.
Gazi's steel gaze softened.
"I know, but we have to be careful about this." He moved towards the prince. "We cannot just go around placing our fates in the hands of strangers."
"This may be our only chance to get that script, Gazi. We should do it."
Gazi stayed silent. He raised his head, looking back past the house and towards the royal home. This Koku is an unknown variable in this situation. We cannot rush this, he thought.
"No, Tanaka," he whispered, not allowing himself to look at Tanaka as he said so.
Tanaka spun around and opened his lips to protest. Gazi lifted his finger to silence him as soon as he faced him.
"We will find another way to steal the script if we must." Gazi walked over to the wooden railing. He placed a foot over on its top. "I'm going out for fresh air. Don't move."
Gazi jumped down from the balcony, the air lifting his grey shirt lightly as he fell. He landed on his feet alone with slightly bent knees, straightened himself up, and walked towards the village center. The ashy rag-wearing people in the street looked at him with wide eyes and some frowns.
"It almost sounds like you don't trust me, Gazi!" Tanaka shouted, though Gazi was already too far off to hear.
Gazi made a turn, taking him out of Tanaka's sight. Tanaka smiled and sprinted towards the curtain sack dividing the room they slept in and Koku's. He opened it up to see Koku doing some odd stretches on a piece of cloth. Tanaka tilted his head, confused, then shook it, ignoring what he saw.
"Oh, you're still here. Where's Mr. Big and Bad?" Koku laughed as he pushed his chest forward from the bridge stance he was in.
Tanaka looked at the thief and his lips curved into a smirk. "What's the plan?"
Koku's eyes glinted with mischief. He lifted his palms awkwardly to his chin and squealed, "Yee-eey."
—----
Gazi stretched his arms and yawned. I should pass by Tinaye's and check on that child. Steel banged on steel as people yelled their products at the top of their lungs. Gazi passed by the back of the royal home as he surfed through the crowds of people. Soon the air was filled with the stench of fresh cow dung and livestock grazing as he came closer to Tinaye's home.
Zipher was busy kicking the air. Sweat gathered in his short hair, flowing down his forehead.
"Hiya!" he screamed as he tried to lift his leg into a flying kick behind the red barn.
Gazi stopped at the small wooden gate. "Hie, Zipher," he waved with one hand still placed behind his back as he got closer.
Zipher stopped mid-kick and turned around. "Gazi!" He smiled as he ran over to him.
"What's with the noise out there?" Tinaye yelled from inside the house.
"Mom, look who's here," Zipher said as he held Gazi's hand, guiding him towards the door.
Tinaye walked out, shielding her face from the bright sun in her usual long brown dress and white apron. "Gazi?" She gasped.
Tinaye ran over to him and Zipher and hugged.
"You. You are alive." She said excitedly. "You are alive?" Her brows squeezed together in shock. Her eyes widened as she created some distance, holding Gazi by his shoulders, causing his pendant to swing up and down.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Gazi smiled as he lifted Zipher up to sit on his shoulder.
"Oh, it's just that when you didn't come back yesterday, I just thought you died or got arrested or…"
"Calm down, Tinaye," Gazi said as he gently took her hands off his shoulders. "I'm not that easy to kill or capture, for that matter."
"Yeah, Mom! You should have seen him at the club. He was like punch and Brux was like awwww," Zipher bounced on his shoulder as he imitated Brux in the fight.
She laughed. "I'm sure he was great." She started looking around and lifted to see behind him. "Wait, where is Tanaka?"
"He is occupied at the moment," he said. "But first, how is Zara?"
Tinaye squinted in suspicion before brushing off the obvious lie Gazi told.
"She's resting. She's asleep right now, but if you are around for a while, maybe you can meet her."
Gazi tilted his head.
"Properly meet her, I mean," she laughed.
Gazi lowered Zipher back down. "I'm afraid I do not have too much time. I just came to see how you and your children were doing."
"Well, at least we are not preparing a funeral," she awkwardly joked as she pushed back a strand of stray hair from her face. "Thank you, Gazi. For everything."
Gazi gave her a warm smile in return.
"If I ever get the chance, I'll make sure to come back and visit with Tanaka."
Speaking of the prince, I need to go check on him, he thought.
"You better," she said as she grabbed Zipher's arm, keeping him close.
Gazi turned around to leave. "Farewell, Tinaye."
"Hey, Gazi!" Tinaye yelled.
She reached into her apron's pocket and pulled out Gazi's broken spear. "I told you not to leave those things in my house," she smiled as she threw the pieces for him to catch.
His arm recoiled as he caught both pieces in his hands. "Thank you," he did a slight bow and chuckled before turning towards the gates.
Tinaye waved as Gazi left. Zipher sobbed as he tried to wipe tears from his chubby face.
A girl opened the barn door. She ran towards Tinaye, throwing the rake behind her. "Mom, look what I found!"
Tinaye turned around to Zara. "Zara, you are supposed to be resting." She ran over to her daughter, who had bandages all over her wrist and head.
"I know, but look at this." Tinaye looked at Zara's hand. A small golden earring glinted in the sunlight.
Tinaye's mouth parted in shock as she held the piece of actual gold in her hand.
"Zara, where did you get this? Did you steal this? I told you that I…?"
"I did not steal it, Mom." She looked away from her mother. "It was in the barn next to some paper."
"And where is this paper?"
"What does it matter? We have gold!" she exclaimed. Tinaye glared at her.
"Okay, okay." She left. "Come on, Zipher."
Zipher followed as they both entered the barn to look for the paper. Tinaye stayed outside, heart pounding as she glanced again at what was in her hand. The siblings returned a while later with Zara carrying a brown piece of paper.
Tinaye walked over to her and eagerly snatched it from Zara. "What's the big deal? It's just a paper and we have gold," Zara folded her arms.
Tinaye uncrumpled the note. It had writing on it made with charcoal.
"Hie Tinaye, I hope you find this letter in case we have to leave before getting to say goodbye. The earring is not much, but I'd just like to thank you for your hospitality. I hope you can now buy lots of bread. Love, Tanaka."
Dark circles formed on the piece of paper; the charcoal spread as Tinaye's tears fell from her eyes.
Zara placed a hand on Tinaye. "Are you alright, Mom?"
Tinaye simply nodded fast as she held the piece of paper close to her chest and sobbed.
"Thank you, Tanaka," she whispered.