Chief Raino's face softened upon looking at Salīa.
It seemed all sorts of emotions were flashing through his mind. He wasn't always easy to read with his naturally stoic face and limited expressions, yet Salīa could pick up the nuances in them.
She understood that private matters of the royals couldn't have been one of his favorite things to talk about.
He was first chief guard to her grandfather when young and outlived him, caring for her mother since she had her thumb in her mouth.
Queen Saoa would always talk of him in the same light as her father.
He was a sage and swift warrior with always shaved hair, yet the remnants of it were a gleaming silver.
His dark skin had some wrinkles patched on his face, yet his skin was still smooth, and his eyes remained a deep grey-black.
The Queen even gifted him a xira with onyx molded into the handle, ornate with an obsidian black and tucked by a gilded collar.
This was the xira that was specially made for him. The gift of becoming the Queen's chief guard and chief of the zazi.
Like all xira, it had a long, slick, curved black blade that could behead you in one strike. That was the resting side when standing upright. The top was a black straight-headed spear, shouldered by smaller curved blades, almost like that of a trident.
The xira stood as tall as him. And he was taller than most of the common huts. His head was always up above his shoulders, and his shoulders lay back, broad and contented, even in times of disarray.
He always seemed aware of what was happening, near and far. And he always stayed true to his word.
"Chief Raino, you are a true guardian of Salazā and all its lands," she said softly. "I want to crown you as the true leader of the village, Salazā. It is the home of the first zazi and your birth village. You have noble blood too, and while your ancestors' lands may no longer be, you still are."
"Queen Salīa, thank you," he bowed. "But I cannot accept."
"It wasn't an offer."
Chief Raino breathed deep and took a moment before speaking.
"You are kind. But I can only accept after we have found truth."
"Then you will stay the temporary ruler of the village until you are ready to accept," she said stubbornly. "If I am still to be Queen regnant now."
He seemed to want to say many things, but only came to say, "I will not dishonor you."
"I know you won't. It's not you I'm worried about."
"Are you concerned about any others?" he stood tall as if ready to fight whoever she named.
She couldn't help but smile.
A true zazi until the end.
"I suspect none of the council."
"You don't?"
"No. However," she whispered. "Please keep an eye out."
Chief Raino nodded. Then he cleared his throat and lifted a small bag.
Salīa's eyes lit up when she saw a pair of socks with stitches of a smile on each.
"Lucky socks!" she cheered, causing some of the zazi to look over, as she threw off her boots and instantly replaced her own.
"Yes, as Lilitha is busy with her mother in guarding the mourning of the lost, she apologizes for not being able to see you off and—"
"Yes, oh, yes, please tell Lulu I say thanks."
Even Chief Raino couldn't hide his smile watching her become a child again. Lulu had always made Salīa a pair of 'lucky socks' with smiles sewn into them each year.
"But," she sulked. "I couldn't get her anything in turn this time."
"I'm sure she wouldn't mind waiting until next time you meet."
"Okay, I will, yes, let her know."
Salīa was about to return the pouch but saw something else in it, clearing her face of a smile. Even Chief Raino tensed.
She saw three sturdy black and gold strings bound together by clasps on each end, smelling fragrant of lavender.
Her mother's favorite scent.
"This is…"
"The neck pieces you mentioned, otherwise known as links."
So, these are links? Three chain-like strings bound together?
"If I can suggest, replace it with the string that holds your current necklace."
Salīa found that doing so didn't spark any difference. Chief Raino shifted uncomfortably, something not often seen by him.
"Nomusa cleansed it this morning. And Princess—I mean Liza—I mean your aunt, is the one who made it."
It was tricky for Chief Raino, who preferred to stand on courtesy to address Salīa's aunt solely by her name, Lizalenhle, without adding Princess in front of it. Even though she renounced her title so as not to not have wanting that addition.
"Aunt Liza is here?" Salīa beamed. "That's great—"
"I apologise for the confusion caused. Your aunt and her family's whereabouts are still unknown. She made this after your mother went to the Salazā Spirits."
Not wanting to lead her into further puzzlement, he went on.
"The Protector's essence was right. Shortly after you went to the Faraway Forests, your mother and siblings went there. And it seemed it was to request assistance in gathering some of their own essence for those links.
As long as they are unbroken, it is a sign of life. If the necklaces were to fall…"
Salīa gulped and nodded. Before she could open her lips, Chief Raino answered.
"To confirm the veracity, it's best for you to touch the links every once in a while until you feel connected. But not obsessively.
The black represents their vessels, and the gold thread around it is the essence of their spirits. It can help guide you to feel their state."
No second was wasted; she instantly felt it - their presence. Almost like three gentle pulses, theirs, there was no doubt. Though strangely, their state was quite calm.
"They seem…tranquil."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"It should be…but…given the state of things…" Salīa touched the links.
Chief Raino sighed.
"I know it's tempting, but try not to fiddle obsessively. It'll only puzzle you further. I know it's not much, but your mother must have had these made to ease you in times of her absence."
"I understand," she said, biting her lip anxiously, looking to the outside of the land. "Chief Raino, I know you'd never lie to me. Though I cannot say the same of keeping things from me."
He winced.
"Do you think my mother had a reason to go on the Noblas Veiros besides leisure?"
Chief Raino instantly eyed her, almost as if stunned by her words. Though he could only nod.
"Do you think she knew what would happen to our land?"
He shook his head and said, "Of course not. I'd bet my life and that of my bloodline on it."
"Then tell me, royal chief guard of many generations with a mighty heart and quick mind, what secret mission do you think my mother, our land's ruler, decided to go on while I was away?"
To this, he offered no easy expression. His head flashed through so many thoughts, yet his face tensed terribly as if trying to suppress them.
"I can't say for certain," he eventually spoke. "However, it is possible that you feel their tranquility because they are not in danger, but are tending to things that are best kept private."
"Even to you? But if you aren't privy to it, then who would be?"
He could not answer.
Salīa studied him.
She was quite tempted to grip his temples and try to force memories out. Yet there was no guarantee it would do anything other than make the air hostile between them.
For she couldn't control what memories came out, if they did. And those with strong spiritual cores could, to some extent, create blocks.
"Do you think that they are not missing, but hiding?"
His eyes narrowed at her, his brows knitting into each other. It was as much of an answer as she would get. Of course, he wouldn't presume, nor would he deny. Both knew that Queen Saoa was an excellent keeper of secrets.
While she had plenty of worshippers, guardians, acquaintances, admirers, family, and friends, who was a better-known confidant to her than herself?
While this has been exceedingly frustrating to Salīa over the years in trying to get closer to her mother, it was the one thing that mildly contented her now.
"I'm sure she has her reasons for concealing herself," Salīa said, touching the links on her neck. "And I have just as many reasons to find her."
With a resigned sigh, she continued.
"Thank you for all your help in this, Chief Raino."
She hugged him. Part of her was hoping to get memories, and in a flash, she had seen some. But they were just of him having dinner with his wife and children when they were much younger.
While Chief Raino was startled by the breach, Salīa smiled.
"I know this is keeping you from your own, but please delegate however you see fit. I want you to smile in this time too, if only once."
His grey-black eyes softened, and he nodded, then said, "I hope you'll do the same."
Their eyes cast to a chubby cherub-faced figure with a beaming smile. Salīa also wanted to hug him, but knew to stand on courtesy.
"I'm grateful to have made your acquaintance," Magi-mi Chamba bowed to her. "We must part, but I feel it's ill of me to leave you in your time of need."
"It's me who's attached. I mean you no burden. You've accompanied me wholeheartedly during my stay here, and you've fulfilled all that was asked by blessing over Magi Inio. And for that I'm extremely grateful," she bowed.
He smiled but did not move.
"Ahh," Salīa half-smiled. "I guess there's one more riddle to answer?"
To this, he said, "What do you know about how demons come into the world?"
"Through a weakened vessel," she said promptly. "One that allows itself to be taken by demonic influence and gets chained by their vices. Whether drink, puff, coin, status, or flesh. Most are bound to one or a few of the ruins of none."
"Ahh, yes, the ruins."
"People become preta at first, readying their vessel by becoming demonic, in their own right. Then, when ready, their vessel is taken on by demons from the outer realm. Allowing them to walk our world freely."
Magi-mi Chamba nodded.
"Any other ways?"
She hesitated. Of course, she'd heard of another way. How could she not when so many people call her a demon?
"Some iconoclastic speculators believe in an alternative but extremely rare way in which they are born into this realm."
She felt her hands moisten and wiped them together.
"It's just a rumo—"
"You've answered the first question about how demons come into this world. The next question is why."
Salīa sighed. This is something she's wondered many times.
"I could tell you what I've learnt and what I'm told to say," she shrugged. "That demons only have one reason for coming to this realm. And that's to destroy it. To bring it down. To tear apart. To embrace chaos."
"You don't agree?"
"It's not that. It just leads to another question," she lingered. "Why would they want to do that? What does it give them?"
Magi-mi Chamba shrugged as well.
How I wish these magi would stop with all the shrugging and silence as if they don't know all the thousands of secrets they carry with them.
"I guess I'll think about the why later. But for now, I'm quite certain that they're here to bring about darkness."
"Then the final question is," Magi-mi Chamba paused. "What are you going to do about it?"
This was not something she eagerly answered.
It was already known what a Protector is expected to do during times of looming darkness.
"Lead with your heart, serve with your head, and take heed of your home. Travel true," he said.
"Travel true," Salīa replied. "And thank you."
Magi-mi Chamba bowed, then added, "If you happen to run into Magi Rai, please send him my blessings."
Magi Rai? I only met him because I was called to the Faraway Forests, and haven't seen him since he left there months before. Although he was the magi I was closest to there, I doubt I'd ever see him again.
Yet not wanting to tangle in more riddles, she just nodded.
"Travel true," he replied, and whisked away.
She joined Bazil, ready to mount the beautiful black and gold Tiago tigers.
Around them were rows of zazi, most on horses who set out on different paths as instructed. All made an x to Salīa before leaving and took off ahead of them.
A sudden overcast pulled her eyes up.
Black clouds carved themselves into the skies as drizzle danced through the air, quickly pulling patches of fragrant petrichor out of the soil.
A vehement rumble of thunder introduced itself, along with the remnants of the greying sky, as if prophesying a deluge.
"Well, that's a good omen," Salīa quipped sardonically.
Regardless, she readied herself to jump on her tiger, yet a sprinting zazi made it, heaving slightly, then panted, "Your uncle has arrived."
Salīa stared at him, unblinking. He cleared his throat awkwardly, caught between the glances of both her and Bazil. He then spoke up.
"I'm second in command of Commander Guardian Sibusiso's troop. My name is Thabo. I hurried urgently on his command. Please forgive the intrusion, but an urgent message was sent."
Don't tell me we're under attack again.
"Are we under attack?" appeared Chief Raino, instinctively reaching for his xira.
"No, Chief. I apologise. It was made urgent because Prince Kian requested an audience with Pri—Queen Salīa. He said he'd like to share a meal with his niece before their parting."
Chief Raino and Salīa exchanged glances. Even Bazil scratched the back of his head. The timing was not ideal, given the urgency.
Before Chief Raino could ask if she wished to turn back, she said, "I'm not hungry."
A pause.
"Tell Prince Kian that I apologise, but I must leave immediately. Though I'd be happy to accept any messenger birds he'd send my way in the meantime. And I hope that he can forgive my promptness."
This zazi's eyes flitted as if he wanted to press on.
"If I may," Chief Raino spoke. "Tell him that she will make it a duty to share a meal with him upon their next meeting."
Salīa nodded.
"Yes. Those words exactly. Thank you zazi Thabo."
The zazi offered an honest smile and set off. The sprinkling rain was slowly starting to batter, and so she said her final farewells and began the rest of her journey.
X