Maliha
Chapter 19: The Ishanu

Maliha struggled to swallow back her fear, her throat dry as the eyes of tribe members turned to face her.

Some faces were inquisitive, but the majority looked at her differently than how they previously had, and it irked her. She had this brand on her arm and yet she was not one of them. She had laboured alongside the women and men and gathering crop to harvest and yet she was still not one of them.

She had helped Nahi give birth to her two children, one of them being a girl and still no one accepted her as one. What more did she need to do to prove to them that she was tribe, and did she even want to prove it?

Ujarak had said they were loving and caring people, but her first few encounters with the tribe had been everything but loving. They were viscous and harsh, some would even say barbaric. Did she truly want to be a part of a tribe like that?

She also couldn’t deny the way they had ostracised and neglected poor Enzo. This tribe had so many faults that made her question their integrity. perhaps it was her time to move on, but her heart quivered in disagreement.

She couldn’t leave not yet, maybe not ever because she belonged here. Even with all their many faults, Maliha had a feeling that this was where she belonged, and she would not let anyone tell her otherwise.

As a new wave of confidence washed over her, she jutted out her chin and pulled away from Xiuri, meeting the gleeful smile of Yaniza with her own stubborn set jaw. She would not waiver under this woman’s taunting words or eyes. She would stand strong.

Her view glided over Yaniza’s shoulder to Ujarak who looked as if Yaniza’s words had not affected him in the slightest bit. In fact, there was a lightness to his eyes that hinted he knew something more. Was Yaniza acting exactly as they council had predicted she would? That couldn’t be right, could it?

Once catching Maliha’s eyes, Ujarak gave her a quick wink before subtly nodding his head towards the podium. Maliha slowly followed his instruction and turned her head back to the council members who stood there with smug faces. Makula’s grin was the biggest as she motioned for Yaniza to move aside.

At Makula’s smiling face, Yaniza’s smugness waived and began to slip. Her scarred face creasing further as her confusion mounted higher and higher as the rest of the council members met her with the same icy and condescending smile.

Makula climbed onto the podium with the help of one of the men who stood guard. Her old withered hand taking liberties with the man’s bare chest before she refocused her attention back onto the present situation.

“It would seem, that according to Yaniza, we have ourselves quite the conundrum.”

She postulated out loud, her scratchy voice demanding the attention of everyone.

“We cannot fault Yaniza, for she does not have the ear of the Savuriya nor does she have the ear of our Dressir.” Sighed Makula, her head shaking as she insulted the woman.

Tanzim’s face reddened at the insult against her mother.

The crowd rippled back in horror as she yanked her arm out of the man who stood guard over her and marched toward the stage. Tanzim made it no more than two steps before she was snatched back up into the strong arms, but she was still belligerent.

“It doesn’t matter!! Maliha is an imposter and my mother is part of the council.” She screeched.

Her hands waving as she spat in Maliha’s direction. Her frosty tone was full of hatred

“Enough.” Thundered Ujarak, sending a filthy glare towards Tanzim.

He spat a command at the two males who were supposed to be restraining Tanzim, their heads nodding as they forced her to her knees with her hands clenched behind her back. She was forcefully subdued as a piece of material bound her lips shut.

Makula’s head shook in disappointment as she turned to face the horror-stricken tribe.

“I will not speak on her current actions, for they show the type of character this female has. Instead, what I will do, is tell you that Maliha is a part of this tribe whether Tanzim and Yaniza knew it or not.”

Makula’s head twisted to face Abazz and then turned to face Ujarak, at his subtle nod- a nod that did not escape Maliha’s attention- Makula continued with her first piece of evidence against Yaniza’s claim.

“Upon Maliha’s entrance to our tribe, I met her, though she was not conscious enough to notice. In this meeting, I had a vision and so I left our tribe and headed to our holy temple where I prayed for understanding. I was given insight and on the day of the Sanfr Nafti, Maliha’s hair was burnt in Savuriya’s eternal flame alongside all of ours. She is one.”

Though her words were for the tribe, Makula’s steady gaze remained locked on Maliha. Those ancient orbs that were full of so much wisdom, stared knowingly at Maliha. She knew.

Makula knew how much those words meant to Maliha, how much they rocked the foundation of her being. Maliha felt the overwhelming tears of joy bubbling through her. She was one.

“Not possible.” Gritted Yaniza, her head shaking dismissively.

There was an echo of gasps to her words, heads snapping towards the accusing woman. Teeth were bared and mouths spat filth at Yaniza in such a viscous display, it had Maliha rocking back on her feet.

“You dare to call Makula a liar?” Growled Ciur, her fist balled around her rounded stomach as she stepped to the stage.

The tribe moved in time with her as if they were her shadow but her Solah pulled her back, forcing Ciur to step behind him. His thick shoulders rolled back as he glared at Yaniza.

“You think you are more than you are Yaniza.” N’tan growled, the tribe echoing his words with their own calls of anger.

“No- no, I -” she stammered, looking to the only person who had sided with her and Tanzim.

“Lenar, help me.” Yaniza muttered to the male behind her but he shook his head.

“Even I am not stupid enough to doubt Makula.” He croaked, stepping away from Yaniza with a final baleful glare.

“I- I-“. She was lost for words.

“Enough!” Huffed Ujarak.

“Makula’s word is final, unless anyone else has direct conversations with our creator?” He questioned. No one responded.

“No?” He growled, looking from face to face. “Then we can continue this trial with the understanding that this was as I previously stated: A crime against a tribe member.”

He waves his hand for the trial to proceed, but Makula climbed from the stage, waiting for Yaniza to take the stage and defend her words and her daughter’s actions.

Her body shook as she stood in the shade of the Great Tree, her hands clenched at her sides.

“I would like to clarify that my doubt was not on Makula. Our holy woman’s ability to converse with our goddess is without question.” Her voice quivered at the hissing sounds that sizzled from Ciur and Nahi’s lips.

“I have faith in her abilities, however my confusion and doubt came from the fact that Maliha has not gone through the Kahani.” Her throat bobbed when there was no response to her words.

“I-I apologise for doubting, but the Kahani is a right that every member of this tribe goes through. The month-long process and the eventual ceremony ties us to The Ishanu. Maliha has not had this.”

Yaniza was still grappling with straws, trying to put her argument across because she knew that she could not prove her daughter’s innocence but by proving it wasn’t a crime against a tribe member, Tanzim’s punishment would not be as harsh.

“We have many tribe members that have not had their Kahani. Xiuri, Ciur, Nadara, Yusef... the list goes on.” Huffed Abazz, waving Yaniza’s arguments to the side.

Grunts echoed through the Ishanu, as Yaniza’s explanations were shut down further

“Stop trying to explain yourself. We only want to hear your daughter’s justification for her actions.” Interjected Kamir.

Ujarak did not speak up, he did not interrupt or force the conversation in a separate direction. Instead he allowed the woman to dig herself and her daughter a grave for all the tribe to see.

“Fine.” She snapped. “My daughter denies all accusations against her and no one can disapprove her as no one was there to witness it.”

Her jaw hardened under the scrutiny of the tribe but there was a confidence in her words. She nodded to her daughter before getting off the stage and standing with her arms in front of her. Lenar had returned to Yaniza’s side, his dark hair pulled back from his face in a harsh ponytail. His large hand gripped Yaniza’s shoulder as a sharp gasp rattled from her chest.

The council parted and a woman with silver locked hair that shimmered around her face stepped onto the stage. Her feet seemed to barely touch the ground, each step seeming as if she were floating

“Mother?” husked Yaniza, her jaw clattering in shock and disbelief.

“I am sorry child.” She muttered, her pale lashes gliding closed over her deeply tanned cheeks.

“As the mother of Yaniza it breaks my heart to speak against my own blood, but the goddess has spoken.” Her lips pinched tight as sorrow filtered into her orbs.

“Savuriya has shown us that Maliha was attacked. Her fall was no accident but an attempt of murder. Some may question how I know this?”

Heads nodded though there seemed to be a calm state of acceptance for whatever explanation would come next.

“When under duress dormant powers have been known to explode from our very beings. Uncontrollable energy churning around us that is directed towards the very thing that caused us harm.”

Her face was solemn as she looked to her crying daughter, and then to her grandchild who knelt on the ground as nothing more than the common criminal she was.

“Though no one may have seen my granddaughter’s actions, Maliha’s response upon waking proved that she had been attacked by Tanzim. Many of you were present during Maliha’s awakening and know that I speak no falsehood.”

She slowly stepped from the stage and made her way to Yaniza, stroking her daughter’s cheeks in apology. From Maliha’s place at the front, she could see that tears also glided down the woman’s face.

“Daz, Hafiza speaks the truth.” Groused Kamir, his red hair flaming in the dimming sunlight.

“I witnessed Maliha’s awakening first-hand and know that she had no idea what she was doing accept to follow her bodies command.” He spoke so fervently, his head held high with pride as he gave his accounting.

Maliha glanced to Xiuri and couldn’t help but smile at the way her friend stared at Kamir in bashful awe. Her hands clenching at her stomach as she looked to him.

“Yaniza, do you have a response?” Questioned Ujarak.

Her mouth opened and shut as she tried to combat the evidence before her. To deny what was obvious.

“Jealousy.” She muttered weakly. “Maliha could have attacked Tanzim out of jealousy.”

As the idea churned over in her mind she seemed to cling to it with a new hope.

“Daz, Maliha was jealous of my daughter’s place in Ujarak’s life.” Her head nodded resolutely. “She felt threatened by their-”

“Lies.” Howled Nahi, her face a molten red as she tried to force her way to the woman.

Her screeching voice woke the young babes that lay across her bosom, the wailing voice of Kanu woke his younger and much more vocal sister. Nahi remained undeterred, even as she bounced her two children that lay along her chest in a colourful swathe of material.

“My brother dismissed your daughter for her cruel behaviour to Xiuri and Maliha.” She huffed.

“And so, we have come full circle.” Groused Abazz, siding up to his mate and pulling his daughter from the material that tied them securely to their mother.

He bounced his daughter in a display of paternal affection that had Maliha’s heart melting. His eyes remained fixed on his whimpering daughter even as he spoke his opinion.

“It seems Yaniza accuses Maliha of feeling emotions that her daughter felt.”

His head rose, and his hand waved as he shut Lenar up before them man could interject.

“Before you dispute my claims, know that I have witnessed your daughter’s jealousy first-hand. Many of us have.”

At that many heads among the tribe nodded, some even vocalising what their eyes had seen.

“How has this become a trial about personality? My daughter is not perfect but to attempt murder? That is- no,” he shook his head profusely. “I will not believe that of her.” Lenar refuted, gripping Yaniza’s hand in solidarity.

“This is not a trial of personality.” Croaked Makula, her withered feet carrying her away from the Great Tree and into the centre of the Ishanu, forcing the tribe to part for her.

“This is a trial of right and wrong. A trial of energy and though we may only speculate on Tanzim’s personality and motives, her energy does not lie.”

Confusion splayed along Maliha’s face as Makula crouched to the floor and stroked at a veiny root that pulsed eagerly at her touch. She lightly plucked the bud and stared at the tiny bud that began to bloom, bright light shining from its centre.

Slowly rising to her feet, she held the glowing bud in her hand with a delicate touch.

“This is our ancestral home, the root of our people and yet-” Makula motioned mournfully at the plants that had lost their glow and lustre.

She swayed her way towards the Great Tree, her feet slowing the closer she stepped to Tanzim. Nodding to one of the guards, Makula softly told him to release her hands but to hold her to the ground.

Tanzim fought the heavy hold on her shoulders, her face reddening with the exertion she put into escaping but no matter how hard she tried, the guards refused to release her.

Maliha waited with abated breath as Makula approached Tanzim, her eyes glued to the glowing bloom. The pure energy pulsed in the elderly woman’s hand, the luminescent, green light flaring through the darkness.

“I did not want to make this about energy, about what lies in our heart, but we have no choice but to point out what is before our very eyes.”

Makula’s hand extended out to Tanzim’s shaking palm and before their very eyes the Ishanu reacted.

A flash of red blinding light shot from the blooming plant and then it snapped closed. Sucking the last piece of its opulence from them, leaving behind nothing but the dark red bud of a flower that had yet to bloom.

“Energy does not lie Tanzim, and the Ishanu can feel yours.” She muttered, pulling the plant away from the sobbing woman.

Her thick brows knitted deeply as she moved away from Tanzim and slowly ground to a halt in front of Maliha.

“Give me your hand child.” She croaked.

Maliha’s hands fisted at her side, her being quaking with fear at what would happen.

“Trust me.” The elderly woman whispered, her dark eyes beckoned Maliha to do as she told.

Maliha turned to Xiuri and then Nahi, at their subtle nods she placed her quivering palm into the elderly woman’s hand. The backs of her hands gliding along Makula’s withered palm.

Her heart thudded in her ears, sweat gliding along her skin as Makula brought her other hand forward. Maliha’s eyes clenched shut just as Makula’s finger tips touched hers. Her hands quivered in fear, her eyes glued shut in trepidation of what she would see.

Maliha waited anxiously for someone to speak, to say something, anything but after a long period of silence, it became clear that no one was prepared to say anything.

Muttering a prayer under her breath, she slowly peered open one of her eyes and then quickly snapped it closed at what she saw.

Her heart pulsed as she slowly opened both eyes and stared in wonder because there in the centre of her palm was the shining light of the bloomed flower.

Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she slowly looked around the Ishanu at the tribe. Their faces were full of acceptance, full of respect and love.

“Daharrosol á zeh y’unik.” Softly smiled Makula, repeating those very words that had confused Maliha not too long ago.

“Energy never lies.” Muttered Makula, gently plucking the plant from Maliha’s hand and passing it onto Xiuri.

Her friend was moved to tears at the peace and acceptance that pulsed through the Ishanu and the plant. She snivelled slightly as the plant was taken from her palm and passed along to Kamir. Makula following the plant around The Ishanu as she handed it to each member of the tribe. No child or baby was left without its light.

When some time had passed, and it finally reached Ujarak, Makula stepped away and left him to his final deliberation. He stared at the glowing flower in his hand with a deep concentration. It was as if he were looking through it and staring into another dimension where ancestors walked alongside him.

“When there is dissension amongst the tribe, our ancestors see clearly and speak for us.”

His voice thundered through Maliha’s body. The clarity and strength behind each decibel moved her in a way a person’s voice never had before.

“The Ishanu has spoken and we cannot deny our ancestors wisdom.”

When he finally looked away from the plant, dread balled in the pit of Maliha’s stomach. Bumps prickling along her skin at the mutinous expression that lined what was typically a handsome face.

Not now.

As he stood amongst his tribe with the Ishanu’s light glowing in his palm, his face turned into a harsh scowl.

Sobs shook from the floor, echoing in the peaceful garden of ancestors. Their wails whipping around the air as lines and lines of their bloodline screeched their grief over what Maliha knew was coming next.

“Tanzim, you are found guilty and The Ishanu demands justice.” His voice reverberated around them as thunder clapped above.

Sharp bolts of lightning flashing through the gaps of the Ishanu and searing across the sky in an open display of Savuriya’s wrath.