Maliha
Chapter 21: Endings

“Clean her up, I have no wish to harm her more than necessary.” Growled Ujarak, storming away from the stage.

Yaniza wobbled over to her daughter and bit by bit so did other members of the tribe. Though they seemed to have no love for Tanzim, just like Maliha, they could also feel the pain of The Ishanu.

Its grief called out to them, haunted them with its loss but Maliha didn’t know what was worse. To feel this soul wrenching grief or to be bereft from the connection like Tanzim now was.

Looking at Tanzim, it was clear to see that the female was not only delirious, but she was also empty. Her eyes were a void of dull colour that amassed to nothing but unseeing orbs. She stared blindly off into the distance, her head bobbing and eyelids barely moving. She was barely present, all fire taken from her being.

“Tanzim, can you hear me?”

Yaniza’s voice waivered as she tried to grab her daughter’s attention, tried to bring her back to the present even though there would be nothing waiting for her but more punishment.

“Mm” she mumbled, her lips clasped together, “Uma.”

Her eyelids flickered until the whites showed and then she collapsed. Her body shaking with seizures that rocked her frame.

“Quick make her bite this.” Snapped Makula shoving a stick at Yaniza, who gently placed the stick between her daughter’s lips to stop her tongue rolling.

“She can’t take anymore.” Sobbed Yaniza, her hand dabbing at Tanzim’s face as she tried to repress her daughter’s violent shuddering.

“She can’t.”

Maliha felt her pain, could understand how hard it would be for any mother to witness her daughter’s demise like this. It was hard for any human to see, whether they liked Tanzim or not.

“There is no choice.” Gritted Ujarak.

It was clear that he did not want to punish Tanzim more, but her punishment had to be completed. No one took pleasure in this, least of all Maliha. Though she knew that Tanzim’s actions were serious, she could have killed Maliha but still this was, it was something that she couldn’t quite wrap her mind around.

It was heart breaking to watch a proud woman be brought down to nothing, but perhaps that was what was needed. Perhaps Tanzim needed to be brought down to nothing so she could rebuild herself into something better. Not a bitter and hate filled woman. Perhaps this was Savuriya’s plan.

“Subdue her so we can get this over with, Yaniza. It is not my intent to prolong her suffering.”

Yaniza muffled her sob as she forced her daughter to drink more of the tea, Tanzim’s eyes rolling as she flitted between consciousness.

Lenar gripped Tanzim’s mutilated arm towards her body whilst one of the guards gripped the other. Her head was gripped in another tribe members hands as Ujarak pulled out his gold sword again. With a smaller silver blade, he quickly sharpened the edge of his gold sword before placing it to Tanzim’s head. He grasped the thick mass that was her hair and began cutting away at it. Large clumps of red hair dropped onto the floor, resembling kindled flames.

“Keep her head still,” Ujarak snapped as he painstakingly cut each strand.

This was nothing like what they had done to Maliha. Though they had cut her hair, Maliha still had some hair left on her head. Maliha’s hair was a thick mass of coiling strands that hung haphazardly by her ears, but Tanzim’s was not.

Ujarak kept cutting away chunks of her hair until the white of her scalp began to peak through the short strands of her fine her. He kept cutting, scraping the blade along her head until Tanzim looked almost as bald as she had been on the day she was born.

Once the last strand of her hair had fallen to the floor, Ujarak put his knives back on the band that wrapped around his waist and then extended his hand outward. Saralec gripped his strong hand as she climbed onto the stage, her bare feet padding in the grass as she moved to Tanzim’s side. Her hands reached into the small pouch that hung around her waist and she pulled out a small sharp needle before gripping Tanzim’s chin.

“Make sure she does not move, néh?” Her words were directed to those who held Tanzim still, but her eyes did not move away from the muttering and half-conscious woman.

Saralec muttered something under her breath before leaning over Tanzim and bringing the needle towards her nose. She gripped the woman’s chin tightly before forcing the sharp tip all the way the thick cartilage that separated Tanzim’s nostrils. Tanzim’s hips reared up as she tried to thrash away but more arms extended out, the tribe moving as one as they moved to resettle the woman so Saralec could finish.

“Darsan, pass me the bowl.” A young girl with pale, almost white blonde hair stepped forward, the wild, curly, brittle strands almost obscuring her face.

Darsan picked up the copper painted clay bowl by her foot and handed into Saralec before moving back a few steps and picking up some jewellery that had lain in another bowl. As she stepped forward again, Darsan’s blonde hair moved to the side to reveal a tanned face that was smothered in freckles and pale blue eyes that looked almost as white as the snowy mountain tops of the Melikit tribe that Maliha had been raised in.

“S’bak zeh,” Thank you, Saralec muttered as she took the jewellery from Darsan’s hand as she stepped away.

Darsan’s eyes were unnerving as they settled over Maliha’s face. They looked to be a milky blue of those few elderly people who had lost their sight, but the way Darsan looked at Maliha was as if she could see clearly. Darsan’s head tilted sideways and her bronze skin wrinkled as she watched Maliha thoughtfully before moving away.

Saralec dipped her fingers into the bowl and gathered a small amount of a thick jelly liquid before spreading it over Tanzim’s nose where the needle had Just pierced. Tanzim’s screams reached a pinnacle as the healing agent was spread over the freshly pierced and raw skin. Maliha remembered the feeling all too well, she had felt like she was burning alive when they had placed that salve over her freshly branded skin.

Tears cascaded down Tanzim’s cheeks, her bleeding and cracked lips dampened by the torrents that kept streaming down her skin.

“Almost done.” Whispered Saralec trying to console Tanzim as much as she could.

Saralec set the bowl down by her foot before picking up one of the pieces of jewellery. The piece looked like the canine of a panther, but ever so slightly thinner. The long, bone coloured jewellery was forced into the narrow whole and then two silver rings were slid over the sharp tip on each side of the nose jewellery to stop the piercing from coming out.

Saralec then dipped down into her lap and pulled out a thick silver band, the band opened wide as she pushed it onto Tanzim’s neck and then snapped shut with the final clinking sound of her enslavement. Lastly, she slid two matching silver bands over Tanzim’s upper arms before stripping Tanzim of what was left of her clothes.

“It is done.” Ujarak grunted, stepping away from the unconscious and mumbling woman.

His dark eyes lingered over Tanzim’s delirious form before he moved away from the tribe.

He glanced heatedly at Maliha before he charged off, conveying his wish for her to follow but she didn’t dare move or follow him, not when his mood seemed to volatile.

“What happens next?” She murmured.

Yaniza wiped at her snot-soaked face before she dared to look up at Maliha. Her dark eyes swirling with so much pain it sent Maliha reeling.

“Now she will be taken away and once sold, rebranded.” Solemnly responded Abazz.

Maliha grimaced at the thought that this was just the beginning of Tanzim’s punishment, the woman would likely spend years suffering until she could redeem her soul, if she even could.

Yaniza’s crying renewed at Abazz words, her tears streaking over her face as she crouched over her daughter’s prone form.

“Come Maliha, we will give them time with their daughter.”

Abazz steady hand gripped her shoulder as he pulled Maliha away from the grieving parents. He barked out a harsh command in their language, his fingers clicking as he pointed to both parents. Five strong warriors rushed to do Abazz’ bidding and stood over Tanzim’s parents to ensure that they didn’t try to escape with their daughter.

Instead of waiting for Xiuri to make her presence known, Maliha followed Abazz out of The Ishanu. She was eager to leave the sombre sight that would surely be ingrained into her mind for quite some time. She had wanted Tanzim to be punished but not like that, not in this way. Tanzim’s punishment was more than she had ever seen before and it left her reeling.

As Maliha made her way out of The Ishanu she felt heavy. The beauty and feelings of love that had filled her being upon entry, was not there anymore, all she felt were the sombre feelings that pulsed through The Ishanu and it seemed that such emotions were echoed in the tribe. Abazz walked silently by her side, now words flowing between them or any of the other tribe members who had begun their exodus now that Tanzim’s punishment was over.

“Come to our tent.” Abazz’ heavy palm on her back gave Maliha no choice as he ushered her in the direction of their tent.

Watery green eyes peered back at the forest mournfully before she followed him.

As Maliha entered the tent, she was greeted with the calming scent of lavender and mint tea.

“Here.” A cup of hot tea was shoved into her hands by Hafiza. “I thought you may need this after today.”

Maliha’s eyes watered at the taste of the sweet liquid, her body naturally calming with each slurp she took of the drink.

“Yes, s’bak zeh.” Muttered Maliha in Thanks as she sunk into a cushion beside the feeding Nahi.

“How are you fairing?” Nahi questioned, worried by Maliha’s dazed expression.

“I am- I don’t know.” Maliha’s lip quivered as she stared down at her cup.

“It is okay. The first time I witnessed a punishment I had night terrors for over a week.”

Her pale eyes stared down at her son as he suckled on her breast.

“I was no more than a few sun cycles older than you.” She looked to Hafiza for confirmation before turning back to Maliha.

“It is a lot for our mind to grasp but give it time and you will become content with the outcome.”

“I suppose I must give do as you suggest and give it some time.”

Maliha wasn’t completely convinced that she would ever become completely contented with had happened this day, but she did not voice her opinion out loud.

Namali’s sharp cries pulled both females away from their musings and snapped them back to the present.

“Can you hold Kanu.”

Maliha happily took the milk drunk baby into her arms as Enzo brought forth a squirming Namali. His hair was hazardous as he stared down at his little cousin, each one of his steps cautious as he brought his cousin over to his aunt.

“S’bak zeh, Enzo.” Smiled Nahi, even though the woman was completely frazzled by the rotating feeding of her children.

Enzo glowed with the praise before he meandered over to Maliha, his head sinking onto her shoulder as he rested by her.

“Are you tired?” whispered Maliha, fearful that he loud voice would wake the complacent baby in her arms.

“Just a little.” Reluctantly muttered Enzo, his big grey eyes staring up at Maliha contentedly.

“Who is making all that noise? Is it my little girl?” chuckled Abazz as he finally entered the tent.

“S’bak zeh.” He thanked Hafiza as she gave him a cup of warm tea before moving towards his wife and his still crying daughter.

“Please take your daughter. She is nothing like my Kanu.” Huffed Nahi, taking her struggling daughter off her breast and pushing her out towards her father.

“My daughter?” he scoffed, gathering the still crying baby in his arms.

His big arms shrugged up and down as he lightly bounced and rocked his daughter until her tears seized.

“Namali is your daughter through and through. She has your temperament, Nahi.” Each word was said in an overbearingly cooing voice as he soothed his squirming daughter.

“What is that supposed to mean?” huffed Nahi, reclining back on her pillows and sipping her tea. Thankful for the short break she had from tending to both children.

“What that means, my lovely Solah, is that our daughter is a spoilt little madam just like her mother.”

“Why you-” growled Nahi, bundling up a pillow and throwing it at his legs so as not to disturb their daughter.

Everyone burst into laughter at Namali’s sharp shout of discomfort.

“Such a princess.” Huffed Nahi, but there was a gentleness in her orbs as she stared at her husband’s gentled care of their daughter.

Maliha and Enzo stayed in Nahi and Abazz’ tent for hours until it as time for the last meal of the day. The usual happy ambience of the tribe was subdued that night. The usual laughter, dancing and joking was missing as everyone ate in stunned silence. There small mumblings of conversation amongst all the different fire places but the jovial tone was replaced by a heavy swathe of mournful conversation.

Ujarak sat beside Maliha like a statue, he barely spoke to her nor did he feed her in the way that was customary. He picked at the food with a lack of hunger and interest that had Maliha worrying. Something was clearly on his mind but instead of sharing it, he kept it in. She acknowledged that she was partially to blame for the awkwardness between them because Ujarak had wanted to speak to her earlier on, but she had been too consumed with the proceedings. If she had gone to him when he asked, perhaps this tension wouldn’t exist, but she couldn’t live with regrets. She had made the choice she had felt was best and now she had to deal with whatever consequences.

She would try to engage him in a conversation at least one more time before leaving him to his own devices.

“Are you not hungry.” She questioned. Long lashes peering up at him curiously.

He grunted a response and then picked up a piece of meat with his fingers, he chewed the food down and then slurped down his drink.

“Ujarak. Did I - did I do something wrong?”

She hated the vulnerability that was in her voice, but she couldn’t help it. Maliha feared that in the time apart Ujarak had begun to blame her for all that had happened this day.

Maliha’s face fell when he only grunted a response, confirming her thoughts that he blamed her. Her downtrodden face rose up to meet the apologetic face of Namali. As she looked around the fire she noted that many other members were giving her the same apologetic and almost pitying look. Their looks conveyed that they believed the same thoughts that had begun plaguing her.

Heat rose beneath her skin at the humiliating way he ignored her which was only exacerbated by the way the peple amongst her fire watched her. it was too much. Her body boiled with a rising anger that shook her to her core. She didn’t need their pitying glances, she’d had enough of that in her lifetime and did not need it from this tribe. Not from these people.

It was too much.

“Excuse me.” She spat as she shot abruptly to her feet.

She was tired of his hot and cold temperament, if this was the way he thought things would be then he was wrong.

She stepped over their cushioned chair, knocking into Ujarak’s shoulder and finally gaining his attention but it was too late. She was over this night. She retreated back to the house, completely ignoring his calls after her as she battled with her bodies need to cry.

She went straight to her room, pacing around the bed in frustration before she gathered her emotions. She wouldn’t let a man get the best of her. hadn’t she learnt anything from Petr’s treatment of her. Love was fickle and the men in her life were no better. She couldn’t leave herself open to a man when he ran hot and cold, when he wasn’t completely open with her.

She needed to put Ujarak to the back of her mind, he wasn’t worth this.

Nodding her head in conviction she went to the dresser that was by her bed and dipped her cloth in the cool water that had been sitting there since water. She began her night-time ablutions before stripping out of her clothes and changing into the thin night gown she had been given on one of her first nights in this tribe.

As she sunk into the bed, her damp hair resting on the pillow she swore to herself that she wouldn’t give Ujarak control over her emotions any longer.

As her eyes began to droop closed she vowed to herself that she would put thoughts of him out of her mind and focus only on belonging in this tribe.

She wouldn’t let his actions get an emotional rise out of her. Not anymore.