The only thing that was missing was their armets which were solely reserved for zazi called on missions with other lands to fit into standard practice.
Otherwise, they were fully plated in their golden gorgets, gauntlets, and greaves with black dress. Yet most of them were not shy to remove it the moment the dinner became more casual.
Most preferred the base of what they'd have as zazi. Which was their xira, the black tree shield with golden edges, a more flexible helm or headdress, less stiff plating, some body markings, and were somewhat topless or wore dress with somewhere on their neck chains, cuffs, or rings, showed a black and gold sigil of a tiago tiger.
Though the further up in rank or the longer one was a guardian, the more decorated one became.
Commander Guardians who act as second in command and further on usually had more jewels on their armor, more custom plating to their personal taste, additional markings to demonstrate, and often more piercings too if preferred.
Some even had weapons alongside their xiras.
Chief Raino, being the Grand Chief, was the most adorned, and so his headdress and helmet were quite decorated, as were the jewels on his plating and on his piercings.
Of course, he was abundant with markings, and each was rightfully earned.
He had assigned a chief guardian, who was a longtime companion, yet it was his eldest sons were ranked as the highest commanders with some other worthy zazi also up in the ranks.
Salīa also couldn't help but notice that all of them were quite handsome as well.
That went without saying when it came to Chief Raino's children.
All his sons had earrings on them and necklaces to pair with significant markings, more so with the four older ones. And all four had full lips and sharp jaws, although slight differences in how sharp and in the other little things, such as the shades of their brown eyes.
The eldest son, Sibusiso, had just returned by boat after notifying Salīa's uncle to make an appearance. He was always the most charismatic of the brothers.
His head was full of spiked sponged curls, and his thick brows, finely arched, while his face stayed clean-shaven. His eyes were lit up, and his teeth were whitened and full, especially glowing when he smiled so freely. That was how Salīa always knew him.
One of the most ruthless commanders was the first, yet also one of the bubbliest when at ease.
The second son, Tau, had his hair in thick locs, which ran like a lion's mane behind him.
His build was certainly the broadest of the brothers. His beard was also carefully trimmed. He was perhaps the closest to Chief Raino in appearance and just as stoic.
Seated with them was the third, Rakire, who sat the most stiffly and perhaps had the most sculpted of muscles, for he worked tirelessly on his shape to stand strong amongst his elder brothers. His hair was tightly braided back in several rows, and his brows were even more deeply arched.
On the opposite side was the fourth, Bazilani.
He and Raki looked almost like twins, except Bazil was slightly slenderer although just as toned, and with a slightly smaller nose.
His scarf-like headband swept around his forehead and was tied back, holding up thick, combed-out coils with some parts twisted out and bouncing at each turn of his head.
Many were glancing at them in awe as they were all formidable in their roles. They seemed to be particularly stared at by a neighboring table of women she recognized.
Under their begging and pleading, Salīa permitted the unofficial zaza to become temporarily official as the lady guardians. They were just as strong, too, and so all those assigned equally were also at the table and beautifully dressed.
For purposes only to please, a handful of zazu were also granted a seat, yet neither Salīa or Chief Raino intended to send children into any attack or defense. Yet it made the young less restless as they all wanted to defend the land.
That table also included the three sons born after Lulu. The gentle-natured Simba was the eldest of them at thirteen, with the quiet Kwaro being ten and the spirited Chichi being seven.
Their faces were all as tough as their older brothers, yet deeply softened by the roundness of it and their slightly puffed out cheeks and their shortened curls.
How Nomusa managed to birth nine children, I'd never know. But they all have a special place in this land, and so I'm grateful she did, Salīa thought.
She felt the heat of a stare from that table and saw it belonged to Bazil. There were other eyes on her, naturally, but she could always sense his.
His often looked quite sweet and doting. Even though he had been staring like he wanted nothing more than to speak to her, since they couldn't do it freely.
It has been a while. She walked over, yet was stopped by Nomusa, who too wore full ceremonial wear as fitting of the zazi chief, her coiled curls, gleaming and puffed out.
"Ahh, baba," she hugged Salīa, and the warmth of this large lady was exactly what she needed.
Salīa didn't like it when others touched her unprovoked and could react quite violently if so. Yet there were few who she naturally felt safe with.
Nomusa's clothes were always soft and snug, her skin smooth, and her scent fragrant of lavender.
"Are you well, auntie Nomusa?"
"Are you? You must be missing your family," she whispered. "I can only imagine how distressing it is to have to do all these things at once."
"It's okay," Salīa said, whether it was or wasn't. "I hear you've birthed. Many blessings to Mpilo."
"Thank you, baba. I hope you'll meet him when you can. But he and that other babe, Tutu, seem to get along quite well."
"That's good to hear."
"Yes," Nomusa smiled heartily. "I'm about to return to them, but I'll come out for the festival. Lilitha's already there at the stages, and she told me around what hour to visit. I'm looking forward to it."
Salīa looked down shyly. Yet as Nomusa pulled away, she stopped her.
"This might seem odd, auntie Nomusa. But I wanted to know something. And be honest. Remember the rogue healer that you knew?"
Nomusa kept her smile, yet the life of it left her. She glanced at her husband, checking he hadn't heard, then nodded to Salīa.
"I know my mother hurt you that day and—"
"Baba Salīa," Nomusa hugged her again and whispered. "She didn't hurt me."
"But you were crying."
"It was no fault of hers."
Oh. I'd always thought that it was my mother responsible for her friend's tears. I knew Nomusa was too kind to blame my mother or show any kind of anger, yet I never expected her to actually not hold any. Yet every word she said was light with truth.
"Then…"
"If your question is about your mother and me, know that I truly care for her and I know she truly cares for me. Our friendship has never been worth doubting."
"I know. My actual question was, do you think she made the right decision?"
It seemed silly to ask about something so seemingly small that happened quite a few years ago. But it was significant to Salīa because it was the first and only time she'd seen her usually calm and soft-hearted mother become cold and violent, albeit with somewhat justified means.
Nomusa took a pause, pondering, then nodded.
"If you ask as a ruler, then she was right to protect her people. If you ask as a tigress, then she was right to protect her cubs. Yet if you ask me anything else, I couldn't tell you. Because her people and her cubs are all she's shown to care for. As far as most know."
I guess that's the only answer I could expect. I've never heard Nomusa or my mother ever speak ill of one another, even when they disagreed. Yet I can't help but think back on all I've known of my mother and the type of queen she was.
"Many blessings, baba," Nomusa greeted.
"Many blessings," Salīa nodded.
Bazil had lifted and pulled out a chair, gesturing for her to go over. Yet as she did, people began to approach her.
Suddenly, all the pleasantries she thought she'd avoid became overwhelming. Yet if she were to think of the type of queen her mother was, if she hoped to get even an inch closer, it would be best that she answer each person sincerely and intently, as much as she could.
After all, she not only needed to be someone they could trust, but she also needed to see if it was true that there were some here that could not be trusted.
Even Bazil had disappeared several times as the hall became more boisterous and busier with each passing drink.
Yet for some reason, her eyes kept lingering on Raki, who kept shifting his eyes out of the hall and pacing as if pending on something.
She couldn't help but trail after as he left, spotting him in a darker part of the garden that trailed out into the forest. Whispers lay further ahead.
There she caught a glimpse of Raki, who had hooded himself to cover, whispering to a dark-masked silhouette hidden behind some trees.
She crouched and stepped closer and closer until—Crack!
X