The night breeze caressed Safiya's skin, sending shivers down her spine, yet she remained unaffected by its chilly touch.
Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword, securing it firmly against her waist. With unwavering determination, she ventured forward, her gaze locked ahead, navigating the dimly lit streets of Dakar.
It was late at night, people were preparing to rest, but there was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere. Those who caught sight of her instinctively shielded their children's eyes, particularly their young daughters.
They whispered in caution, "avert your gaze from her. She challenges traditional ideas of womanhood by embodying traits typically associated with men."
Despite their whispering, Safiya heard it all. 'Go inside Muziba, don't be like her,' one parent said to her child, trying to cover the little girl's eyes.
But Safiya caught the girl peeking at her, her eyes wide with innocent curiosity. Safiya smiled at the girl, who blushed and looked down, until her mother pulled her inside and said, 'Come now, my child.'"
A heavy thud came from the door as it closed, and Safiya couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh. She wished people could be whatever they wanted to be without facing judgment, a challenge she faced every day.
Luckily, the rules here weren't as strict as those in Azu, and her father's respected position in Dakar prevented complete resentment towards her. Safiya closed her eyes and took a deep breath, hoping for a more accepting world.
She kept walking until she reached a wooden monkey bridge, its path stretching over the tranquil and pristine water below. On the other side of the bridge, there were only a few hut and very few people outside.
As she continued, she came across a vast field filled with rows of tall maize plants. Her destination was her father's younger brother's home, a once brave warrior who had tragically lost his wife and children to a devastating illness. He rarely showed himself, but Safiya would visit him occasionally.
Unlike her father, who always went to the battlefront, Uncle Zurak mostly served at the palace, escorting the king and safeguarding against any potential harm to the royal family. He resigned after everything took its toll on him.
Safiya walked through the maize until she could see a faint yellow light emanating from a hut. As she approached, she noticed her uncle gently patting a sheep beside him.
He had shifted his focus to farming and raising animals, selling them to earn a living.
Safiya stood and watched her uncle as he seemed lost in thought, gently coaxing the animal. She smiled, observing his peaceful demeanor.
Most of the time, she wished he had at least one family member left. Safiya understood the pain of losing someone close to you, even though she had experienced it herself at a tender age when her father passed away. That ache still resonated deep within her.
Her father was the only family her uncle had left, but unfortunately, that was no longer the case. The family living in their home was not Uncle Zurak's own. He was born of a different mother than her father.
"Safiya," he noticed her and called, "come here, my child." A smile graced his face as Safiya walked towards him. Just like her father, he was one of the few people who supported her path.
"Holding a sword this late at night, what are you up to?" he smiled.
"Nothing, uncle. It's late, and I needed something to protect myself on my way here," she quickly diverted the topic as she reached him.
"A sheep," she squatted down and coaxed the animal.
"Yes," Uncle Zurak replied, "he has a broken leg. His continuous whimpering woke me up."
"Oh, it must hurt so bad. You should take him to a physician," Safiya suggested.
"I will," Uncle Zurak said with a sigh, "but I will need something to ease his pain."
Safiya watched as her uncle went into his hut, then she turned to the weak sheep, gently stroking its matted fur. "Be strong, my friend. The pain will subside soon," she whispered soothingly.
The sheep made a feeble sound, as if acknowledging her words. Safiya smiled softly.
Soon enough, Uncle Zurak emerged from his hut, holding two large leaves in his hands. One of them was neatly folded, while the other remained open, displaying its impressive size.
"This," he began, gesturing to the folded leaf, "is one of the largest leaves in all the kingdom. It comes from a tree that grows in the heart of the desert."
"The desert?" Safiya's eyes widened. A tree growing in such a place seemed unfathomable to her. She had never heard of such.
Uncle Zurak smiled at her wonderment. "Yes, my dear, a tree in the desert. Long ago, when your father and I were exploring, we came across this extraordinary tree. It stood alone amidst the vast expanse of sand and heat. Your father, brave as always, wasn't afraid to approach it. But I, being more cautious, kept a respectful distance. A tree growing in the desert felt foreboding to me."
"So papa plucked its leaf?" Safiya asked curiously.
Uncle Zurak smiled and sat down close to the sheep, carefully opening the folded large leaf.
"This leaf has healing properties," Uncle Zurak explained, Safiya gazed on the green substance inside the leaf. "It can easily ease pain and cure minor sickness. Your papa and I tested it on a sick animal we came across in the forest. After all these years, this leaf did not dry"
"A tree that cures illness?" Safiya's eyes widen.
"Not entirely," Uncle Zurak replied, "We've noticed it cures only minor illnesses. But your father and I decided to keep it to ourselves."
"Why? It would have helped people," Safiya exclaimed, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Indeed," Uncle Zurak agreed, his tone contemplative. "But, like I said, a tree in the desert is strange despite its healing properties. We do not know what its consequences are. We've never tried it on any person."
Safiya shook her head, her determination evident. "You should have tried it. There's no harm in trying."
Uncle Zurak applied the healing substance to the sheep's injured leg, using one of the large leaves to cover it. He then placed two sticks on either side and secured them with a rope, ensuring the leaf remained in place.
"The tree is forbidden; no one goes close to it and comes out alive. It was a miracle your father came out alive, a mystery unknown to me. We only found out about that tree after that day."
Safiya sat in silence for a while, then she looked at her uncle, a realization hitting her. "Could it be…"
"No," he cut in, knowing where she was going with her thoughts. "That was before he married your mother. If he was to die, he would have died at that time. I don't believe that was what killed him."
"Then do you know how he died?" she asked.
Uncle Zurak stared at her and sighed. "Safiya, I don't want you to soil your hands with blood. Leave it be."