The distant lights of the tribal settlement lit the sands around the camp with a welcoming warmth. Above the camp, the blue, purple, pink, and white arrangements of nebulas lit the night sky. Those vibrant colors were opposed by the orange and deep reds of the camp's flickering torches and campfires. It was a familiar sight, but was still one that Munadir rarely got tired of seeing. He noticed his sister had stopped walking towards the camp and took advantage of her hesitation to appreciate the view of the stars shining above the tents of their home.
The settlement consisted of dozens of tents that varied in size and purpose. A slight majority were simply places where the tribe's members would sleep or relax; those tents were all the smallest in size and surrounded a large sundial in the center of the encampment. The much larger tents surrounded the smaller ones, shielding the view of the internal camp from the outside. The large tents all had specific uses, varying from the mundane to practical. Ithtizaz sighed loudly.
Munadir took that expression as her resolution and they both continued approaching the humble camp from the west. As they got closer, Munadir could make out the plain white cloth of the food storage tent, large stable with its pitched and slanted roofing, and the twin octagonal tents; one was used for prayer and the other for study. As his gaze was focused on the knowledge tent, Munadir saw someone part the gap between the cloth entrance of it. Munadir raised his arm above his head and waved to try and get their attention, but the person failed to notice him and Ithtizaz against the darkness outside the camp. Mildly irritated by the person's lack of attentiveness, Munadir decided to probe the person's thoughts.
"Hmm…so people outside the desert use a time-telling device called a clock? I'm surprised the Rais hasn't gotten one yet. It seems far more reliable than the sundial." She thought.
"I should've expected Umayna wouldn't notice us." Munadir said to Ithtizaz. "She's been way too enticed with those northern books as of late."
"Hey Umayna!" Ithtizaz shouted without hesitation. "Me and brother are back!" Before Ithtizaz finished what she was shouting, Umayna jolted in surprise and tripped on the carpet outside the entrance to the knowledge tent. "Are you okay Umayna?" Ithtizaz ran the short distance remaining between her and the camp. "Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!" Ithtizaz apologized.
Amused by this, Munadir decided to let Ithtizaz go about her playful apology to Umayna while he took his time to reach the outskirts of the camp. He probed Umayna's thoughts again while he walked.
"Ithtizaz, ever the eccentric, why is she always so loud? I wish she'd take it easy for once; she's so hard to predict." Umayna thought. "It's okay Ithtizaz." Umayna responded. "Be a little more quiet next time so you don't make my skin jump, alright?"
"Well brother tried to wave to you, but you didn't see him so I thought I'd get your attention for him."
"Ah I see…" Umayna looked slightly nervous. "Well I better get to sleep. I have a busy morning tomorrow. I'll see you around Ithtizaz!"
"Hold it." Munadir called out. "Let's chat for a little while, Umayna. You go on ahead to the Rais, Ithtizaz, you have something to report don't you?" Looking troubled, Ithtizaz shook her head up and down. It took Munadir a few moments to reach where his sister and Umayna stood. When he did, he squatted down to his sister's height; Munadir reassured her. "Don't worry Ithtizaz, I'll be right behind you. Just give me a few moments alright?"
"Yes brother." Ithtizaz murmured. She then walked off, rather slowly, Munadir couldn't help noticing. Munadir then turned his attention to the fretting Umayna.
"Umayna, relax, I'm not going to scold you. You are well aware you shouldn't be obsessing this much over foreign textbooks so there's no need for me to re-state the obvious again." Munadir lectured. "What was it this time? A clock?"
"Yes it was called a clock, it's a useful time-telling device!" Umayna shouted quietly while looking over her shoulders. "I wish you wouldn't read my thoughts so freely Emir."
"It is only natural that I do so. It is my duty as the Emir to protect the tribe's order and make sure people aren't distracted from doing their jobs." Munadir tilted his head downward slightly and raised an eyebrow at Umayna. "I imagine there's nothing else I need to remind you of?"
"You seriously can't expect me to police my own thoughts every waking moment." Umayna countered. "Look I get Ithtizaz is your sister and you care-"
"Enough, I couldn't care less about your opinions regarding my sister; I'm focused on your behavior right now." Munadir noticed Umayna was displeased with his wording. "Besides, your opinions on her are rather tame compared to the others."
"I'm aware. Are we done now Emir?" Umayna spoke in a disparaging tone.
"I'll see you tomorrow Umayna. Rest well." Munadir said. Umayna gave Munadir a slow nod and walked off to the housing tents. Munadir decided not to listen to her thoughts again and watched Umayna until she disappeared from his line of sight. Munadir took his duty as the Emir of the tribe seriously; it bothered him when even the younger members of the tribe treated his orders and insights as mere suggestions like Umayna just did. Munadir was still young and had only recently become Emir of their tribe when the current sky cycle had began, so he expected some pushback from the other tribe members. However, their behavior towards him was still unacceptable and Munadir knew he'd have to get the others to respect his decisions quickly so order would be maintained.
As Munadir stood pondering on how to better himself as a secondary leader, he felt the sand shift slightly by his right foot. Annoyed, his cloak began floating and shifting in a uniform pattern. The speed at which patterns appeared continued to increase in speed for a few seconds until a boy appeared in front of Munadir's eyes.
"Okay okay, relax Emir I was just trying to have a little fun before I went to sleep." The boy pleaded. His name was Sumayl, Umayna's twin brother and eight sky cycles younger than Munadir's sixty-five. Sumayl's childish antics were constant so Munadir was used to this, but he figured Sumayl wouldn't try anything this time since he had just reprimanded Umayna.
"Banu Shifa." Munadir began. "I can tolerate your fun when the situation calls for games. Now is not that time, please get some rest tonight. You will train with me personally tomorrow." Maintaining a calm yet authoritative tone the cloth of Munadir's cloak slowed and fell gracefully with gravity. Munadir put his hand on Sumayl's shoulder and spoke tenderly. "Thanks for trying to cheer me up. It's been a long day." Munadir gently lifted his hand and started to slip past Sumayl towards his father's tent.
"Ithtizaz failed again, didn't she?" Sumayl asked when Munadir's ear was adjacent to him. Disinclined to answer him, Munadir whispered.
"Unfortunately. Good night, Banu Shifa." Munadir walked with purpose so Ithtizaz wouldn't have to bear her loneliness any longer. When he got close to the Rais's tent Munadir could hear the scolding taking place from a few paces away.
"Ithtizaz with this disgrace you've failed me, your brother and our tribe for the final time." Hearing the Rais say those words, Munadir closed his eyes with discontent, pinching them tightly before opening them again. He then parted the gap of the tent's cloth allowing himself inside.
"Father."
"Not now boy. Address me with the proper title if you wish to speak when I am finished." Munadir's father didn't even look in his direction as he warned him. Opposite the entrance, Ithtizaz was kneeling across from her father on the tent's carpet. She was hunched over with her head in her hands. Munadir could hear her soft sobbing and his expression winced at the sound of her spastic breaths. "This is your thirty-seventh sky cycle Ithtizaz; you are simply too old to catch up with the other members of the tribe now. Giving you any more opportunities would stunt the growth of others. You've shown you are not worthy of Attab's gifts by lacking basic courage. You will remain exclusively in the camp until this sky cycle has completed. You will not awaken the silver eyes of our God, you instead will dedicate yourself to attending to the needs of everyone else until you reach maturity." Ithtizaz's sobbing grew louder, too uncomfortable for Munadir to listen to without protest.
"Father you can't-"
"I appointed you as Emir for a reason boy! Act like one and listen to your Rais's judgment!" Munadir's father yelled as he gave Munadir a quick and disconcerting glare. He then regulated his angry tone and spoke with a serious one. "Ithtizaz this will be good for your own growth and value in the tribe. Don't see this as a punishment, see it as a new opportunity to prove yourself. Now lift your head my daughter." Ithtizaz was clearly distressed and couldn't do anything except cry. Munadir walked over to his sister who was now shaking as she wept. He kneeled down next to her and laid his left hand on her back. She shot up at the touch and saw it was Munadir trying to comfort her. Ithtizaz's face was red and the corners of her eyes were inflamed from her tears. As fresh ones slid down her face and welled at the bottom of her chin, Munadir watched her expression change from despair to a regrettable acceptance. Munadir was happy he could provide a little solace for her and gave her a tight hug.
While Ithtizaz put her head below his shoulder and cried some more into his cloak, Munadir looked at his father as he stood above him a few paces away. His expression was unmoving. Munadir focused to read his thoughts. He knew his father would tell him something Ithtizaz couldn't hear.
"Blink when you are ready."
Munadir did so.
"Munadir caring for your sister is natural. I told you as much this morning, but as you can see now her reliance on you alongside her desire for too much freedom has led her to be negligent and spoiled. You did well taking the saguaro droplet for yourself as I instructed if Ithtizaz remained hesitant."
"Ithtizaz what did you tell him?" Munadir wondered as he read his father's mind.
"Ithtizaz's punishment will show her how she can be useful in other ways. I will not be giving her any more chances to receive Attab's gift. That is all."
As the Rais began to turn his head to leave the tent, the anger on Munadir's face made a distinctive display that caught his attention. With a reluctant look he blinked at Munadir.
"That's all?" Munadir thought. "This punishment is unreasonable! Restricting her right to Attab's gift! Forcing her to remain in the camp until the next sky cycle! She'll surely be treated like an even bigger outcast than she already is!" Munadir's protesting thoughts exploded as he transferred them, making his father visibly uncomfortable; he rubbed his temple to dull the pain. "I never would have taken the droplet if I knew you'd treat her like she's fit to be everyone else's personal slave!" After Munadir shared that thought with his father, the Rais spoke sternly.
"Emir, take Ithtizaz to Raha then meet me on the dune to the south of the camp." His tone made it clear to Munadir that he should do as he's told without any further arguing.
"Yes Rais." Munadir resigned. His father then walked out of the tent without another word or expression. "Come on Ithtizaz, stand up, let's get you to our mother's tent for the night."
"Brother…I," Ithtizaz tried to speak, but couldn't find the words between her whimpers.
"It's my fault Ithtizaz. I should've been a better supporter. I never imagined the Rais would be this cruel with you. Now you'll never receive the gift…" The regret ate away at Munadir having to speak those words to his sister. Ithtizaz clutched to the back of Munadir's cloak and took some deep breaths.
"I…don't even care about the stupid gift. I just don't wanna be alone here every day where everyone hates me." Her voice was muffled by Munadir's cloak as she spoke into it.
"Everyone doesn't hate you sister."
"Yes they do, even mother and father! And you probably will too." She whispered those hurtful words to Munadir with a dry voice.
"Sister, I could never, ever hate you. Mother and father love you too. They just want what is best for you is all. I'm sure mother has some food prepared for us right now, go and eat with her okay? I'll be there once I'm done speaking with the Rais." The two of them stayed kneeling in an embrace for a short time; Munadir allowed it to give her any bit of comfort he could provide, however, Ithtizaz showed no sign of letting go of him.
"Ith-"
"Carry me please."
Munadir smiled.
"I love you sister." Munadir felt her mouth curve into a smile against his collar bone. He then helped Ithtizaz to her feet where she quickly hugged him again.
"If only everyone knew how good of a hugger you are, Ithtizaz." Munadir joked.
"He heh." Ithtizaz let out a cute laugh. "You're way better than me."
Munadir then scooped up his sister and carried her to their mother's tent while Ithtizaz hid her face against his neck. As Munadir walked he couldn't see anyone, but knew people were watching him carry Ithtizaz. The invisible eyes of onlookers frustrated him and he took their actions to hide themselves as a clear sign of fear. Munadir knew he was extremely powerful, and that strength would make people wary. He was easily capable of even defeating the Rais should he so desire, but Munadir would never betray the people he spent his entire life with even if they did treat him and his sister with disrespect.
"Although," Munadir thought. "If any of you physically hurt my sister, I can't guarantee I'll be so forgiving." While only Munadir, his father, and a few other members of the tribe were proficient enough in their abilities to read minds, he hoped at least one person watching him had heard that threat. When Munadir stood in front of his mother's tent he lowered Ithtizaz's feet to the ground and stood her up straight. She had a solemn look on her face that was pointed towards the sand where Munadir stood. Munadir then lifted the leather straps of his and his sister's satchels over his head and put them both in Ithtizaz's arms. She then looked up at him.
"I'll go talk with the Rais now, okay? Tell mother you'll try to do your best from now on and I'll try to convince the Rais to let you have some freedom if you do a good job." Munadir said. Ithtizaz couldn't shake her depressed expression. "And don't eat all of my dinner like you did last time you hungry bug!" Munadir pinched the sides of his sister's waist and she yelped in reaction. With a soft smile, Ithtizaz made a wry face and dropped the satchels to the ground. She leaped at Munadir and grabbed onto him.
"Well you better hurry up or I'll eat every last bite!" Ithtizaz was chomping her mouth towards Munadir's face. Recoiling, Munadir laughed and pulled his sister off him.
"Okay okay! That's enough, I'll hurry back!" Ithtizaz looked a little happier now. Satisfied, Munadir picked up the satchels from the ground and put them back in his sister's hands. He gave her a wave. Ithtizaz smiled again; she turned around and went inside the tent. Munadir turned away when the cloth drapes settled and headed towards the southern outskirts of the settlement. He moved at a quick pace; Munadir was determined to get the Rais to change the harsh punishment he placed on Ithtizaz. He didn't feel the prying eyes of anyone watching him once he stood at the southern edge of camp.
The darkness of the sandscape was only illuminated by the night sky above. The sands had a dark blue tint that made spotting a person's silhouette difficult. Munadir couldn't spot the Rais until suddenly in the distance he saw his figure block out a portion of the stars along the horizon. He stood still at the summit of a wide dune. Munadir couldn't tell exactly how far he was, he just knew that it would take him longer than he'd like to reach the Rais at a normal walking pace. Munadir decided to cut the walking distance short.
He opened his hands, ordering his fingers parallel to one another. He then slowly raised his arms from his hips, triggering his cloak to begin its mystical dance. Munadir continued raising his arms and his cloak's rippling cloth increased in intensity. He then pictured in his mind what the sight of the camp would look like from where the Rais stood. Frankly, it was too easy for him. When his hands reached the height of his head he drew them close to cover his eyes. He couldn't see anymore; his palms began to glow a milky blue, and like looking through thick glass, he saw a picture of the settlement in the distance. Munadir closed his eyes and dragged his palms down his face until they ran out of skin to touch. Opening his eyes, Munadir stood atop the dune and saw that beautiful sight of his home once again.
"You are this tribe's gift from Attab my son." The Rais spoke with honor. "There may not be another man more skilled than you in all of Vates." Munadir turned to face the Rais who was a few paces to his right. He had a troubled expression; it was completely different from when he was in the tent.
"Rais, what is it you want from me? You know I will obey." Munadir spoke earnestly to his father.
"You will, will you?"
"Are you questioning my loyalty to our people?" Munadir's father, still troubled, turned and faced him. The Rais was able to partially mask his nerves with a rigid expression.
"Munadir everyone must find your judgments as indubitable as my own. You cannot afford distractions at this time, especially ones that expose your weaknesses."
"Ithtizaz is not a distraction, she's our family and deserves to be happy, Rais."
"Munadir why do we remember the women of our tribe's names?"
"So we remember how important they are to us all."
"Then, why do we never tell women our names in turn?" Munadir clicked his tongue at his father's obvious provocation.
"So they do not grow attached to us." Munadir said indignantly.
"And why is that so crucial?"
"When danger strikes the tribe, the women must survive. They can't hesitate to flee."
"We need you to be prepared to lead when that crisis eventually strikes Munadir." Munadir reflected on his father's words for a moment before he spoke again.
"I won't deny it. When you mentioned to me this morning that we would soon find our tribe in trouble, I was concerned, but now I need a thorough explanation. What crisis exactly is it? We haven't ever been confronted by anything or anyone that'd warrant such extreme caution."
"The movements of five of our sister tribes have ceased in the northeastern region of Vates. It's happened over the course of eight sky cycles now."
"Are you truly surprised Rais? The northeastern region is notorious for its unpredictable sandstorms and close proximity to the city of traitors."
"It's true some deaths are to be expected in such a harsh region, however, for over three hundred sky cycles following the northerner's crusade, the tribes that would migrate to that region would only suffer deaths by individuals not fit enough to survive. Now, entire tribes are simply disappearing into the sands."
"So those traitorous bastards have been ceasing trade and wiping them out?"
"I don't know. That's why we must stay vigilant and push your training even further. If Ithtizaz hates me for separating you two, so be it. She may be miserable, but at least she will be alive and safe."
"So that was your angle." Munadir accepted his father's reasoning. "But why prevent her from receiving Attab's gift altogether?"
"What I asked you to do today was the first test." Munadir's eyes widened in realization.
"You meant all along for me to take what Attab would've given Ithtizaz and steal it for myself? Father, that is sacrilege!"
"Two droplets went wasted prior to today. If it means we must lower Ithtizaz for the sake of saving every ounce of strength we can muster, I must be willing to make that sacrifice for our people."
"I won't abide by this judgment, father. I can't just allow Ithtizaz to feel like she'll be a burden on us all forever."
"Better for her to be a burden than a corpse, my son." The harsh truth of that statement sickened Munadir. "We need the power to fight hundreds of foes against a single man; we may even be too late already. I chose you to be our Emir, Munadir, you must become what we and our enemies dread. For better or for worse, we at least need a chance to win." The strength to wipe out hundreds of soldiers single-handedly. The idea of that seemed implausible, however, history said it wasn't. There was a man that had achieved it during the crusade against the Vates' tribes. It was said he could dispatch dozens of people in a single blink, could see anything far past the horizon, and even teleport people other than himself. The records of his exploits were unbelievable. Munadir thought of it merely as a traditional story, but he had now connected the dots. There was undeniable evidence that it was all too possible.
"It was the twenty-sixth droplet I ever received. I thought I understood the process, but it was a far more difficult version of a trial Attab already put me through this time. It was like a warning to stop there." When Munadir finished saying that, his father looked confused. Beyond the fact Munadir had felt he'd received a warning, it seemed like his father couldn't accept that the twenty-sixth trial would be so difficult for Munadir. Most tribe members knew that the trials got progressively more difficult as the total number of droplets you touched to your eyes increased, despite that, Munadir was a prodigy and had shown no signs of struggling even once. As Munadir watched his father's bewildered reaction, he felt that what he had done today marked a crucial adjustment that would affect him forever.
"Explain it to me precisely Munadir; what exactly did Attab put you through?"