The Ruler

Safiya closed her palm over the pendant, which had been glowing incessantly. What could this mean, she pondered, pressing her palm harder against it. Oshim better be right about this, but when has Oshim ever been wrong?

"Stop covering it; I know it's glowing," Meka said casually, oblivious to the significance of the glow.

The evening sun's glow bathed them through the gaps in the iroko tree leaves, casting a mesmerizing light on their brown skin and dazed brown eyes - one filled with panic while the other remained calm.

Meka sighed, "Would you please tell me why it's glowing and why you chose to hide it?" she inquired, tilting her head and squinting at Safiya's closed palm. "Why did you choose to cover it?"

Safiya gritted her teeth without lifting her gaze, muttering to herself, It's not supposed to… it can't be.