23 23. Papa.

Safiya entered the house, finding solace that her mother hadn't returned from the market yet. She needed a moment to herself before her mother undoubtedly started pressuring her about marriage. She walked towards her room, hoping for peace and quiet.

As Safiya reached for the handle of her room door, she hesitated, her hand stopping midway. Her eyes were drawn to the last door at the far end of the corridor - it was the former dining room where her father's belongings were kept. She began walking towards it, and the soft light filtering through the cracks around the outside door illuminated her path.

Upon reaching the door, Safiya paused, recognizing the familiar setting that had been etched in her memory from the day her father left and never returned.

Dede's words echoed in her head, "What if it was someone you can't even think of?" She shook her head, trying to make sense of it all. With a deep breath, she turned the doorknob and stepped into the room, which she hadn't entered in two years.

The room was spacious, and the only source of light came from seven large holes in the walls. Rays of light penetrated the room, creating patterns and illuminating the space.

In the center of the room stood a sizable table where her father's belongings were kept. With each step she took, memories of that night came rushing back, overwhelming Safiya with a mix of emotions.

"Protect the family, my child," he had said, placing the wooden sword in her hands.

Safiya gently traced her fingers along the table's edge, "Papa, will you be gone for long?" She had asked, her voice laced with apprehension.

"I promise I will return," he had reassured her.

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she averted her gaze from his belongings. The weight of the memories made it unbearable for her to even touch them.

Every time she entered this room, the flood of memories washed over her, leaving her overwhelmed and emotional.

"I trusted you, Papa," she whispered, her voice filled with hurt. "Did you know what was going to happen? Why would you do this to us? Did you ever consider how much we would suffer? How much we would miss you? What Mama would endure?" Her questions hung in the air, a mix of grief and frustration.

Her gaze remained fixed on the table, where her father's belongings were displayed to honor his legacy as a warrior. But one key item was missing - his sword. Since his body was never recovered after that fateful day, none of his possessions could be retrieved.

"Am I doing the right thing by seeking vengeance for your death, Papa? Do you want me to stop? If death was what you desired, does that mean I shouldn't intervene?" Her voice quivered with a mix of confusion and desperation.

She continued pacing, occasionally pointing at his belongings as if he were still standing before her. "And why is no one telling me anything? Dede and the other warriors won't say a word. Even Uncle Zurak, your own brother..." Her voice trailed off, filled with disappointment.

"Don't you care about him, Papa? Do you even know what he's going through? He lost his entire family, all of them. Do you think losing you would make him feel any better?"

"What about Meka? She's being married off to a distant land. Can you protect her, Papa? You're telling me to protect her," she cried.

Tears streamed down her face as her whole body trembled with emotion. "It's so hard on me, Papa. You told me to protect the family, but it's so difficult. I want to protect Meka, but I also want to avenge your death, and I want to be there for Mama."

She took a moment to catch her breath before moving closer to the table, her voice filled with anguish. "Do you even care about Mama? You loved her, right? Then why did you leave her? Why did you leave us?"

"Safiya, stop," her mother's stern voice interrupted, breaking through Safiya's grief. Her mother, holding an empty basket on her head, appeared exhausted and angry. But Safiya was too consumed by pain to even notice her mother.

"I can't protect the family, Papa," Safiya murmured, her voice strained.

Her mother approached, shaking Safiya gently. "What are you doing? Huh? What do you think you're doing?"

"Papa won't say anything," Safiya sniffed, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, her other hand clenched on the table.

"Go to your room now, Safiya," her mother demanded, her voice filled with worry.

"No, Mama, please," Safiya pleaded, her voice quivering. Her mother gently placed a hand on her shoulder and sighed, trying to comfort her.

Safiya's body trembled with a mix of emotions. She despised this overwhelming feeling of uncertainty and regret. How could she ever blame her father for his death?

"I'm sorry, Papa. I truly am," Safiya whispered, her words filled with remorse. Her mother's eyes softened with compassion.

"Safiya—"

"Mama, it's alright. I'm okay now. Just give me a moment, and I'll be ready to leave," Safiya assured, a faint smile brightening her face. Her mother nodded, understanding her need for solitude.

"If you need anything, I'll be in my room," Safiya's mother said before leaving, her expression unreadable.

It had always been like this – her mother never allowed herself to grieve openly in front of them, but Safiya knew it was tearing her apart inside.

She lowered herself to the ground, her gaze fixed on the table. No more doubt, she reminded herself. She would do whatever it takes to achieve her goals.

Tomorrow, Safiya was set to meet Princess Amara. She needed to convince her to grant her access to the palace.

If the people of Dakar already ignored her, she knew it would be even worse within the palace walls. Yet, she had to try. There was nothing wrong with trying.

She took a deep breath, summoning her courage, and approached the table. It had been eleven years since anything on it had been touched.

Safiya silently prayed before searching through her father's belongings. All she found were clothes, armor, necklaces, and pendants. It seemed there was nothing of significance here at all.

A sudden knock on the door startled Safiya, and she turned to see Sheby standing there. "I'm sorry if I startled you, but your food is ready. It's in your room," Sheby informed her.

"Thank you, Sheby," Safiya replied with a nod. As Sheby departed, Safiya sighed.

Maybe there was truly nothing important to be found here. She would have to eat first. Perhaps understanding more about the ways of the king would help uncover the truth about her father's death.

Just as Safiya was about to walk away, she noticed something shining at the foot of the table. It must have fallen while she was rummaging through his things, and the sunlight seeping in from the holes caused it to glisten.