Chapter Seven
Carothu - clan head of one of the seventeen clans of the Desert Dwellers - sucked at the long tube of the shisha, smiling gleefully. The spiced smoke bathed his lungs in their sweet delight and he felt his senses sharpen.
Years of working as a clan head had worn him greatly. At sixty years of age,his wrinkled skin and grey hair made him look like someone in his seventies. Age was fast fast becoming a friend he disliked greatly.
The shisha was what helped him cope with his problems and sadly,it was what was going to kill him.
"That thing will kill you one day." A voice reprimanded. A young woman melted out of the shadows and flopped onto the pillows by him.
Carothu laughed." Something must kill a man and fortunately for me it's going to be shisha."
She shrugged and took the tube from him, inhaling greedily. Carothu shook his head and wondered what kind of a person she actually was.
He didn't know her name, since she never told him. She'd only appeared to him on the night of his installation as clan head and struck a deal with him. It wasn't really a deal since he was the one who most benefited from the mutual friend understanding between them.
Carothu had decided to call her Naagin because she reminded him of a snake. Cool, calculating and shrewd. She was also the reason for his immense success as a clan head.
What intrigued him the most wasn't her mistique but rather her aura. It wasn't visible but he could sense it was powerful. Her aura was unlike those wretched Sungtai of that blasted Atamesia , or the medicine men and bag-reh of the faraway lands. It was ethereal,real and unreal, almost as if she carried something ancient.
"Do you remember the plan." Naagin asked.
Carothu nodded and took back the tube." What do you intend to gain after all this?" He half-expected her to ignore him like she usually did,but she didn't. Her eyes unfocused like she was looking at something he couldn't see and she answered." The downfall of that insult of an Empire called Atamesia."
" But that's not part of the plan!" He exclaimed, surprised.
" Of course not. But that isn't for you to worry about. When the plan works,you will get what you want and I will also get what I need to break Atamesia apart."
Carothu refilled the shisha and sprinkled in the necessary spices." Do you think the other clan heads will come?"
Naagin smiled." They will. But you'll have to go according to the plan."
He sighed. Carothu hated being told what to do, but he barely had a choice. If this plan worked, all his dreams will come to fruition and wealth and power will flow into his hands. Naagin had never disappointed him before so he kind of trusted her on this one.
She left after sometime, leaving behind a small bag. Carothu opened it and frowned slightly. Inside was the head of a blonde.
. . . .
The Meeting Tent was noisy as the various Clan Heads exchanged pleasantries and smoked shisha. They'd just finished eating a meal of nenu, heavily spiced fried meat with vegetables and rice, washing it down with goat milk. Carothu being the host sat in front of them, observing their interactions with a critical eye.
"It is time." Naagin whispered from the shadows. He stood up and the tent became quite. Such was the respect they had for him. He was an epitome of leadership to them, having singlehandedly turned the fortunes of his clan around. Or so they thought.
"Brothers and Fathers. Salam!" Carothu greeted them.
"Asalam!" They all responded in unison,giving him rapt attention.
" I'm sure you must all be wondering why I called you to this meeting so urgently. The reason is simple. Our clans are dying slowly and we are doing nothing. A disease is eating away the very fabric of our future,and it is called..... Atamesia." Carothu paused to allow his statement to sink in." We are giving everything we have to them. All our spices are given to the Emperor in the form of tributes since our clans are an annex to Atamesia.
Just last year,our tributes were increased from sixty bushels of spices to eighty bushels. We've given everything to them, even some of our sisters and daughters to serve as concubines in the palace."
There was a long pause,then Cyan,one of the youngest Clan Heads asked a question Carothu was expecting." So what do you propose we do?"
Carothu cleared his throat and answered." We unite ......and we fight!"
Immediately a murmur passed through the crowd,but he wasn't done." If we don't fight for our Independence from Atamesia, we'll perish! How long before they start asking for our sons to join their army. Tell me, how long before we are reduced to nothing but slaves. Begging at the feet of an Emperor who doesn't give a damn about us."
The Clan Heads were now speaking loudly among themselves, clearly against Carothu's proposition. Telling them to start a rebellion was akin to sucide. They couldn't risk it.
"We won't succeed." Gandaa, an old Clan Head spoke." Our people will die, all for what? A chance not to pay tributes?" Several Clan Heads nodded their heads in agreement.
" Cowards!" Carothu spat. The Clan Heads became angry and demanded he retract his words.
" I will never do that! Look at yourselves,you are all content with sitting in your tents and smoking shisha instead of fighting to free your people. Do you think I don't know people will die? I do! Where have you ever seen freedom being served on a silver platter?"
" Foolish idiot!" Gandaa said." Do you think we live in a fairytale? Our entire clans can be wiped out by this singular act....and you expect us to dangle the lives of our people on such a flimsy thread." He looked around." Brothers and Fathers,I think if there is nothing sensible to discuss I'll be on my way."
With that he strode out and one by one,the other Clan Heads followed leaving Carothu alone.
Carothu sat down, unaffected by their blatant refusal. He had expected it. Naagin came out of the shadows and stood by him,a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"They'll come back begging, won't they?" Carothu asked.
There was a long pause before the reply came." Yes they will. Unfortunately for them,they will."