He grinned. “General Chinua is meeting with your father and the council of elders.
“Ah...” Nandi nodded knowingly, “They discuss the possibility of war.”
“Yes, the Edo have been violating our borders for months now. It’s time to teach them a lesson.” He broke off, eyeing her appreciatively. “How do you know of such things?”
“People talk, I listen.”
“Nandi why do you follow us? Are you bored?”
She snorted derisively. “I help the servants clean, prepare food, buy fruits, vegetables and watch my mother supervise her household.”
“Your mother is preparing you for the position of lead wife.”
“Yes.”
Understanding and admiration shifted across his face. “But that doesn’t make you happy.”
Nandi sized him up. Can I trust him? “You’re right Sule, I am bored,” her voice dropped to a whisper. “I want to be a warrior.”
“You cannot be a warrior; you are a woman!”
“Keep your voice down! I know it’s forbidden, but it’s what I want.” She smiled sadly. “That’s why I watch you.”
He hesitated a moment, coming to a decision; before he spoke: “You don’t have to follow us anymore. I’ll teach you.”
* * *
For two weeks they met after dark, sneaking away to the outskirts of the city, to practice in the high grass under the moonlight. It was dangerous, if caught they would both be punished. But that only made it more exciting. And Nandi was an amazing quick study.
“It as if the ancestors themselves are sleeping under your skin!” Sule praised her.
The next night, Nandi slid out of bed and crept into the main room. As she headed for the door her mother pounced out of the darkness to grab her arm.
“What do you take me for?!” Mariama fumed. “You should know by now that nothing happens without my knowledge! I’ve had it with you and your strange behavior! And now meeting men at night—! You’d better still be a virgin! And Sule—!”
“Leave him out of it! He didn’t do anything wrong! He was just—!”
Her mother advanced with gimleted eyes. “Just what—?”
Who told her? How much did they see? Nandi decided she had nothing left to lose. “We ...we were talking.”
Mariama shook her head in disgust. “You sneak out after midnight to talk? Go back to bed. I’ll deal with you in the morning.”
* * *
Nandi watched them file past, two servant women flanking her. Among the warriors was Sule who still bore the marks of her father’s anger on his face. He gazed stonily ahead. He knew better than to even look at her. Tomi spotted Nandi in the crowd and threw a murderous glance in her direction. She’d embarrassed him.
She’d had to submit to an examination by a mid-wife to be certain that she was still a virgin. If Sule had made love to her, the Oba could have had him executed. As punishment, her chores were doubled and she’d been confined to the palace.
And war had come to Bini after all. It was traditional for everyone to see them off with much singing and dancing which was the only reason she’d been allowed to leave the palace.
She would never see battle. Sule would never hold her.
Nandi fainted.
* * *
She thrashed on her bed, her long body slick with sweat. Mariama kneeled beside her sponging off her face with cool water. Burning pots of incense were placed about the room.
Behind them stood Bolajl the witch doctor. “She journeys in the spirit world, there’s nothing I can do.”
Mariama choked back a sob. “It’s because of me isn’t it? I was too hard on her!”
“She has been called by her ancestors. When she returns – if she returns – it will be their choice.”
The older woman twisted her around to look at the healer. “Why would they do this? What could they possibly want with Nandi?”
Bolajl regarded her solemnly. “I cannot answer. I only know where she dwells. Keep her comfortable and wait. That’s all you can do.”
* * *
Nandi picked her way through the trees bordering the stream. I don’t remember this place...How did I come to be here? Above her, a luminous full moon gleamed down upon her. She knelt gazing at her reflection.
It’s too quiet. There were no insects chirping, no monkeys, no birds... Her reflection disappeared. In its place, a black panther stared up at her.
The young woman jerked violently and backed away on her knees. In the next instant, he stood in front of her: staring at her with green, luminous eyes. She froze—an image of her body, mangled and bloody flashed through her mind.
The great cat opened its mouth and spoke, his deep voice resonating through the forest: “Do not fear me Nandi. I have no need of your flesh.”
After a long moment she found her voice: “I remember you. You came to me when I was a little girl... Who are you?”
“I am Ogun.”
“The god of war,” she breathed. “You honor me!”
“There’s something I wish to show you.”
* * *
The forest disappeared and Nandi was riding astride Ogun through the high grass, her arms clasped tightly about his neck. Hundreds of Bini warriors on horseback raced alongside them.
“Where are we,” she said in his ear, “and why can’t they see us?”
“We’re just outside the Edo kingdom,” the panther rumbled, “And I have cloaked us. They will only see us if I desire it.”
At length, they stopped in front of ten-foot sandstone enclosure that stretched around the clan farms and ditches. Towering above the fortress was the Edo palace. They dismounted and ran for the fence, led by Adegoke. At his command they threw rope with grapple hooks over the side and began to scale the fortress.
In moments an alarm was sounded, and warriors appeared at the top picking off them off with arrows. Bini archers positioned in the grass returned their fire.
She climbed off the panther’s back, looking on with disgust. “What is the point of this? They’ll never kill enough of them to get inside!”
The panther turned his head
