Understanding dawned on me. I knew suddenly, as I knew to expect the rise and fall of the sun, she expected me to subdue the ancient beast. She’d brought the tribe’s children as bait.
Babshah caught my gaze and her lips smirked up.
A roar split the air and the companion birds at our shoulders shrieked and cawed like a bad omen. Even a bright swarm of sprites flew past our shoulders.Run!I heard their high screams.
I scrambled away as a dark blur trampled through the pine trees, knocking down trunks like a child tossing clay dolls.
‘Observe well, young tribesmen,’ Babshah announced nonchalantly, but not before gripping my wrist hard. A forceful woman, she did as she pleased. ‘Today, thiscursedgirl’s training will be conveyed to the tribe. She will enchant the beast with her tongue before felling it with a single strike.’
My whole being trembled. ‘I cannot,’ I admitted.
The wind lashed against our backs, but the chief folkteller held steadfast against its punishment. From a cloth pouch dangling from her lambskin belts, she produced a stick of black powder and two masks. She smeared the black sormeh on the waterlines of my eyes, then strapped the wooden ceremonial mask engraved with wild wolfish features and crane feathers on to my face.
She smiled. ‘You must, my apprentice. Together, we will use your training and defeat the beast with a story. Chin up. Arms long and strong.Becomethe words. Heed me, the creatures of jinn-folk are inept beings who fall for sweet words.’
My birds nuzzled into my shoulder. I stroked their beaks. ‘At ease,’ I croaked.
At that, the karkadann trampled forth into the field, tearing the hanging eaves of elm. A coat of fur, blue as a corpse, enclosed a thick muscular body. The beast roved in a large circle, horn casually piercing through fir trunks and slinging them away. Smoke huffed through its bloated nostrils, a silver blazing fire. The children sobbed and shrank, avoiding the sailing trees.
‘Quit your warbling!’ Babshah huffed at them, face suddenly serious. ‘The beast scents the youngest virgin souls. Do not attract its attention.’
Before I could flee, she shoved me forward into the path of the karkadann. Only a thin glacial stream, from run-off sloping over the grass, lay between me and the beast. Its heavy hooves stomped through the icy water with such force, the water showered into a mist. Red eyes of fury tracked my careful movements. I crouched and circled it fast. It thrashed and twisted its body to follow me.
Using the diversion, I unwound my leather cord, swinging the rope. The birds at my shoulder answered, soaring rapidly over the karkadann.
Though Haj assumed my buzzards to be paltry and insignificant, Babshah boasted that twin buzzards are advantageous for size and speed, a deception paired in two.
Under my breath, I prayed to the Divine to keep me safe, for the humans, animals and jinn-folk are all under His creation. Then I ordered, ‘Now,’ and one buzzard dove into the karkadann’s hide, its beak piercing fur. The karkadann bucked and roared, jabbing its long horn to swipe the bird. As the first buzzard, it distracted the beast.
My cord swung, and the other buzzard shot forward, raking its talons across the beast’s thick neck. As the second bird, it gave the brunt of attack.
‘Good, my apprentice. Now to enchant it with my story...’ Babshah brushed her robes nonchalantly and drew her body straight, fixed on her mask and faced the karkadann. The chief folkteller began thus her tale.
‘O, tribesmen and jinn, let me tell you a legend as old as the clay itself. Once the world was not so.’
The karkadann stilled.
‘Before the Great Flood, before humans, before even Prophet Father Adam, there were the angels and the jinn.
‘The One Great Divine, God of all creation, shaped the angels from the purest Heavenly light; created the jinn from the smokeless part of the flame; moulded humans from dirt and clay.
‘Two creations: jinn of the smokeless fire, and humans of dirt, but both with souls and free will; and angels with none – made only to obey the Divine who created the Heavens.’
Stood beside Babshah, I scooped the wettest dirt, shaping it quickly into a human form, just as she’d taught me. Using the shadows of the trees against sunlight, I moved to the rhythm of Babshah’s words. I stooped low and stalked around the karkadann, arms up, holding the earthen doll. The shadow of my form played against the ground, growing into a mean, black gangly outline of a make-believe jinn that plucked and devoured the clay doll.
My teeth gnashed with concentration. The karkadann, enchanted by my shadow, roared, swinging its horned head in response. My foot slid back. I matched its stance. Abruptly, it ceased its cry. Whether in wonder or confusion, I could not be sure.
Babshah nodded approvingly. For a second, her gaze on my shadow hesitated.Somethingin the shadow moved without me. I shook my head and continued to act out Babshah’s tale, my movements becoming a dance to accompany her words.
‘In a time when the desert winds whispered secrets beyond even the sea, when the only beings that dwelled were fire-imbued tribes, reigned the jinn. Those creatures of smokeless fire.
‘Some were righteous, yet most harboured not love, but mischief, warring amongst themselves and spreading corruption across Brother-Nature.’
I stepped close to the karkadann, sending the children scurrying back. Their cries fell silent as it lowered its head.
When I placed my hand before the beast, my tribesmen gasped. I offered the beast my clay doll. Reflected in its red, intelligent eyes, I saw myself burning. But I wore a warrior mask, embodying a beast as well, and I stared back.
Attack me, beast, I imagined shouting.
