A Young Warrior Tests Her Strength in This Exclusive Excerpt from Willow's Black Shield Maiden
Koumbi Saleh never ceases to inspire me with awe. I’ve been to many cities around Wagadu with Papa, and even a few outside the empire’s borders—but I’ve never seen one so splendid as Koumbi Saleh. Little wonder, given that the Ghāna himself lives here.
I remember the first time I saw it—the first time I ever came to Koumbi Saleh. It was before we had settled in the village for good. I was young enough that I had to lift my hand above my head to hold Papa’s.“It’s for the Muslims,” he replied. “They worship their god inside.”“Every mosque is for the same god, their Supreme Creator. The Muslims call him Allah, and they do not worship any other. They say Allah is the only true god, and that he is all-powerful.”I couldn’t believe it.
After we finish setting everything up, we wait for someone to perceive our creations as worthy of being coveted. Soon, three men with skin the color of sand amble toward us.I recognize the headwraps, the hooded dashikis with the slit down the middle of the chest, and the pointed shoes poking out from under their trousers.The Amazigh are dangerous on their best day. They have little regard for anyone who doesn’t worship the Muslim god—and even their own tribes are always at war with one another.
He shares a look with his hulking companion, and the two of them burst into laughter. The golden-eyed man stays silent, but I can feel his gaze locked on my reddening face. As their laughter grows louder, a molten ball of anger forms in my stomach and rolls up my chest. I start to tremble.I hear a flinty ringing between my ears, like a hammer striking a blade. The ball of fire in my chest breaks apart and flows down my limbs, flooding them with energy.
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