-- a tale of the Tambudze
Silence now, children, and listen to your Marumbi. Hear and learn from the Tale of Little D'Jenda and the Fire Arrows.When Little D'Jenda -- who is named Vivian in Thari, the language of men, and D'Jenda in Muula, the language of the Sun. Who was Named for the small drum. Because her feet beat tattoos against the sides of her corami when she was but a babe. And running rhythms in the marbled hallways of the Great Ziggurat at Tambudze when she was but a child.
When Little D'Jenda was a tender maid of sixteen, the Prince of nearby Nessifel decided to Welcome the Rains with a grand Car'ashal. To this celebration he invited all the proud and powerful folk of the Tambudze -- of the lowlands, of the highlands and of the lands in between.
But he did not invite Little D'Jenda. For the Prince of Nessifel was considered a worldly man, and it was not proper that a maid such as D'Jenda attend the Car'ashal.
However, the Lionesses the Prince did invite. Karambi -- who is Valerie in the language of men, and Durambi -- who is Victoria. These proud twin princesses Nessifel did invite to his celebration of the Rains.
And so for the long weeks before the Car'ashal, D'Jenda watched with darkening eyes as her older sisters planned for the celebration. What they would wear, what they would do, whom they would welcome with the Rains.
Little D'Jenda made plans of her own.
The night of the Car'ashal arrived. Karambi and Durambi, both glowing with strength and pride, joined the throngs of revelers at the Prince's beautiful Ommangi.
Now, the Prince of Nessifel was indeed a worldly man. His Ommangi was the most magnificent to be imagined - saving only the Great Ziggurat at Tambudze, of course. Pure white walls held the heat of the day against the cool of the night, and the cool of the night against the heat of the day. Many, many rooms were within those walls. As well as many, many treasures.
But the pride of Nessifel was his beautiful gardens. Surrounded by his great white walls, where only he and his guests could enjoy them. Fanciful and amazing plants grew
there in abundancy. Delicate perfumes and heavy scents filled the air. Liais, creepers, mosses, flowers, whole forests of trees grew within the gardens of Nessifel.And on that night, Little D'Jenda stood a full two hundred stades from those walls and made a bargain with the Devourer.
Now all children know that while the Devourer may seem our friend -- while he may cook our food, and keep away the night -- all children know that the Devourer is a prisoner and that he will turn to bite the unwary hand. And if freed, all of the Savannah
could fall to his appetite.But that night, Little D'Jenda made her bargain. With her she brought a fine, fine bow made of Ampla horn, curved and strong. Twenty arrows of Mjuka wood, straight and true, tied round with swathes of silk. A flask of purest Vil oil. And a small covered braiser carrying the Devourer.
Two hundred stades she stood from the walls of Prince Nessifel. And when the sounds of revelry had reached their peak -- Little D'Jenda loosed arrow after arrow into the gardens of Nessifel. Each arrow, silk-wrapped, oil-soaked and carrying the Devourer. Each arrow found its mark, high in the trees of Nessifel. Well beyond the reach of any of those who celebrated within the Ommangi's white, white walls. Forty arrows in two
minutes brought the Devourer into the Car'ashal.Shouts of delight turned into screams of panic as Nessifel's guests watched the gardens fall to the Devourer's appetite. Those brave souls among them -- Karambi and Durambi numbered therein -- labored with the Prince's men to save his green growing treasures. But it was for naught.
Nessifel's great white walls saved his home and his guests from the Devourer's reach, but the garden was lost.
At the first cries from the Ommangi, Little D'Jenda whispered her thanks to the Devourer and doused the brazier with dirt - extinguishing the Devourer before she fled. For not even Little D'Jenda would leave the Devourer unattended upon open ground. But flee she did. Leaving the fine, fine Ampla bow. And the cask of Vil oil. Her swift feet bringing her home to the Great Ziggurat of Tambudze before even the news of the night's disaster could be cried out.
And so it was that when the Lionesses returned home from the Car'ashal, their finery soot-stained, their faces tired, their evening ruined - they were greeted by the smiling face of their little sister asking if all had gone well for them.
Now, the Lionesses are not indolent of mind and well were they used to the ways of their wild sister. One look was exchanged between weary golden eyes and anger flamed into their hearts just as the Devourer had flamed into the gardens of Nessifel. As one they turned and pounced upon their little sister.
But their claws caught only air. For Little D'Jenda was also well aware of her sisters' ways and when the look was exchanged, she took to her feet once more. To run laughing down the marbled halls of the Great Ziggurat. For Little 'Jenda's greatest safety has always been that she could outrun her sisters.
The Lionesses gave chase with a mighty roar, but D'Jenda was already far in the lead. So far that she looked back to laugh. And in that was her error.
For in looking back, she did not see how her speeding feet carried her straight into the jaws of the waiting tiger. Mirambui -- who is Beatrice in the language of men -- took her youngest daughter by the scruff of the neck in a move to swift to see. Little D'Jenda's laughter changed to a howl of indignity as she was lifted off her feet.
A deep growl issued from the throat of Mirambui, the Tigress, and she shook her child so that D'Jenda's teeth clacked together. With baleful golden eyes, the Queen of Tambudze bid her two older daughters depart. Well glad were they to do so, for the Tigress is not one to disobey when angered. And Mirambui's justice would be far more terrible than any revenge they could deal their little sister.
As the golden lionesses stalked back down the corridor, Mirambui dragged her youngest daughter -- squalling and yowling -- into her lair.
No official complaint was ever made, and no official apology was ever issued. The palace of Tambudze was glad to aid their good friend Prince Nessifel in the rebuilding of
his treasured gardens.And Little D'Jenda spent the next week sequestered in her chambers recovering from the marks of her mother's displeasure. It was rumored throughout Tambudze that for the next month, nothing but bread and water passed through the teeth of Little D'Jenda. Though in this, as in most, rumor was incorrect.
But that is a story for another day.
