She assumed her position at the end of the table, with Maadi stood on her right. She saw her cup was already full with forest-fruit wine and raised it.
‘I’m proud of you all. Organising an attack during Wagadou’s holy festivities was low even for Bida, and I know some of you were sceptical, believing that tonight was a futile mission, that Bida wouldn’t attack us again so soon, so I am grateful for your faith in me. I know you would rather be with your families and I am mindful of the sacrifice it takes to fight. I know what you risk. Thank you.’
‘To our chief warrior!’ One of her cabinet, Kadida, held up her cup and the other soldiers joined her in the toast, cheering. Maadi held up his own cup in Siya’s direction and winked at her with a small nod. ‘To our queen,’ he said quietly.
Siya cleared her throat and put the feeling in her stomach down to the wine she’d hastily consumed and released a small smile. ‘I’m honoured to serve you all. Victory is ours. Go home and celebrate what’s left of the festivities with your families. That’s an order. Tell each of your units the same. We’ll meet again tomorrow evening.’
The room emptied. Maadi stayed. He always stayed. They shared the large rock cottage that doubled as The Eagles’ main headquarters and had their private quarters next to each other to make administration easier. It made other things more difficult.
Siya took another sip of her wine and raised a brow.
‘Insubordination, Sergeant?’
‘You said to go home and celebrate with family. I am obeying you, Commander.’
Siya ignored the skitter in her pulse and smiled. ‘Sweet, but I know you have a brother and two nephews who worship you.’ She glanced at the map spread out on the table before her, marked out, denoting strategy. ‘And I have wine, and planning to do.’ She turned and rested her back against the table, gently touching his arm. ‘You don’t have to stay, Maadi. Honestly.’
Maadi’s brows furrowed as he moved directly in front of her. Underneath the amber glow of the torches his dark skin gleamed. She wanted to reach out and trace the curves of his lips with her thumb, so elegant with their fullness.
‘I don’t stay because I have to, Siya.’ He stepped closer to her. ‘I can see you’re worried.’
Siya sighed grimly. Maadi always managed to sear through her cloak and armour.
‘My uncle has asked to see me. Tomorrow. Well, he has asked to see the “King of The Eagles”。 Someone brought me the letter yesterday.’ Siya had been keeping up appearances by attending feasts as his niece, reasoning her absences from court as grief. As far as she knew, he had no idea she was the one disrupting his grab for power.
Siya laughed humourlessly. ‘He said he wants to thank him for his service in protecting Wagadou. Something he and his army have failed to do every single time. Man to man, face to face. At Red Valley.’
Red Valley held the ancient clearing where duels took place, where men hashed out differences with the traditional martial mode: cane and bare hands. Two men would engage in a debate and, if they could not come to a peaceful agreement, they fought. To the death. As time went on, the debate became a ritualistic performance.
Maadi held deathly still. ‘He wants to kill you.’
Siya took another deep sip of wine and shot Maadi a bitter smile. ‘Yes. And he’ll probably hire his best warrior as a proxy, since my uncle can’t fight for oxen shit. If I don’t go, he will likely use the opportunity to declare us treasonous terrorists who rejected his offer to work together. He will declare us a threat to Wagadou and wage war against us, detracting attention from Bida. In which case he will try to kill us all. Enough is enough. As long as Bida has Dyabe under his thumb, we will be fighting forever. I have to quell him.’ Siya shook her head, looking anywhere but at Maadi’s face, her voice brittle with disgust, shame and regret. ‘I’ve been putting these men and women in constant danger for nothing.’
Maadi placed his hand on her shoulder, forcing her to look up at him. ‘Siya, you’re the reason Wagadou has lasted this long. In peace. You protect her. Those men and women fight because they know you are a good leader.’
Siya’s eyes glistened in response. Maadi had seen unspeakable things in war, but what he saw in Siya’s gaze chilled him to the bone. He shook his head. ‘No. Siya . . . you can’t go. If anything happens to you—’
Siya gave a grim grin. ‘Insubordination again. Don’t you trust my skills?’