Traga, 1609 AD

 

     “What is it like to have a husband?” Kwamani asked. She squatted in the tall grass by the stream and hugged her knees to her chest.

     Adjua folded her great wings behind her and stretched her neck towards the sun. That is a question for your mother little one.

     Kwamani rose smoothly to embrace the amber dragon, stretching her small chocolate-colored arms as far as she could around Adjua’s pale underbelly. “I’ve asked her a dozen times, my Boodu”

     Adjua settled into the embrace, she could feel Kwamani’s heartbeat in time with her own. And what did she say?

     Kwamani sighed, “She said that it was like having a father, brother and friend all wrapped into one.”

     Adjua chuckled. Well, that is what it’s like then.

     Kwamani stepped back to look into the dragon's eyes. “I want to know what it’s like to lie with my husband!”

     Well, I cannot answer that, little one, for I am too young to mate

    Kwamani’s little face fell and Adjua sat gracefully back on her hind legs. She considered for a moment and then brought her face close to Kwamani's. Well, I suppose mating would be like connecting with your Ka—terrible and wonderful all at the same time.

     “I‘ll just have to connect with my Ka then, Boodu.” Kwamani raised her hands and closed her eyes as she was taught.

      Adjua sat up. No child, we are too far away from the village. You mustn’t pull on that power with no one around to safeguard you!

     “It will be fine, Boodu.” Sweat beaded across Kwamani’s brow. “You are here and I will be fine.”

     Adjua took to the air, torn. Kwamani almost never pulled in the Ka—always too concerned with this or that. She wanted the child to connect with her Ka and fill her spirit up with the life force of the cosmos; however her teacher was not with her. One’s Ka is a very powerful thing and Adjua feared for the princess' safety.

     She watched as the princess raced through the trees. Heat radiating from the ground she ran upon. Adjua flew higher still, dipping in and out of the clouds. Treasuring the little time she had left with her human match. Kwamani was to be married on the next moon and her time would be that of her husbands. Adjua focused on her own Ka. She did not want to think about the loss of her friend.

     She felt a sudden spike in temperature. No little one, Adjua admonished gently. That is too much, you will set the entire forest ablaze.

      “ADJUA!” Kwamani screamed. “ADJUA COME!”

     The strength in which Kwamani pulled on the Ka was like nothing she ever felt before. Adjua turned to see Northern men dragging Kwamani away by her hair. Adjua’s shriek sliced through the heavens while her rage fueled pull of Ka vibrated throughout the forest. Time slowed down as the birds took flight from the trees in unison with the creatures of the forest as they raced for the hills. 

      She swooped down on her assailants slashing with her talons—too afraid to spit fire and risk hurting Kwamani.

     “What in the hell is that?” asked the one holding the stick. Fear rolled off of him in waves.

     “Why don’t you shoot it out of the fucking sky so we can have a proper look at it?”

      Kwamani grabbed the hand that held her hair and dug her fingernails into it. Her eyes blazed with fire.     

     “She is Adjua, my dragon match”.

     The men could not understand her words.

     “Why you little bitch” He punched Kwamani in the temple, knocking her to the ground, then he grabbed the gun out of his comrades' shaking hands.

     “Thomas, what the hell is it?” the man asked again, trembling.

     “It’s dead, that's what it is.” He braced the gun against his shoulder, waited until the creature made its descent, and then fired. The bullet pierced the tip of Adjua’s wing.

      The sky turned red from the fire she released as her descent turned into a nosedive.

      Thomas returned the gun to his fear-stricken partner. “Now that’s the proper way to dispatch a monster ol’ boy.” He hefted an unconscious Kwamani over his shoulder and headed for the fortress. “This is the last female we will need before we set sail for the colonies. Come along Franklin it is a long and cold journey ahead of us; however, we have just netted us a nice little cozy bed warmer.”

     Franklin was frozen where he stood watching the fire streaked sky. Thomas looked over his shoulder. “Come along man, or do you want to stick around to see if my aim is true?” That question was enough to thaw him. He jumped and scrambled after them.

 

      Adjua breathed a narrow stream of flame on her wound to stop the bleeding. The pain the fire stick caused her was nothing compared to the agony of losing Kwamani. She centered her Ka and set off towards the village. Kojo will avenge his daughter. The North men and their fire sticks were about to meet a painful end.

     Kojo saw the young dragon crest the hill and fly directly towards the camp. He scanned the grounds below for signs of his daughter.

      They have taken her. The force of Adjua’s words crushed his mind, pushing all other thoughts out. He grabbed his head and stumbled back. Two of his huntsmen rushed to his side but he waved them away. Adjua landed ten hands from Kojo he noted the wound on her wing and raised an eyebrow. “Where is the princess?”

They’ve taken her to the fortress. You must assemble the huntsmen for there is little time.

     Although it cost him, Kojo stiffened. I will not pit my huntsman against the North men. Our spears and shields are no match for their weapons.

     She is my match Adjua shrieked. You must save her. The chief turned his back on Adjua even as the heat began to build. He knew that she was not yet old enough to control the minds of men.

    “This is your sin Adjua of Wagadugo. You have failed your match and now you must suffer your fate.

Adjua crouched on her hind legs, roared to the heavens, and shot straight up into the air. I determine my fate, human. I am not a victim to it.

     She soared well above the clouds for fear of the North men and their fire sticks. With her strength weaning, Adjua opened herself to her Ka. If Kojo would not dispatch his huntsmen to save his own daughter then she will beseech the elder dragons for aid.