PodCastle

* Author : Shari Paul
* Narrator : Khaalidah Muhammad-Ali
* Host : Summer Fletcher
* Audio Producer : Peter Adrian Behravesh
*
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Previously published by Fiyah Lit Mag Issue 5.


Rated PG-13.
The Epic of Sakina
By Shari Paul
[Note: This is part 2 of a two-part novelette. Visit our previous post to read Part 1.]
The ride back to her father’s house had never felt so long, doubly so under Naima’s interrogation. Sometime during the wait for Sakina’s return at the barracks, Naima had spoken to a few of the guards and decided that Leif was a djinn. It was a welcome distraction, as she teased her friend and gave her only the vaguest answers. This was not something she could share, and once Naima realised this, she changed tack anyway, instead telling Sakina about the business at her store.
Sakina went straight to the library when she was back at the house, ancestors whispering in her ear. It was time she started a record of this. As she sank into her chair though, someone knocked at the door.
She looked up and a shiver coursed her spine like lightning. It was the alim.
“Greetings. So, this is the famous library of Cunapo? It is larger than I thought,” said Asif in the doorway, looking around.
“Get him out! Get him out!” the ancestors shrieked in unison at her ear. The library was deserted at midday, for most of the usual patrons were out to lunch. While she had a fairly good idea of what Leif was now, she had no idea of Asif. There was also no one for her to call for help, not even soldiers lingering about on her uncle’s orders.
Sakina stood up awkwardly, one hand on the blank pages she had taken out for the record. Her voice broke a little as she replied, “My father wanted to outdo the glory of Timbuktu. I imagine that he has many books on the way here from his travels.”
“I can imagine,” said Asif, walking towards the shelves. “I have acquired many things in my travels as well, though I pack lightly now.”
Sakina offered a small smile and said, “It must make travel easier. By the time he returns, my father should have bankrupted us.”
“And your husband should cover it. A djeli and a trader?” asked Asif.
“He is more a trader and traveller, than djeli,” Sakina replied.
Asif nodded at that and asked, “How long have they been gone?”
“Less than a year,” said Sakina, and felt an ache in her heart. She missed Farouk and her father. At least the students kept her busy.
Asif averted his gaze to the floor, “How terrible for you.”
“I have responsibilities,” said Sakina with a dismissive wave. “Is there…anything that I can help you with?”
Asif’s eyes were dark gold when he lifted them to her. Sakina felt her hair stand on end, suddenly cold. She did not know how fast Asif could move but she had spent much of her childhood outrunning maids, teachers, soldiers, and Farouk. She would get to that door before he got to her, she knew she would. He smiled and said, “I have met djeli before, in the ‘Niani across the Sea’ as you call it. Is it true that your source of knowledge is your ancestors speaking to you?”
Sakina offered him a small smile and said, “You know I cannot tell you that. There are some things that we do not share with others.”