Nubia

As she walked alone, down the path that leads to the clearing, Amani heard the chatter of the busy crowd. The lights of the pit fires flickered through the trees and created a warm glow. All of her senses were tuned and the anxiety made her tingle from the inside. The closer she got to the clearing the faster her heart pounded. She stopped for a minute and took a long deep breath. Amani fought any reservations she had and made her move. Stepping through the trees, she reached up and pulled a veil down over her face. There was a fight going on in the circle. Two boys were wrestling, seeming tirelessly, parrying like the tide and the shore. The shore is overcome by the tide and the battle is over. The boastful victor taunts the crowd. “Who’s next?” he shouts as he pounds his chest like a silver back. Amani steps from the crowd and all is silenced. The sudden hush is broken by the masked princess making the challenge. “Try me!” she demands. Laughter erupts throughout but it did not discourage Amani. “Unless you are afraid of being beaten by a girl” she added. Hearing this, the spectators began to laugh harder. The brute standing opposite the princess accepted this challenge by grabbing hold of Amani and throwing her across the circle. She was caught by several boys in the crowd and was agitated by some inappropriate touch. The laughter and taunts of the spectators only fueled her desire to beat this brute. She stood her ground and patiently waited for him to attack again. The attack came in a wild advance that was quickly side stepped. As he passed her Amani caught him in his floating rib, the small soft rib at the bottom of his ribcage. The unexpected strike easily snapped the bone causing excruciating pain. She felt a snap with the impact and knew the damage she had caused. Her opponent had suddenly become her victim. She didn’t give him a moment to recover. He doubled over holding his side and she struck him with all her strength in his head, sending him crashing to the hard and dusty ground. He didn’t move. Amani stood over him in a firm stance fists clenched and hands at the ready, but still he did not move. After a moment or so, she realized it was over. She relaxed her stance and looked around the crowd that stood in amazement. Amani walked away and back into the trees. There was an eruption of cheers and applauds which made her smile to herself in satisfaction. When she was sure no one could see, she removed her veil and began to run, away from the clearing, back to the palace.