Chapter 72 - Daughters of the Blade
The journey was going slow. Without horses, they had to walk, and the women pressed forward carried only by determination and the desperate hope of returning home.
Khisa used the time to teach them Swahili, knowing it would help them communicate with the Shadow Guard and future traders of Nuri. Every evening, they gathered around fires, repeating words and phrases until their tongues were sore and their minds overwhelmed.
The first night, Khisa pulled Faizah aside.
"Your training begins now," he said without preamble. "You have much to learn if you wish to catch up. Languages, economics, politics, military strategy—everything in between.
What I teach you, you will pass down through generations. Your children and grandchildren will learn from you. This knowledge must not be lost. Write down everything you hear, see, and learn.
Our job is to pave the way for the future. You will also learn weapons—swords, daggers, clubs, sticks, arrows. Once you’re proficient, you’ll choose your specialty.
You’ll feel like dying from exhaustion every day, and even then, I won’t let you rest. Your sword must be sharp—but your mind, even sharper."
Faizah gulped, but her eyes burned with resolve.
"I won’t disappoint you, Prince Khisa. I’ll be your sharpest sword. Whatever it takes."
"Make sure not to lose yourself in the process," he warned. "Always remember what you fight for. Never let the monsters you kill turn you into one."
Faizah had never known a man like Khisa. Most were stubborn, arrogant, or cowards pretending to be brave. He was different. He saw her potential. He didn’t try to possess her—he tried to elevate her. That night, she silently vowed to follow him for the rest of her life.