Chapter 9: Jasiri
The cloudy first days of winter were now upon them. It was constantly snowing, and Jasiri would have liked to have Shaped together some sturdier winter clothing to protect them against the cold. He'd seen some excellent designs in Lawrence's memories that gave him a million ideas; but Lawrence's firm instructions not to use Shaping were still in effect. So he settled down for the traditional travel garb of his people: a woollen shirt, some time-worn leather trousers, and a traditional coat of fur.
Lawrence was still wearing his odd but efficient motley of clothing. It was torn and stained of mud and dry blood from his ordeal with the slavers. Although he could use Shaping, he remained steadfast and refused to clean and repair it with but a thought.
Jasiri's father offered him a change of clothes, but he declined the offer. He said he couldn't intrude on their kindness any further. He would trade something for the new clothes, a tent, and a mount instead.
Digging into his pile of belongings that they'd transported from the cave. He retrieved a strange looking device. It was shaped like a small stick, and Jasiri instantly knew it for what it was.
It was a plasma cutter. A common tool in the old-world, and a priceless relic by today's standards.
When Lawrence turned it on, his mother and his father gasped as the blade shimmered into existence. It was red, violet, and blue; all intermixing and mingling in a wild variety of configurations. Jasiri was cursing himself for not discovering it earlier.
The device consumed air and produced the scorching blade by means of a laser-induced plasma channel. Jasiri thought the device was extraordinary, but the power cell must have been something else entirely to produce so much power. He was quite pleased with himself for knowing about such matters. Although he wondered how Lawrence had kept it working all this time.
When he asked him, Lawrence told him that to pass the time, he maintained, fixed, and restored an assortment of gear every day back in his hideout.
This sparked Jasiri's interest. When he asked him where that hideout was, Lawrence told him that it was very far away from here, and that every few years, he would set out in a random direction, and just walk. He told him that this time, his long walk had brought him this way.
He would take them there one day if they had the chance.
~*~
It was the tenth day since the start of his adventure, and it was Jasiri's proving. It was his Bloom.
He was finally eighteen, a man grown.
Although he'd proven himself many times over already, he was looking forward to this. The Bloom was important to him, and an equally important yearly ritual for his tribe. Proving years were especially celebrated, what with the extra festivities and all.
He would make his father - and Lawrence - proud. He was brimming with excitement and anticipation.
The entire tribe was gathered to wish him good luck and bid him farewell on his month-long journey. They whispered kind words and encouragements to him. They, too, would pack and gather their tents and travel to their winter homes in the distant Sky Fang mountain after the Bloom. The Great Water Serpent, Sauti Ya Baridi, would protect their passage on their journey.
Lawrence had accepted the duty - and great honour - of being his Spirit Guide, despite his recent ordeal.
To be chosen as a Spirit Guide for a proving despite his ignorance of their tribe's customs showed that the tribe held him in very high regard, and valued his wisdom immensely. With this simple act, he was essentially acknowledged as a full member of the Kilio Bundi tribe. With the blessings and approval of the tribe's elder.
He wasn't sure if Lawrence had realised the implications of his acceptance just yet. He planned to talk to him about it when they had the chance.
For now, Jasiri had a slight problem.
The girl he had saved from the slaver's camp had been following him around like a second shadow. She wouldn't speak a word, he didn't know her name, and he had no idea why she was following him. He tried to dissuade her from following him around with words and hand gestures, but no matter what, she wouldn't relent. With grunts and nods she confirmed that she wasn't going to go away any time soon.
When his friend Mkuki had made fun of this matter, he'd told him how he found her bound to a post inside a tent and looking abused. His friend shut up entirely, and looked at her with more respect.
He suspected that she could understand them. He just wasn't sure why she wasn't talking back to them. Was she planning on accompanying them on his proving, too?
There was nothing in the rules to forbid it. He just wasn't sure if she would be fine with the arduous journey.
He was too busy to research this further at the moment.
The shaman was saying the final words, and after this, his proving would begin.
Before they left, his father approached him and presented him with a present for good luck. It was the plasma cutter.
~*~
Lawrence was riding his new mount, and Jasiri was walking right next to him when he decided to voice his nagging thoughts.
"This is unfair! Why do you get to ride and I get to walk, Lawrence Godwin?" Jasiri grumbled.
"How preposterous! I've never seen a mule travelling on horseback before!" Lawrence said with mischief in his eyes.
"Very funny, Lawrence Godwin. I will get you for that!"
"Just call me Lawrence, and the answer to your original question, it would be because you had nothing to trade for your own mount. You're still a young pup with no wealth or fortune to trade with." Lawrence said.
"I would have made amazing things to trade, had you not forbidden me from using Shaping." Jasiri complained.
"Why don't you use your hands and put that mind to work instead?" Lawrence asked with a smirk.
"I just wish to know why I'm being forbidden from Shaping, and why you don't seem to use it either."
"Seriously, you want to have that talk now?" Lawrence asked.
"No, but once we make camp, we will find the time to talk."
"Agreed."
They walked in silence for a few paces, then heard an audible cough coming from behind them.
"It seems that your new friend is still following us." Lawrence said.
"Yes, and for the life of me, I do not know why she insists on following me everywhere." Jasiri lifted his arms in frustration.
"Maybe she likes you." Lawrence suggested.
Jasiri blushed a little, and they heard the cough again.
"She's going to be seriously sick in this cold if we don't give her something to warm up with." Lawrence commented, "she's still wearing the tattered clothing from the slaver's camp."
"She refused the clothing the tribeswomen offered her. My mother told me."
"What if
you
offered it to her?"
"What difference would it make?" Jasiri asked.
"Just try it." Lawrence said.
Jasiri thought on this, and decided that he'd at least give it a try. They paused on their travel, and Jasiri lowered the packs tied to the horse.
At least I don't have to carry my own pack
, he thought.
He quickly procured a fur coat from his belongings, and turned to look at the girl.
