Nkechi was not herself that morning. Her thoughts were elsewhere, mainly on what she had overheard the night before, there was a roaring disappointment all throughout her being. Makaio was good with his words, his apologies had disarmed her, but she finally knew what he thought of her.

He thought she was damaged and one look at her skin and anyone would agree. She subconsciously pulled the shawl tighter around her body as she sat by the water lost in thought. Every so often her thoughts were interrupted by someone greeting her. It had been hours and it seemed that Makaio would not be returning for her. The man was a sneaky liar.

"That's quite a scowl you have there."

Nkechi squinted up at the copper haired beauty before her. The woman had odd eyes, slanted like a serpent as something flickered beneath them.

Nkechi's instinct reared its head and screamed there was danger nearby.

"I am Jiya." She stuck her hand out for Nkechi to shake. Nkechi reluctantly shook the woman's hand just as a vision rocked her body at the touch.

"You are Draginiki, a very powerful one. Royal even."

"Impressive" Jiya grinned. "You could tell all that through a handshake?"

"You hardly hide your secrets. It was obvious before we even touched but the vision confirmed it all. You are a long way from home."

"So are you," she chided.

"I have no home."

"Everyone has a home, even if it is one you are running from."

"I'm not running. It was merely my time to leave. I was prepared to go but I was not prepared for this turn of events. I did not imagine I would be here so soon."

"Where did you plan to go if not towards your destiny?"

Nkechi grimaced at all the questions, but she felt that she could be open this woman. It was an odd feeling to have. She had just met her but there was some force that had her eager to divulge her truth.

"If this is truly my destiny then surely every route or decision would always lead me back to this place. Surely then there can be no running away from it?"

Jiya snorted at Nkechi's words, "Goddess, you are all the same. You speak in riddles just like my sister did."

"Was your sister gifted with sight?" Nkechi asked tentatively. It did not skip her attention that Jiya had mentioned her sister in past tense.

"Do you mind if I-"

Jiya pointed to the spot by Nkechi and waited for her gentle nod before plopping down beside her.

Bronze hands pushed back the thick mass of waves. Jiya's features were so striking. Such rich copper hair had no place on skin as bronze as hers and yet the colour only enhanced her amber eyes and rich skin tone. Nkechi had only ever seen one person with features like Jiya's.

"My sister was Alhasmiji. A devout seer who dedicated her life to worshiping the Goddess. My parents were content that their eldest would honour family this way but when they died my uncle became the warden of our tribe and decreed that my sister was to be wed. This went against her religious vows and so she fled. I never saw her again."

Tears lined Jiya's eyes, but Nkechi could see that any sign of comfort would only infuriate this woman. There was a cold anger and determination in her watery eyes.

"When she fled, I was chained in fear that I too would flee after. The chains were so tight I could barely feel my fingers. I can't tell you how long I was there, but the moment I was set free, I did exactly as they thought. I fled and I never looked back. I am now the last in my dynasty and the only heir."

Jiya showed her forearm where her flesh had been burnt in rings. It was as if someone had seared her skin with a brand causing the skin to char. Jiya tucked the marks back beneath her top as a pensive look climbed over face. She tucked a long string of her wavy hair behind her ear and clenched her knees to her chest.

There was a hushed silence between them. Jiya's story had been brief but Nkechi could hear all that she had not disclosed, the abuse had not started at the chains and it had not stopped there either. Nkechi found comfort in the many ways they they were alike.

"I am Funai and because of that it was decreed by the Razi that I be married to our strongest warrior, but I refused. Kofi was a mean-spirited brute. The Razi decided to teach me a lesson, but he did not know that I was also Daharra. I'm an anomaly. The warrior spirit resides within me, and I could not take the humble beating and so I was thrown from fighting pit to the floor of our jungle."

Jiya sucked in a harsh breath at the image. The Feri tribe were known for inhabiting trees that no normal man could climb. The giant trees reached to the sky as if they were trying to grab the sun.

"I was not permitted to heal for some weeks and so I now have these scars."

Nkechi slowly pulled down her shawl to reveal some of the ugly scars that were now forever intertwined with her holy marks.

Tears lined Jiya's eyes, her anger conflicting with the pain she felt for Nkechi.

"It seems that men are forever trying to hurt us." Jiya chided but there was little humour in her tone.

"Especially those closest to us. The Razi is my father."

"Well fuck. No wonder why you're miserable here, men really have showed you the worst of themselves."

A laugh tumbled from Nkechi's lips at Jiya's frank opinion. This woman was as bold as her features. She dared to be open with Nkechi and as a result Nkechi had told some of her most guarded secrets.

"I like you, Jiya."

"Good because I like you, Nkechi."

Jiya bumped her shoulder against Nkechi before turning the topics to a lighter subject.

"What made you suspect that I am not happy here?"

Jiya's smokey laugh was a warming sound to Nkechi's dismal day.

"Have you already forgotten how I found you? You were sitting here alone with the face of someone whose favourite family member had been killed."

Nkechi felt another laugh involuntarily climbing from her lips. Jiya was so honest and funny. Her blunt nature made Nkechi automatically trust and like her.

Nkechi spent the next few hours laughing her head off at Jiya's random stories. Her laughter caused many of the nearby to look over and smile at them. Their joy was infectious.

Time ran away from them and before they knew it the lunch hour was approaching, and many people were returning to their homes to prepare meals.

Nkechi's stomach growled to mark her own need for food. Jiya offered Nkechi to come and eat with her, and with no sight of Makaio she took up the offer.

They were abruptly halted in their journey to Jiya's home by a flustered Makaio. His hair was dishevelled, and he held a basket in his free hand.

"Hello Makaio," greeted jiya cheerfully. "What brings you this way?"

Makaio squirmed like a big under a heavy foot, his eyes flitting between the two women.

"I'm sorry I was missing this morning. I had a lot to tend to, but I have brought Nkechi some lunch. I was hoping you could share it with me."

Nkechi barely batted an eye at the hope that thrummed through his throat. Makaio was not the type of man that she could ever take at face value, not anymore.

She opened her mouth to refute his invitation but snapped it shut at Jiya's answer.

"Of course, we were just looking for you. I'll head off to eat but I'll see you later. Bye Niki."

She was off to her home before Nkechi could even fix her mouth to respond. She gritted her teeth before focusing her disdain on Makaio.

"Sorry, I know I've been gone a while. Hopefully this food will help you to forgive me?"

His lighthearted tone did nothing but aggravate Nkechi further.

"There is no need to apologise more than once. I heard you the first time," she muttered while falling in step beside him.

"I must seem like a liar to you, but I swear it will not be a recurring theme."

When her lack of a response became too much, Makaio stopped his walk and grasped Nkechi's arm.

"Will you not forgive me?"

Nkechi huffed as she looked skyward. She had no idea what this man's agenda was, but he was emotionally all over the place. One moment he was trying to bond with her, the next he was rejecting her behind her back to only come back and grovel the next day. Only after he had been missing for most of the night and morning. He was a contradiction.

"I do not see what my forgiveness will do for you. You've shown me that apologies mean nothing to you, and I would rather not forgive what will only be repeated again."

"I said I wouldn't do it again."

"If someone has shown themselves to be a liar twice, who would be the fool to believe them again?"

"So instead, you will sulk?"

"No, instead I will go on this little date you have planned. Eat whatever is in your basket and then resume my day the way it was before you appeared. I will then eat the night meal with you and then lay in bed while you leave me alone for another morning."

Makaio pursed his lips in frustration before motioning for Nkechi to continue walking. She followed behind him in silence, her once jovial mood now depleted.

"Just up here."

He motioned to a steep hill. The silence was thick between them, but Nkechi was slowly becoming immune to it. It seemed that this would be her and Makaio's way. There would always be a chasm between them. On some days it would appear as if they were unified and others the world would be between them.

Makaio stopped by a wooden stump and lay down a blanket. Nkechi followed his lead and sat down on the colourful blanket. She stared out at the beautiful sea as he quickly unpacked the lunch.

"Filsan mentioned that the Feri tribe make a stew with beans that they sometimes have for lunch. I have brought it along with some of our bread. I thought it could show how two people can be different but still compliment each other."

"That sounds like a question more than a statement."

"It's hard to sound sure when you haven't looked at me in the last twenty minutes. I said I'm sorry Nkechi."

Nkechi's head snapped towards Makaio. Her eyes rested on the bowl of red stewed beans. The smell of coriander and cumin wafted into her nose and sent her stomach churning.

"I appreciate the effort but again, it is not something I require."

"Then what do you require from me?" He spat; patience all gone.

She wanted to snap that she required he stay in bed at night and not state her imperfections to his aunt while she was supposed to be sleeping. Instead, she settled for a half answer.

"I require your respect and consideration. What good is this gesture when you have already messed up again? This food now seems to be part of your apology and I would rather be apologised to with jewellery than food. At least with jewellery, I have something to stare at when the inevitable happens again."

Nkechi had him stumped again. He didn't know if he should refute her view or just concede for now. She took the decision away from him when she picked up the bread and motioned for him to begin eating.

Makaio plated up the food to mark the beginning of their meal and the end of whatever conversation they were having.