Intermix Nation

“Who said anything about training?” he sayssharply.

Nazirah swallows hard. “It’s prettyobvious,” she mumbles. “Luka said you stayed in Shizar, and youhave the dusza.…”

“It’s not that obvious,” he says, “unlessyou already knew.”

“Fine,” she admits. “I asked Solomon aboutit, okay? I was curious.”

“And what else did Solomontell you?” he asks, eyes flashing. “I’m … curious.”

“N-Nothing,” Nazirah stammers.

They walk towards the monastery, stopping atthe entrance. “You’re too nosy for your own good,” he says. “Youknow that, right?”

“Yes.”

He sighs. “I shouldn’t be taking youhere.”

“Why not?”

“The zimbaba don’t ordinarily let civiliansenter,” he says. “It’s a holy place.”

“Are Luka’s guards waiting behind the dooror something?”

“No,” he says. “Even she’s not allowed inhere.”

“And you are?”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” he replies,chuckling a little. “It’s just another reason she hates me. Theyagreed to train me, a foreigner, but not her. She’s still prettybitter about it.”

“Do you want me to wait here?”

Adamek is silent then, staring at the heavydoors. They are engraved with the same strange characters as hisdusza. “Screw it,” he says, pulling them open. “It’s not like Ifollowed the rest of their rules.”

It’s tranquil inside, still and quiet.Hundreds of statues, honoring unfamiliar gods, line the walls. Theyare hewn directly into the rock, calling followers to worship. Waxpillars light the floor, the windows, spilling prophecies.

Nazirah follows Adamek through severalco

Adamek hands Nazirah his coat. “Stayhere.”

Nazirah sits on the nearest chair, watchingcuriously as Adamek approaches the two men. The potbellied zimbabarecognizes him first, his shocked eyes narrowing. “You would dareshow your face here, animal?” he demands.

“Nice as it is to see you too, Monk Ji,”Adamek says coldly. “I’ve come to speak with my master.” Monk Jimoves to strike Adamek, who doesn’t flinch. The second, olderzimbaba lightly touches Monk Ji’s shoulder, halting his handmidair.

“Young Adamek,” this zimbaba says, “youstill have much to learn. The riddle is not if you shall speak withyour master. It is if your master shall speak with you.”

Adamek bows his head. “Please, master,” hesays, “I’m in desperate need of guidance.”

“Brother Yi?” Monk Ji snaps. “Shall I removehim?”

The elderly zimbaba gently pulls up Adamek’schin, staring into his eyes. He shakes his head. “Brother Ji,” hecommands, “give us a moment.”

A queer feeling overcomes Nazirah as shestares at two pairs of gloved hands. Monk Ji scoffs, snarling atAdamek before stalking out of the room. Only the elderly zimbabaremains. And with his large ears and kind face, this Monk Yi is thespitting image of a primate.

Of a monkey.

Nazirah’s jaw drops to the floor.

This is the monkey? This small, ancient,unassuming bald man? This is who taught Adamek how to fight? How tokill?

“Please excuse Monk Ji,” the monkey says toAdamek. “Lately, he has struggled to follow the virtues we teach.”He looks at Nazirah. “Like forgiveness.”

“You knew I was coming?”

The monkey nods. “We zimbaba have eyes andears all over the country,” he says. “I needed only open mine toknow. Yet I prefer to hear it in person. Why have you traveledhere, my wayward son?”

“I have dishonored you –”

“You have dishonored yourself,” the monkeycorrects. “That is more important. But, continue.”

“I’ve joined the southern rebellion,” Adamekpersists. “We grow stronger every day, but we’re not strong enough.I have come to ask for your alliance.”

The monkey is thoughtful. “Young Adamek,” hesays, “the brotherhood of monks here is more than simple zimbaba,whose fate rise and fall with the tides of Zima. We have bee

“Maybe it’s time you started,” Adameksays.

“Our numbers would make little impact,” themonkey replies. “We could not train the rebels to fight like us ina thousand years, nor would we want to. And you know well, we useviolence only as a last resort, not as a weapon of destruction. Wekill when we must to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and ourhonor. We do not kill as a means of fear, suppression, orpower.”

“I know this,” Adamek snaps.

“I know you do,” the monkey says, nodding.“So tell me, what is the real reason you have come?”

“That is the reason, master.”

“No, my son,” the monkey presses. “That is areason … but it is not the reason.” Adamek remains silent. “Let meput it another way. When I first agreed to take you in, severalyears ago, everyone told me I was insane. To willingly train theson of the Chancellor? My brothers believed you would abuse ourteachings, twisting them for your father’s destructive purposes.You were so set in your ways, so belligerent, so intolerant ofanyone unlike yourself. But when I met you, I saw goodness in you.It was hidden from those who were not looking for it. But the rootsran deep. I still see that goodness, Adamek, although you have longlost the way.”

“Why are you telling me this?” he asks.

The monkey gently grasps Adamek’s hands,stares at them. “The weights you bear are much heavier than when Isaw you last,” he says sadly. Adamek looks away, ashamed. Themonkey touches Adamek’s back, right over his dusza. “But your soulremains intact. And I sense a change within you that, for a longtime, I feared was hopeless.” He carefully inspects Adamek’s leftforearm.

“Almost a year now,” Adamek saysquietly.

“It suits you.”

“So you won’t help us?” Adamek asks, bowinghis head respectfully.

The monkey embraces him. “No,” he says. “Butyou knew that already.” Adamek gives him one final, searching lookbefore turning to leave. He walks past Nazirah, who clumsily risesto her feet. She glances at the monkey, only to find him smilingserenely at her. “My son,” he calls out, “one last thing.”

“Master?”

“Remember the first rule.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Nazirah tosses restlessly all night, unableto shut her brain off. Adamek wouldn’t answer a single question onthe journey back to the manor, would barely speak to her at all.Nazirah has to see the monkey again before leaving Shizar. Shebites her nails to the quick the next day, waiting until Adamek andAldrik are scheduled to meet with the miners. When she can’t takeit anymore, she grabs her coat, exits through the servants’entrance without a hitch, and sets off towards the monastery.

She gets to the hanging bridge easilyenough, and musters all of her courage to actually traverse it byherself. But she does it, teeth clacking, knuckles white, pantinghard. Her nose starts ru

Nazirah enters the monastery, endorphinsru

“It is rude to try to break the silence of asilent zimbaba.”

Nazirah jumps. “I was looking for you,” shesays, turning around.