THE PAIRING OF sword and shield is one which comes naturally to Zakkai. After all, in Esraya, the lengthy thrusting blades used in dueling for sport are used in conjunction with small shields in the off hand. Conical in shape, they cup around the hand and are used to deflect the incoming point of the opponent's blade. However, in Zafanya, the swordsmanship is deadlier, and shields are both larger and flatter.

Strapped to Zakkai's left arm is a wooden shield wrapped in leather, circular in shape with a diameter a little greater than his forearm. A more basic design, its only distinctive feature is a wooden knob fixed slightly offset from the center of the shield. Its main purpose is to snag incoming weapons if held at the correct angle, but if needed, it can be used as a blunt attack surface, concentrating the concussive force into one small area.

Okafor explains that this type of shield is the basic one in most common use. It is highly favored by cavalrymen for its maneuverability, and its lightness and versatility make it a frequent choice of scouts and patrolmen as well. There are also oblong variants meant to cover the whole body, more often used by dedicated foot soldiers. He himself uses the T'kallan ihawu Zakkai had seen him carry to Mejanno, but the Zafanyan-style shield has saved his life just as many times over the years.

One by one, Okafor spars with Zakkai, Ejike, and Jabari to test their initial instincts with the sword and shield. Even using just one hand to attack, the elder's power is overwhelming, but Zakkai's prior experience does give him an advantage. The main difference is that instead of angling attacks off of his shield, he must accustom himself to absorbing the impact against its flat surface.

The shorter wooden swords also give him less reach, forcing him to come even closer to engage. This is entirely opposite from the Esrayan principle of keeping as far back from the enemy as possible, but Zafanya's ways are slowly becoming second nature to him. Ever the strategist, Zakkai contemplates all the ways he can use the iconic pairing of sword and shield to outsmart his foes.

Ejike's tendency is to focus on using his sword, attempting to attack and deflect with it while leaving the shield hanging uselessly in his off hand. Much of his instructional time is spent with Okafor calling a bout of sparring to a halt in order to show him how to incorporate both tools into his arsenal.

The main concern for Jabari is that due to his greater height, the typical Zafanyan shield leaves him proportionately more exposed. He will continue to learn with it in order to sharpen his accuracy, but Okafor explains that in actual combat, he would do well to use a longer variant. Much like Ejike, he overemphasizes the sword at first and neglects his defense.

Too soon, this lesson comes to an end, and Okafor bids his three best students farewell for the time being. He reminds them that Elder Folabi will be directing their activities in his absence. "Give him no trouble", he commands, also making a cryptic comment to "beware of his rigidity".

Later in the day, Zakkai, Ejike, and Jabari sit with Rafi at their usual table in the corner of the Rukisu dining hall. On their platters, they scarf down a sort of maize porridge with shaved carrots and mildly bitter greens unfamiliar to the Esrayan's palate. As usual, a piece of flatbread is provided for scooping, and the meal is rounded off with some cuts of goat meat cooked with a sauce as tangy as it is spicy.

Zakkai misses the delectable seafood dishes of his homeland, having only eaten fish once since arriving in Zafanya. Rafi had helpfully explained then that the river systems to the northwest do support a variety of fish species, but livestock are simply closer at hand. Seafood is a rare treat due to the distance required to acquire it.

At any rate, the four youths gobble down their meal while debating strategies for swordsmanship and shield use. Jabari argues that an optimal approach should be to smack an opponent's weapon aside with the shield and then close in to attack. Zakkai counters that while effective at times, that maneuver also leaves the attacker open for the time being. Useful as a way to deal a killing blow, but not as an overall martial doctrine.

Meanwhile, Rafi's entire involvement in the conversation is that of gleaning information from the three who have surpassed him. He eagerly awaits the day he will join them again, but is not offended in the least that he has not attained to their greatness. Besides, he has exceeded the others in blacksmithing by far and has even crafted two axes of his own already, so he is not a total delinquent.

"Another source of confusion for me," Zakkai says, switching topics, "is Okafor's comment about allowing us to spar with his fully-fledged Bladesmen when we are ready to wield real swords. As long as I have been here, I have not seen even a glimpse of them."

"I had been wondering that as well." Ejike agrees.

"Perhaps they are all out on deployment for the majority of the time? Maybe the outposts across the empire all have a Bladesman or two just waiting for someone to try something foolish."

Jabari pushes his maize into a neat pile with a fragment of his flatbread. "I have seen a few of them once or twice. They are allowed into some of those rooms in the back of the practice chamber our teacher steers us clear of. I imagine they spend much of their time there, so we never see them."

"I wonder if they have their own sparring area we know nothing about."

"Well, other than in the forge, I have not seen one battlefield weapon in our section," Rafi says. "They probably do have another place to themselves."

"But I do understand that our full-fledged brethren stay busy, from what little our teacher tells me," Jabari explains. "Even if only with ordinary tasks like patrolling outposts, scouting out regions of potential unrest, or collecting tribute."

"Imagine the shame," Zakkai scoffs. "Enduring all the trials and study to become a Bladesman, only to be tasked with chores as menial as collecting coins from a distant chieftain."

Rafi shrugs. "It is all in service of the queen. Surely they are happy to serve."

"Some of us were cut out for greater things," says Ejike. "When I attain my title, her majesty would be foolish to waste my talents on sending me to do such things."

Rafi's answer is somewhat lost on Zakkai, as his attention fixates on a newcomer shuffling in from across the room. It is Maraye, who he had seen only glimpses of since his time under Olayinka's instruction a month ago. The very sight of her sets his heart pounding in his chest, and his gaze tracks her hurried progress to grab a serving of food before the kitchen closes.

She must have gotten herself lost in a book and lost track of time, he speculates, noting her choice to sit down at an empty table instead of join a group with room for a guest. Or maybe her teacher had kept her occupied with some task and her diligence outweighed her hunger. Either way, she eagerly digs into her meal now, attention only on the food in front of her.

"Kai, did you hear?" Jabari calls, snapping the prince out of his trance. "Rafi asked you a question."

"My apologies, what was it?"

Rafi grins. "No matter. I see someone has your eye."

"I was merely thinking over what could have delayed her coming to the dining hall with the rest of us."

"Not for a second do any of us believe that excuse." Jabari remarks. "You have been smitten ever since you first saw her."

"Nonsense. I am not deceived by mere beauty."

"So you do admit she is beautiful."

Zakkai frowns. "In a purely aesthetic sense, yes. One can recognize such things without any sort of emotional compromise."

"She is all alone over there," Rafi says. "You should go and lend her some company. Perhaps she would like a friend."

Shooting a glance at Ejike, who has been watching the entire interaction with subdued amusement, Zakkai pushes his chair back. Even though only a few bites worth of food remain on his platter, he hoists it up and struts across the dining hall to Maraye's table.

She pauses eating, eyes darting up to meet his in a curious expression. He had not forgotten her looks in his time away from the Librarians, but it strikes him again now that he stands so close. The mysterious dark orbs staring up at him are gems on her masterpiece of a face. Full pouty lips, perfectly sculpted nose, flowing black locks ... it all contributes to a mesmerizing spectacle.

He purses his lips in a smile and takes a seat across from her, setting his platter down with a clack. The exiled prince clears his throat.

"Good afternoon, Maraye," he begins, "it has been some time."

"Indeed. What brings you here?"

"I thought you might appreciate some company. It is often unpleasant to eat alone, after all."

She shrugs. "I have not found that to be so."

"Well, even so, as we have not spoken for a few weeks, I thought I would offer you a word of greeting. How have your studies been?"

"Fine. How about yours?"

"I will have you to know that I am at the top of my class. Just today, I had my first lesson in sword and shield, having practiced only on two-handed weapons until now. Very soon, I shall be a full-fledged Bladesman, the greatest to ever walk these halls."

"I see. Your teacher must be proud."

"He could not be prouder." Zakkai sucks in a deep breath. "What specifically have you been studying? I am curious how your teacher's expectations differ from mine."

"My current project is to write a thesis on the origin of civilization in this region. There are conflicting accounts."

"How so?"

"Our tradition insists that the first true civilization in the savannah began when Christ's teachings reached our region and the first Christian tribe built the coalition that became Zafanya. Other scholars more broadly define our region as stretching all the way to the west coast, and by that definition, the Olharic dynasties just beyond the savannah precede Zafanya's founding by at least a century."

Zakkai squints. "What do you believe to be true?"

"That is where I am stuck. I believe our library to be biased."

"You suspect the latter theory to be true, but have little to back it up?"

"Yes." Maraye folds her arms and sits back in her chair. "My teacher is wise, but rigid."

"I found her lax compared with Elder Okafor."

"You have not been here as long as I have. My teacher has expelled initiates from her cell only for questioning her out of curiosity. She took it as disrespect."

"How long have you been here, then?"

"Three months."

Zakkai grasps for something further to say. "Aside from research and writing, what do you do for training?"

"I practice swordsmanship as well."

"It simply is not as much of a focus as it is for us Bladesmen?"

"Nowhere near as much."

"But your teacher is a Battlemaster. Surely martial prowess cannot be as much of an afterthought in her teachings as it seems."

"She is also old," Maraye says. "And she lived through a war we never saw. Out of pressure years ago and boredom now, she was bound to train for that extra honor."

"I suppose that makes sense." Zakkai squints. "Do you fear she will cast you out if you draw the wrong conclusion in your thesis?"

"I wonder. She is very religious, after all. She might see my supposing the Olharics preceded Christian civilization as a praise of the former faith."

"That would certainly be a shame."

Maraye sighs, rises to her feet, and picks up her platter, still carrying half of her meal. "I must be going."

Zakkai shoots to his full height as well, brow furrowed. "How come? You have not finished eating."

"I am forbidden from speaking with you and your fellows. If my teacher sees me fraternizing with you lot, it will not go well for me."

The young prince's protests are lost on deaf ears, as Maraye has already whirled about and hustled off to find a new table. She spares not even one look back. Drowning in the wake of her sudden departure, he hangs his head and puts a hand to his shattered heart.