A song of wraiths and ruin book5/18/2023 ![]() ![]() The griot’s lips curled into a smile that showed too many teeth. “Nadia, let’s go,” commanded Leila, who was already beginning to turn away when Nadia blurted out, “I want to go to Ziran!” Now they were close enough to see the woman’s hair was pulled into a multitude of micro braids that had been threaded through with strands of rainbow color, and throughout her tattoos were recurring motifs of the seven patron deities. There was something odd about this griot, as though he were looking at her through a piece of colored glass. Malik followed and tried to ignore the shivers crawling over his skin as the crowd stared at him and his sisters. “No, thank you-I mean, thank you, but we’re fine,” interjected Leila, running to Nadia’s side. “Anything?” asked Nadia, her mouth falling open. “To thank you for helping with my story today, I will grant you one wish-anything you want.” The beads woven through Nyeni’s braids clicked together as she knelt down to Nadia’s eye level. She twisted out of Malik’s grasp and charged to the front of the crowd, where the griot welcomed her with a wide grin. Nadia’s eyes glinted brighter than stars. ![]() Just as the siblings turned toward the small cluster of caravans leaving Ziran, Nyeni yelled, “But wait! Before we disperse, I would like to call forward the young woman who solved today’s riddle. Disappointed that the story had ended so soon, Malik rose to his feet, dusting sand off him and Nadia. ![]() Shouts and applause rang through the air. and that, my siblings, is the tale of the first Solstasia!” ![]()
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