Today, a treat- a first taste of eerie and powerful fantasy in ‘The Makurian’ from Milton Davis. Yes, we should be out running the lurchers in the snow, but we’re also trying to get through our reading pile. We’re currently on two books we’ll say more about another time – Charles R Saunders’ Nyumbani Tales, and a forthcoming anthology Terminus: Urban Fantasy from the ATL, both from MVMedia.
Charles R Saunders is, of course, a legend whose work goes right back to the seventies. The first of his Imaro stories was included in Lin Carter’s Year’s Best Fantasy Stories in 1975, and he’s still active. Seen now as the founder of Sword and Soul, fantasy based on African cultures rather than European medievalism, we can say that Nyumbani Tales is a treat (links at end).
Milton Davis, who is MVMedia, not only writes and publishes Sword and Soul (amongst other things) but recently mentioned a new concept of his own, The Makurian, which had our attention immediately. Normally we lead in with trivia and background information, but this time we think it best to share the vision, and add a few notes afterwards. These extracts are provided with Milton’s kind permission.
The Makurian
‘I hunt them with the skills God granted me and the weapons the priest gave me. I do it not for honor, but as penance. One by one I stalk them and kill them, but I know their terror will not cease until I find the one who creates them and destroy him. I’m aware that in doing so I may lose my life as well, but it is a small price to pay for forgiveness of my own sins. Long ago I was no better than those that I hunt. The only peace for me is that which is eternal.’
He came alone. We expected at least a squad; we hoped for a brigade. An army would have been a blessing. Yet only one man was sent from Dongolo as an answer to our plea for help. And he was not a man that instilled hope. Yes, he was tall and ebony-skinned, but his body was lankly like that of a boy just beyond initiation rights. His blue kapok fitted loosely on him, his helmet snug. A quiver of arrows hung from his waist, the bow stored on his saddle. He carried a simple lance and shield. As he rode through our village we despaired. The demon would claim this one just like the others. We were sure of it.
He rode into our village, stopping at my shop.
“I am the Makurian,” he said. “Where is the demon?”
I pointed to the wooded hills.
“It resides within,” I said. “But you will need more help.”
“I won’t,” he replied. “God is with me.”
“God was with the others,” I replied. “And now they rest in His bosom.”
The man stared at me in a way that caused my throat to dry. Then he turned his steed and headed for the hills.
Three weeks passed and there was no sign of the Makurian. But neither was there sign of the demon. It was a late afternoon when I heard the shouting. Thinking it was the demon, I ran into my house and secured the door. Gathering my wife and children, we sat in quiet fear, expecting the worst. Instead there was a knock at my door. My wife begged me not to answer, but my curiosity overwhelmed my good sense.
“Who is it?” I said.
“The Makurian.”
I crept to the door, holding my rusted sword in my left hand. I unbolted the door, opened it and screamed. The Makurian stood before me, his face bruised, his left eye barely open. His kapok was ripped; a dent marred his helmet. There were no arrows in his quiver. He held a war club in his left hand, and in his right hand was his shield.
“You live!” I exclaimed.
“Yes, I do.”
His response puzzled me for he seemed disappointed.
“You need help,” I said. “I’ll fetch the healer.”
“No. I must return to Dongolo.”
He trudged back to his horse then mounted. There was a bag tied to the saddle which he untied the tossed toward me. The bottom of the bag was soaked with blood.
“Your demon is no more.”
With that he turned his horse and rode away.
I never gained the courage to open the bag, neither did anyone in our village. We built a bonfire and burned it. Afterwards we celebrated, giving our praises to God. We were not sure if the demon was dead, but we never saw it or the Makurian again. I hope to God it remains so.
The Makurian, coming 2018. Text copyright 2017 Milton Davis
Something to look forward to, we feel.
Makurian History
We’re not a history channel, but you should look Makuria up, as its background is really interesting. A black Christian kingdom in Nubia, around Northern Sudan, proud and independent for centuries, which developed religious links to the Coptic church in Egypt.
In a quite unusual turn of events, Makuria resisted the advances of Arab expansion, and managed to throw Egyptian Arab armies back. One of the reasons that Makuria is sometimes overlooked seems to be the lack of monumental remains – they had a rich culture, but simply didn’t build massive structures or grave-monuments.
“By the end of the 6th century (Makuria) had converted to Christianity, but in the 7th century Egypt was conquered by the Islamic armies, and Nubia was cut off from the rest of Christendom. In 651 an Arab army invaded, but it was repulsed and a treaty known as the baqt was signed creating a relative peace between the two sides that lasted until the 13th century. Makuria expanded, annexing its northern neighbour Nobatia either at the time of the Arab conquest or during the reign of King Merkurios. The period from roughly 750 to 1150 saw the kingdom stable and prosperous, in what has been called the “Golden Age”. Increased aggression from Egypt, and internal discord led to the state’s collapse in the 14th century.” Wikipedia
Makuria (as Dongola) is mentioned in the Libro del Conosçimiento de todos los rregnos or Book of Knowledge of All Kingdoms. This is an anonymous Castilian book of geographical and armorial details which has been dated to around 1385. While it is fanciful, it also contains a lot of fascinating details. It was written as an imaginary autobiographical travelogue of a Castilian mendicant friar, as he travelled the world recording local kingdoms and their flags.
Thence I went to another kingdom called DONGOLA marching with the deserts of EGIPTO, and the river NILUS. The river forms two courses, the greater, flowing to the westward, called the RIO DEL ORO. On its banks is the kingdom of GUYNOA. The other part flows through the deserts of EGIPTO and enters the Mediterranean Sea at DAM IATA. Between these two branches of the river is the kingdom of DONGOLA, a country well peopled with Christians from NUBIA…
You can read more about Nyumbani Tales at Black Gate: https://www.blackgate.com/2017/05/30/stories-from-a-ss-griot-nyumbani-tales-by-charles-r-saunders/
And the book is available here:
http://amzn.eu/jjVOiJITerminus: Urban Fantasy from the ATL will be out in 2018. In the meantime, you can visit MVMedia to browse a wide range of their speculative publications. http://mvmediaatl.com/index.html
That’s your lot for today, dear listener. Do remember to subscribe for free by email (top left) if you want to be kept up to date with what we cover, and we look forward to seeing you again…