Timbuktu - Northern Africa 1490
Abdoul stood with his family at the city limits, watching the merchants performing last minute checks on their merchandise. Many were making final counts of their stock or ensuring that the ropes were secure. Slaves, taken from the surrounding areas, were also being inventoried and inspected. Ensuring that most would be able to survive the long trek across the vast desert expanse that separated Timbuktu and Mecca.
His brother, Cheikh, and his family were taking the pilgrimage to mecca within his stead. While he loved his brother, his outbursts and temperament were often hard to deal with. Far more so for those who worked under him. Thankfully, Abdoul was the oldest son in their family and had inherited much of their family business. If Cheikh had been born three years earlier, their profitable venture would likely be far less so. He had used the excuse of a religious journey was to rid him of this headache for a few years, giving his subordinates a chance to do their work without his unnecessary input. By Allah's grace, the experience would change him for the better. But alas, Allah had not moved mountains in centuries.
His two wives, Badra and Nenrot, were trying to manage his three rowdy children. More precisely his son Tidjani, a spoiled child which had picked up many of the worse qualities of his father. He often had to get his personal slaves to constantly monitor his behavior at most social occasions, lest he make a scene and disturb the other guests. Despite having reached eleven years of age, Tidjani was only growing more and more unmanageable. He knew enough to not create trouble for his father, but would often exploit Cheikh's ego to get his own way. Only a few people were able to get him, begrudgingly, in line, obtaining halfhearted apologizes for their efforts.
“Mother!” He cried out, stamping his feet to further assert his dominance. “Why can't I stay home, why do we have to spend months on travelling? Let me stay home! Uncle Abdoul can watch over me.” Despite his fine clothes and regular grooming, he was as ugly as his personality with few redeeming qualities. The boy was already growing large, rarely exercising and spending his days lazing around. “We cannot do that, my darling.” Badra quietly responded, trying to soothe her child. “He was the one who asked us to go to Mecca. It's a once in a lifetime trip, how many of your friends have gone on a pilgrimage before? Only a few have even left the city.” Her eyes pleaded with her son, occasionally glancing towards her brother-in-law for assistance. If his Imam had seen his complaints about doing something he would likely never do, the child would be cowering like a calf before a lion in moments.
Abdoul looked around the surrounding area for his brother, only to find him resting in the shade, chatting with the local merchants. He recognized a few of them, some of them were honorable men who put up with his outbursts for the sake of their connections. Others had less than stellar reputations, they appeared to be trying to extort something out of him before he left for the wider world. He assumed that they were stroking his ego in order to convince him to buy their wares at inflated prices, trying to make a tidy bonus on their departure. Unfortunately for them, Tidjani's outburst had interrupted their sales pitch. Begrudgingly leaving the cool shade to deal with his son.
“Stop it Tidhani.” He said, annoyance entering his tone. “You are coming with us. Like the great Mansa Musa*, we are going to venture to birthplace of the Prophet Mohamed. Stop this nonsense, you are insulting our family's reputation. If you don't stop this instant, there will be no sweets for you on the road.” Abdoul, and likely Tidhani, knew this was a hollow threat as Badra would likely sneak him treats to try and appease his outbursts. When that would eventually come, Cheikh would likely ignore it to focus on his own self-importance.
While it was the accepted status quo, his other wife Nenrot stood back and watched over his other two children. Yarra was the older of the two, being born two months after Tidhani. She was far more mature than her sibling and often took lessons on household management from those around her. The youngest, Magaajyia, was barely six years old and barely spoke around the home. Badra and Tidhani's controlling and domineering tendencies would often overwhelm them into placating their wants over their own needs.
Nenrot had secretly approached him several months ago, as her family was one of the merchants who loyally served under his family for decades. She knew that her husband would try to marry her daughters off to his circle of seedy friends, of course it would after Yarra's body had started developed further. His brother and nephew were lost causes; however, his nieces showed a little promise. Abdoul did not like the idea of dishonest low lives marrying into his family. By design: Cheikh's absence from Timbuktu would probably strain, if not break, the long-standing relationships he had with the moochers that he called friends. Finding a good family would take time, but he now had a year or more to do so. A well placed Mahr** shortly after his return would be tempting enough to persuade him, even if he had to discretely contribute towards it. He would at least protect some of his extended family that were worth saving.
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With the unpleasant distraction being dealt with, Abdoul returned to observing the caravan and conversing with his own merchants before they departed. Aside from the regular members of the convoy, a few select families were also joining them on their journey towards Mecca. Regrettably, each one showing far more discipline than his own kin. The only oddity was a pair of pale-skinned merchants who were from somewhere west, accompanying a woman from their own lands. He had seen them interacting with the Orisha worshipping Enam, someone who was far more cautious than he was. They too were performing a final review of their wares, a combination: of travelling supplies, gold dust and various herbs. Were they to settle down here, they would be moderately affluent with a fair amount of money to invest in whatever venture they desired.
Had he the time, he would approach the trio and ask the man about his trade. On further observation, if he wished to do business with them it maybe more apt to approach the women in their group. It would appear that their home country, or at least these particular merchants, were far more permitting of acts of female impropriety than his own. While the foreign woman may be wearing a niqab, it was clear that her behavior was otherwise haram. Her interactions with men, her non-feminine tasks with-in their caravan and other such interactions showed that she was acting above her station. It was clear why Enam took a liking to her, he always hung around Kafir. It seems like their translator was similarly uncultured. Far more so than the pale-woman, given her attire and constant outings without a Mahram***.
The pair seemed to have captured the attention of Yarra, who was openly staring at the outsiders with look of curiosity. “Cheikh! Nenrot! Badra! Come here!” He called, breaking the focus of his niece. “I am sponsoring this trip to Mecca. Our parents were never able to make the sacred journey, and their parents never left the open plains. If I were able to retire, I would do my utmost to make the trip to the holy lands. But, as it stands, you all shall go in my place. It is an honor which few at home will ever approach receiving. My trusted friend, Baru, will be going along with you. I have given him a generous budget for your trip. If you need anything for lodging or food; and only lodging or food, speak to him. Cheikh has his own personal savings, but that is for his own expenditure. He may do as he wishes with it, including indulging in your desires.”
He had given Baru instructions to carefully manage their travel budget, as it was a long road, and his brother would likely spend all of it before they reached their goal. This reminder was mostly for his wives, who could hopefully keep his spending in check. Cheikh and Baru had never been on good terms, mostly due to his brother's personality. It had developed over the years into a mutual disdain, as the few interactions had only further strained relations. Had Baru not had his full support, he would likely acquiesce to his questionable schemes. Knowing that his brother would have to bend his ego to Baru, it would hopefully be enough of an additional incentive to keep his spending in check.
The other merchants knew better than to give or loan them money, something which was discretely conveyed beforehand. Cheikh did not have the capacity to reimburse any loans he took out as he still was feeling the effects of backing many failed ventures. With their destination being Mecca, many of the merchants followed the teachings from the Qu 'ran. Something that frowns upon loans and limited how interest is applied. This shouldn't matter if they conservatively managed their spending, but something told him that it would not be the case.
As an added precaution, he also funded Nenrot's brother's family to adjoin to the caravan. Her brother Modibo had shown enough promise that he did not interfere with his sister's marriage to Cheikh. Modibo was always willing to do the undesirable work which others did not wish to do, often to a high standard which went beyond what was expected. He and his own children could discretely keep an eye out for his brother's family, while building their experience. If he performed his task well, he would be given a greater share of responsibility and profits. If he failed... then he would have to work off the cost of the opportunity.
“Remember: you are doing something few get to experience.” Abdoul said, calmly trying to imbue the importance of the journey. “You are also representing both our country and our family, do not make us out to be fools and braggarts.” Abdoul would hopefully not get himself into too much trouble, he should soon realize that he is on his own with almost no protection. May he pray to Allah to show him mercy and find humility after his long pilgrimage.
