Revolutions

13 - Walumaq

"Pahua, what on Pachil are you doing here?" My father growls through gritted teeth.

"Father!" Pahua says, hands in the air with feigned indignation. "You're not pleased to see me?"

"You're supposed to be in Haqiliqa," Siunqi says. "You were not to come here. Why are you not with Cheqansiq?

"You didn't think I'd let Walumaq have all the fun, did you?" Pahua struts around like a rooster, occasionally looking down to inspect my belongings with disdain.

"You are to return to the ships at once," Siunqi barks, grabbing Pahua by the arm and pulling him out of the room.

"Oh, but father!" Pahua says, shrugging off Siunqi's grip. "Not before dinner. We've been invited as guests, and we mustn't be rude."

"We've been invited," Siunqi says, pointing a thumb at himself and me, "You can return to Sanqo."

"Actually," Pahua says with a smug smile, "Iatuq has invited me, as well. She's confused as to why I wasn't present when you two had your discussions. I'm inclined to agree with her on that."

"Because you're going to ruin our efforts at gathering information about what's happening within Tapeu!" Siunqi shouts in frustration.

"No matter," Pahua says as if he hadn't heard Siunqi's response. "I'll see you at the dinner. We can go over what was discussed while we eat. I hear they've roasted four boars! Four!"

Pahua bows exaggeratedly, then whisks himself away and out of the room. Father closes his eyes and rubs his temples, breathing slow and deep to calm himself.

"Is he going to stay, father?" I ask, concerned about how Pahua's presence will affect Siunqi's mission. With a huff, Siunqi responds.

"We'll put on a brave face and attempt to minimize the damage he's likely to cause. However, first thing in the morning, I will likely send the two of you back, to prevent him from making the waters any more turbulent."

My heart sinks with the thought I'll have to leave before I can find that woman who approached me in the marketplace. I need to learn what she means by me being "the uniter" and how Pachil is unstable — and how I can either save the world or destroy it.

I change into an outfit I packed for just an occasion: a long dress with a blueish green color that reminds me of the waters around Sanqo, enhanced by how the dress flows behind me as I walk. The fabric has a shine to it like the sun reflecting off the water, sparkling in the torchlight. Both the color and the shimmer pairs wonderfully with the bronze necklaces and bracelets I wear. And the seamstress, hearing my request, did me a favor by crafting a long matching scarf of deep blue and an almost copper threading that I can wrap around my head to subtly conceal my scar, much to my relief.

Siunqi fetches me, striding in with a deep blue tunic and a long, thick sash made of bronze and teal threads draped over his shoulder. The pattern woven into the garment reminds me of fish scales, and much of his bronze jewelry are crafted to resemble the sea serpent, our family's sigil. He looks at me and smiles warmly, extending and offering his hand, which I happily accept.

"When did you become a spitting image of your mother?" he says. "So grown, so poised."

I blush with slight embarrassment, but I'm also filled with excitement and nervousness. Though I've attended dinners with nobles before, the Sanqo people are... not as refined, to put it kindly. The affairs are typically loud and boisterous, with numerous challenges for feats of strength and skill being declared after much drinking. The women tend to sit off to the side and out of the way, free to gossip about the latest rumors they've overheard. These scenes were never ones in which I much cared to participate, feeling uncomfortable and out of place. The regality I've witnessed so far in Chalaqta, however, is both thrilling and unsettling.