Revolutions

17 - Haesan

From the oversized bed in my room at the palace, I've done nothing but stare at the ceiling all night. Now the sun is rising, and the servant tasked with awakening me, the poor Aimue girl from before, is startled when she finds my eyes already open.

I'm too tired from the day before, yet there are too many thoughts running in my head to attempt sleeping, too much to do. For starters, I want to find out more about the Arbiter's mother, and why I traveled with her the entire way to Qapauma without ever learning of this. I also need to figure out why I'm here in Qapauma, besides relieving my father of the burden of raising me for supposed "etiquette lessons," which sounds like a very weak excuse to be rid of me. I recall him intently speaking to Anqatil, an advisor to the Arbiter, and the whole cast of Achope nobles had clung onto her every word. What did they discuss? I must also learn more about their dynamic while I'm here—not only the one between my father at Achutli, but Anqatil's relationship with Suntu.

But even more so, I want to find out what happened at the marketplace. Who was that tall girl from yesterday, and what was she doing? Who were those two assailants in the red scarves? Why was she so ungrateful for my help? Why is she so determined to not be my friend, keeping me at arm's length?

From the hallways that connect the bedrooms to the various halls and chambers of the palace, chanting and singing echos off the gray stone. It must be taking place beyond the palace walls, since I can't see anyone in the courtyard other than the stoic, statuesque guards, and I slow down to focus on what they're saying. Eventually, I make out words praising Iptanqa, and I'm momentarily confused by this.

In my studies back home in Achope, we learned about The Eleven and their sacrifice to defeat the Timuaq. We learned all of their names and what they did to end the mad titans' rule, and to be honest, it initially sounded like fables told around a campfire. These warriors who set out to defeat the evil rulers of our land, freeing us from their tyranny. Once we learned that they were mortals, one from each faction, who at one time lived amongst us, the idea that they were chosen by the gods of the land to become the heroes and saviors of Pachil didn't seem as far fetched, but perhaps the story was a bit embellished. For Achope, our hero was Achpula, who worked with Sualset, hero of the now-extinct Atima faction, to create the Merchant's Tongue that every faction speaks today. This enabled all the factions to communicate with one another and formulate and coordinate plans against the Timuaq. In fact, it's because of this that our people adapted his name into our own and have begun calling ourselves Achope, out of respect.

For the Tapeu, their hero was Iptanqa, who is said to have had the ability to harness the power of the sun. The legend goes, he was able to light the way to the lair of the ruling titans after their retreat and scorch the enemy into oblivion. Hearing the chanting from outside, the people seem to have embellished his story a bit, which is unsurprising, since every faction heralds their hero much greater than the rest. I'm amused, however, as I hear them exalt Iptanqa as a sun god, claiming that he now lives in the sun and watches over them every day, supporting their crops and "illuminating their fated path." These types exist in every land, and I don't have the heart to race outside the walls and inform them that The Eleven merely died in combat, since there's nothing logic can do to persuade the fanatical.

There's a colorful assortment of fresh fruits set out for me when I finally emerge from my bed and arrive at the dining hall, my nose hit immediately with the luscious, sugary scent of sweet delights from all over Pachil. Due to Achope's location on the continent and our people's penchant for trade, my family has always been exposed to a wide variety of fruits and other foods from the different factions. Yet even here, I'm seeing many items I have never seen before, which I'm eager to try right away. A crisp, fresh breeze flows through the dining hall, and sunlight pours into the room to brighten the otherwise gloomy gray stones.