Revolutions

20 - Teqosa

"Where do I even begin? I suppose the beginning."

Upachu groans as he seats himself beneath a tree away from our campfire. We stand out amidst the backdrop of pure black, the night sky barely flecked with stars. Qaschiqe may appear asleep, but we've taken no chances, and have hopefully moved far enough away to be out of earshot. Upachu pats the wooden chest and takes a deep breath, eyes cast to the ground as he collects himself for the story he's about to tell. It's difficult to anticipate what he's going to say to me, and how difficult it will be for me to hear.

"When your sister approached me after your father..." Upachu starts, then pauses as he reconsiders. "No, I think I need to start before that, even."

"It begins with the Atima hero, Sualset. If you recall, the Atima were heavily targeted by the Timuaq due to their propensity for influencing many cultural and ritualistic ceremonies in Pachil. The Timuaq wanted to cease any such practices not only to prevent individual expression, but because they feared it would inspire and encourage rebellious tendencies that could hinder their ability to rule effectively. Any faction that would stand up against Timuaq rule were the first to be annihilated.

"So the Atima were natural enemies of the Timuaq. Every ceremony they conducted was seen as an act of rebellion, upholding the traditions that maintained our peoples' heritage in spite of the Timuaq wanting them erased from Pachil. Though the Atima were adept in cultural and intellectual affairs, they were no match for the Timuaq's brute strength and military force. It was fairly easy for the titans to decimate the Atima lands and make an example out of them for what happens if you stand to oppose their rule."

Upachu pauses, and I can see he's preparing himself for what comes next. He slinks into his oversized robe and shifts his weight where he sits, rubbing the back of his neck, still refusing to make eye contact with me. He decides to grab a chunk of wood the size of a forearm, then unsheathes a knife, simple in construction without any lavish decorations or engravings. Even in the dim light, small flecks of rust appear on the blade. After finding a stone nearby, he begins striking it with the knife to sharpen it.

"The Atima who were able to escape the decimation found their way into Qantua and Aimue," he continues. "To prevent persecution from the Timuaq, they stayed out of sight and blended in with the factions that accepted them. This, of course, still brought animosity from the Timuaq onto these factions, as you well know. But with the factions the Atima joined being more military-minded, the rulers knew they couldn't exert their might as easily as they could when the Atima were isolated.

"It was during this time when Sualset connected with your sister. I never knew how they met—your father never told me that much. Knowing her, she was likely assisting the refugees and getting them food and water, and undoubtedly met Sualset that way. But as if she wasn't rebellious in nature before, her friendship with Sualset most definitely spurred it on. Only the gods knew what fate the Timuaq brought upon themselves by destroying the Atima city of Wichanaqta!"

Upachu pauses sharpening the blade and chuckles at the memories that thought brings, recounting such occasions to himself and smiling ever so slightly with subtle pride and fondness. Knowing about what results from my sister's meeting with Sualset, I find Upachu's cheerful recollection insensitive and discourteous. Before I voice my displeasure, however, I force myself to give Upachu the benefit of the doubt.

"I recall hearing about their bond," I say after a long pause from Upachu, attempting to bring him back on course. I can see he mentally returns to the present, though his eyes are fixed onto a spot on the ground.

"It was a powerful sisterhood," Upachu recalls. "Once united, they were inseparable. They shared a spirit, and though they were certainly strong and capable apart, they were nearly unstoppable together."