Revolutions

62 - Inuxeq

Just outside Upachu's home, I sit in the heart of Hilaqta that pulsates with life as the sun climbs the horizon. It's like watching the world being painted in real time, the sky transitioning from a somber twilight blue to a burst of fiery pinks and oranges. Around me, the village stirs awake. The air is rich with the scent of maize and smoldering hearths as the sound of llamas and cotingas echo in the distance. People emerge from their stone dwellings, their eyes reflecting the glow of the new day. In its majestic rise, the sun touches each corner of this place, casting long shadows and bathing the terraced fields in a golden glow. It feels like a moment suspended in time, and I'm but a witness, caught in the beauty of a world so fiercely alive.

"Did you sleep outside the entire night?" Teqosa emerges from the dwelling with two cups held in his meaty paws and sits beside me. I chuckle at his question asked in astonishment. Being honest, I even took myself by surprise, considering how freezing cold the Qantua hills are during this season. However, closed in by the stone walls and low, wooden roof, I began to feel cramped and trapped within the otherwise homely confines of Upachu's abode.

"I felt more at peace under the stars, if that makes sense," I confess. Once Teqosa returned, and was insistent upon watching over his friend himself, I still wanted to remain close, in case my assistance was needed. Yet as I attempted to sleep indoors, I began to experience discomfort, as though the walls were closing in on me. Thus, it was a simple choice to try a different location.

"I believe you've grabbed nearly every blanket Upachu owns," he says with a laugh I wouldn't have thought possible to be made by the otherwise serious war veteran. He hands me the cup containing a warm, purple liquid, a beverage I've never before seen. It smells sweet, with a hint of a spice that pleases the senses. Before I can ask, he answers, "It's api. A..." he searches for the words, "thick beverage, or porridge... I've never been able to really determine what it best resembles. But it's made from our purple maize, grown right here on the Hilaqta terraces. I managed to find the spices at the market. I don't drink it but on special occasions, and I felt now was as good a time as any."

I lift my cup to toast, a gesture apparently he has never seen. I touch my cup to his, which confuses him at first, then I raise it skyward and say, "To our mission, and to the Eleven, may they guide our way to victory." He appears slightly unsettled at my toast, and I suddenly recall his professed discomfort with worshipping the Eleven. While I find this unfortunate, it doesn't deter me from continuing on the traditions of my people, praising those who have brought us out of the darkness and kept us from harm. Although he may not see it, I know their presence is all around us, which is how our paths crossed in the first place, allowing us to unite in our fight against this surging evil that is attempting to fill the void left behind by the defeat of the Timuaq.

The beverage goes down warm and soothingly, being especially delightful amidst this brisk morning. I can sense the feeling returning to my once shivering extremities, and it makes me question how people can willingly inhabit such a freezing territory. The api is a bit too sweet for my taste, apparently infused with honey, but delectable nonetheless, and I thank Teqosa for treating me to more of the Qantua traditions and foods.

"So, we part ways this morning," he says, looking out onto the Hilaqta scenery.

"Supposedly," I muse. "Although, will you be able to part from Upachu? How is his recovery?"

Teqosa shrugs, then takes another sip from his cup, his teeth subtly stained purple as he speaks. "As well as a youthful spirit housed inside a wounded elderly man can be, I suppose. He's restless that he's unable to go for his routine morning walks around the village, and he wants to join me as I venture south. We both know that's not possible in his current condition, but I vowed to return after completion of the first part of my quest."