Revolutions

75 - Paxilche

The five men stare back at me as though I've lost my mind. Maybe I have.

"So, you're proposing treason," Pomaqli says, pausing to comprehend the words he just spoke.

"What I'm proposing, is a chance for Qiapu to redeem itself and escape the clutches of a self-serving ruler."

"With Sanqo warriors," the warrior called Naqispi says. "And I take it without your neck on the line."

"It's a chance for both Qiapu and Sanqo to redeem themselves," I argue. "Qiapu is falling into the clutches of a ruler who has made a bargain with an evil cult and can be saved, while the Sanqo–"

"What about Sanqo?" the brawny Pomacha asks, eyes narrowed.

Naqispi joins in. "Yes, enlighten us as to how we should be seeking redemption?"

I can sense this conversation, and my proposal, slipping away in the face of their skepticism. I'll need a different approach, one that is steady and unwavering, yet addresses their concerns.

"Allow me to clarify," I begin, taking a deep breath and fighting to remain poised. "What I propose is a united stand against a common enemy: The Eye in the Flame. You can see the destruction they wrought here at the palace. And as Lady Walumaq informed me, your people had encounters with their kind during your time in Chalaqta. This cult is a blight not just on Qiapu or Sanqo, but on the heart of Pachil itself. By aligning ourselves, even temporarily, we can protect our lands, our people, and our sovereignty."

Though they take my words into consideration, reluctance still remains on the warriors' faces. I must continue to stress the importance of this united front. "The Sanqo are known across the lands for their indomitable spirit and fierce independence. Your people's strength and resilience are renowned. I have immense respect for that. But in the face of a threat that disregards borders, that aims to subjugate all under a reign of terror, isolated resistance is like a lone canoe against a raging current. Together, we can present a formidable alliance, one that can safeguard the dignity and sovereignty of all our people. And the Sanqo can be the vital factor in all of this, one that the rest of the continent would have to acknowledge and respect."

"And where does your ruler play a part in all of this?" Naqispi asks.

Hearing his question, there's a noticeable shift in the men's posture as they now lean in closer. I swallow the nervous lump down my throat and address both the mounting concern and need for urgency in this common purpose. "Our ruler has betrayed us, making a pact with these dark zealots."

Surprise and alarm overtake their expressions as I continue, "He and his supporters have lost their way. To show that no external force can dictate the fate of our lands, we must unite in strength and purpose. Our factions have already stood tall against those who would see our cultures erased. Let us stand together once more as allies, defending Pachil from a darkness that seeks to consume us whole."

"But why should we trust you?" one of the Sanqo warriors asks—this question coming from Chiqama. He steps forward, his gaze piercing. "We don't seek redemption in the eyes of Pachil's factions. Our concern is for Sanqo alone."

"I don't speak of redemption as an outsider's judgement, but as an opportunity," I answer. "It's a chance for Sanqo to redefine themselves on their own terms. To show Pachil that the Sanqo are not relics of the past, but vital members in its future."

The Sanqo warriors exchange glances as a silent conversation ripples through their ranks. This moment feels as pivotal as the turn of the tides, where the course of rivers can shift and carve new paths through the landscape.

"Chiqama speaks true," Atoyaqtli, the presumed leader of these brave warriors, says flatly. "Your words speak of unity, but they also carry the scent of desperation. Why should the Sanqo cast their lot with you? What do you offer that can outweigh the risks we bear by joining this rebellion?"