Finally Free!

Honor

We start making breakfast while the men plan on moving the main area of the tribe higher as well as all the housing.

Soon, we eat our food then I am put to work in the nursery.

I watch the little ones sleeping soundly and mothers come in to feed them and then leave. Toddlers, also, move about in a closed-off area.

I play around with some of them and rock some to sleep even feeding orphans.

"Anthurium," a man says which causes me to jump up. "You scared me," I say as I hold my heart, "am I changing shifts?" He shakes his head, "Ra'ees wants to see you immediately." I sigh nervously and nod, "On my way."

I ring the bell and another woman comes to the nursery then I make my way to his home.

Ra'ees notices me and doesn't smile, "How did you know about them?" I sigh deeply, "They took me when I was young." He nods, "You doing something about it?" "They are a very powerful kingdom," I say seriously, "they have a lot of control in various places, but I am trying to find a way and getting rid of the Ponceau's Duke was the first step." He nods, "Glad to hear it. Follow me now." I nod as I follow him down the tree and onto the main platform that has been lifted.

I, soon, notice that everyone is watching and I tense as follow Ra'ees to the middle of the room.

"My name is Waleed but my name changed to Ra'ees when I became the leader that was truly needed by my people," Ra'ees says kindly and I nod slowly. "Your name is Anthurium," he says kindly, "but here, you will be called Quetzalli or feather. It is the highest honor bestowed on someone in this tribe because of saving our future, our children. You have every quality that it represents and you have our full support in your leadership."

Tears fill my eyes. "Thank you," I say with tears in my eyes and he hugs me along with the others in the tribe. I realise this is something they do with those that they view as family, those they are closest to.

Everyone gets back to their tasks including me.

Amirah is in the same task as me again and she smiles brightly at me, "Quetzalli, you know no one else has had this name?" "Why?" I ask curiously. "No one ever does anything that deserves that name," she says honestly, "even mama has never really gotten a name because of something she did rather because she is married to my baba."

I nod slowly, "Your mum seems amazing."

She nods, "She is."

We work and eat the rest of the meals.

Once the evening arrives, the women start creating flower crowns. On mine, they put mini Juliet Roses that they had kept for some time and other rare flowers go on the heads of Amirah and her mother while others just put their favourite flowers.

The night ends with a bright fire burning and dancing as well as an elaborate meal. I was told that this event happens whenever someone gets their name.

I sleep into the morning and wake up just in time to have a bath, eat breakfast and make my way to get dressed appropriately.

I go to the nursery and care for the children until I am told someone else will take my shift because 'my family and other friends have arrived'.

I laugh a little as I make my way downstairs which brings me sadness because I know I will have to make my way back to my royal life which will rule my life.

When my family sees me, they hug me tightly because they see I am safe. Everyone else greets me but Ra'ees glares at them.

Ra'ees steps forward and says firmly, "You will not call her anything else here except Quetzalli." Everyone looks toward me and I smile. Duke Loyd is the only one that smiles back proudly.

He comes towards me and hugs me, "Welcome Quetzalli." "Thank you, Arham," I say politely and he nods curtly.

My father tenses and he gives me a look. I shake my head at him which he understands.

"Some can go work in the fields," Ra'ees says kindly, "while others can work in the nursery or doing dishes but no one is touching our food as that is our culture." Everyone nods.

"An...Quetzalli," Radley says nervously as Ra'ees glares at him which I laugh at, "wanna go work in the fields?" "I am not allowed to," I say seriously and look at Ra'ees, "but you can. I will find something else to do." "Why not?" he asks me curiously which then causes Ra'ees to come forward and pull us both aside forcefully while the rest are given jobs.

"Pregnant women cannot work the fields or step foot off this tree," he says seriously, "unless they need the bathroom, obviously." I laugh when he says this and Radley looks at me with confusion.

"Go work in the fields," Ra'ees says to Radley, "she is much stronger than she looks but she is not going against our laws until the day she has to leave." Radley sighs and a sad look is placed on his face as he makes his way to the fields.

"He likes you," Ra'ees says kindly, "he looks just like my wife when she wants to spend time with me." I laugh at his words and he joins me. "Go help with the meal prep today," he says kindly, "I want you to learn it and remember it for next time." I nod as I make my way to the cooking area where I am trained on their traditional foods.

Ra'ees comes to check on me.

"I see you are learning how to make the foods," he says and I just give him a look. "What are you going to make them do tomorrow?" I ask him curiously, "cause tomorrow they are supposed to make clothes for you guys but that is not something you guys need." "I will put them to much-needed work so they can be less snobs," he says seriously and I nod. "I agree honestly," I say politely, "I am more at home here than in the palace. My life was hard work before coming back to my kingdom where I do, basically, nothing. I just want to make a difference in lives." He nods, "Then do it."

He walks away and I can see him scolding the men in the fields including my father. My mother is with the babies but they are screaming the house down.

"Quetzalli!" Ra'ees shouts and I jump, "I am begging you to shut those babies up!" I try to hold back my laugh as I hurriedly make my way up the tree to get to the room where I see my mother crying.

I pick up baby after baby and soothe them the way I was taught to. My mother catches on and does something similar.

Then I head back to my duty, I start dishing out food but Ra'ees stops me and makes everyone else except his people do it. All his people eat as well as myself without a worry in the world.

Afterwards, everyone else eats.

Ra'ees stands up as everyone prepares to leave, "Please leave people who feel they are better than us." Everyone turns around with shame and stays along with me and Arham.

As everyone is shown rooms, they head to bed groaning and complaining as they are annoyed with the circumstances.

Instead of sleeping where I usually do, I head up the tree and sleep there instead.

I notice that many of the people in the tribe are sleeping soundly in the trees. Amirah smiles and waves at me as she points up, so I look up to find a beautiful array of stars and traces of the galaxy light up the sky.

She comes towards me and lies there.

"Are you happy to be going home soon?" she asks me curiously. I shake my head, "Never felt more at home than here, but I have duties so I must help protect those who can't do it on their own. At least that brings me comfort." She nods and sighs, "Well, we are kind of the same. I have duties too, but at least my father said I can travel first and then decide whether I want to be the leader or not since it's not for everyone. I have a sibling in the nursery already." "I am glad that it works like that for you," I say with a smile, "but back home it is all about the scores." "Oh, those scores," she says with a laugh, "well, they are important to determine jobs and all but we don't really care about them as much."

The day comes quickly and the nobles are put to work while I am taught to make their traditional clothing.

Sadly, the next day, with tears, I bid them goodbye. My heart aches, but we begin our journey once again.