Daughters of the Land

VII.| The Land Yearns for Children

The Baron lead and the girl followed, cries filled her background. "No Please! My Emperor I have come bearing gifts! You see?!".

"The Emperor is tired. Take your leave!", ordered a voice and before Nukula could hear the response, she was out in the main hallways, the door behind sealed shut. 

"You do know what you have done? The Travellers do not take disappointment lightly Zicoto", spoke the Baron suddenly as they took a right turn and then a sharp left into a narrow hall. He continued to walk as she thought about what he said in silence. The Baron made sure to look over his shoulder a few times, anticipating a response. 

"They will not be seen today?", she finally questioned, hesitant. She knew many waited for a day like this, saving the little coins they had to gift their beloved Emperor and in return have their prayers answered. Not only had she prevented them from seeing the Emperor, she had unintentionally lost them time and money from travel, brought dishonour to their family but also made their next journey to Emperor's Wall a far distant achievement they may never again have. 

The people of Zicoto were poor, hardworking marketers and farmers, who time to time relied on the Emperor's assistance. Although much of Zicoto exceeded with covert rebelism, none spoke up and continued to live their lives in peace with one another for their family's sake. This of course meant they had to seek unwanted guidance and show support of the Emperor, so they were not suspected of insurgence. The consequences of such were dreadful to say the least. The Yokiry made up almost twenty percent of Zicoto, and they too believed in assimilating for more reasons than the native landsmen and women. They had been granted to reside by the Emperor, The Bodies of the Land and the Official Family, a proud feeling to be accepted by the highest. Over the years, they had also developed close bonds with fellow tribesmen and women, some closer than expected and accepted. This however, could not and did not stop what was developing under the watchful eyes of hateful natives. The Yokiry and Zicoto people were falling in love, and soon women of both tribes were giving birth to children that would be neglected by many. They were labelled the Wanderer(s).

No meaning to life and existence. No real home or tribe. They belonged nowhere and none wanted them anywhere. So they wandered.

The mixing of the people was forbidden and those conceived from such an act were deemed intangible. It was empathised for everyone to go about their daily lives, without any interaction with the Wanderer's, unless there was a great necessity. They weren't treated badly in physical forms as of such, just told to stay indoors for most the days and only run errands if other family members were unavailable. Even they themselves would make sure to steer clear of unwanted attention and reported directly to and from their destinations as quick as their sheep skin shoes could take them. They did not know right from wrong and believed it was just their fate, so they spoke none. Only on some occasions would they be beaten or chased by extremely traditional tribes-men and women simply due to hate and prejudice. 

The Wanderer's had no one, not really. Extended family members were busy usually working and once home tending to their own children, who as could be expected, were put on a hierarchy in comparison. Their parents and siblings if any, were all they had and those who had Wanderer children, were as invisible as their neglected child and lived their days out in isolation, labouring from dawn to dusk for a few coins worth scraps of food. 

The Dears however, made sure to make their lives as valuable as any other's . They loved the land and its people, regardless of purity and did their best to support the Wanderer's and unite all the people, starting with the young. The Wanderer's were always thankful but refused to mingle with Zicoto children for fear of being scolded or far worst. Some Zicoto children however refused too, but because of very different reasons; something their parents had taught them. The Dears were blamed by many for the mixing but their arguments were never as valid as the Dears, who had quite a following. Silent but large. It was spoken without words that they had accepted the Wanderer's as their own, but as with everything no one spoke. The majority of objectors were of the Traveller's tribe and elderly Zicoto's, men of most.