Daughters of the Land

II.| I Promise You Father

Nukula stared at the inking for a moment too long, it made her father uneasy of his child's sudden loss of words. She rolled the scroll back to its original form and inhaled before finally addressing her father's unspoken questions.

"Father, I am to leave for Emperor's Wall in two days from today. However, mother has been dressed...mother has been dressed in black and I shall only retrieve her belongings and see her if I leave today", she spoke swiftly but with clear intentions, looking to her father for acceptance. Her father mouthed words simultaneously as he signed his thoughts to her.

I do not want you to go like this. Anger will only cause us more pain my child. Please, listen to an old man who has no one. What will I do if you are punished? Who will take care of you? Her father lowered his hands to rest but continued to hold his hurt face.

"Father, the Emperor's punishment is nothing in comparison to that of not seeing my mother again, is it not? And the Emperor needs as many Server's as possible and my death will only anger the Almighty if it is unjustly. The Emperor would not dare, would he?", she questioned her father's wisdom.

You are as strong and brave as your mother, Nuku. I love your mother with all my heart but would she want this? Her only child to be slaughtered for her failure? Would-.

"She is not a failure father! We are not failures and weaklings. I will not stop until I can see my mother and bring her home!", tears formed as she screeched her words. She knew there were rules that none had ever broken but she was not like the others, she was Yula's daughter and the daughter of Talabashi. She knew different since the day she was born and different is what she was going to be.

Her father, affected by her speech, held his hands up again and responded with defeat.
The Emperor would not dare to hurt you. You are a great gift to our people. You will prosper among the rest and bring this rebellion down. You will bring your mother home and makes us both proud to be parents of the great Nukula Zicoto. That is our wish and the Almighty's commands...Go. Prosper. Serve this land and return home together, my child.

Nukula nodded her head. "I promise you father, mother and I will return home to you", she paused and looked at her scroll. "I...I must gather my belongings-".

But first you must attend to your horse if you do not wish to travel on foot. Her father tried to smile as he ended his thoughts. Before her father could continue his list, Nukula made sure to show her father her readiness for the great duty that lay ahead.

"Oh yes, I was going to do that right now...and then...then speak with Dear Reta for her help with you and visit the Eight Elders for their blessings and also...", Nukula scanned her thoughts for the last requirement.

And most importantly Nuku, our Great Ancestors of the land. Her father sighed as he delivered his message to his only child. Nukula understood his deep exhale and she too exhaled before replying.

"Yes, I left the Greats for last", she lied, knowing too well her words would not convince her father. Her father lay back with a nod to show support but worry filled his teary eyes. Nukula stood to her feet with the scroll in grasp. "You must rest father, I have many duties before my journey, I will wake you when it is time", she spoke with confidence that persuaded even her. She smiled at her father before walking out into the land of awaiting people.

She stood aside in a corner outside their hut, frantically wiping the gathered tears from her eyes. A little noise left her quivering lips as she tried to control her emotions. She knew her father was crying simultaneously inside, and he too had waited to part before letting his tears take over. Up until now they had both hoped Yula would return home safe, but nine days without writing; they had already silently prepared themselves for such news.

The girl had never cried in front of her father, something her late mother had taught her. After her father had returned that white winter's night, everything changed. Her mother made sure her husband's misery did not spread and show among the ones that loved him most. Although, she still loved her husband dearly, she missed the man she could talk to. But the Almighty had made his decision and that was to test their love through such tribulations and thus, she grew stronger physically and mentally in preparation for her husband and her duties to come.

Nukula gathered her thoughts, casting her mother's death aside and focusing on what her mother would've want her to do. She decided on her order of priorities. The horses shrieks focused her mind.

"Feed the horse. Right, what do I feed it?", Nukula questioned herself, she didn't know why she was so nervous she had not even left her land yet, yet she could not stop thinking about what lay ahead and how much she needed to succeed. She left her weeping corner and marched out into the busy of people.

"Jasog! Jaso- come here little one I have a request", she called out to a small boy who was circling her horse with excitement with the other Zicotos. Once he had acknowledged her, he hurried over.

"The horse! The horse! Is it yours?", Jasog questioned, as he frantically looked back and forth at the horse and then to her. Nukula laughed at his behaviour.

The people of Zicoto were Server's, only once in a while would they see such beautiful grand animals that were better groomed and fed than them, especially a horse of Emperor's Wall. They were only familiar with chickens, cows and sheeps, in other words, egg, milk and clothing and in special occasions meat. This would explain why the horse was so fascinating to some. Its coat gleamed in the light and the saddle was made of the finest carved wood and layered with leather with the initials EW embroidered. It was most definitely grand, ironic however, as something so exquisite represented war, some believed it was the Emperor's sorrow for all the lives that are taken to protect him, so selling it would compensate for their loved ones. Others argued it was to remind them of who they owed their lives to, who protected them. The latter correct, but none the wiser. They passed these stories to their children and grandchildren and worked everyday to survive and one day be faced to fight in the war for the promised land with the beautifully groomed horses.

Hence, somewhere someone had decided that the promised land were just words fed to the people by the Emperor, so they would serve in silence.

And in silence, grew at first, a small group of disbelieving Servers who only served to one day live in peace and not for the Emperor, who their ancestors or deceased loved ones had fought for in the past. They had created a new stance. A stance that slowly spread through the land of Zicoto before nearly every Server knew the truth but feared to speak it. Only he could give them protection so the disbeliever's continued to obey but disbelieved in silence, hoping one day a brave Server would speak of it. That day had still not arrived.

"Yes, it is. And I shall give you a ride once I return should you return my favour?", Nukula held out her hand as she spoke. Without hesitation the boy clutched her hands and shook it with joy.

"Anything Nukula!", Jasog screamed hopping from foot to foot.

"Do you know how to feed a horse?".

"Of course, I feed the cows with father, it is the same thing", Jasog smiled clapping his hands, still excited.

"Very well, two bundles of the farmer's best hay, a bottle of the fattest cows milk and some rope", Nukula handed the boy over some coins and actioned him away towards the market. She laughed as he yelled his reward through the crowd. "And make sure to feed my horse well!", Nukula called out as the boy waved his hands in response, before disappearing into the busy paths of people.

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