Daughters of the Land

VI.| Servers Of My Land

The room full of men all held the same glare; pressing into the young woman, though not averting her attention.

"Great Emperor had many Servers, my father was not the only one fighting-", she gritted her teeth tightly, hoping to stop any more unwanted utterances.

The Emperor starred at her a while too long. "No but he was one of the seven that survived the attack. Was his life more superior than that of the Great Emperor? Was he really serving my father? Should I have cut his head off instead of his filthy tongue so that his bitch of a daughter would not know of his heroic lies!?", he screamed his words, as the Noblemen shifted in their stance, ready.

Quietly, she spoke. "He did not plan it, the Almighty saved him".

"Nor did he expect to live. Your weak Father merely exists so that each and every day he suffers through his mistakes and watches his beloved family disappear right before his eyes, as they do what he should have; 'served'. He has me to thank for that", the Emperor proudly smirked before sitting back down onto his gold.

Anguish filled Nukula and her thoughts. "My Father is an honourable Server, Emperor. He would go back and do it all again if he could save the Great Emperor but he cannot and that was the Almighty's wish!", she screeched.

"Ha! You village Zicoto's have no respect and try to rebel against the Promise at any means possible. Talabashi was selfish and wanted to save himself".

"That is not true, Emperor!".

"It is true! Typical Zicoto speaking of such things it knows nothing of. Once a Server of his words and now the despised of his tribe. What good does your family hold to live on now in honour of Zicoto?", he laughed as he gestured to his worker-boy nearby, who ran over with some water.

"We have as much right to make our mark and serve as much as we can for our people, Emperor", she said.

"And you have failed to show this 'serving' you speak of, time and time again. You're a shame to your people, courage is not always the best option yet you seem to strive off of that".

"Courage is what has moved Zicoto to near victory and I will not trade my courage for fear! But...that is what you want? Fear. Am I right Emperor?", Nukula spoke fearlessly with her words.

The room fell silent again, unusual for a room full of heavy armour, silk robed men and worshippers.

"Courage! There you have shown it yet again! To stand before me and to speak with such a tone, you sure are your Mother's daughter and a foolish Server at best!", he paused before continuing as Nukula focused her eyes on him. "I have twelve Noblemen stood on either side over there, that's 24 steel swords in total excluding whatever personal belongings they may carry, and in front and behind me I hav-", he had only begun his lengthy threat when interrupted for the first time.

"You may have more men, more followers and even power, but you do not have a pure soul and for that the Almighty will see to it", she whispered, her eyes level with his.

"Bitch! Bring that bitch to me!", the Emperor hurled his abusive demand as the ten Travellers from below called for punishment simultaneously, whilst two Noblemen yanked her up the remaining steps to him.

Nukula did not struggle. She knew what she had done and accepted the actions to be taken against her. She had given up hope a while back and only when thrown to her knees did she come to remember what she had promised her father.

I promise you father, mother and I will return home to you, was all she continued to recall. Whether together or alone, they would return home to their loved one.