Daughters of the Land

XII.| The Raven-Haired Girl

Nukula eavesdropped from afar and when she heard their request, she instantly began looking for a way out other than the entrance they came. She believed Forges to be a good creature yet she knew she couldn't entirely depend on him, especially if his life was in question. He had held out for longer than she had expected and for that she was very grateful.

Plois starred silently along with the others, "Well then?", he finally asked.

Forges neither spoke nor looked up; his face washed with guilt and fear. He shook his head however, and although the smallest of movements, it was enough to wrath Plois.

"No?! Then so be it! Bring 'im up 'ere boys", he snapped his fingers and two of his men lunged forward and scooped the Sea Child up with no fight.

The Spotters rummaged through their little boat before holding out a wooden bowl for them, to which Forges was thrown into. His body looked fragile and even more so out of his natural habitat. Yet he made no sounds of distress and remained calm- he knew what awaited him.

Plois shook his head and sighed, "Oh I gave you a chance I did, and what do you do? You throw it back in me face and for what, eh?", he said with a genuine look of confusion. "I dunno, dunno what I'll do with you but-".

"Plois, over there", said one of his men abruptly, pointing out into the narrowing darkness.

In other circumstances Plois's palms would have thundered down onto the man's face, like had with Ringles, yet this time his attention was averted by the figure ahead. He moved closer to the edge of the slim reef and peered at her dim frame.

"Show yourself girl!", Plois called out. "Do it quickly and no 'arm will come to you or Forges!", his voiced echoed.

"Psst...Plois it might be you know?", another of his men whispered. "It could be- I hear there's plenty of lads down at the base-".

Forges trembled within the wooden bowl held by a Spotter, as he watched her near with brooding eyes. He had expected her to present herself long ago but was at ease when he hadn't heard anything up until now and a little part of him hoped she would stick with his words and stay put. So it hadn't come as much of a surprise when he heard her soothing tone reach out.

"I mean no harm!", Nukula said for the first time. She raised her arms and wiggled her fingers in an attempt to show her free palms, as she dragged her legs steadily through the water.

Forges couldn't help but speak up in defence of her once more, "Oh please just stop it!", he exclaimed surfeited with the whole situation, though his cry went unheard.

The men watched on as she reached a spot exposed to the lights that were seeping in from the night sky, until her pretty features were visible to all.

She held her stance when she too could now make out all nine faces ahead and not just Forges's worried look. She was conscious that they could now see her, as their once frowned expressions lifted to a slight grimace.

A moment of silence passed before Plois spoke, "What is your name love?", he asked intrigued.

Forges looked over the bowl to her but gained no attention. She fixated her gaze ahead and whispered ever so softly, "Nukula".

"Nakula", he repeated incorrectly. "Mother, Father, family...?", he asked.

Nukula had already planned out her responses to questions she knew she'd be asked. "Dead. It is only me".

Plois raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly whilst he processed her. He was still very much suspicious of Forges's behaviour and the young beauty that stood before him. In his twisted mind, something did not add up.