Shackled

Weak Point

"You said we were here to rest! How dare you put that stranger before all of us?" Tikal is being scolded by a disgruntled driver. "The guards and workers get to rest while we pilot. This should be our chance to get the opportunity to recover!"

"I have made my decision. We will bear the weight of this burden," Tikal says to him and the onlookers of her tribe. "I will not stand to have anyone executed for petty reasons." They stand near the entrance of the settlement. Gabriel sits on a crate not far from them. He's eating fruit from the goods received from his trade with Tikal.

"It is not your place to cast judgment on the leader or the girl!" another driver screams. Anaris peeks from behind the curtain of Tikal's cart. She looks on with a little guilt from this altercation. "Let the girl die. Give her back to her leader!"

Tikal frowns at him. "You would let a young girl die so you can rest for a day or two?"

"It's three days! And yes, I would!"

Tikal shakes her head at him. "Disgusting..."

"No! You're just being selfish. You don't see the struggle of your own people..."

"I'm sorry," she says. "I thought my people had a heart like mine..."

The driver scoffs and walks away. The ten drivers leave with him. They walk deeper into the settlement and Gabriel walks up to Tikal shortly after. "My people would never talk to me like that. They'd lose their tongues," he says, smacking on the fruit.

"If I forbade them from releasing their anger or displeasure, They would hold a grudge against me," Tikal responds. "They'll recover from the pain and I'll work on regaining their trust again. I expected this. It's not the first time they've disagreed with my decisions."

"Wound the same area too many times and you'll have more than scar tissue to worry about, kid." Gabriel tosses the core of the fruit away and wipes his mouth clean. "Their allegiance to you is going to weaken," he mumbles.

"What was that last bit?"

"Nothing! Just make sure they're working. Hold up your end of our deal..." he walks off with a grin. She brushes everything off and goes back to her cart. Rashad is playing with sand. It coasts gracefully between his fingertips as he redirects it with his magic. It splashes silently into the sand below as he spots Tikal returning. He squints as she gets closer, realizing that she is obviously upset.

The young chieftess approaches with her head low. She apparently defeated and the stress is finally getting to her. Rashad runs up to her. Her arms are folded as she holds herself while she sobs. He grabs her arms to stop her. She doesn't look up at him. "I know I made the right decision... Why does it hurt so bad?" He embraces her and holds her head to his chest. To avoid the eye of the public, he takes her around the cart to the side facing away from the settlement.

"You saved a life Tikal," Rashad says in a whisper. "There is no greater feat than that. A selfless act."

"At the expense of my people," she wines. "I snatched a chance for respite from under them."

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm truly grateful for your decision," Anaris says from the front end of the cart. She hops down and walks up to them. Tikal opens her eyes, still being held tightly by Rashad. Anaris hugs both of them in an awkward attempt to lighten the mood. "You're literally a blessing from the gods."

"Thank you, Anaris," Tikal says softly. "I'm sorry to give you such a mixed bag of emotions as my introduction to you. This must be fairly confusing."

"Nah... You've shown that you are still human despite having the power of a goddess flowing through you," Anaris says. "Not many can hold that power and still be humble."  She releases them and caresses Tikal's hair. "I promise not to add to the stress of being a leader despite what I've shown you. If you'll have me, that is..."

"I did not free you to release you into the sands."

Anaris smiles. "Do you have any use for a witch?"

Tikal smiles despite her mood. "Yes, but witch will not be your title or what we will be referring to you as."

Their conversation continues but my sight swoops back into the settlement. I have an inkling the some underhanded work is being done. After Tikal used my gift to look into Gabriel's eyes, I've gotten echoes of his behavior. My gaze settles on Gabriel as he walks up and down the streets where the people have begun working. Tikal's followers are sweating as they hammer, lift, and construct the homes of the people of this settlement.

He occasionally peeks over their shoulders and makes small compliments to them. This pattern goes on for hours as the continue to build alongside the residents of the settlement. He chooses to pick on the driver that had the spat with Tikal by calling him away from his work.

"I saw the altercation between you and your leader," Gabriel says.

The driver wipes his face clean of sweat. "Yeah, but this is also partially your fault."

"Indeed, but I had great use for that girl that your leader stole from me. Then she threatened my new settlement and with me being a new leader, I couldn't risk it. I pulled you aside to offer another option for you and those that aren't happy with her choices that are apparently made at your expense." The driver looks at him with worry but gestures to him to continue his offer. "I know you are a part of a nomadic tribe but hear me out. This work you are doing now will be of no value to you once you leave... BUT! If you didn't leave, this could be your home."

The driver frowns for a moment but his gaze drift to the ground.  I can sense his weakness rising. I should intervene but I will let this play out. It may be in Tikal's favor. "So you're saying that we can spend the remaining days building our own homes?"

"Exactly, my boy," Gabriel says as he wraps his arm around the sweaty driver. "I need to increase my ranks and you seem to be one the stronger ones that have come around. Your passion is admirable." This man's hypocracy bothers me and I'm hoping this follower of mine has the will to fight this temptation...