Daughters of the Land

XVII.| A Ritual for an Utan Woman

The conversion ceremony took longer than Nukula had hoped. Many landsmen and women attended in large numbers, all of whom took part in the lengthy hymns and watched on in awe. Stones were laid in symmetrical lines on either side of the ground to guide the audience to their rightful seating. The centre was were Nukula was placed, a larger stone setting circled her petite form. Flames danced around the setup passing warmth through the air before the breeze from below, slid up the mountains to face its opposition.

Plois and his posse had arrived early and took the closest seats to the centre. He greeted Nukula with a friendly wave- one would have thought he were a proud father, before ceasing any confusion with his perfect leer. He shared another wave with Castoron who sat parallel to him, though he received nothing in response, it made him snigger.

Baron Pann looked nervous and stood limp with the officiant whilst exchanging a few words. His forehead had gathered enough sweat to wash a child's hands and his face was filled with unbearable sadness, Nukula pondered whether he was about to lose a limb- humour kept her sane you see.

Pann returned to sit besides Castoron who remained fixated on her. She took his focus as support and protection; if anything were to happen to her surely he'd defend her?

She sat quietly throughout the duration and focused into the distant song of waves greeting the rocks below. She pictured her friends Forges and Robbed out swimming with the other Sea children- little Robbed causing a commotion and Forges taking the matter lightly. She smiled to herself though it was brief.

"The Almighty has blessed us! He has blessed thee my beautiful children of Earths highest creations. We have much to be thankful for- just ask our lost sister", the officiant turned to Nukula. "Is it not tending to the soul to be standing here beneath the skies mysteries and convert to the true peoples?! Answer not! You have chose to return and for that we forgive you, the Almighty forgives you!", the crow-like man screeched proudly and his supporters cheered him on like monkeys.

Baron Pann remorsefully met Nukula's eyes. She hadn't decided whether she had forgiven him, though she concluded it was not done out of malice and so reassured him through dreaded eyes that she was fine.

Her thoughts became distracted when the officiant suddenly appeared over her crouched form. "Hand", he simply put. She hesitantly looked to Castoron and Pann before holding her palm out and with a swift touch, the man had split open Nukula's tired hands to reveal her blood. She hissed in surprise to the stinging sensation, but was unable to tend to her wound as the perpetrator proudly held it up.

"And now to complete the circle, the land must taste your devotion!", he stated to the crowd. The same dagger returned to gouge a gap into the world beneath them, before her blood was squeezed into its puncture.

Nukula screamed but it was a wasted effort. The officiant however took advantage of her cries for help and shovelled a handful of earth into her mouth. "You shall taste the land you yearn for! Convert proudly girl!", his eyes raced, a menacing glare came over his features it petrified her.

Nukula heaved the dirt out but failed to retrieve the entirety; much of it finding her lungs. "Stop, I can't breathe", she whimpered.

The crowd ignored her pleas and cheered the officiant on. His body shivered with excitement; a force of power he craved engulfed him, "The Almighty does not seethe, he will show us if she is truly a believer!".

The Baron's looked on ruefully, Pann's pupils glistening more prominently due to the flames whilst Castoron fought to stay in his seat.