章 12: Chapter 12
Iancu was in the classroom and waiting excitedly for the bell to ring. He was thinking about the fact that it was the end of the semester and he would take a break from school and live with his uncle for a week. As he was expecting to hear the bell it finally rang and he instantly bounced out of his desk and ran towards the entrance.
“Iancu! Come here!” Zico waved at him.
“Hello! The semester is over! I’m so happy!”
“Why? I thought you like school.”
“I do, but it was stressful. I always have to translate into reecian everything I want to say.”
“Yeah, it was stressful for me too when I was your age.” Admited Zico.
“I have a surprise for you! I’m sure you will love it! Here you go.” Zico passed Iancu a letter and he instantly knew who it was from.
“Dear Iancu,
Me and your grandfather are very proud of your achievement!
We love to hear from you and we can’t wait to receive a new letter in reecian from you next time.
Take care and we’re sending you hugs through Zico.
Lots of love,
Your mom and Grandpa.”
After he finished reading it, Iancu sighed.
“I need your help… they want the next one in reecian but there’s so many words I don’t know yet…”
“I will help you, don’t worry. Let’s go for a walk, you can have any treat you want within the limit of common sense.”
“How much is common sense?”
“20 lyra.”
While they were walking on the promenade a merchant selling doughnuts managed to keep Iancu’s attention with his products. Iancu chose two and gave his uncle one as well. Zico smiled and as Iancu was eating he told him he has something he needs to talk to him about.
“Your mother is getting married, she didn’t mention it in the letter because she asked me to tell you the best I could.”
“Oh… that’s weird.”
“Why do you think it’s weird?”
“It’s weird because I’ve never heard of this man before.” Admitted Iancu.
“Your mother needs someone to help her out with the chores.”
“I can wash dishes sometimes.” Offered Iancu.
“That’s sweet to offer but I’m afraid you don’t get a say in this. You will have to learn to live together and stay out of each other’s hair.” Advised Zico.
“Is he a good man?” asked Iancu.
“I’m sure he is, otherwise my sister wouldn’t have chosen him.” Said Zico, trying to be optimistic.
“Is mom happy?”
“She said so in the letter, didn’t she?”
“Yes… that’s ok then.” Concluded Iancu.
“Good fella! Don’t worry, next year you’re all going to stay together and have a chance to know each other better. His name is Rocan and he’s a merchant. “
“Tell me about Stefan instead. How is he?”
“He’s alright. I don’t want to spoil the stories he will tell you.”
“I want to send him a letter too. You should help me write that one too. What are we going to do this week?”
“I was thinking of taking you on a boat ride with the crew tomorrow.”
“That sounds like fun!”
“Yeah, and it’s beautiful too… you’re going to see the local waterfall when we go there. Come on, let’s go to the tavern and sleep early so we can wake up on time tomorrow morning.”
The next day, they were both aboard the ship and Ronel was there with Zico’s other friends.
“Hey Zico, why did you bring the kid with you? We’re supposed to fish and get wasted trying to catch anything, remember? “
“I know, I don’t have anyone to leave him with, Robera’s away today.” He admitted.
“Iancu, go sit in the cabin quietly and I’ll check on you later.” Said Zico.
As Iancu was an agreeable child for the most part, he went there on his own. He started to play in the cabin and noticed a piece of paper and a pen sitting on a desk. He decided to start writing the letter in hydraegean and then translate it into reecian.
Stefan was still upset about what happened yesterday when his grandmother stepped inside the tent to wake him up.
“Wake up, bunny it’s time for your archery lessons.”she turned and saw his expression.
“Oh stop sulking! There’s no point is being upset over what happened yesterday. And on top of that you deserved it!”
He got out of bed and dragged his feet towards the table where his clean clothes were left.
“With more enthusiasm please!” she clapped her hands and gestured for him to hurry before leaving the tent. He was starting to regret coming here in the first place. A servant entered after he finished dressing himself and he leaned towards Stefan’s ear to whisper something.
“Your family would like to receive a message from you, tell me if there’s anything you would like for me to forward to them.”
“This place sucks and I hate everyone. I can’t wait to go back home.” Replied Stefan.
“Got it. Madame, there is something you wanted to know!” the servant yelled prompting Stefan’s grandmother to put her head inside the tent.
“What did he say?”
“I think it’s best if he tells you personally, Madame.”
“Very well, you are excused.”She gestured to the servant to leave her behind.
“You’re kidding me!” Stefan was rolling his eyes.
“So tell me, what is your message?”
“I hate everything about this place!”
“Wrong message. Try again and I might just pass it on.” She was mocking him.
“In case you aren’t aware, WE are your family too. YOU need to cooperate with us and understand WHY they sent you here.”
“Why then? Why am I here?”
“Because you are human, like your father. Your mother is different and she lives longer than we do. Much longer. Because you can only live in their town before you turn 20 because they will cast you out then. They treat children like you like lap dogs and only care for their cuteness.”
Stefan was shocked, something felt off about this story but he could see from his grandmother’s expression that this wasn’t a fairy tale.
“That’s why you’re here, you’re one of us and you must live by our rules in order to make something of yourself. Staying in their village will never be an option ever. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“I’m scared.” Admitted Stefan.
“As you should be. You will see them on ocassion, but you must realise that a step back from them, is a stepforward for you. Forget their village, their language, their people. Your future awaits you here.”
“What about Iancu? Can he come?”
“Who’s Iancu?”
“My older brother.”
“I’m sure they will arrange something for him, let’s focus on you for now.” She said and she comforted him.
“Now hurry up, your teacher is waiting for you. I know this is a lot to take in, but it’s better not to think about it and keep going in the right direction rather than sulk about it. Got it?”
“Yes, m’am.”
She hugged him and Stefan sighed as she held him close.
Chapter 28
It was the day of the wedding and the Chieftan was exhausted by the mere thought of the ceremony. He had become tired by these life events that he had to be apart of. As he put on his special attire he was thinking what a pain in the neck Rocan will prove himself to be. He heard a loud knock on the door.
“Yes? I’m ready, come in.”
“Good morning, father. How do I look?” Zazuza made a twirl to show off her dress.
“Haven’t I already seen that one before?”
“Haha, no. It was a different dress the first time. Don’t you remember?”
“They look the same to me.”
“What is it? You’ve been grumpy all week.” She said.
“Another wedding… like THAT is going to solve our problems. I wish I got you more involved in helping me and your brother lead these people. You were such a smart girl growing up, what happened?”
“I quit trying. When you see that nobody listens to a word you say unless there’s another man backing your ideas, you stop caring.”
“Oh, we were never like that.”
“Sure… that’s why I got an arranged marriage because of how much you care about what I want.”
“Are you serious?! You’re still hang up on what happened with Uluki? You have some nerve.”
“Thank God, otherwise I’d have all of you stepping all over me! It’s my right to be angry, I was the one who got married so you could fulfill some ancestral obligation or some other bullshit!”
“Some bride you are, cursing on your wedding day! And here I thought you liked the man, seeing how you’ve been raising his children and all.”
“I liked Uluki, I was happy with him, I love my children, but there is an issue. He’s gone, and in a few years so will they due to different circumstances. I am done living for others because at the end of the day it leaves me all on my own.”
“So what do you mean to do about it?”
“I intent to have a child who won’t leave me when they grow up because of social expectations. I’ll miss Iancu and Stefan but because they’re human I know that when they’re adults we’ll never see each other again and it crushes me. I had invested all my time in raising and caring for them and now they’re gone. These past months have been the loneliest I’ve ever been in my whole life.”
“Wouldn’t it be ironic if this future child of yours hated you for being so clingy and decided to leave as well by their own volition?”
“Oh, shut up,”
“You’re supposed to say something like certainly, father or even of course, I will remember your wise words oh great one! Hmph.. some victim YOU are, you don’t even have the proper language down yet.”
“Listen, I just want a new start. I hadn’t realised how hard it will be in the future to let them go, I’ve given what you’ve said some thought and you’re right… they will have to accommodate to living in a different society… Maybe coddleing them isn’t what I should be doing at this point.”
“You know what you should be doing?” The Chieftan asked.
“What?”
“Building memories together. It’s all they’ll have left of this place and of you.”
“I get it… It’s all I have left now.”
Zazuza looked down at her dress and teared up. The Chieftan aproached her to give her a hug.
“I’m fine… really.”
“Oh, shut up! Look at you, you’re always picking on Iancu for being a cry baby, I’ll tell on you when they return.”
Zizina entered the room after knocking and bowed politely.
“The guests have arrived, we should be going soon, Sir.”
“Give us a minute, Zizina, we’ll be on our way.” He turned to his daughter and pat her shoulder while smiling at her.
In the village there was reason for celebration and everyone was in high spirits because of the free food and drinks. An anxious groom was speaking to his drunkard friends and greeting various guests who passed them by. The priest approached him and whispered in his ear.
“It’s time, Sir.”
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