At least it was a sunny day. Yeah, that's what she'd tell herself. The sun was shining, the ocean was clear and calm, and the volcano hadn't exploded. That wasn't bad news, although Dalla knew that not everyone would see it that way. No, no, no there were always people who would whine and moan and say 'Oh how could Nyxi not know every aspect of the future?'
Dalla liked to put those whiners in their places. The people of Kabalaka should know that the gods only tell them so much. Sure, Nyxi as an oracle would know a bit more, but still she wasn't one of the gods. Nyxi's power came from the gods, but only, or so their tales tell them, because of a rivalry between the gods. Some of the mighty beings saw it amusing to pester and play with the people of the living world, they tormented them with floods, plagues, fire and brimstone. Others found this too cruel, but the cruel gods could not be reasoned with and so the kinder gods gifted the power of the oracle to some so that humans at least had a chance at staying ahead of the tricks.
Dalla's daughter, Nyxi, had been one of the chosen to receive this gift. Dalla remembered the day that Nyxi was crowned Kabalaka's oracle, she beamed in pride. It was said that a woman of Dalla's age should have more of a slumped back, but Dalla had fixed that by having an extra helping of pride, which made her hold her back straight and her chin high as she strutted about Kabalaka, mother of the town's oracle.
She stood for none of this complaining that people had about Nyxi being wrong. How could they possibly know the will of the gods? Perhaps the gods originally did plan for the volcano to erupt, but seeing that the town fled lost their sense of amusement in it. What did these people know of the gods' intents? Only Nyxi had a true glimpse at what they meant. Sure, the priests had the knowledge of the gods and their tales, but it was only Nyxi to have that divine connection, only Nyxi chosen to save her people, only Dalla's only daughter.
When some boats too close to theirs started to complain, Dalla quickly put them in their place. Honestly, how dare they question their oracle like this? Back in her day, people would cower and never make eye contact with their oracle. Now every merchant or baker or hunter felt they had the right to scorn one blessed? The nerve. A day missed at the market was nothing compared to what other islands had lost. Just a few years ago, an island about a half day's journey to the east was devastated by a storm. Where was their oracle before this happened? Fast asleep, feeling completely at peace. The people of Kabalaka should be grateful at the fears that Nyxi felt every day. They had no idea all of the troubles she has saved them from.
And yet, they should. These people came to Nyxi day to day with the most trivial problems. Dalla didn't sit in on consultations as it was seen as improper, but she would hear people as they approached Nyxi's hut talking about what was troubling them and let me tell you, some of these people were troubled by the simplest thing. One hunter, married less than a week wanted to know when he should have a child. Dalla had half a thought to twist his ear and tell him to ask that new wife of his and not her daughter. Nyxi, who always kept it professional, never admitted that someone had come to ask her about this, but Dalla knew. Dalla also knew that once his wife had gotten pregnant, she'd come to ask Nyxi what color to paint the baby's room. A match made by the gods, thought Dalla, truly.
Now at last they were headed back to Kabalaka. People would still have their day at the market, but Nyxi would have a fitful day and night worrying that she'd ruined them all somehow. As proud as Dalla was to have a blessed child, it did sometimes seem a burden too great for Nyxi. Perhaps, Dalla would have to find a way to help her.
(Prompt by Lisa McInerney)
Photo by Midnight Believer
Dalla liked to put those whiners in their places. The people of Kabalaka should know that the gods only tell them so much. Sure, Nyxi as an oracle would know a bit more, but still she wasn't one of the gods. Nyxi's power came from the gods, but only, or so their tales tell them, because of a rivalry between the gods. Some of the mighty beings saw it amusing to pester and play with the people of the living world, they tormented them with floods, plagues, fire and brimstone. Others found this too cruel, but the cruel gods could not be reasoned with and so the kinder gods gifted the power of the oracle to some so that humans at least had a chance at staying ahead of the tricks.
Dalla's daughter, Nyxi, had been one of the chosen to receive this gift. Dalla remembered the day that Nyxi was crowned Kabalaka's oracle, she beamed in pride. It was said that a woman of Dalla's age should have more of a slumped back, but Dalla had fixed that by having an extra helping of pride, which made her hold her back straight and her chin high as she strutted about Kabalaka, mother of the town's oracle.
She stood for none of this complaining that people had about Nyxi being wrong. How could they possibly know the will of the gods? Perhaps the gods originally did plan for the volcano to erupt, but seeing that the town fled lost their sense of amusement in it. What did these people know of the gods' intents? Only Nyxi had a true glimpse at what they meant. Sure, the priests had the knowledge of the gods and their tales, but it was only Nyxi to have that divine connection, only Nyxi chosen to save her people, only Dalla's only daughter.
When some boats too close to theirs started to complain, Dalla quickly put them in their place. Honestly, how dare they question their oracle like this? Back in her day, people would cower and never make eye contact with their oracle. Now every merchant or baker or hunter felt they had the right to scorn one blessed? The nerve. A day missed at the market was nothing compared to what other islands had lost. Just a few years ago, an island about a half day's journey to the east was devastated by a storm. Where was their oracle before this happened? Fast asleep, feeling completely at peace. The people of Kabalaka should be grateful at the fears that Nyxi felt every day. They had no idea all of the troubles she has saved them from.
And yet, they should. These people came to Nyxi day to day with the most trivial problems. Dalla didn't sit in on consultations as it was seen as improper, but she would hear people as they approached Nyxi's hut talking about what was troubling them and let me tell you, some of these people were troubled by the simplest thing. One hunter, married less than a week wanted to know when he should have a child. Dalla had half a thought to twist his ear and tell him to ask that new wife of his and not her daughter. Nyxi, who always kept it professional, never admitted that someone had come to ask her about this, but Dalla knew. Dalla also knew that once his wife had gotten pregnant, she'd come to ask Nyxi what color to paint the baby's room. A match made by the gods, thought Dalla, truly.
Now at last they were headed back to Kabalaka. People would still have their day at the market, but Nyxi would have a fitful day and night worrying that she'd ruined them all somehow. As proud as Dalla was to have a blessed child, it did sometimes seem a burden too great for Nyxi. Perhaps, Dalla would have to find a way to help her.
(Prompt by Lisa McInerney)
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