Staring at K'nahli's head, ignoring K'yohko and K'ailia as they left, K'takka waited a time while she watched the strands of blue hair move against her wizened hand. Once the Nunh and his errant daughter were gone, K'takka withdrew her hand.Â
"There is no shame in humility," K'takka said, "Dignity is important, but pride is an illness. No person who is reluctant to lay their face in the sand has anything at all to take pride in. They have no beauty, strength, or respect. And yet..." She reached around K'nahli's head and pressed the sharp point of a fingernail beneath the girl's chin, applying a very slight, careful pressure to urge the girl to lift her face. ""Raise your head, K'nahli Yohko. But do not raise it past your shoulders. If the posture is uncomfortable, it is because that is not how you are meant to sit."
The expression on K'takka's face softened, much like it had for K'yohko earlier, and her voice grew smooth. "K'nahli, you are meant to stand tall, dignified and idolized by the tribe, and you desire that for yourself, don't you? But do not flee the consequences of your decisions. Learn from your father. He bent the lowest of all, face fast to the sand, the most humble man in the Sagolii. And because of that he is able to stand so much straighter than anyone else. When you have born deep humiliation into your heart, without hesitation or resentment, but with gratitude instead, then you can have pride which no one may question."
The Elder breathed deeply, and her old body shivered. "Do you understand this lesson, K'nahli?"
"There is no shame in humility," K'takka said, "Dignity is important, but pride is an illness. No person who is reluctant to lay their face in the sand has anything at all to take pride in. They have no beauty, strength, or respect. And yet..." She reached around K'nahli's head and pressed the sharp point of a fingernail beneath the girl's chin, applying a very slight, careful pressure to urge the girl to lift her face. ""Raise your head, K'nahli Yohko. But do not raise it past your shoulders. If the posture is uncomfortable, it is because that is not how you are meant to sit."
The expression on K'takka's face softened, much like it had for K'yohko earlier, and her voice grew smooth. "K'nahli, you are meant to stand tall, dignified and idolized by the tribe, and you desire that for yourself, don't you? But do not flee the consequences of your decisions. Learn from your father. He bent the lowest of all, face fast to the sand, the most humble man in the Sagolii. And because of that he is able to stand so much straighter than anyone else. When you have born deep humiliation into your heart, without hesitation or resentment, but with gratitude instead, then you can have pride which no one may question."
The Elder breathed deeply, and her old body shivered. "Do you understand this lesson, K'nahli?"
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