[skip]

"You..." She swallowed, then exhaled her tension out "...should be ashamed." She used Pembe's scolding tone, which worked equally well on mischievous animals and village elders throwing their weight a bit too far.

Nesrin had never seen her quiet an angry mob, though.

She addressed the older villagers present. They would be the ones she could reason with. "Have you looked at their faces? Are these any different than our own? The same we buried only this morning. Taken from their homes and families."

She spun to face the wagon at her back as the villagers murmured to each other, some looking chagrined.

One soldier stood on top of the already piled bags, towering above her, a stricken expression on his face. "I am sorry," he said.

Nesrin measured him with a look. Tall, gangly, with lank black hair and small dark eyes, she was immediately put in mind of a garden snake. Which were, in general, shy, helpful creatures. She hoped he was, too.

[skip]

"Can you not spare the rations we're due?" she asked the soldier. His face twisted, tortured by the question. His gaze swept over the crowd. The gaunt, miserable, angry faces. She feared his answer. The road from Narfour to the Engeli Gate was farther north, beyond the lake. It was a lengthy diversion to come all the way down just for grain, which suggested how desperate they were for supplies.

[skip]

The villagers mumbled at the exchange. Nesrin faced them again, this time trying her best impression of her father, who had the luxury of assuming he had authority when he spoke. "You may collect this turn's rations from what is available. No more."

"Oh? And what if we decide to take back what's ours, eh?" a man jeered, and another snickered.

"With what? Your rocks and legless taunts?" Nesrin chided. The soldier beside her choked on a laugh. "They have swords and stronger magic. They can pack up these wagons and leave us with nothing." She peeked at the soldier, who agreed with a nod, though he looked more embarrassed than militant.

[skip]

The woman who had spoken about her daughter and new baby came first, giving Nesrin a look of gratitude as she did.

Türkiye Basketbol Federasyonu Kocaeli Büyükler Ligi’nde heyecan sürerken, İzmit Akademi B Kulübü, İzmit Yıldızlar karşısında sergilediği etkili ikinci yarı performansıyla parkeden 63-54’lük galibiyetle ayrıldı. Genç oyunculara süre verip basketbol camiasına çıkarmayı hedefleyerek dikkatleri üzerine çeken İzmit Akademi, maça tutuk başladı. Maçın ilk çeyreği düşük tempoda geçti. Hücumda ritim…

- La oğlum, insan sevdiği adama şans verir sen anladın mı beni la.

🎬 Behzat Ç