"You're the one married to the Okpalaeze," he whispered."The useful one."
The young woman's smile widened.
"Nneka's granddaughter," he said."Of course.Of course it's you."
The viper on her arm gleamed.
"Tell me everything," Chidinma said quietly."About my father's plans.About the Iyom.You delivered the twins; why was only one sent to the Igbele?"
There was no need for torture, Eze Udoka smiled, a stunned laugh escaping him, and soon enough, he began to talk.
In the corner of a room, a black satchel moved, a low hiss coming from the bag.
Borji crouched on the rooftop, his eyes scanning the peaceful city.Silence had settled over Tarsyn; only the occasional cry of a baby carried on the air, and along the city walls, men took turns at their watch over the sprawling forest below.
He heard a weight settle on the roof tiles but didn't look back.His large, scaled tail swung idly behind him."Are you done?"he asked.
Chidinma came to stand beside him, taking in the city.Not a cloud in the sky—every star visible, every soul yet to exist.
"Yes," she said."The little snake is too heavy.I'll need help carrying it back."
Borji hummed."Between you and Azul, I can't tell who's scarier.Your father must've spent a fortune on both of you."
Chidinma scoffed.He looked up and caught her eyes."Naturally—we are very expensive brides.Somadina paid my father a hundred and thirty-five silver coins for my hand."She turned her nose up."Most women are only worth ten."
Borji found himself laughing.Then a thought surfaced."So, what did he say?Before he was eaten."
Her expression shifted."Obiageli wasn't lying.They are truly twins.My father took in a pregnant woman he claimed as his lover.When she went into labour, the delivery was complicated, so he begged for the Dowager's help.She took the woman in—and of course she died in childbirth.But she gave birth to twins."Chidinma paused."By law, they both must be cast away.But since Obiageli was born with a great gift—according to the late Oracle— they saved her and hid her in the palace, pretending she was the Ugoeze's daughter."
Borji raised a brow.Chidinma nodded.That confirmed Azul's suspicions—Chukwuemeka's loyalty was never to Somadina.
"And your youngest?"he asked."Where is she?"
Chidinma stiffened.Her face twisting.She looked away and sat on the roof's edge, legs dangling."I don't know," she whispered."Even with everything I have—every contact, every name—I couldn't find anything.I don't know where she is."She exhaled."I'm scared."
Silence settled between them.Borji found he had nothing useful to say.
Chidinma—according to Azul—was not someone who accepted defeat easily, but she was not too proud to admit fear, nor too foolish to see her own limits.She had laughed at Azul's hesitancy toward Somadina once.She understood it now.Some things you could only learn by living them.
"...Viper?"Borji offered, trying to ease the weight of the moment.
Her lips quirked, though she kept her eyes on the stars."Only people in my village know my brand.It's useful—when I need to move without my father knowing.Though since coming here, the missions have gotten considerably harder."
"Is that why Azul asked me to send her letters under that name?"
"Azul has always used my name as she liked.I didn't particularly mind.She never did anything interesting with it anyway."
Borji's lips pressed together."I struggle to understand either of you.Don't you hate her?"
Chidinma threw her head back."Naturally, how could I not?She's a pompous, bratty airhead.Always smiling like an idiot."
Borji looked around sharply, as if afraid Azul was somehow listening in on their conversation."So why are you helping her?"
"Because we're sisters."She said it simply, as though it required no further explanation."If not each other, who?"She turned to him, brows drawing together."It's stranger that you help her.You're a stranger to us, aren't you?"
Borji opened his mouth, then stopped.Reconsidered."I shouldn't be."
She stared at him.
