For a moment, nothing happened.Azul stepped back, breathing a sigh of relief.“I’m sorry it took so long; I was trying to understand why the Igwe didn’t want any of his wives to have any more children.”
Suddenly, the Ugoeze hunched over, hands around her belly.
“Now I understand.He didn't know.He had no idea, just how much his imperial mother despised him.”Azul continued, her lips stretching wider.“Ugoeze, you played well.It's just unfortunate; you were on the wrong side.”
The Ugoeze let out a blood-curdling scream.
Her body convulsed, doubling over; she crumpled to the floor, writhing and weeping.
Azul did not watch any longer; she left.
Enoch followed, his heart pounding.He did not ask what was in the vial.He did not want to know.
In truth, Azul had no allies in the harem, so everyone, according to her, was on the wrong side.
Behind them, the Ugoeze's screams echoed off the stone walls long after they climbed the stairs.
The Third Wife's quarters were modest—not the grand chambers of the Ugoeze or Iyom, but comfortable enough for a woman of her station.Nnenna sat rigid on a cushioned seat, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea she had not touched, her eyes fixed on Azul with barely concealed terror.
Chinedu was nowhere to be seen.Kept safe from the horror that had just walked through her door.
Azul settled onto a cushion across from her, accepting the cup of tea Nnenna's shaking servant offered.She did not drink.Simply held it, letting the warmth seep into her fingers, watching Nnenna squirm beneath her gaze.
"You're afraid of me," Azul observed.
Nnenna swallowed."I—" As she tried to speak, the teaspoon in her cup clattered violently.
Azul set the tea down, untouched."I'm going to ask you a question, Third Wife.I want you to think carefully before you answer."
Nnenna nodded.
"Do you want to live?"
Nnenna's face crumpled.She slid from her seat, falling to her knees before Azul, her forehead pressing to the floor.Her voice, when it came, was muffled by tears and terror.
"Please.I don't care what happens to me.But my son—he's innocent—he's just a child—please, save him, and I'll do anything.I'll never act against you again."
Azul looked down at her; she didn’t mind the poisoning attempts or how she used her son to try and throw her off her trail.Azul was more concerned with the woman she owed a debt to.
The Fourth Wife had died thanks to Nnenna’s schemes.Azul eyed the room; the toys had been beautifully put away, and Chinedu’s practice scripts hung on the wall, showing his handwriting progress.The more Azul watched, the more she wondered how brilliant the children in the Fourth Wife’s belly would’ve been if they had had the chance to live.
"Rise," Azul said quietly."Your son will live."Chinedu would live as long as the rest of the Borjigin did, which was not very long.
Nnenna looked up, tears streaming down her face, hope warring with disbelief.
"Tomorrow," Azul continued, "the council will hold the Ugoeze’s trial.It is in your best interest to tell them everything.You will write it in blood, and you will sign it with your name."
Nnenna nodded frantically."I will, Akwaugo."
Azul didn’t have anything else to say; intelligent people always knew when to advance or retreat, and the more she stayed in that place, the greater the urge she had to drive her hairpin into the woman’s eyes.
So she quickly took her leave.
Nkiru lay unconscious.Her skin was pale, her injuries bound in clean bandages.A healer worked over her, applying salves and lighting incense.
Azul entered silently.
She crossed to the cot and sat on its edge, her hip pressing against the mattress, her hand reaching out to touch Nkiru's matted hair.The girl did not stir.
