Azul leaned down and rested her head beside the girl's.Her lips moved, too soft for Enoch to hear, but he caught the shape of the words, "Good job."
Enoch froze.
According to his memories, the girl had confessed, hadn’t she?She had condemned Azul to death in front of the entire council.
At that thought, his lips parted.
The girl had done exactly what Azul told her to do.Nkiru hadn't betrayed Azul.She had obeyed her.Every word of that confession, every damning accusation, every lie that should have sent Azul to the executioner's block—it was all part of the plan.
Could it be that the anger of the people towards her would be so great that, once transferred, the Ugoeze would have no choice but to die?
Enoch stood in the doorway, watching Azul rest her head beside her sleeping servant, and felt the world shift beneath his feet.She had endorsed everything.
And no one even knew.
No one but him.
Azul's eyes opened.Without turning, without moving, she spoke.
"You understand now."
Enoch swallowed."Yes, Khatun."
"Do you know what comes next?"
He did.
Her next ploy would result in the Okpalaeze’s death.
The council chamber was packed the next morning.
Every noble, every elder, every person of consequence in the Borjigin court had gathered to witness the day's proceedings.The air crackled with anticipation as Nnenna walked to the centre of the chamber.In her hands she carried a scroll—a long one.
She unrolled it.
The writing was red.And at the bottom, her signature, written in the same crimson ink.
"I, Nnenna, Third Wife of the Borjigin, do hereby confess to the following crimes, committed at the command of the Ugoeze, under threat of my son's life and my own."
She paused, drawing a breath that seemed to hurt.
"Item the first: I administered poison to the Fourth Prince."
Enoch glanced at Azul.
Lie.
A ripple of horror passed through the chamber.Nnenna did not stop.
"The poison was slow-acting.It made him sick for three days before it killed him."
Lie.
Tears streamed down her face, but her voice remained steady.
"Item the second: I planted the murder weapon in the well behind the shrine, as the Ugoeze instructed.She wanted it found.She wanted it traced to the Akwaugo.But someone moved it before your men could search, and for that, I am grateful."
Lie.
