"I asked about Kamsi," Chidinma said suddenly.
Azul stilled."Where is she?"
"He wouldn't tell me.Said it wasn't my concern."
Azul was quiet for a long moment."It's fine.We'll find her."
"I don't understand you," Chidinma whispered."I should hate you.I do hate you.You took everything—my place, my purpose, my father's attention—and you don’t even want it.Everything shifts around you like you were the centre of fate.And yet."Chidinma's voice cracked."And yet you're the only one who makes me feel like I'm not going mad in this place.The only one who sees me.The only one who—" She stopped, pressing her hand to her mouth.
"You're not drowning," Azul’s voice seemed softer than usual."You're learning to swim.It just takes time."
Chidinma laughed."You're terrible," she said."A devil."
Azul smirked."I know."
"I hate you."
“Hmm,” she picked up her cup again.“Thank you, by the way, for the letter.If not for that, I probably wouldn’t have considered the Mal-kai.”
Chidinma’s eyes widened, a small smile playing on her lips.“Anytime.”
Azul took a sip of tea.
"Do you want to see father yourself?"Chidinma asked.
Azul shook her head."If I see him I'll accidentally kill him."
"...I see."
The Dowager’s lungs burned.Her legs screamed.Her white mourning robes, once the symbol of her grief and station, were now torn and mud-stained, catching on branches and brambles as she fled through the darkness.
Behind her, she heard the men who had found her in the city, who had seen a lone woman in fine robes and recognised opportunity.They were simply predators, and she was simply prey.
"Stop running, old woman!"one shouted, his voice rough with laughter."We just want to talk!"
She ran faster.
The river appeared before her like a gift from the gods—the Udamili, dark and vast, its waters gleaming under the faint light of the crescent moon.She had no boat, no bridge, no way across.But she had something else.
Faith.
The Dowager stumbled to the water's edge, falling to her knees in the mud.Behind her, the men crashed through the undergrowth, closer now, so close she could hear their breathing.
"Udamili!"she cried, her voice raw with desperation."Goddess of the river!Mother of waters!You chose me!You named me your Divine King!I beg you—protect me!Save me from these dogs!I have served you!I have sacrificed for you!I have—"
The men burst from the trees.
They stopped at the sight of her kneeling in the mud, arms raised to the sky, robes torn and wild.For a moment, they laughed.
"Look at the old witch," one jeered."Praying to a river.What's it going to do, drown us?"
They advanced.
And then, from the river, a creature burst forth.
The men stopped.
"What is that?"one shouted.
