He hadn't passed by her.Or did he avoid her by making his presence scarce?She thought it was best, rather than watch her look so weak in front of all these people.Besides, she was sure he had better things to do than watch her lose so awfully.
When Somadina finally left his grandmother’s receiving room, he spoke cordially to his guards; he almost passed her, as though ignoring her existence altogether.But he stopped just a few steps behind.
"You have one chance to save yourself a sorry fate if you know what's good for you," was all he said.
The sun climbed higher.
Her knees began to ache, then burn.The hunger that she'd pushed aside clawed at her stomach with renewed viciousness.Her vision swam at the edges, black spots dancing in the white-hot glare.
Three hours passed.
Nkiru swayed beside her.Azul wanted to tell her to leave, but it was too late for that; they were both already punished.So she said nothing, just shifted slightly to block some of the sun from the girl's face.
Four hours.
Her clothes were soaked in sweat.Her wrist throbbed where she'd gripped the brush for two nights straight.Her shoulders screamed for her to relax and let them rest.The world tilted and swayed around her; she had to shake her head incessantly to remain awake.
She heard a thud beside her; Nkiru had fallen.Footsteps came to carry the girl away, but Azul worried if she looked back, she too would lose courage and faint.
She was so thirsty.
Had she ever knelt like this before?She tried to remember.She had, once, as a child.She tried to remember then how she survived such a harsh punishment.If her memories served her right, then the very next day she fell ill with a fierce fever, and the only one who had been at her bedside was Kamsi.The girl was too small then to do anything but cry and cry.Her sobs were loud, each one splitting her head in half with a terrible headache.But the girl did what she could, grabbing Azul’s herbs in an attempt to make a concoction for her, but she failed.
Azul remembered the pitiful look on her sister's face and couldn’t help but smile.
She had survived this once before; then there was no need to worry.
Five hours.
Azul blinked, trying to focus, but the ground seemed to be rising up to meet her.
No.
She would not fall.
She would not give them that satisfaction.
She bit down harshly on her tongue, tasting iron.The pain sharpened her focus.
Breathe.
Just breathe.
Six hours.
A servant approached, one she didn't recognise."The Dowager says your time is complete.You may rise."
Azul tried to stand.
Her legs wouldn't obey.
She pressed her palms against the burning stone and pushed herself up.Her knees buckled, but she caught herself and tried again.
This time, she made it to her feet.
The world swayed violently.She locked her knees and forced her body to remain upright.
One step at a time.
