"But she's dying—"
The guard stepped forward, and Nkiru flinched back."I said come back tomorrow."
So she went to the Dowager's residence next.
The old woman's servants chased her away with brooms, cursing her for disturbing their mistress's peace.Nkiru ran swiftly, the sting of humiliation stifled by her growing fear that Azul would die.
There was only one option left.
The Iyom's compound was smaller than the Ugoeze's but no less imposing.Nkiru stood at the gate, trembling, as a servant led her inside.
The Iyom received her in a small receiving room, seated on cushions, a cup of tea in her hands.She looked at Nkiru the way one might look at a stray dog.
"The Akwaugo's servant."The Iyom’s voice was as sweet as poisoned honey."What brings you here?"
Nkiru prostrated fully; she knocked her head against the ground until her forehead bruised."Iyom, please.The Akwaugo is sick.She needs an imperial physician.I beg you—"
"A physician?"The Iyom's eyebrows rose."For that vixen?How ambitious!"
Nkiru pressed her head harder against the floor."Please.She'll die."
The Iyom hummed, taking a sip of her tea.Nkiru felt the mocking gazes of servants around her, some of whom she recognised as servants originally assigned to Azul.She bit her tongue, forcing herself not to look too long.If her pride stopped her from getting help, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.
"I am a merciful woman," the Iyom said."I cannot give you a physician—that would require the Igwe's permission—but I can give you medicine."
Nkiru looked up, hope warring with caution in her young heart.
The Iyom gestured to a servant, who disappeared and returned moments later with a small clay pot."This will break the fever.Give it to her tonight."
Nkiru took the pot with trembling hands."Thank you, Iyom.Thank you."
She ran all the way back to the shrine.
Azul was worse when Nkiru returned.Her breathing had grown shallower, her skin grey beneath the dark brown.Nkiru's hands shook as she unwrapped the pot, revealing a dark liquid within.It smelled bitter, but medicine always did.
She heated it over a small fire, stirring it with a stick, hoping it would help break the fever by dawn.The liquid was warm when she carried it to Azul's bedside.She knelt, sliding an arm behind Azul's head, lifting her with great care.
"Akwaugo," she whispered."Please drink.This will help."
Azul's eyes fluttered open.
For a moment, she opened her lips to accept whatever was given to her.Then her nostrils flared.
Her hand shot out, knocking the cup from Nkiru's grasp.The liquid splashed across the floor, dark as blood.
"Akwaugo—!"Nkiru cried out.
Azul had used her body to knock the thing out of her maid’s hand, and so she slid from her bed, landing hard on the ground.Nkiru scrambled to catch her, pulling her into her lap, her small arms wrapping around her mistress's burning form.
"You—you can't—" Azul's voice was barely a whisper, raw and cracked."You can't trust them.Any of them."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry—" Nkiru rocked her, tears welling in her eyes."I didn't know what else to do.They all said no.The Iyom—she gave me medicine—I thought—"
A movement in the corner caught Nkiru's eye.
A rat, drawn by the spilled liquid, crept towards the puddle on the floor.
“Get out of here!”she shouted, sending the thing away.Her heart hammered in her chest; if Azul got bitten by a rat now, who knew what sort of disease she would contract?
