"What will happen?"The way he spoke made her doubt.Could it be that they had already discussed this?But the original Azul's memories held no such conversation.What was she missing?
He paused, searching her face."Did they not tell you?The reason you were sold?"
No.
No one had told her.
In fact, she'd only agreed to this meeting on the slim chance she would find out about it.
"You are to marry a warlord of the Grass Sea.The Great Khan of the Valthorne tribe."
It was as though something had shattered a jar of clay in the room.Azul could not process anything and instead stared at them, her mind a sudden blank void.
"A warlord?"
"Yes."Chukwuemeka leaned forward, his expression hardening."So it's important you at least pander to the Okpalaeze.Don't waste any more time.I only made this trip because I heard the Valthorne men were seen at the border.It won't be more than a week before they arrive, and you might be in a dangerous predicament."
Something cold settled in her chest.
Her breathing slowed.Her hands, which had been trembling with rage moments before, were pressed into her lap to stop the shaking.Only a fool would sell their daughter to a warlord; it seemed her father was that fool.
"I see," she said softly.
A warlord.
Somadina's words rang in her ears.
You have one chance to save yourself a sorry fate if you know what's good for you.
Warlords who enslaved without care.Who killed and conquered and left nothing but ash in their wake.Warlords who had no allies, only enemies.Warlords whose wives rarely survived more than a few years before dying from violence, disease, or despair.Who wedded slaves, not free women.
She was a slave, wasn't she?An expensive slave, but a slave nonetheless.
They were sending her to die.
And expecting her to be grateful they'd warned her.
Her lips curved into a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"What is so dangerous about my predicament?It is just a marriage, is it not?"
He frowned."I raised you to be smarter than this; have you not picked apart my words yet?Understand what I truly want you to do."
She glanced down at his armour; it was standardised, but the sash around his waist had a brooch at the centre."You joined the Imperial Guards," she noted.
He nodded, eyes narrowing with expectation.
Azul’s heart stuttered."You obtained a high position."
"Under whom?"he pushed her.
Who else?The man he so badly wanted her to sleep with.She spat out the answer with a voice so rough it was as though her throat had been scraped with sand."The Okpalaeze."
Her father gave a sound of approval."Next time, observe before you speak.I will not remind you—"
"Why?"she interrupted."Why did you do this?"
"That is not your place to know."Chukwuemeka's jaw tightened."What is most important is that you understand: you need the Okpalaeze’s protection for what you are about to do, or your life will be in danger."
