"No," he said quietly."I've thought about it.Being good or bad...it means nothing in this place."
She didn't believe him.
"You'll need to buy your way into the slave circle," she said, moving on as though his answer didn't matter."Places like that operate with tokens for identification rather than exposing yourself directly.You need to find a token and give it to someone who will use it well."
Borji's brow furrowed."What?Who?"
"The Elder of Justice.The Ugoeze's brother."
He stared at her."He's one of the most powerful men in the tribe; I assume that's why you chose him?"
She shook her head."Honestly, anyone with enough gall would be fine.But if the Ugoeze's own brother discovers that the Second Wife's family is running a slave operation—perhaps even trafficking children—it creates a fracture in the alliance between them.The Ugoeze can't defend Iyom without defending slavery.The Elder can't ignore it without looking corrupt.The alliance will shatter."
"I haven't even told you what I found yet; you know slavery is not illegal."
"No," Azul continued."Slavery is not illegal, but selling Borjigin people as slaves without a bondsmaster and a finite contract is illegal.Once Iyom's maternal family takes the hit, I can deal with her cleanly.And eventually, her son will have no room to stand on."
"You really want to destroy them," he said slowly.
"All of them," she confirmed."But it is not by my own hand.Most Elders already have dirt on each other, so I suspect if you tip off the Ugoeze's brother, he will deal with the enemy once and for all.I have one week before the Valthorne delegation arrives.I do not know what the future holds in store, so it’s best to prepare as much as I can before the storm."
"What happens if you don’t?"
She smiled, and it was the coldest expression Borji had ever seen on her face."You'll land the finishing blow, won't you?"
Borji stood frozen, staring at her.The afternoon light cast shadows across her face, making her golden eyes seem almost inhuman.
"Are you going to betray me now?"Azul asked."Because you're uncomfortable with what I'm asking you to do?"
He flinched at the word 'betray'."I'm not—"
"Then why are you hesitating?"
"Because I need to sit in the discomfort," he said finally."I need to get used to it.At least, for you."
Surprise flickered across Azul's face, but it vanished as quickly as it came.
"Just get the token to the Elder," she said, hiding her face from him by bowing her head low enough that her hair covered her eyes."Do that, and I can handle the harem."
She lay back down, turning to face away from him, hoping he would leave.
"I'll be back then, Kihaana."
Azul didn't respond.After a while, Borji picked up the untouched food tray and left, closing the door softly behind him.
Only when his footsteps had faded completely did Azul's eyes open.
She stared at the ceiling, at the swaying curtains, at the fading light.
"Liar," she whispered to the empty room, a low hiss comforting her.
Chapter 10
Towed,isita mortal custom?The small voice emerged in her murky mind.
Click.
Prayer beads were expensive, especially the ones used in the royal family.They were made from fine jade, light, luminous, and impossible to replicate by inferior means.Azul did not have access to such, nor did she care for prayers, so she settled for shuffling her waist beads in her hands, one at a time.
