They were of the same age; to Azul, she was infinitely beautiful and infinitely pitiful.
Now, four years later, they met again.
Nkiru stared curiously at the board, finding herself confused to see the sheer number of items situated around.She looked up at Azul, who had been staring at the game for at least half an incense stick, one hand propping up her chin, another on a book to the side.If Nkiru could read, she would have understood what Azul was staring at the board for.
The only few pieces she could recognise were those fashioned against the Titans that were usually spoken of in children's stories, passed on in small villages under moonlight by older children.
She noted the famed Ekesi Akilli, the giant snake of Tarsyn that served the late King Methuselah, and she noted one with wings but couldn't quite remember its name.
Nkiru's ears perked up as she heard footsteps.
"Akwaugo."
Azul blinked, the trance breaking.She looked at Nkiru as though emerging from deep water.
"What?"
"Someone's coming."
Azul straightened, her hand moving instinctively to her sleeve.Nkiru could only imagine the snake that accompanied her mistress and felt a chill down her spine; apart from feeding it once a day, she tended to avoid it at all costs.It grew too quickly for her liking and stared too long as though it were planning to one day grow big enough to eat her.
The footsteps grew closer, and soon the source appeared through the trees: Nnenna, the Third Wife, with a large basket in hand.Beside her trotted Chinedu, his face lit with the particular joy of a child seeing a friend for the first time in a while.
"Akwaugo!"Chinedu broke into a run, abandoning all pretence of princely dignity.He skidded to a stop before Azul, bouncing on his heels."Mama said we could visit!She made honey cakes!"
Behind him, Nnenna approached more slowly, her expression warm but watchful."Akwaugo.I hope we're not intruding."
Azul rose."Third Wife.You're welcome here."
Nnenna's smile widened slightly; she held out the basket."A small token.For your kindness to my son."
Nkiru's eyes fixed on the basket.Honey cakes.Real honey cakes, with the golden glaze catching sunlight, the smell already escaping through the cloth.Her mouth watered.
Azul glanced at the basket, then at Nkiru.
"Take it," she said quietly."Store it properly."
Nkiru bobbed a curtsy and accepted the basket, her fingers itching to lift the cloth.But she knew better.She'd learned quickly that Azul's trust was earned in small ways and maintained in smaller ones.She would not touch the cakes without permission.
"Can I go with her?"Chinedu tugged at his mother's wrapper.
Nnenna hesitated, glancing at Azul.
"The child may go," Azul said."Nkiru will watch him."
Nkiru straightened at the implicit command.She was being trusted with a prince—a small prince, a young prince, but a prince nonetheless.She dipped her head and started toward the shrine's side entrance, Chinedu bouncing at her heels.
The kitchen was small but functional, with a clay stove, a few pots, and shelves of dried herbs and provisions personally sourced from outside the palace walls.Nkiru set the basket on the lowest shelf—too high for Chinedu to reach, she thought—and began sorting through their stores for tea ingredients.
Chinedu circled the room like a curious puppy, touching everything within reach.
"What's this?"
"Dried pepper."
"What's this?"
"Millet.Don't touch."
