Azul looked at it.Her expression didn't change.She dipped into the mortar, scooping out a pale green paste that smelled of aloe and neem.She began to spread it across Nkiru's arm.Her touch was gentle; her hands were soft.
Should this be what a mother's touch is?
It stung.Nkiru bit her lip and didn't move; she didn't want to move.
"Don't let Chinedu in the kitchen anymore," Azul said.
Nkiru's eyes widened."Akwaugo, it wasn't his fault—"
"I know."Azul's voice was flat."That's not why I'm saying it.He's a child.Children are curious.Remove the temptation, and the danger follows."
Nkiru nodded, chastened.
Azul finished applying the paste and reached for a strip of clean cloth, beginning to wrap the wound.Akwaugo is skilled in the apothecary arts, Nkiru marvelled, thinking she must've been taught by a local apothecary as a child, as there was no place for a woman to formally learn such a thing.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then Nkiru felt something hot slide down her cheek.
She touched her face, surprised.Tears.She hadn't realised she was crying.
Azul paused, looking up.
"Why are you crying?"
Nkiru shook her head, trying to stop the tears.They kept coming.
"I'm sorry, Akwaugo.I don't—I don't know why—"
"You do."Azul resumed wrapping."Tell me."
The words came out before Nkiru could stop them.
"Before you came, I served the Fourth Wife."
Azul's hands stilled for just a moment.Then they continued their work.
"She was kind to me.She used to sing songs from her homeland, and I would braid her hair, and she would tell me about the mountains where she grew up, the snow that fell in winter, and the way the stars looked different there."Nkiru's voice cracked."She said I reminded her of her little sister.The one she left behind."
The bandage was finished.Azul sat back, waiting.
"But now—" Nkiru swallowed."She's gone.A few months ago.Before you came."
The words hung in the air.
"How?"
"She went into early labour at the Third Wife's courtyard.The baby—" Nkiru's voice broke."The baby didn't survive either.They buried them together, she and the child.I never got to say goodbye."
Azul didn't offer comfort; it seemed adverse to her nature.But she also didn't look away, and somehow that was enough for the girl.
After a moment, Nkiru wiped her face with her good hand.
"Thank you, Akwaugo.For the medicine."
Azul inclined her head."Try not to do too much until the wound dries; it shouldn’t bleed after tonight."
Nkiru sniffled and nodded, but as she reached the door, Azul called out to her.
