Was she calling Chidinma's makeup inappropriate?Or was she calling her appearance sickly?
Chidinma's smile flickered."I wanted to look my best for my husband.Once you are wed, you will also understand."
To the Borjigin, it was considered a great shame for the younger sister to wed first; how undesirable must the Ada be for such a thing to happen?
"I see; it's a shame I don't understand now.I believe once my wedding to the Great Khan is celebrated, I will have more insight."
You did not even have a wedding; who are you to gloat?Azul kept her lips stretched despite her sister's increasing struggle to maintain her smile.
"Azul," the Ugoeze said, her voice carrying that false concern she liked to throw around as if anyone would actually fall for it."How unkind.Today is a day of celebration.Surely you can set aside your bitterness for your sister's sake?"
Bitterness?
Just a friendly conversation between sisters, but from her lips, it was bitterness.
"Of course."Azul bowed her head, the picture of acquiescence."Forgive my...bitterness."
The Ugoeze cleared her throat."Since the Akwaugo has honoured us with her presence, perhaps she'd like to offer her congratulations more formally?"
Azul nodded once before rising to bow."Ugoeze, what is your wish?"
"I hear the Akwaugo was famed in the twelve villages for her uncanny ability to interpret the old dance of Ekesi."
Azul froze as the Ugoeze raised her eagle fan to cover her smirk, her eyes narrowing.
"Dance for us."
Perform for us, slave bought with mere silver.
Words left unsaid.
Azul heard snickering and her hands clenched at her sides.
The snake’s dance was a children's dance; it was abandoned once one reached womanhood, for it involved very few clothes and a masquerade head.
It was for children to dance in the streams, not for any woman of reputable title to dance before others unless it was behind the private chambers of the lord of their household.
If the Valthorne Khan found out about this, wouldn't he find her cheap?
Azul found herself standing in the midst of hyenas eying her flesh, waiting to feast.
She could not dance.
Of course, if I say no now, who knows what punishment they’ll give me?And I still have my patient waiting for me.
"That's..."the Fifth Wife started, then stopped.
"We're all women here."Chidinma's smile was innocent."Surely there's no harm, Sister?"
Azul's grip tightened on her cup.
"The Okpalaeze has arrived!"a voice announced.
The women on the left side of the boat peeked down to see Somadina arriving on a small boat and boarding the vessel.
The moment he stepped on deck, everyone stood to pay their respects, barring the Ugoeze and his mother.
"Okpalaeze, what a pleasure it is to have you in our midst," the Ugoeze welcomed him, asking her servants to prepare cushions beside where Chidinma was originally seated.Chidinma wasted no time; she rushed to her husband, eyes sparkling with delight.
