"My Lord—!"she began but was cut off by Somadina.
"What is this I hear?My wife asks her sister to dance?On her first day in the harem?"
Chidinma's smile became rigid.
"My Lord…"
"You forget yourself."Somadina's tone was cold, shocking the women watching."The Akwaugo is a princess of this household, adopted by the Igwe himself.She is not an entertainer for your amusement."
The words landed like slaps.
Chidinma's face went pale beneath her paint.Around her, the wives exchanged glances—some surprised, others calculating.The Okpalaeze defending the Akwaugo?Publicly humiliating his own bride in the earliest days of their marriage?
"But my Lord—" Chidinma started.
"Enough."Somadina's gaze swept the barge."The celebration may continue.My wife will remember her place."
Azul studied her cup, expression carefully blank.She didn't look at Chidinma, nor did she enjoy her victory.Somadina had just handed her a weapon, whether he meant to or not.In public, before all the wives, he'd chosen Azul's dignity over his bride's.
Chidinma returned to her seat without another word.The music started again, uncertainly at first, then with forced cheerfulness.But the mood was shattered.
Whimpering came from beside her; Azul's eyes shot to the woman by her side.They had exchanged cups, but that was merely a precaution, and it seemed it was a precaution well observed.
The concubine—one of the low-level wives who shared Azul's corner of the boat—was swaying.Her face had gone from its usual warm brown to an alarming shade of crimson.Sweat beaded on her forehead, her upper lip, and the exposed curve of her shoulder.Her breathing was laboured, her eyes glazed, and her hands were moving.
Not intentionally,Azul realised.The girl's fingers twitched against her own thighs, her hips shifting restlessly on the cushion.Her eyes were glassy and unfocused, her lips parted.
A moan escaped her lips, and Azul felt her heart sink.
The wives nearest her began to notice.Whispers spread like ripples across the boat.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Is she ill?"
"Look at her—she's—"
The girl’s back arched, her hands flying to her own chest, clawing at the fabric of her wrapper as though it were suffocating her.
"What are you doing?"one of the older concubines hissed."Stop that!Have you lost your mind?"
But the girl couldn't stop.Whatever had been in that wine—whatever was meant for Azul—had taken full hold.Her movements grew more desperate, more obscene, her moans rising in pitch until they were nearly screams.
"Please," she gasped, her eyes rolling."Please, I need—someone—"
Chidinma's face had gone white.Then red.Then white again.
"Seize her!"she shrieked, rising from her seat."Seize that—that animal!"
Two of the larger servant girls moved forward, but the concubine was beyond reason.When they tried to grab her arms, she lunged at them, her body seeking any contact, any touch—
One of the servants yelped as the girl's hands found her breasts.
"Get her off!Get her off!"
Chaos erupted.The dancers scattered.Wives screamed and pressed themselves against the far side of the boat.The musicians stopped playing, instruments falling silent as everyone stared at the writhing, moaning girl in their midst.
Chidinma stood frozen, seething with horror and fury.Then her expression hardened.
