"You."She pointed at the largest servant."Slap her.Slap her until she stops."
The servant hesitated, glancing at the Ugoeze.
The Ugoeze's face was unreadable.She gave the slightest nod.
The first slap cracked across the concubine's cheek like thunder.
The girl's head snapped to the side, but her moaning didn't stop.If anything, it grew louder.
"Again," Chidinma commanded.
Another slap.Another.The concubine's lip split, blood dripping down her chin.Still her body writhed, still her hands reached—
"Bind her."Chidinma's voice was ice."Bind her hands and feet.I won't have this—this filth defiling my celebration!"
The servants moved quickly; the concubine’s wrists were bound behind her back, her ankles lashed together.
She lay on the deck, heaving, her consciousness still not returned to her.
"Take her off this boat."Chidinma pointed to the shore."I don't want to see her again."
"But my lady," one of the servants stammered, "what should we do with her?"
Chidinma laughed.She reached into the pile of gifts beside her—the offerings brought by various wives to welcome her—and unwrapped the silk tied around one.She tossed it at the servant's feet.
"A yard of silk."Her eyes swept the boat, daring anyone to speak."She can use it to hang herself."
Azul watched as the servants dragged the bound girl to the edge of the boat and lowered her into a smaller vessel.
As the small boat pulled away toward shore, the concubine's cries faded slowly.
Azul remained externally unaffected, but inside, her heart hammered against her ribs.
That should have been her.
Why are you scared?You knew of the dangers of the harem.
With that thought, she calmed her racing mind.This was within her expectations, but seeing and theorising were two different things.
Chidinma returned to her seat, her composure restored.She raised her cup as though nothing had happened.In one night she took on the mantle of her newfound status as the Okpalaeze’s only wife, despite being ranked second.
"Well," she said brightly, "where were we?"
The musicians scrambled to resume playing.The wives laughed too loudly, talked too quickly, and did everything possible to pretend they hadn't just lost someone many of them were close with.
Azul’s blood felt like ice.
If one were to be schemed on in the harem, their families might never know, nor would their corpse be allowed to be buried with other members of the royal family.Their bodies would be thrown out into the wilderness, and they would eventually be forgotten as more wives would arrive, year after year, taking the place of the fallen.
As the sun dipped lower, the wind picked up, gliding across the lake with an unexpected chill.Azul suppressed a shiver, then another.The thin indigo fabric of her robe wasn't meant for the evening.
"Are you cold, Akwaugo?"
The Ugoeze's voice was soft.Azul looked up to find the First Wife watching her with an expression of deep concern that made her skin crawl.Other wives were shivering as well, so why single out Azul?
"I'm fine, Ugoeze.Thank you."
"Nonsense."The Ugoeze gestured to a servant."Bring my spare wrap—the fur-lined one."
