Borji arrived at the shrine as the sun dipped below the horizon.For once, he carried nothing.Instead, Azul had prepared a small meal—rice, stewed vegetables, and dried fish—nothing elaborate but more than she usually bothered with.
"You can cook?"he asked.
"Nkiru helped."Azul nodded towards where the child was curled up in an alcove, fast asleep with the white snake coiled around her waist."I thought we could share a meal."
Borji seemed hesitant.Azul wouldn't force him.Eating food from a stranger's plate wasn't something she felt comfortable with either.
"All right," he agreed.
They settled on cushions around the low table and for a while, ate in comfortable silence.It felt strangely domestic, as though they were siblings sharing a meal rather than pieces on a board each tried to control.
"I heard Iyom's been quite busy these days," Borji said eventually, amusement in his voice."Apparently she'd been trying to get the Igwe into her chambers every night this week."
Azul rolled her eyes."She's wasting her time."
"Oh?"
"Iyom will never have children again."
Borji paused mid-bite."What makes you say that?"
"Musk," Azul said casually.
"Musk?"
"In her perfumes.She may have been wearing it for years—she probably doesn't even realise what it does."Azul took a sip of water."The Ugoeze, too.She probably won't keep that child she's carrying."
"The Ugoeze is with child?"
Azul looked up from her bowl."Maybe."She hadn’t checked her pulse, so she couldn’t be sure.
"Maybe?"
"I will be able to tell properly in another month; it's just my suspicion."
Borji set down his plate."But why would they be using musk?Their perfumes are controlled by the imperial palace.Everything they wear is approved and regulated."
"Yes."Azul met his eyes."The Igwe doesn't seem to want them having any more children.Especially not the Ugoeze."
Borji didn't seem to believe her.What good did it do to have the Queen herself not bear any sons?
But Azul wanted him to consider what good it would do if the Ugoeze had a son.
"You're saying the Igwe is poisoning his own wives?"Borji asked."Preventing them from bearing more heirs?"
Azul shrugged."Whether it's the Igwe himself or someone acting in his interests, I couldn't say."
"Why are you telling me this?"he asked finally.
Azul picked up a piece of fish with her fingers."You should know what kind of place this really is before you decide what you want from it."
Borji was quiet for a long moment.It was hard for him to comprehend, but it wasn't beyond the bounds of reality."Speaking of which, I went to meet with the Head of Military today.That's where I've been."
Azul looked up, genuinely interested."Are you planning to become a general?"
He nodded."It's best.I can't stay here forever, and..."He trailed off, then met her eyes."And I want something that's mine.A position I earned, not one I was born into."
"You'll be a great general," Azul said, and meant it."People underestimate you, which is the best advantage a military leader can have."
