Deities of Deceit

Chapter Twenty-nine

Hareti Jaja | Twenty-nine
BEFORE THE CROWN
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"Incredible," Yarima said. Through the gold framed mirror, my gaze fluttered to where he stood by the door and I passed him a little smile. "You are incredible."

"Leave us." The servants swirling around me in preparation for the ball bowed and hurried out the room. "I wasn't sure about the color," I said, when all that was left was Yarima and I in the quietness of my dressing room, my hand running smoothly over the turquoise brocade wrapped around my body.

"It is a rare hue. Just like you." He arrived behind me. His hands slithered across my waist as our eyes smiled to each other through the mirror. "Nervous?"

"Concerned."

"You think he won't attend?" he asked, resting his chin on top of my bun.

"He will."

He watched me carefully for a second before the side of his lips twitched with a soft smile. "You decide something is, and then it becomes. I love that about you, Reti. Though, the chances of him strolling into the palace are thin. I have seen the gathering lot in the ballroom. Not many white Arjanians are making an appearance."

"It is his fate to show up. He will be here."

"What then brings you concern if not him?"

"The people."

"Because he is white?"

"Their ways are angering. But also because he is white. My return will be seen as a bad omen." I turned around to face him. "Not that my return has brought good omens either." I ran my hands up his arms, resting them on his shoulder. "I'm happy you're by my side. A voice to pull me back from the edge." We shared a smile, then a kiss.

"There is someone I wish to make your acquaintance. A friend. She seeks an audience."

"Who?"

"Akwaugo Udozi."

"Your childhood best friend?"

"Yes."

"Hmm." Moving away from him, I gestured towards the dressing chair. "Come sit. Why?"

"She insists the matter is one for your ears only."

Reaching for the wooden box filled with leaf-shaped hair pins, I asked, "Is she taking advantage of your relationship with me to avoid following the proper hierarchy of authority?"

"Akwaugo is not an opportunist. Whatever it may be, I believe she only asked because no other choice presents itself. Bureaucracy is burdensome in a matter of urgency," he explained as I clipped the gold pins in his locs.

"With the young, everything is a matter of urgency."

"You would do well to have her in higher ranks, and I do not say this because she is a friend. Akwaugo is particularly skilled at navigating your palace."

"And?"

"She has excellent political relations within and outside the kingdom. Her expertise in resolving internal and external conflict is unmatched as far as I know. Well traveled, well cultured. Many friends and little foes across the seas. You need someone you can truly trust. Someone whose voice can actually pull you off from the edge."

"That is you, Yarima." I clipped another pin.

Turning around to me, he said, "If today, you decide to jump off that edge. I'd jump with you, Reti. When it comes to you my sense of reason is flawed. You need someone objective. Someone who can tell you no."