Deities of Deceit

Chapter Forty-three

Nimah Eze | Forty three
SWITCH
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"Rise and shine, Your Highness!" the chirpy voice of Udume forced me awake the next morning as he violently pulled the curtains apart.

"Go away," I grumbled into my pillow, pulling the blankets over my shoulder as I turned my back to the rising sun.

"A worthy king never sleeps, the worries of his kingdom are unending," he sang.

"I'm a prince, I have no worries."

"You're acting a little spoilt, Your Highness."

Wriggling about, I reached for another pillow, covering my ears with it. "The sun has barely risen, it is too early," I grumbled.

"Early enough for our morning sparring!" He ripped the blankets off my body, "Get up!"

Springing forward, I lunged a pillow at him, but Udume with his quick reflexes was fast enough to catch it. "Effiong did not wake me up like this."

"I would gladly welcome your tutorship on servitude, seeing as you are well-versed on the subject matter." Condescending sarcasm lingered in his tone, but that was Udume at all hours. 

"Maybe run me a bath first? Offer me breakfast? Ready my clothes?" The drowsiness made my words sluggish, hence the reason why my hands flew whichever way they could to make sure my point reached the innermost part of his egotistical brain.

He moved out of the way, revealing a bunch of servants who were diligently tending to my clothes, watering the flowers, moving in and out of the bath. "Those are servants tending to all your chores under my very immaculate guidance. You know how I am with details. I am an artist, a kingmaker. You don't want me serving your breakfast, you want me here, shuffling you out of bed to go morning sparring, so hopefully one day, by some mind-blowing miracle, you may be able to become half a decent king."

Rolling my eyes, I started out of bed. "What about breakfast?"

He snapped his fingers and a servant hurried forward with a silver tray and wooden round plate on top of it. Udume passed me the dish and I stared down a yellowish, milkish paste, with some crushed nuts in them. "A porridge of banana, cow milk, and cashew nuts. The first step into fattening you up. You will have a bowl every bowl before sparring and then breakfast will be served."

I took a spoonful and licked my lips, "It's incredible."

"It is my father's recipe."

"Ah..." Ignoring the point he was trying to make I continued slurping. "I need to send a letter to the prison mines."

"You cannot," he replied curtly.

Scoffing, I said, "You can't tell me what I can or cannot do anymore, Udume."

"I heard all about your dear friend Iman, you will have to move on. To interact in any capacity with a person imprisoned for blasphemy is almost the same as announcing to the entire kingdom that you have no respect for the deities."

With a sigh, I lowered my plate and gave the porridge a stir. "I just need her to know what has happened to me, and for her to know I will do all can and more to see that she is released. I don't want her to feel alone or abandoned, we can send it in your name."

A low chuckle rested in his throat when he waved a finger. "I will not put the name of my high-standing family on a blasphemous letter. Mama for one will have my head served for dinner."

"Okay then, find me someone who can."

"You will make new friends. A crown attracts many." He paced as he spoke and my eyes followed him.