Read with BonusRead with Bonus

Revelations:

Umara:

I must look like a fish that has been taken out of the water with hooks, because my eyes are as big as saucers and my mouth is open as much as possible.

The woman laughs and continues on her way, sinking onto a divan and accepting a bunch of grapes from one of the serving maids.

Burya walks over to me and, rolling his eyes, takes one of my hands.

— Don't worry, you'll soon get used to Sarab's eccentricities.

— Eccentricities, really Russian?- says the white-haired twin.

— I don´t know. Trying to assassinate our emperor, not once or twice... but two hundred, can it be considered an eccentricity? - asks the other twin.

They definitely want to shock me to death.

— She…tried to…what?!- I screech.

— Oh, by the gods. There is no need to make such a fuss.-Lady Citié scolds. - Now, please, since the introductions are over, I must leave. The emperor will want his tea after the council meeting.

The little woman leaves and leaves me in the hands of the Russian and the twins.

The little woman leaves and leaves me in the hands of the Russian and the twins.

— Well, you haven't told us your name yet.- Accuses the white-haired girl.

— Yes. This behavior shows that you are a savage- says the Russian, her voice has taken on a different accent, more… Kurani to put it in some way, and I understand that she is doing a burlesque imitation of Lady Cassandra.

The twins laugh out loud and the Russian joins them. I smiled slightly.

—My name is Umara.- I answer. Touching my forehead with the tips of the fingers of both hands and extending them towards them, as a sign of greeting. - May the Benevolent bless you.

Burya's eyes fill with tears and the twins look at each other.

— What's wrong? Have I offended you?- I ask confused. Bringing my palms together in front of my chest.

— No. It's not like that," the woman with the braid whispers. Who startles me, because he has approached me without making the slightest noise. Her voice falters, as if she is gripped by the same emotion as Burya.

—It's just…- says the Russian, wiping a tear from her cheek. - It is so beautiful to see that you still keep your traditions.

I frown.

—You should know that as wives of the Emperor we are not allowed to worship other gods other than the Kurani deities, nor celebrate other festivals, ceremonies or rites other than those imposed by their faith.-Sarab explains, her tone is hard, almost a growl.

—Why?- I ask.

—That is the way of the Kuranies, if you are in their land you must obey their laws.-Burya whispers.

—In time you will learn.- Sarab smiles sadly.

— Well, moving on to juicier news…- The white-haired twin gives me a playful nudge.- Tell us… how was your first night?

—Mem, please! Don't be so indiscreet. - her sister reprimands her.

— Oh no. No no no. Don't start again.- Sarab snorts and walks away again.

—So? Aren't you curious? - Mem protests. She, Zai and Burya look at me expectantly.

—What am I supposed to tell you? -I asked.

—Well, everything!- Burya yells. - What impression have you taken of our beloved?

—When he loved you, was he tender and sweet with you or passionate and possessive?-Mem asks.

— Did he whisper in your ear, kiss you in forbidden places, perhaps...?

—What are you talking about?- I scream terrified and they look at each other bewildered. If the burqa did not cover my face completely, I am convinced that they would see all the blood on my body rising to my head. Suddenly this heavy outfit has become hotter and heavier than it was, my skin burns. My heart runs like a wild horse.

—Come.-Burya tells me and takes my hand, leading me to one of the padded couches and forcing me to sit down while she sits next to me and the twins stand next to us.

— Let's see, last night was supposed to be your presentation to the Emperor. So it's natural for us to assume that he… um… well, that…

— Do not complicate it more Russian. - Mem interferes impatiently. -It is supposed that last night, the Emperor possessed you. I mean…

— Sister, please stop it, now. Can't you see that the girl is uncomfortable with this conversation?

Zai's right, I'm uncomfortable. But not because of what they suspect.

Last night I was left in the Emperor's private chambers awaiting his… I wince… pleasure. But he never came. Instead I had a rather unpleasant interview with the royal gardener.

/////// /////// /////// /////// /////// /////// /////// /////// /////// /////// ///////

—The malefactor I seek? - repeats and lets out a laugh that makes the air around me rumble. -What makes you think I'm looking for a criminal, little flower of the desert?

—I don't know you, sir. – I keep my eyes fixed on the ground.- But seeing him so worried about the Emperor's private garden and discovering who has destroyed it… I imagine that you could not be other than the royal gardener.

I hear him snort, amused. He approaches me slowly, forcing me to hold his gaze by lifting my chin between the thumb and forefinger of his hand. For some reason, now that he's so close I've lost all fear of him. His hand is huge and with it he could sufocate or strangle me easily. However, I feel like you're trying to be gentle. Something that must be difficult for a man of his stature and physique. I'm not exactly small, and I barely reach chest height.

—It's decided then.- He caresses the thin fabric that covers my chin. - I will personally supervise the extraction of the earth here and when the time is right, I will order you to plant the flowers that are to your liking.- She whispers seductively.

His eyes have turned dark. I hadn't noticed how thick and black her eyebrows really are, or how long and mysterious her eyelashes look, but now I do…and to be honest I feel weird. As if my body was drawn to his, with an invisible but tenacious force.

He looks into my eyes and I into his. It's all we can see of each other, and that's enough for now.

— Do not make promises that you cannot keep, Lord. After all, this garden is not yours. You cannot dispose of who sows in it or not.

000

—Do you mean to say that the Emperor never got there?- Burya screams scandalized.

—That's totally disrespectful!-exclaims Zai.

— Are you sure? Are you sure that he wasn't with you last night? – asks Mem.

— Yes. He never came. And yes, I'm sure. I waited up for him as long as I could and then I fell asleep. At dawn Lady Cítiê came to fetch me with a group of maidens, they bathed me, combed my hair and finally I was brought here.

I bite my tongue not to reveal my strange interview with the royal gardener. I'm afraid if I say anything, you might be punished for being in the Emperor's chambers at this hour. I'm not really aware of all the Kurani rules, but I don't think touching one of the Emperor's wives is permissible. Even when his hand caressed my face through a cloth. After that he left, and I, alone and frankly bored, went back to sleep.

—That means he must have spent the night with the cobra.- Burya protests.

— She always does the same. Doesn´t she ? Every time a new girl is brought in, she manages to steal the first night. - says exasperated Mem. Walking from one side to another.

— I really have no problem. If the Emperor is pleased with Lady Cassandra, then let her be reached every night, for the rest of my life.

They all look at me terrified, growling and screeching in unison.

—Do not wish us such harm, you have no idea what would happen if she were to give him an heir." Burya whispers pale.

— He would be capable of ordering us all to be killed. Zay laments.

— If she could, she´d done so already. She hates us more than anything in this world. The only thing that prevents her from murdering us is the wifehood we all share. But if she gives our beloved a son, and some evil befalls our beloved… – I see Zai tremble.

— We would be at the mercy of that viper. Our lives would be in his hands. Burya whispers.

I ponder for a moment the implications for me of the information I have just received. In other words, literally my life from now on will be a battle destined to face two opponents. On the one hand, I will have to deal with being another sexual entertainment for the greatest murderer our continent has suffered, and on the other hand, I will have to face Lady Cassandra's irrational hatred. Wonderful. I think sarcastically.

—Why do you hate us so much? - whisper.

The twins' gazes go to Burya, and Burya shrugs.

— Well... our beloved was not always emperor.You know? Before him, his father ruled, but from a very young age our beloved showed an aptitude for war. He is skilled in the art of the sword, in hand-to-hand combat, in hunting with a bow and arrow, and he is also a warrior blessed by the gods, a shape-shifter who takes on the appearance of a gigantic silver wolf. I must add… that he is known to be the most skilled horse tamer on the Continent.” She falls silent, a silly dreamy expression on her face.

Lady Zai clears her throat and Lady Burya continues.

—Okay, yes. So, at the age of twenty, our beloved took the throne after the death of his father. And as expected, the royal doomsayers advised him to take a second wife, by then, he had already been married for two years to…” that one”… and they still hadn't found an heir. – Burya finished, smiling as if he were talking about very funny things.

— Lady Citié, is the youngest daughter of the Jade Emperor. He comes from far away, his land is not on our continent, but his father preferred to form an alliance with our beloved rather than risk going to war against him, therefore, Lady Citié has lived in the palace for five years. – Mem explains to me.

— My sister and I… we come from far away too. We are the only daughters of the previous king of Carthage. Older sisters of the current king. Our brother also opted for a peace pact with our beloved. Although we are great warriors, our people could not survive an attack by the golden army and their allies. It would have been our destruction. – Says Zai crestfallen.

—When our beloved visited my country, they say he saw me from afar and fell in love with my beauty. Burya laughs. And then he sighs, a shadow of sadness crossing his jovial face. - But we all know that they are pure lies. My father is the younger brother of the current Tsar, and although he is highly respected at court he will never become king, because he would have to outlive my uncle and his five sons… my father, for his part, has been blessed with five daughters. He has only had daughters. Of which I am the oldest.

—But you must be happy, Russian. – Lady Sarab joins the conversation. -Your father and sisters are alive, and they are richer now thanks to your wedding dowry…

'Our beloved paid a thousand lire in gold when he married Burya. – Zai whispers in my ear.

— I was not so lucky. – Lady Sarab has rejoined our conversation, her face turning stony. His eyes shine with a demonic glow.

— And I swear I'll get revenge. The blood of that vile worm will wet my hands, I will plunge a dagger into its rotten heart or Ra lives, and I will die trying.

Lady Sarab walks away from us again. And Zai shakes her head negatively.

— Forgive him for his outbursts of bad character. She is Egyptian, after all, and they are famous for their propensity for theatrics.

Wasn't it the Greeks?

— The poor thing witnessed the massacre of her entire family," Burya whispers. – She is the niece of the Pharaoh, when the Emperor entered into negotiations for her, her father objected. Apparently she had been dedicated to the worship of one of their gods, and she had to remain chaste, as a priestess. But the emperor did not stick to reason, ambushed him during a pilgrimage to the Karnak temple and murdered his entire family. That is why our beloved has been at constant war with Egypt ever since.

— Sarab was brought here kicking and screaming two years ago, she has sworn to kill him and has tried to kill him more times than any of her other enemies. Which are a lot, really.

— But she has remained chaste. – Zai observes admiringly. – Something that none of us could achieve.

They all laugh wildly, caught up in some private joke I'm not a part of.

— What about you?- Burya asks when he manages to overcome his hiccups of laughter. - Where are you from?

They look at me expectantly. And I answer.

—I am the daughter of the Shaman of the Sindú nomadic tribe. My mother had sold me to a slaver when a gold army captain attacked. For many moons I traveled together with other slaves until I arrived here, to the capital… where… then….” I frown in frustration. Suddenly my forehead hurts.

—What's wrong?- Burya yells. – have you become ill?

Quickly, Zai orders one of the maidens to bring a glass of water, immediately between the twins they remove the black veil that covers me and they give me a drink of the water. I take a sip and spit it out right away. It tastes bitter.

—What happens? – rebukes Sarab who has returned to see the commotion I caused.

—The new girl is sick.-Burya groans.

— Of course it is. Sarah scolds. -You have spent the whole morning talking nonsense, and you have not let her eat anything. It is a miracle that she has not fainted from hunger and thirst. Leave her alone. – growls.

—She´s right. -Mem regrets.

—Let her rest.- Zay nods.

Burya orders some maids to escort me to my chambers. Between two they hold me and I let myself be led towards what will be my private bedroom as long as I live. Before the maidens leave, I ask them to bring me the veil and hayab that the other women of the harem took from me. Because that's what this place really is, a harem. Of which I am the most recent acquisition.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter