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Royal Gift:

Umara:

The rest of the week I spend feeling weak. Between bouts of disgust and vomiting combined with the intense pain in my temples, I end up exhausted. By the time Lady Cítiê found out what was happening to me, I was already pale, with half-sunken eyes and chapped lips.

Luckily, the little woman prepared a tea and with the help of the servant maids she made me drink it in small sips. Thus, little by little, they managed to stabilize my unwell stomach and stop the terrible nausea to which I was prey. Although the recovery process was slow, it lasted two weeks.

I finally woke up refreshed and hungry at the exact end of the fortnight. The maids bring me a sumptuous breakfast, but Lady Cítiê calls them back, insisting that I need to eat a selection of unripe fruits to recover. I don't want to argue with the lady, because I know she has gone to great lengths to hasten my recovery. So I bite disconsolately into a huge green apple while they help me dress.

—Is she better now?-I hear Burya's thin little voice just before discovering her huge curls peeking out through a crack in the half-open door of my bedroom.

— Don't be impatient, Russian. – Zai scolds… or was it Mem? I don't know…their voices are too similar.

—That's enough, let her dress.- Let us know if you feel better. – I hear Sarab say.

I smile under my veil. I've only known them for a day and I'm already touched by their concern for me. The smile dies on my lips and is supplanted by a grimace of sadness. Sigh. I pray to the Benevolent that my mother and sisters have escaped the slaughter.

— Cítiê, you've had her to yourself too long. Come on now, give it to us.– Burya yells.

— Will you please calm down, Russian - scolds one of the twins. – That the new girl is not a toy! – He snorts.

— Girls, girls...- Citié scolds. – you must be extremely careful with her. She is still very delicate. So no physical effort for today. Okay?

For some reason I hear them all growling. I would like to correct Cítiê and let her know that I am fully recovered. But I dare not.

Finally, I am ready and I am escorted out. In the main pavilion, the other wives are gathered. Which smile and surround me instantly, with incessant gossip.

— Black again?- Burya yells. Apparently she only has two tones of voice, infernal shriek or inaudible whisper – You need an immediate change of tailor.– she comments.

— Are you feeling better?-Zai asks.

— I'm sorry if our carelessness a few days ago caused your illness. – Mem begs. Now that I have them in front of me, although their voices are so similar, if I am able to distinguish them.

—Cítiê, why do you force her to wear those horrendous suits?-Sarab accuses.

Meanwhile, I try to understand what they are saying because they have all started talking in unison.

Citié is fed up with the scandal and raises a hand. The others are instantly silent.

—If you're going to continue your chatter, I'd better take Lady Umara with me.- They all glare at her, it's the first time I've seen Lady Cítiê smile. "Anyway, our beloved wants to see her.

And now I wish I had spent at least two months in bed!

— Our beloved has learned of the illness that has befallen her, he also knows that she is already recovered and wants to make sure of her recovery personally.

All the women lower their heads and step aside, making way for Lady Citié, who walks ahead of me and motions for me to follow. I immediately bare my feet and go with her.


The throne room is imposing, everything shines with a blinding golden glow. The Kurani courtiers are grouped on both sides of a path covered with golden carpets that they have left in the middle. I imagine that to make it easier for him to approach the one who comes to raise his dispute with the Emperor.

We are standing by the door, and Lady Cítiê takes the opportunity to give me quick instructions.

— Upon entering, you must do so with your eyes downcast, when we get close to the Emperor, you must prostrate on your face and remain so until you are ordered to join, you must not look the Emperor in the face, nor speak to him without him addressing you first . Disobedience to any of these rules leads to death, have you understood?

I make him understand that I understood with a shake of my head.

The guard at the entrance announces our names and Lady Citié walks ahead of me, walking on the golden carpet. I inhale sharply and follow her, keeping my forehead high and my back straight. We have entered through a side door, because through the main one it would have been impossible for us. the throne room it is crowded with noble Kuranies who have gathered. A murmur takes over the room. I can hear thousands of voices buzzing at once and discussing how disrespectful my posture is, how irreverent my outfit is. We finally arrive before the golden throne. It rests on an impressive staircase, which is wide on the first steps and narrows as it goes up. Two ferocious golden lions serve as armrests on either side of where the most feared and hated man on the Continent sits. And although I look at it from the side, it is really impressive. He dresses all in white, a huge blue stone shines on the forehead of his turban, his face is weathered, angular, his lips thick and sensual, his gaze wanders over his subjects, cold and cruel. He turns in my direction and looks at me disapprovingly, as if he were looking at a sick horse. I can't make out the color of her eyes, but I imagine they must be black and empty, like Lady Cassandra's, since I understand they are cousins.

The bards sing of their deeds. Women yearn for his love. The nobles envy his vigour, strength and skill. The great wolf is supposedly incomparable in his human form and terrible to behold in his animal form. It changes to pleasure, it is not dominated by the phases of the moon. The kings of neighboring nations speak of him with unquestionable fear, historians write of him, many they venerate as a god; so much so that the other kings of the earth prefer to give up their daughters before crossing swords against him or facing the fury of his fangs and terrible claws.

The Kurani Emperor may indeed be the voice of the prophet on earth, may the blessings of his prophets shine upon him, however, to me he is just the vile monster who slaughters thousands of innocents to get what he wants.

And I stand up.

As Lady Cítiê kneels and covers her face, I stand. While the other court maidens, Cítiê's entourage fall prostrate at the foot of the throne, I stand. As the Kurani nobles begin to mutter outrage, I stand. And my eyes defiantly look at the man who allowed the annihilation of three defenseless tribes for sport.

I have made my decision. I will die today, here in your presence, as a rebel and rejoin my ancestors.

It is preferable to die, than to live on your knees before this demon.

000

HIM:

There she is. Proud and regal... As if she were the Empress and sovereign of everything that surrounds me. I notice the contempt in her eyes despite the thick veil that covers her face. The stance he has assumed is openly defiant... I now understand that he will never kneel before me.

Oh little desert flower, I wonder if you'll ever stop surprising me.

000

The Emperor stands up. Slowly. The Kurani vassals suddenly fell silent, and the monarch's voice filled the entire throne room.

— Oh, the nomads... people you can't impress with jewelry.-His deep voice echoes throughout the hall, his words heavy with admiration.— Peoples who value water and the fruits of the earth more than gold. Peoples you can enslave, but never dominate if you don't earn their respect.

A deathly silence has settled over the great throne room.

— Let it be known, in all corners of the Empire, that the seventh Moon has reached us, the sacred prophecy has been completed. Finally, our people have reached this glorious new stage. We have extended our rule over the entire Continent and beyond. The gods have smiled on us, behold…. - He says pointing at me… – my seventh wife.

The Kurani nobles erupted in cheers. Everywhere they broke into songs of praise. The Emperor applauded twice, and with great ceremony a court maiden approaches me. She carries in her hands the longest pearl necklace I have ever seen. Gently and reverently, he wraps it around my neck three times, and yet it's so long it almost touches the ground.

The Great Throne Room was a veritable cacophony of voices. As the Kurani nobles praise their gods, I hold the massive necklace in one of my hands in horror.

The emperor watches me and I seem to see him smirk. He raised his hand, and silence reigned once more, then his firm, deep voice once again dominated the room.

—Scribe!- he shouted. A stooped old man with a long white beard stepped forward and took a seat on the first step to the throne. He produced some thick parchment, inkwell and quills from a strange box and got ready to write.

—I wanted to do this long before, but our seventh Luna suddenly fell ill and I couldn't. May this day and two subsequents, be declared a celebration throughout the Empire. –Ordered the man sitting on the golden throne.

All the noble Kuranies smile, clap or comment among themselves.

—Let it be known, that in honor of the arrival of Lady Umara to us, during these next three days all slaves from the nomadic tribes, especially the Sindú, will be given rest. By royal decree, they are prohibited from doing any work during the celebrations.

I'm hallucinating, right? It can't be true what my ears hear! How can you be so cynical? He knows perfectly well that the masters will ignore and force their slaves to carry out their tasks, even forcing them to work twice as hard.

—Sir…-I see a young man step forward, good looking… he reminds me a lot of Lady Cassandra. – Your benevolence and grace are undeniable, but do you think it prudent to deprive our noble citizens of the Empire of the work of their slaves for three days? Who will perform the tasks? Will our nobles carry their water, sow their fields, or…?

The Emperor faces him and the man steps back, the Great Destroyer's face a harsh mask of suppressed fury. He looks around the Hall and the nobles tremble one by one, before his scrutinizing gaze.

—The next time you publicly defy me, Cassio, I will have you flogged in the main square. – spits the Emperor. The young man steps back and disappears among the other officials grouped right in the front line in front of the throne.

I turn around and see that Cítiê and her entourage are still kneeling beside me.

—It is my pleasure, and my wish, that my royal decree be fulfilled, all slaves from nomadic tribes, both those for domestic work and those in the quarries, will be given three days of rest. – The Emperor continued.

The breathing of hundreds of noble Kuranies could be heard, such was the silence that reigned in the hall.

—Any Kuraní noble who fails to comply with this decree will be stripped of their possessions. Any slave master who violates this law will be executed for high treason…- the emperor resumes his seat.

Those in the room held their breath.

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