Chapter One #3
My hands grew cold as the flame seeped into my hair before disappearing.
I turned to see the Queen of Khamar, wife of the Great Sun, and his biggest enemy, Nayara walk in, also known as my mother.
Her long sleek figure showed no sign of true birth with her long neck decorated with necklaces stacked high.
Her long hair was coated with silver flecks with not a single curl or crinkle in sight.
Sharp round cheekbones and slanted eyes full of wisdom and magic.
Nayara was beautiful in a dark twisted way.
None of the other wives liked her and were constantly trying for her position, but it would never happen.
Nayara was too cunning, and too smart for their games.
She sat down on my bed with her hand smoothing the linen sheets free of wrinkles before crossing one leg over the other, exposing a mere peek of her ankle underneath the long dress.
Her toes were painted pearl black just like her nails and it only served to match the color of her eyes.
Eyes of a woman with no soul, and no heart.
That is what my father would say to describe his wife.
I turned back around to face the mirror, my vanity space where I was privy to makeup from all over. Different brands I saw through videos and movies to things my father would bring back from his educational trips.
“Father said he would take me to travel with him one day,” I said.
“You believe him?”
I took a deep swallow as I felt Minka slink underneath my legs for comfort and silent support, but my mother was no fool.
“Minka, let her speak for herself. She is grown and still acting like a child.”
“When you treat and hold me in my room like this, what else am I to behave like?” I asked, turning around to stare at the woman.
“I cannot leave without supervision. I cannot leave without being seen. Am I to behave like a seasoned woman, a seasoned woman of the world? A woman who knows things outside of the walls of this very room because she has experience? Maybe I am behaving like a child who wants to explore the world because all she ever hears about it is through her imagination and fairytales Baba will tell her just before bedtime.”
“You are to behave like the woman I raised you to be, Ayira. You have it easier than most. You are to marry, give birth to children, raise them, and live in luxury. You are not a slave. You are not beaten; you are not selling your body for money and food for the night. You have the finest clothes, the finest jewelry, you are born as the only daughter to the king! You have the life many would dream of.”
“Baba says I am to serve a greater purpose. I was never meant to lay on my back and give birth like you,” I muttered like a child while cutting my eyes at her through the mirror. I could see the brief hurt cross her eyes from the insult, but it was true.
“Your Baba is a fool and has been lying to you,” she expressed with disdain in her tone.
“Your Baba is no real King anymore. They run and control his every thought and movement now while he runs and sleeps with the next woman presented in his bed. That is how they keep him occupied. You think your Baba is traveling outside of this place to learn and gain knowledge of others? No, your Baba has many women from all over. He has no loyalty to no one, not this kingdom, not his people, no one but himself.”
I could hear Minka hissed silently, having never been a fan of bad-mouthing Khamar himself, but she couldn’t say anything against my mother the Queen.
“You think too highly of a man who thinks nothing but himself, Ayira.”
“And what about the things he says about you, mother?” I asked. Nayara smirked before leaning back on my bed with her weight resting on her hand.
“When you marry,” choosing to ignore my question, “you need to make sure you are in control of your own choice. Choose a man who is fair, considerate, and overall nice… You want a man with a kind heart. A ruling fist, but a kind heart. He will be good for you and ease your rebellious spirit.”
She slowly got up and began walking towards me. Scooping my hair in her hands, she smiled when she felt the heat in the strands before deciding to braid it down.
“You will need to prepare your body for karasha.” She began to hum while twisting one strand over the other for a thick long braid.
“Your father wants you to greet your guests with song and dance…” I could hear the sarcasm in her voice every time she spoke about him, but I was most certainly not looking forward to dance lessons once again.
I stared at her as my head jolted and twitched from the movement of her hands until a long rope-like braid fell against my back.
Nayara stared back, our eyes meeting as two women but, in this moment, I felt reduced to a child as I turned away to look down at my hands.
I could and would never stand up to her the way she would never do for me against my father.
We all had our roles to play. The problem is, I’ve been given a role that was never suited for me in the first place.
“The palace will be nearly empty the night of the first arrival of our guests. Just a few Ashari moving about with the cleaning,” she went on as she combed through my hair, scooping any strays back from my face.
Her eyes never left mine in the mirror as I continuously avoided hers.
“I suggest you take advantage of your last night of freedom before you set on your divine path.”
Nayara slowly shuffled her bare feet out of the room where her Ashari, the group of servant women who tended to her hand and foot waited outside for her. I looked back at myself into the mirror as I took the long braid to bring around my chest and smiled.
“You are not getting any ideas, Princess,” Minka warned. “Just because your mother is okay with you leaving the palace from time to time does not mean I am.”
I smiled.