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"Make sure all of her gowns and jewelry is packed away nicely." My mother was giving orders back and forth to every maid in my room. While I sat on my bed sulking playing in Bakari's hair. "Dear please stop with the foul mood it will rub off on the maids. I need no slacking right now everything as be perfect as you set off at noon. I just let out a sigh not bothering to communicate with my mother. "Le'elt your bath is ready." Dolsê softly speaks. "You can bath me when I'm dead." I lay back on my bed. "Le'elt do not speak like that." Dolsê eyes widen. "You will not die, do not wish that on yourself." "Dolsê leave me be, I am not leaving this bed." Dolsê let's out a defeated sigh walking away from me. What I did not notice was her whispering to my mother.
"Asatira get out of this bed now!" My mother spanks my behind pulling me out of the bed. "You must get ready now!" "I will not, I am staying here." "Then tell that to your father, do I need to summon his audience?" My mother points to the door. I did not need or want my ubaba here. "Fine I'll go." I say in a defeated tone with my head hanging low.
I play with rings and bangles decked out on my hands and arms as I sit in the shade. I and my mother were currently in our carriage as we travelled to the port where the ship and my father was waiting. I was dressed as I wasn't going to be on a 15-day sea voyage. "Why put me in such extravagant gown and jewelry when I'll be on sea the whole time. This is not a bridal party to a village or palace near by imama." "Oh right a bridal party, your father has set up a traveling party for you when you set foot in Acraga." She ignored everything I said. "A horse for you and your brother but we couldn't use camels to hold the gifts." "Wait my brother?" "Yes dear, the Kandake and your father has recruited Taharqa to travel with you." Taharqa was my older brother, the oldest son of Empress Kassaï and my father. We were not close at all because of my status as a bastard and he was isolated from me by the Kandake. "Your blue and gold gown is to be worn when you meet the King and his court." My mother went on and on for the plans on leaving and arriving to meet the King. I go about her to Bakari playing with a stuffed bird. "Bakari I will miss you the most, you've listened to me when others didn't." I hug him. Bakari rubs his face against my cheek. "Do not forget me Bakari, I will come back for you soon." I rub his back.
"Le'elt we have arrived." Dolsê whispers to me as my mother went on and on. "Imama we've arrived." "Oh, I didn't even notice. It appears my mind has wondered once again." My mother wasn't her usual self today, I could tell she was keeping herself busy so her emotions wouldn't arise. I step out of carriage by the help of a servant. I look around me to see other royal officials are here to see me off. The sun was beaming down on me, using my shawl I cover my face to hide from the sun but also my tears that I couldn't fight as I got close to my father who was waiting by the ship. My father stood there with a proud smile on his face, his arms behind his back. Empress Kassaï stood behind him with her second face, the face of a Kandake and not her stone cold face.
