Women Of Steel | ✔

XXXIX

So, it's Taylor Swift's birthday, a very special day for Swifties hence this very early update! Enjoy it. Women Of Steel is almost at 1000 reads, thank you so much for all your support. Shout out to ketinadeb because she's every inch a Swiftie like I am!

***

"Take a walk with me."

I look up from sharpening a blunt knife to find Ejiro's blank face staring down at me. I shift my weight nervously on the small bench, half suspicious that I have gained more weight than I bargained to. What else is there to do, when all I do all day is sit and poke for weak points while being tended to by servants.

I put aside the big stone and shove the knife aside, the kitchen staff should really be more careful with dumping sharp cutleries around the palace compound, someone with an evil wish towards the king might stumble upon it. Someone like me. I take my time cleaning the dust on my palms on my short skirt.

"Why?"

There is no use pretending to be someone I am not in front of Ejiro, she suspects me, although with little proof to back her claims so there is nothing she can do. Acting the part of the shy, new bride while we are alone is just mere foolishness. I take a quick glance at the compound, as usual, the king's cabinet delegate in front of the king's hut in hushed tones. Amadi sits at the center of it all.

The servants prepare the evening meal, the tantalising scent of spices and bush meat light in the air. If not for the tension simmering like boiling water, the atmosphere is almost pleasant.

"Follow me and find out why." Ejiro says quickly. Her lips curve into a brief smile as as servant murmurs a greeting to her, ever pleasant to her subjects. The queen catches me watching and the smile slides off her fair face swiftly.

I scoff lowly, keeping a feigned smile on my lips in case of prying eyes.

"I see, deny the fact that you wish to slice me to pieces. Deny your hatred for me." I tell her.

"I don't hate you. I don't know you." She says.

"You despise where I'm from, you doubt my agenda," I shrug. "Forgive me, but one does not follow their enemy on a walk of no return."

"You're a wise one." She mutters condescendingly, like an insult. It stings more than I care to admit.

"You are not. If you think I will follow you somewhere you can hurt me, or hold me hostage, then you are even more foolish than I give you credit for."

Ejiro laughs lowly, genuinely, white teeth gleaming in vesper. "I would have liked you if we met under different circumstances, I merely have something to show you and you will want to see this."

I eye her doubtfully. "I don't trust your words."

She sighs. "You see, in my culture, a name is worth a thousand gold, a thousand honor. It is a sign of honesty, once you know the name of a man, you know who he is."

"You may call me Ejiro,"

"I still will not tell you mine." I say stubbornly. This woman has something up her sleeve and I can smell it. I should turn my head the other way and save my skin while I can. Curiosity draws me like siren song and I am a slave to it.

While the queen turns her head briefly to frown at the voices that rise and octave in argument, I slip the blunt knife into my wrapper and rise to my feet.

"Please," She says in a whisper.

"I will come with you, lead the way, Your Majesty."

*****

I let Ejiro lead me into the village, and I take mental notes as she stops by a few huts to warmly greet the villagers, offer advice to the young and help to the old. She has a smile for everyone that crosses her path, she nods accordingly to the words of a middle aged woman and carries the heavy basket of a weary old man.

Her people love her, and in turn, she loves them. The cold and stiff aura that is usually around has shattered to pieces, and it makes me doubt if it was ever there of merely a facade.
She turns to me and her bright smile falters.

"This is the life of a queen, is it exhausting? Yes, but do I love it with every fiber in me, Yes." She says. "I see nothing of a queen in you."

Her words are nothing but the truth, but they still sting. I failed as a queen and I cannot be a king either because I will fail. I fear that I don't know who I am, I fear that I am as useless as Ile Wura thinks I am.

"A queen is kind, and fierce. The softness to the king's hardness, she plays the role of a wife and mother not only to your family, but to the kingdom." She continues, plucking off a hibiscus off a shrub. A confident look settles on her face, the look of a woman who knows what she is and what she is worth. It is the look of a contented woman. "It is not a position for a weakling and embracing it does not make you any less of a woman."

"I see you scorn such ways, hence why you can never be queen."

"Why are you telling me this?" I ask her, lifting my chin in the way my mother taught me. Feign confidence even if you have none.

Ejiro does not answer and we trudge an unfamiliar muddy path in silence, I can hear the rushing of water, Ejiro pushes the thick leaves hanging from their trees away, exposing the wide river in front of us. The sun ahead sets on the water, far away.

The orange and pink sky casts a pretty glow over the water. There is nobody by the bank and my suspicion grows, the river is the perfect place to murder an unsuspecting person. Far from the village and from people to hear screams.

I watch Ejiro walk further, stepping into the river and walking until the water is reaching her waist. I repress a fearful shudder, water and I have not always been friendly.

"Won't you join me?" Ejiro calls.

I shout back, right hand clutching the side where my knife is hidden. I count the number of fingers I have on my left hand; four. One missing. "I need no washing."

She raises an elegant brow in a taunt. gods help me, I want this woman's approval and against all good reasoning, I march into the water and waddle until I'm standing in front of her in foolish defiance. I have been able to ignore my fear of the water until this moment, it ricochets with a wave strong, my teeth chatters and not because of the cold. I struggle to conceal my shivering from her.

Show no fear while your enemy stands before you or they lap it up like thirsty dogs. Fear shows your enemies that they have a hope of destroying you.

Ejiro grins and steps back.

"Closer," She beckons.

Foolishly, I obey. When she stretches her arms for me like I expected. I am ready for her, tension in my stiff stance.
I reach for her raised arms and twist them behind her. I underestimate her, before I can comprehend the grin on her lips, her foot kicks at mine, sweeping me off my feet and sending us toppling into the deep end.