He Calls Me Unnie

Chapter Four

Bay followed the familiar path to her mistress's study. She often walked past there but rarely went inside. When she knocked on the door, she found not only the mistress, but Master Undulu there. He sat behind her desk, as he had sat behind his desk the night before.

"Bay, have a seat." He gestured to the chair facing him in front of his desk. Bay didn't move.

"I couldn't, Master Undulu."

"You can. Please, sit." Bay looked to the mistress, whom she was much more familiar with. She nodded and Bay took cautious steps toward the chair. Once she sat down, she felt even more uncomfortable than when she was standing. Sitting in your master's presence was rare, and disrespectful if not specifically invited to. "We've called you here to discuss the consequences of revealing your face, especially to an Akintola noble."

Bay squeezed her hands together.

"As you know, the only people who may see each other's faces are spouses and children under the age of five. You also know that there are consequences for letting someone else see your face if you wish to stay in the clan." Bay had never heard that last part. She never knew leaving the clan was an option. What disgrace it would bring upon someone if they did, though. "The consequence for an adult is exile in the wilderness for at least thirty days."

Fear squeezed Bay's heart and stomach. The wilderness was barren. There were few food sources there, and fewer water sources. Lions and mongrels roamed the plains and attacked travelers both on the roads leading outside the city and when they lost their way in the desert. She was ill-equipped to survive for thirty days in the wilderness. It would be a death sentence.

"However, because both of you are of marriageable age, if you were to accept each other as spouse you could escape this result."

"But Master–" Bay caught herself before she continued speaking. To contradict her master would put her in an even graver situation. But marriage? To the Akintola boy? It felt like a fate worse than death.

"Yes?"

She stared at her master's clasped hands on his desk. Now that she had gotten herself into this much trouble, there wasn't much worse she could do. Her fear of her master, and of doing or saying the wrong thing, paralyzed her.

"Speak, Bay," Mistress Undulu said.

It took Bay a moment to find her words. "We are not of the same class. How could a marriage between us exist?"

"Such a young girl has the wisdom to ask such a question rather than eat the fine meal handed to her. She truly has become one of us." Bay could tell the master and mistress smiled at each other behind their masks because of their squinting eyes. "For your sake, we will acknowledge you as our daughter to make you equal to Young Master Akintola."

"For my sake." Between the fear in Ben's eyes, the word "escape" scrawled in crooked letters, and her master's sudden selfless interest in his servant's welfare, Bay had cause to pause and consider if she could accept his words at face value.

"Young Master Akintola comes from a wealthy clan. You would never want for anything. You would live a comfortable life with servants of your own. He's young and handsome. What more could a girl of your station ask for? What more could any girl ask for?" Master Undulu leaned closer. There was a glint in his eyes when he said, "Whether his father or I inherit the throne, you would be a princess."

Master Undulu really must have thought that would convince her.

"He would never accept me." It was the last reason in her mind why she shouldn't or couldn't marry Roman Akintola, but she said it because it was the one that was the least embarrassing to express. "He said I was ugly."

"In marriage, appearances matter less to the rest of the world than you could imagine, especially when wealth and a good name are involved, but you have a point. Especially at a young age, looks matter more than they do later in life. If he doesn't accept you, you will face exile."

Neither option was desirable to Bay. She couldn't see herself selling herself to a strange boy who hated her, and she couldn't see herself surviving the wilderness. At least if she was exiled there was a possibility that she could find somewhere else she belonged outside the capital city. She could find one of the many caravans that crossed the desert and join them. She had many skills that could be used on a long journey, such as cooking, cleaning clothes, and tending to children. Or she could change her identity and work for someone else in the city. After all, most people in the Undulu clan didn't know what she looked like. She could hide her tattoo, though if anyone ever questioned her identity all they had to do was ask to see her wrist. Then her mind circled back around to one of the first things her master had said when she arrived.

"If you wish to stay in the clan."

She hated to say it after the life they had given to her, the relative freedom she had and the family she had found in Pike and Ben, but she knew what her best option was.

Bay dropped to her knees. "I am grateful for everything you have given me during my time here, but I would rather leave the clan than go into exile or marry Young Master Akintola."

Mistress Undulu, whose silence was noticeable, finally spoke up. "Bay." Her voice was kind and gentle. It was the voice she used with her children. "Saving your life isn't the only reason the master and I have offered to acknowledge you as our kin and advocate for your marriage." Bay lifted her head to look her mistress in the eyes. "This marriage could not only save your life; it could save the empire."

"Wh-what do you mean?"

Mistress Undulu stooped down, took Bay's arm and guided her back into her chair. "The empire is on the verge of a civil war, and the Undulu and Akintola clans are at the heart of it. We fear an attack on the emperor's life and on the entire Undulu clan. But, if we united our clans in marriage, we could use it as a peace offering. It could stop the war."

Bay studied the mistress's eyes closely. She saw truth, desire, and some fear. Master Undulu looked the same. It would be a big sacrifice on Bay's part, but if she didn't agree to the marriage, the safety of the entire empire could be at risk. The safety of her entire clan could be at risk, including herself, Pike and Ben.

"We understand that you may need time to think about this, but frankly, we don't have time," said Master Undulu.

"I'll do it." Bay didn't need to think twice.

"Since you're willing, we are relieving you of all your duties as a servant. You will be moved into the main house and supplied with everything you need to make you look like a noblewoman. You have refined manners, so we won't need to train you in that," he explained.

"I'll take you right away to get dressed. You ride to meet Master and Young Master Akintola at noon," said Mistress Undulu. Dread filled Bay's stomach and made it feel sick. She closed her eyes for a moment to calm herself, and to remind herself that whatever trials she went through would be for the good of the empire. She could endure whatever came her way if it was for her safety and the safety of her friends. Or at least she was pretty sure she could.

"And Bay?" Master Undulu followed her toward the exit. "If you mention this to anyone within the Akintola clan, now or at any point during your life... well, do we need to mention what kind of position that will put us all in?"

Bay nodded. She understood. She would have to take this secret to her grave.

Bay used going to the bathroom as an excuse to have a few minutes alone. She sobbed and mourned the loss of her comfortable life as she knew it and dreaded the life as the bride of the boy who had humiliated her and hurt her so badly.