He Calls Me Unnie

Chapter Five

Bay wore a real mask for her visit to the Akintola manor, rather than the one composed of various cloths draped around her head and across her face and secured with clips that she usually wore. This one was heavy metal lined with fabric to keep it from scratching her face, attached via a spiderweb of bands around her head. There was a place to attach her headdress so it hung over her hair which she secured in a bun to hide it beneath the headdress. If she had been born a noble, and allowed to wear such an elaborate mask, she would have never been in this position in the first place, but servants didn't get foolproof masks.

Like her master's mask, there was a slot for her mouth covered by a screen that could be removed so that she could eat in front of others and decorative holes for her eyes to see unencumbered. She wore a silver and pewter dress that mimicked the style of her new "father's" robes, not in any lively colors like pink, blue or red, like she usually wore.

It mortified Bay to use a servant's back as a step to get out of the litter. That was never her job, but she worked with boys and girls who did. In front of her was Akintola manor. She followed Master and Mistress Undulu to the open front gate where a servant waited for them. He led them through the courtyard, which looked rather similar to the Undulu manor in its sprawling nature. There were multiple houses within the manor, but sheltered pathways connected them all. The three Undulu clan members walked across the courtyard and straight into the main house. Inside an older but sturdy man who looked like the shorter, stockier version of Roman Akintola stood to receive them.

"Master and Mistress Undulu. I wish I could say it was a pleasure." The wrinkles on his forehead showed that he frowned often.

"Well, it is a pleasure on our behalf to be welcomed into your home," Master Undulu said.

"We don't see each other enough in court, Damius?"

Bay looked around the room at the four guards positioned around them. There were two by the exit as well, and all of them carried swords and wore body armor. Master Undulu had brought neither weapon nor guards.

"I told you this was urgent business of a personal nature. This has nothing to do with court. It's regarding my daughter, Bay, and your son, Roman." Bay bowed to Master Akintola.

"Get to the point," Master Akintola said. "I've called my son here. He'll be here any time now. What has this girl got to do with him?"

"Can we speak somewhere private?"

"No. I don't trust you Undulu with your masks disguising who you really are. I recognize your voice, Damius, but how do I know these two women are your wife and daughter and not assassins brought here to kill me?"

Master Undulu's voice remained clear and even. "Why would I bring assassins here to kill you, Master Akintola?"

"Because you're trying to steal the throne! If I'm gone, there is no struggle. It's all yours!"

"If I had you killed, do you think the emperor would consider me as a suitable successor? He is above all a peaceable man."

Master Akintola crossed his arms. "What are you here for, then?"

"Your son has seen my daughter's face."

Surprise registered on Master Akintola's face, but mostly he still just looked annoyed and angry. "Your daughter and my son are not acquainted. How could that have happened?"

"She was dressed as a servant at the market. She wasn't watching where she was going and ran into him. He fell on her cloth mask and pulled it off by accident." Master Undulu was a study in patience at that moment.