A Maiden, a King, and an Officer (2)

Seeing where her stare lingered, Aslan swept a hand to his side, indicating the Eunuch. “This is my attendant, Iroro O-Jiban Odirin.”

The Eunuch bowed his head in greeting, and Emeravwe dipped her knees in a butu.

She continued to stare at him, a slight—and inexplicable—sense of panic slowly building in her. Until Mudiaga cleared his throat once more.

“Oh! Yes!” She turned to him and Aslan, introducing, “This is Oga Mudiaga, an officer of the Palace Guard. Oga Mudiaga, this is Eunuch Aslan.”

“I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Oga Mudiaga.” Aslan remarked affably, “I see you are of the Beliko Tribe. We are brethren.”

Emeravwe caught herself glancing furtively at Eunuch Iroro. Then looked from Aslan to Mudiaga. “How do you know he is of the Beliko Tribe?”

“Just as those of the Imodu Tribe are recognized by their olive skin, so can you identify those of the Beliko Tribe by their red hair,” Aslan said, shifting his gaze from Emeravwe to Mudiaga’s coiled tufts of apricot-orange hair.

Emeravwe glanced at the deep olive skin of her hands. She wondered, The Imodu Tribe? No—she cut off the thought. She would not wander in that dark abyss.

Mudiaga snorted, eyeing Aslan’s yellow headcloth, “The era of the Four Tribes was more than nine centuries ago. But even then, tribe members betrayed and killed one another. If an honorable Eunuch I just met calls me brother, I can only be afraid for my life.”

“Oga Mudiaga!” Emeravwe admonished.

Mudiaga shrugged. She glared fiercely at him until he faced Aslan with a slight nod. He amended, “Be at peace, Oga, I meant no offense,” then turned back to her with a wink. She rolled her eyes.

Aslan watched them a moment, then replied, “No. In truth, my ties are not to the Beliko Tribe, for it is my mother who is of the tribe, not my father. But surely, in our united kingdom, we are all brethren.”

This earned him another snort from Mudiaga.

Aslan turned to Emeravwe. “What business were you about? Might I join you?”

She nodded. “Mm. We were just on our way to the Bureau of Departmental Affairs.”

Aslan and Eunuch Iroro loosely replaced the ends of their headcloths around their faces. Mudiaga took the lead as they walked the wide flagstone paths of the Compound of the Ministry of Justice, and Eunuch Iroro trailed silently behind.

Emeravwe walked beside Aslan. She had known him for eight years, yet felt as if she was truly seeing him for the first time. He walked with his head held aloft; shoulders squared and hands to his sides, their swing minimal.

His steps were measured, and with each step, the sun glanced off his eyebrows and lashes, and the strands of hair flashed with a brilliant metallic red.

“What is the matter?” he finally asked when she continued to stare.

She turned away, embarrassed. “Nothing.” Her voice sounded timider than she expected. She cleared her throat. “It is just, I have only ever seen you at night…”

“Indeed.” Aslan leaned over, his voice playful, “You look as lovely beneath the sun as beneath the light of the moon.”

Emeravwe’s heart fluttered.

Mudiaga’s brow was scrunched tightly, his lips pursed in a tart expression of disbelief, as he turned to face them. “What kind of conversation is this? Between a Eunuch and Maiden!”

“What is the matter?” Aslan said with a teasing smile. He moved closer to place a hand on Emeravwe’s shoulder. “You seem unsettled.”

Mudiaga’s brow soared, and he laughed incredulously. “Oh, excuse me! It’s not every day I meet a Eunuch with such a sweet tongue for Maidens.” He stepped forward, inching himself between the two to separate them. “But Oga, you’re forgetting I’m an officer of the Palace Guard. Take no offense when I report you to the Bureau of Corrections, okay?”

Emeravwe smiled wryly, hearing these words from Mudiaga.

Eunuch Iroro stepped forward, eyes blazing with outrage, but Aslan raised a halting hand, responding, “You must spare yourself the trouble; your efforts will prove futile.”

Mudiaga looked curiously from him to Emeravwe.

She shrugged, stating, “He is the Onóturode’s son.”

Mudiaga smirked cynically. “And we’re definitely not brothers!” He drew back immediately from Aslan, then bowed dramatically, his tone flippant, “Please forgive my insolence, Your Lordship Oga Onóturode’s Son! I didn’t recognize who you are, but now I do, so I won’t be insolent anymore!”

Aslan chuckled, turning to Eunuch Iroro. “Quite an insincere apology for so great an offense.”

Eunuch Iroro glowered at Mudiaga. “If only he knew.”

Mudiaga straightened from his bow. “Strange. A chuckle isn’t the typical Onorogu response at this point.” He looked to Emeravwe with a doubtful grin. “I probably really should prepare my will.”

She, too, glowered at him. He quickly turned serious, but then the dimpled grin broke through again a second later.

Aslan continued down the walkway. “What is the typical Onorogu response?”

Mudiaga shrugged as he and Emeravwe fell in step with him, Eunuch Iroro following behind. “Putting me back in my place, demanding that the Palace Guard demote me. Ah, you could slash at my face with your sword.” He looked to Aslan’s side. “Oh, you don’t have one. Wanna borrow mine?” He placed a hand on the sword at his waist.

Aslan frowned, indicating the thin scar along Mudiaga's right cheek. “I suppose that is how you received that scar. Is it really so strange for an Onorogu and Ehwoéki to get along?”

“If the previous isn’t the master and the latter the servant, then, in most cases, yes. As strange as a Eunuch making eyes at Maidens.” He squinted, mumbling beneath his breath, “If you really are a eunuch with that deep voice.”

Surprised, Aslan glanced at Emeravwe, who had not heard Mudiaga’s mumbling. He cleared his throat, responding, “If that is the case, then it is nothing strange at all. Eunuchs and Maidens have been involved in illicit relationships long before we were born, and it will most likely continue.” He questioned, “Am I right, Agaenaye Emeravwe?”

Emeravwe gaped mutely, and Mudiaga snickered at his suggestive question.

“If you want to change Xxene, you might start by changing your outlook on society,” Aslan remarked. “A relationship between a Eunuch and Maiden might be surprising, but it is nothing unheard-of. It can be so with all the castes.”

Mudiaga was silent, then turned gravely to Aslan, his eyes flinty. It was the most serious Emeravwe had ever seen him, and the look unnerved her.

“Oga Onóturode’s Son, maybe you’ve forgotten since you’ve been chatting so leisurely with an Ehwoéki. Xxene is a kingdom built on the backs of the lower castes, but run by the Onorogu for the Onorogu. Those of the lower castes are hardly considered as citizens. When we are recognized, it’s to be treated like crap underfoot or milked for taxes. And you know the sickly, ironic twist? The ones who hold the power to change this are the very ones who deem us worthless by the gems, or lack thereof, on our foreheads.”

Mudiaga’s voice rose slightly, his look deepening to a scowl. “You want me to change my outlook? Then will you change the caste system? There isn’t much I can do when everything around me tells me from birth that I’m worthless!”

Emeravwe’s chest constricted, her breath catching in her throat. She knew exactly how he felt. She also knew he did not believe there was nothing he could do. He would not have spoken of change otherwise.

He could fight against all opposition, as she was attempting to do. She thought, And maybe, in his own unorthodox way, he is already doing that.

“Yes,” Aslan said solemnly, “that is a problem.”