His Burden (2)

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Entering the Hall of Solar Reflections, Aslan’s official study, Eunuch Edewor bowed in a digwe and announced, “Ovye, Oga Onomine has arrived.”

His brush pausing above the reports arranged on his desk, Aslan looked up and across the long hall to where Eunuch Edewor stood to one side of the wide entrance. A bead of ink dropped from the brush onto the embossed lavender paper he used in private correspondences, smearing red like a blood stain.

Aslan frowned down at the sheet. The red stain pierced his heart like an ill omen. He turned to Eunuch Iroro, who was already moving to replace the paper. Sitting up in the brocade camelback couch, he handed the brush to Eunuch Iroro, as well.

“Escort him in,” Aslan commanded. He lifted his golden, jewel-studded full-finger ring from where it sat on the desk and fitted it onto his right index finger.

Eunuch Edewor bowed out of the hall. He returned with a young man, who stepped to the edge of the red velvet rug leading up to the high dais, where Aslan’s desk sat.

On either side of the rug was a column of wing chairs with carved mahogany side tables. At the head of the hall, two wide arched windows flanked the dais, spanning the wall and stretching from floor to ceiling. The late afternoon sun poured through them, flooding the hall with brilliant light, and making the cool white alabaster, of which the floors and walls were made, gleam. The rooms on either side of the hall stood closed, with marble busts decking the perimeters. And the lightly sweet and woody fragrance of agarwood incense drifted faintly in the air.

The young man dipped to one knee in a digwe before the velvet rug. “Umogu,” he greeted.

“Kada,” Aslan answered. “Rise.”

The young man rose and folded his hands into the sleeves of his yellow robe; the standard for officials of the Royal Secretariat. He bowed his head. “Ovye’s servant has fulfilled his command and reports to disclose his findings.”

Aslan nodded. “Welcome, Emuvoke. You may approach.” He approached the dais, and Aslan indicated the wing chair to his right. “Sit.”

Emuvoke bowed, “Miguo, Ovye,” and took the seat.

Emuvoke Iwaka Onomine, son of Minister Onomine, the Minister of Justice, was twenty years of age. He was of average height and slim build, with light brown skin and clear, aquamarine blue eyes. He had an air of reservation, but his eyes were sharp and observant. In his forehead was a lustrous cushion-cut ruby, and a blue quill pen was tucked in the folds of the yellow headcloth wrapped around his head. Peeking beneath his headcloth were strawy locks of sand-colored hair; his blue eyes and sandy hair, the hallmarks of the Iwaka Tribe.

Eight years ago, when he invited Emuvoke and the other ministers’ sons to join his lectures with the royal tutors, Aslan began cultivating a close rapport with them. Now, he was especially fond of Emuvoke, for they had engaged in many stimulating discussions, and he found they shared many of the same ideals.

Two Maidens emerged from behind one of the closed doors on the right side of the hall, carrying trays with chilled glasses of coconut water. Eunuch Iroro intercepted one at the steps of the dais, relieving her of her tray, while the other proceeded to serve Emuvoke.

“Tell us, Voke, how were your travels?” Aslan said as Eunuch Iroro placed the glass on his desk. He indicated for Emuvoke to partake in the refreshment.

Emuvoke had been among a company of officials who journeyed to the government offices in the provinces to conduct the Royal Secretariat’s inspection of records, which Aslan commissioned. Aslan, though, ordered Emuvoke to present his findings directly to him. For though he had begun to wield his authority over court matters, the Queen Dowager still held considerable power. By the time the official reports reached his desk, their accuracy could not be guaranteed.

Emuvoke’s face was grim. “As a mere Ochuko* of the Royal Secretariat, dealing with the provincial officials was no easy feat, as Ovye might imagine.” He reached for his glass of coconut water and took a sip.

Aslan smiled. “Even as an Ochuko, you have proved yourself the equal of your superiors in your work and character. We and the Chief Royal Secretary trust in your meticulousness and dedication. Authority could easily be yours if you did not refuse incentives for your work or allow yourself to be passed for promotions.”

“May Ovye forgive my brashness,” Emuvoke replied, setting the glass down, “but if by incentives and promotions, Ovye means commissions that might fetter me to the machinations of the court, then yes, I have gladly refused them. I wish to not be encumbered by the politics and poetics of court.”

A look of amusement passed Aslan’s features. He knew Emuvoke, with his curious mind, preferred to engross himself in work and studies rather than in worldly matters. “Yet whether we become entangled in the politics of court is often not a matter of choice.” He looked intently at Emuvoke. “Your case is no different. But it is just as well. You are most effective at the moment as the cat with the shortest tail.”

Emuvoke bowed his head. “I am honored that Ovye finds me useful. May he use me to the benefit of our blessed kingdom.”

“We intend to.” The Maidens had vacated the hall, and Aslan sat back, uttering, “Now, tell us what you have learned, Voke.”

Emuvoke sat erect. “Yes, Ovyeme. There were no major developments in most of the Eight Provinces. But it seems the situation with the marauders in the Erhinyoja Province has worsened. The number of pillaging groups has increased, and both the Onorogu and those of the lesser castes live in fear of their raids.”

Aslan lowered his brow. “We thought the groups refrained from plundering those of the lower castes.”

“Yes, they did initially. But of late, both the Onorogu and the lesser castes have been targeted in the raids.”

Aslan’s jaw clenched. Though the past ten years of the Queen Dowager’s regency had been mostly peaceful, there was increasing unrest in the citizenry, especially among those of the lesser castes. Aslan could not blame them. As he became more involved in court, he saw more and more instances of grievances inflicted on the lesser castes. In the Erhinyoja Province, for instance, the land was mostly desert with a few oasis cities where trade and agriculture were centered. Though most of the fertile land and businesses were owned by Onorogu and Ọnéki, the tax burden fell on the lesser castes, and this burden in turn felled many livelihoods. As a result, the people had no choice but to turn to marauding. Hitherto, it was with violence, more than anything else, that the Queen Dowager sought to correct the province’s problem. Apparently, it backfired.