Ultimatum (1)

The yellow glow of the glass lantern Eunuch Iroro carried formed an orb of light that illuminated the aged stones of the passageway. It lit up the path a few steps ahead of them. The cold, musty underground channel they trod was one of many connected passages built beneath the Inner and Outer Palaces in case of emergencies. But when he was younger, Aslan had used them to secretly leave the palace with his Sovereign Father on several occasions. There was only one entrance into the passages from the Inner Palace, one exit in the palace’s forest grounds, a few exits in the Outer Palace, and many more dead ends. Only the preeminent members of the Royal House were privy to the knowledge of the existence of the secret underpasses, and Aslan alone had access to the blueprints.

When he was a child, he had always been exhilarated whenever his Sovereign Father took him through the tunnels. They would dress simply and, escorted only by their principal attendants, would leave the Sun’s Court to survey the capital and, often, to visit Prime Minister Oghenegba and his family. At that time, Aslan never imagined he would end up using the tunnels to stay connected to Emeravwe.

He had never been more grateful for the hidden tunnels as he had been the past nine years. But his journey through them had often been ridden with guilt and angst, and he knew he could not sustain this manner of meeting with her. He had no intention to.

At the end of the corridor, they ascended a tall flight of stairs, and the lantern revealed the square cutout of a trap door above their heads. Eunuch Iroro pushed up on the opening, leading the way as they climbed out.

They surfaced in the back corner of a storage room attached to one of the training facilities in the Eunuchs’ Compound. The corner was obscured by a large artificial rock platform, and once the trap door was replaced, it was no more distinguishable than the other gray slate boards in the room.

Aslan carefully picked his way past the strength and stamina equipment the Eunuchs used. Continuous training was something required of all Eunuchs to ensure they maintained their strength, though this was stressed especially for Eunuchs who worked in the Inner Palace.

Unlike those employed in the Outer Palace, Eunuchs of the Inner Palace were selected with even more discrimination and were often of kin to those of the Royal House. For it was expected that they would lay down their lives to protect the Royal House if the situation ever called for it. And there had been times in Xxene’s turbulent past when situations did call for it. The kingdom had been free from strife for many decades now, though, and apart from the Insurgence of Onorogu, nothing of major devastation had occurred in recent years.

Aslan wondered if he could keep it that way. He already had a troubling premonition when he first ordered Emuvoke to reinvestigate his Sovereign Father’s death. Onótu Onomine’s report on the leader of Okémeh’s possible connection with the incident only compounded his fears.

Now, his actions may very well make the situation even more precarious. It was unwise, he knew, but he had also become too agitated to leave Emeravwe be. He had hoped she would gradually come to him of her own accord, in her own time, but it seemed she would find herself in ruin before that ever happened. And he had grown impatient watching from the sidelines.

Aslan set his jaw decidedly as he and Eunuch Iroro made their way through the Eunuchs’ Compound. Eunuch Iroro had quenched the light of the lantern, and they walked along the walls and dark shadows of the buildings. When they neared the secluded garden where he met Emeravwe, Eunuch Iroro relit the lantern and Aslan slowed his steps.

He was nervous.

He had not come to the garden the past few nights because he had been occupied in meetings with the scholars, and because he needed time to weigh his decision and consider its delivery. Now that the time for delivery had come, he found himself on tenterhooks. He was afraid he already knew how Emeravwe would respond. Moreover, he feared what she might have discovered in the Department of Records of Xxene’s House of Nobles.

“Ovyeme,” Eunuch Iroro called, his hand outstretched to offer the lantern.

Aslan had stopped between the two palm trees flanking one of the entrance paths into the garden. He stared intently into the darkness beyond, where Emeravwe most likely awaited him. A permeating warmth flooded his chest at the thought. A warmth which always filled him whenever he came to the garden; an expectation that Emeravwe was there waiting for him. In the entirety of the Sun’s Court, she was the only one who waited for Aslan. That was all the reason he needed to keep her close and guard her. He took the lantern from Eunuch Iroro and strode into the garden.

He found Emeravwe kneeled before the pond, staring at the reflection of the quarter moon in the tranquil waters. Pausing beside a shrub, Aslan raised the lantern to study her. Her shoulders were slumped, her airs of one who was absent. After a moment more, she sensed the light and turned to him but took a second to register his presence.

“Oh, Aslan,” she said, rising. “I…” her voice wavered, and she briefly lowered her eyes. When she looked to him again, her eyes were beseeching. “I have been waiting for you.”

His heart clenched. He saw now that she looked thinner, as if she had not been eating properly, the usual light in her voice faded. He set the lantern on the ground and went to her, lightly grasping her shoulders. “Are you all right, Eme?” He cupped a hand to her cheek. “You are unharmed?”

She nodded, but her gaze was plaintive.

He took her in his arms, and she promptly wrapped her own around him, burying her face in his chest as though she had been waiting for him to do just that. It caught him a bit off guard, but it was no wonder she sought comfort. He had seen the underground cells and torture chambers of the Bureau of Interrogations and could imagine what sort of ordeal she had gone through. He held her tightly, remorse hounding him.

Her voice was unsteady. “I did not listen to you. And I even put Mudiaga at risk, as well.”

He gently petted her head to soothe her, as he had done so often since they were children. “I know.” There was an anxious pause before he asked, “Did you find anything in the records of the House of Nobles?”

She was silent, and he could practically feel his heart drumming against his ribs. She shook her head, and he squeezed her tighter, a breath of relief escaping him as some of his tension loosened. He thought, Oh, Oghene, miguo! What he dreaded most of all was that she would discover what happened to her family. He knew he could not keep it from her forever, but he wanted to be the one to tell her, that he might lessen the blow. He had yet to devise a means to do so.

Presently, ensuring her safety took precedence. He took her by the arms, gently detaching her.

When Emeravwe saw his stern expression, her own clouded with apprehension. “You are angry with me?”

Aslan shook his head. “I am not. But I have come to realize that we can no longer go on as we are.” She watched him questioningly, and he turned from her, focusing on the moon’s reflection in the pond. “It has become inconvenient for me to see you in this manner.”

His work with the scholars occupied much of his time when he was not reviewing reports or meeting with officials, and his time would become even more constrained once their work came to light. Additionally, thanks to Prince Etegah and Princess Ada, their secret garden was no longer secret. Still, the most compelling reason was that he wanted her by his side.

He faced her with resolve. “So I would have your answer.”

She said tentatively, worry marking her brow, “What answer?”

His stare was pointed and voice weighty. “You are not unaware of my regard for you. And I have seen that you are not altogether indifferent to my affections. I have maintained our relation as a friendship because I did not want to press you, and I wished that you would accept me as I am before you. Now, I would have an answer.”

Emeravwe’s expression was of one taken unawares. She stared at him, then bowed her head. There was sadness in her voice when she spoke. “That is not… Why are you saying this to me now?”

He was blunt. “I no longer wish to be your friend.”

Her head snapped up, gray eyes wide with alarm. She implored anxiously, stepping forward, “Because of what I did? Because I did not listen to you and snuck into the Royal Secretariat to view the records?”

Aslan felt uneasy at her agitation and the dismay in her voice but remained resolved. “Because you mean much more to me, so I refuse to humor you further in this garden.”

She paused uncertainly, and he saw she had begun to glean his message. He pressed on, “I am not so free that I can continue these idle meetings with you. Furthermore, my regard is not so inconsequential that you can continue to neglect it. You must make a decision.”

She was quiet, then, hesitantly, she said, “And… if I do not?”

He maintained silence, his cold stare his meaningful answer.

A look of hurt crept into her eyes and Aslan felt a sharp twinge. He knew what she feared most was being abandoned, and he felt monstrous for his unspoken threat. After what she had gone through, this was probably what she least expected to hear from him. But he had no other choice. Her stubbornness, on all accounts, had left him more on edge than any strife he had ever had with even his ministers. This was the only way he knew to press her into making a decision.

But his conscience heckled him, for he also meant to compel her to make the choice he preferred.

He felt ashamed to face her so turned away. “I shall await your answer.”

He picked up the lantern and strode from the garden, purposely leaving her with only the dim light of the moon, that she might feel the weight of his absence.