The Summons of Destiny (1)

Emeravwe stacked the reports she had just finished sorting according to their respective categories. Those pertaining to the inspection of the Maidens’ and Eunuchs’ Quarters, and those related to cases delegated by the Bureau of Investigations. The room she worked in with two other Eunuchs was cluttered with boxes containing files and documents that required such sorting, and it was dimly lit by the row of windows that lined one wall, the tall shelves blocking most of the light.

The room was unbearably hot and stuffy. Emeravwe could practically taste the staleness of the air, trickles of sweat running down her back. She had been working in these dreary conditions for a month now, since she returned to the Bureau of Court Affairs. When she arrived at their office after her period of restriction, Eunuch Ejerute informed her that she would be temporarily assigned to work in the Bureau of Court Affairs’ Office of Records. She still reported to their office each morning, but spent her days in the rear rooms of the Office of Records, organizing backlogs of reports.

Though Eunuch Ejerute stated that the reassignment would be temporary, the scorn with which he and Eunuch Otase now regarded her made Emeravwe doubtful. They were dismissive of her whenever she went to the office, and even the kind Aye Chioma rarely met her eyes. It did not help, either, that Mudiaga greeted her cheerfully each morning.

Emeravwe did not know what additional penalties the Palace Guard and Eunuch Ejerute imposed on him, but she was sure he could not have been faring better than she was, especially since he was an Ehwoéki. Still, he never failed to give her that dimpled grin whenever she stopped by the office. She was glad to see him in his usual good spirits, but she wished he would ignore her like their other teammates did. She feared his actions only fueled their team’s suspicions of the rumors that had spread in the bureau.

Their mishap in the Compound of the Royal Secretariat was now common knowledge, and with it came rumors that they had been caught while engaged in something scandalous. Emeravwe could barely lift her head when she walked the halls of the bureau. She suspected it was because of these rumors that Eunuch Ejerute removed her from the office, to separate her and Mudiaga. Yet, as if he did it on purpose, the fool grinned widely at her each morning, waving and calling, “Good morning, Emeravwe!”

Emeravwe rose from her table, taking a stack of the reports she had just organized. She moved between the shelves in the room, filing them in their proper places. She wished she could be as unconcerned and free-spirited as Mudiaga, but the events that had transpired weighed on her.

She had been in turmoil because of what she discovered in the records of Xxene’s House of Nobles. But after professing her feelings to Aslan, she was beside herself with elation. Her emotions were a soaring kite with steady tailwinds, cruising breezily through clouds. The mere thought of Aslan had been enough to make her titter with giggles in the middle of her work, and her stomach rioted with butterflies because she constantly replayed how deeply he kissed her that night. It was as if she was covered with a shield of euphoria, which even the many doubts and fears that hounded her did not dare to touch.

But the euphoria wore off. She had not seen Aslan since that night, and fear dogged her steps once more.

After she confessed her feelings to him, she and Aslan had remained in the garden well into the earliest hours of morning. They had stayed locked in each other’s arms, and Aslan whispered his love to her. How he had cared for her since they were children and had longed for the day she would willingly walk into his embrace. Emeravwe had felt as though she were in a dream and wanted to stay in his arms, but he insisted they return to their respective quarters before the night ended, and it became difficult for them to escape notice. As they parted reluctantly, he assured her he would see her again soon, but she had gone to the garden every night since and Aslan never showed up.

Emeravwe dropped the stack of reports on an open shelf, leaning her head listlessly against one of the rungs. She did not worry too much about Aslan’s absence the first couple days; he had made himself scarce for over two weeks when he asked her to make a decision. Now, though, he had been absent for over a month and the situation was different. He already confirmed her affections. Even if he was occupied with work, would he not make time to see her precisely because they just professed their mutual feelings?

Emeravwe’s chest stifled. She did not know what to think. She assured herself she worried for nothing, that Aslan would not suddenly abandon her. But her anxiety grew, nonetheless.

She wondered if she made the right decision. She had planned to reject him, but ran to his arms, instead. She had been rash. Her distress at the thought of losing him spurred her words and actions, and she disregarded their implications. Could she really continue to meet with him in their garden? For how long? How long until it was discovered that she was descended from clans guilty of regicide?

She did not know what to do. The wisest thing would be to end her relationship with Aslan and lie low in her new position in the back rooms of the Office of Records. But even if she lost everything, the one person she could not bear to be without was Aslan. She knew that now.

She closed her eyes, folding her hands to pray, Ogheneme, I shall give up everything. My ambitions, even my name. It does not matter if I must stay hidden in the Outer Palace for the rest of my life. Please, just allow me to remain safely with Aslan.

She was hopeful when she went to the garden again that night, but Aslan still did not appear, and she waited long into the night with a lump in her throat and locusts of worry stifling her chest. The blight began to wither her heart when another month passed, and Aslan still was nowhere to be seen.