Chapter 22

Kira was in the kitchen giving out orders when she saw Penelope and Neera walk in.

”Neera, what happened to you?” she asked, walking towards her in concern. Neera smiled faintly, shaking her head.

”Nothing, I am fine,” he said, tucking her wrist behind her back.

”Did the king hurt you? Where did you sleep yesterday? You did not return to the maid’s room? ”

Neera smiled faintly; ”I was in the king’s chambers. He asked me not to leave. ”

”Oh... ” Kira said, staring at her for some time. Neera looked at her. She had the same expression that the maids had on their faces when they caught her lying on the king’s bed. That look that suspected something. She couldn’t blame her though, anyone would think the same way. Kira smiled and patted her shoulder;

”Alright, now you’re here; help Penelope and dehusk the maize grains. ” Kira said, pointing at a large heap of maize laid out.

.....

”Okay.” Neera nodded, and they walked towards the maize heap and began to work.

The day went by faster than Neera could imagine. As she sat with Pen, shucking the maize, she could overhear a few gossips of the servants who were standing outside the kitchen. They did not know she was there, so they spoke as they liked.

‘I hope the governors would demand for her head soon. She’s just causing havoc. Because of a mere slave, the king chopped off the hand of that Lord!’ a girl’s voice rang out from outside the kitchen.

‘Can you imagine? Since she came here, the king has acted oddly. I hope he doesn’t grow affections for her!’ another spoke.

‘Outrageous! The King is not that feeble! I think he’s just in the euphoria of seeing someone that looks like his queen. He would soon get over it.’

‘You think! I hear she was found on the king’s bed this morning. Who knows what happened in the middle of the night!’

At those words, Neera looked up at Pen, her eyes watering. She knew very well that those maids wouldn’t keep it a secret, but she had hoped they would forget about it.

‘What?!’ the other girl’s voice shouted. ‘she must be daring! A mere slave! At this rate, it won’t be long before her head is dangling on a stake!’

‘Let’s just pray the King doesn’t cancel the bride choosing ceremony because of this slave.’ the first maid concluded.

It was at this point, Pen stood up and pushed open the shut window. The girls turned around and saw Pen. Looking into the kitchen, they saw Neera sitting down, and they looked at themselves in shock. After some seconds, they coughed out loud and walked away.

Pen sighed when they were gone and she turned to Neera;

”Don’t listen to what they are saying, okay? Don’t let it get to you. ”

Neera smiled; ”It’s not like they are lying anyway, and it’s not like I can help it. Everyone is talking about me. I might even get you in trouble hanging around me. ”

”Neera! ” Pen scolded,

”Now I don’t like what you’re saying. Don’t let these girls get to you. You should know that they are jealous that the king took an interest in you. Which slave girl has the king taken an interest in?

They are all just envious, so wear your head up high and don’t let their words get to you. ”

Neera smiled at the effort her friend was putting into making her feel better, even though what she was saying was clearly not the case. ”thank you, Pen. I don’t know what I would have done without you. ”

Pen rolled her eyes; ”Now you know how important I am, don’t ever speak of staying away from me,”

Neera laughed, and they continued shucking the grains.

By the time they were done with the grains, it was dark. Stretching her arms, she stood up from the stool where she sat, to get bags to pack the grains.

”Arghh!” Neera groaned when she felt pins and needles on her legs. She had only gotten up twice since morning. The first time, to get their food, and the second, to ease herself.

”Sorry; ” Pen laughed as she watched her stomping her feet on the ground.

”Keep laughing, let’s see if you can even stand when you just got up once since morning. ” Neera remarked as she continued stomping her feet on the ground. Pen tried to stand and her legs quaked and she fell back down on the stool.

Neera burst out laughing.

Pen laughed, standing up again, this time holding the wall for balance. She stood up and stomped her feet on the ground, letting blood flow to her calves.

After getting themselves, they packed the grains into the sacks and pushed them to a corner. As they walked out of the kitchen, Neera noticed several soldiers around, and she turned to Penelope.

”I think the king is back. I’ll be going to his chambers. After last night, I don’t want to get on his bad side again. ” she stated,

”Oh, that is true, hurry and have a bath. You don’t want to go to the king smelling like this. ”

Neera pulled the collar of her dress to her nose; sniffing, she asked; ”how do I smell?”

Pen laughed, ”I don’t know, we smell the same. It doesn’t smell bad to my nose, but you don’t want to know what you smell like to the king.”

Neera laughed; ”Okay, let me hurry. ” she said and scurried away.

Neera quickly washed her body and changed her dress. As she walked to the king’s chambers, she smelled herself. They used very cheap soap to wash, and there were no body ointments for them. She hoped she didn’t smell too bad to annoy the king.

Her steps dilated when she reached the King’s chambers. There were a few maids and servants going in and out. She stopped by the side, afraid to go further. She stood contemplating whether to go in, but he had not sent for her, so she decided to just wait outside for his call.

Neera stood outside for a long while, the maids and servants giving her weird stares as they stepped out of the king’s chambers. After a long while, her legs began to hurt, and she contemplated going back to the maid’s room, seeing that he wasn’t calling for her.

But just when she turned to leave, she heard a voice;

”Neera. ”

Neera turned to the door, and standing in front of it was the King. His eyes were staring tenderly at her, and on his lips was a smile. Although a subtle one, she could still make it out from where she stood.