His protection

She is about the only one who could get the blueprints of the maze. This is because the Alkali clan had been responsible for building it within the palace grounds in the first place. When people began to attach spirituality to it, they made provisions to combat the stigma when necessary. No Alkali has ever been caught in the maze throughout their reign as emirs.

As mistress, Lady Naeemah could naturally get her hands on it.

She made a copy and then ordered for the paper to be drenched in the necessary chemicals that would make it disintegrate in thirty minutes.

Paper is a by product of wood. So since it contains cellulose, acetone along with a number of chenicals can disintiegrate it. The problem is that heat is required. Or water. This is why  the Alkali house had lent the wisdom of the Taha house and created their own special type of paper.

She sent for her most trusted maid, Hanna to sneak in through a secret underground passageway and give it to Aairah. She made Hannah disguise herself so Aarah or anyone who might chance watching wouldn't know who she is. Then she got Mrithi Aisam to get her the secret CCTV footage of the maze of the ancients which precious few know of. Most think it would be disrespectful to have cameras on such sacred grounds.

She located Aairah who was still sleeping and then gave a tracking device to Hannah so she would be guided towards Aairah without problems.

She watched from the comfort of her home as Hanna placed the paper next to Aairah's sleeping form. She felt relieved when Hannah wasn't caught. They planned it so Hannah wouldn't have to come out in the open. And she could easily avoid camera detection. It was quite easy for the Mrithi Aisam to accomplish the calculations seeing as the ones paying close attention can be counted on one hand.

The real problem came forth when Aairah awoke, saw the paper and looked weird. She somehow found the courage to use the help offered to her. Lady Naeemah did not fault her for hesitating. Whoever helps her must want something from her. Or at least they must do it for a reason unknown to her. Aairah was actually close to the exit, so ten minutes had gotten her out. Right at the exit point though, someone had layed an ambush for her. She was hit by a wooden branch so hard she staggered from the impact. There is blood on her face from where the wound had split open her forehead so close to her bald head.

The slaves ran to inform her highness that Aairah had managed to get out. Aairah used the last energy reserve on her to bury the piece of paper which had already begun to disintegrate. She is wise enough to know the queen must never suspect she had help.

Queen Neemah arrived with the dowager and they concluded that Aairah was hurt by some kind of spiritual entity and has not been cleansed.

They decided to prepare her exile posthaste so that nothing would keep her on the palace grounds. They are afraid she would disturb the peaceful atmosphere. The palace grounds are blessed. And right now, Aairah is a taint.

Naeemah understood that Queen Neemah doesn't leave anything to chance. She had done what she could. And now it is up to the emir to right this wrong.

If it is wrong!

...

When the Royal procession waltzed into the palace grounds, they abruptly changed course to proceed towards the widow's chambers.

News spread like wildfire. Nothing stopped its motion until it stopped in front of the large black double gates marking the boundaries of the widow's chambers.

The emir alighted from the vehicle. He raised a fist to inform his guards to seal the entire premises. That didn't take more than a second of his time. At the corner of his eyes, he spied Queen Neemah rushing towards him in rapid pace. Then through the other corner of his eyes, he saw his mother rushing towards him. He acted as if he did not see them coming. When the guards opened the gates, he raised another fist to order everyone to halt. Right before he entered the house, he could also see some of the elders of the Fillo clan rushing towards the place as well. They too failed to make him acknowledge them.

It was quiet inside. The huge neem tree at the center of the compound shook with a dancing gait as the cool November draft fell upon it. Breeze wafted by with a swirling confidence and of course, the canopied roof made the compound seem dark. Almost like it was already evening. The birds chirped as they nested all over the place. It looks like it has seen a better part of a century without a descent cleaning. The dust that has settled all around made it seem like it is an artificial Sahara. It smells like dust and a damp unflattering odour of algae and dirt.

A frown visited his face. He walked ahead, each step taking on a very dark and foreboding intent. His eyes sharpened with each passing thought raging in his mind. He looks calm. But the roiling feeling continued to churn in his heart.

When he opened the room that Aairah was jailed, it looks dark and gloomy enough to be called a tomb!

His heart plummeted even further and his anger grew to heights he has not thought he was capable of feeling before this.

He tried to focus on one thought only.

Whoever did this, will taste the other side of mercy!

The first thing that told him she was in it is the outline of her body in the very dark. He had to open a few Windows to let some light into the room.

She has balled up in one corner, shivering and sobbing as if she was waiting for her death.

Something demonic squeezed his chest. He wanted someone's blood! There is a haze that curtained his heart to anything but the vengeance that is beginning to manifest and take form...

When he knelt next to her, she didn't even feel him so close. She is in her own world. Trying to cope. When he listened to her soft murmur, he heard what is saying.

'...la haula wa la quwwata illa billah! (There is no might nor mercy except with Allah). His heart cooled instantly as he reflected upon the meaning. A crushing need to pet her, enveloped him. He wanted to feel her against him so he could feel his heartbeat in sync with her own. Just to remind himself that she is still here, sane and whole.

But he controlled the impulse. Instead, he spoke to her in a very soothing tone that carried a gentleness that could make one weep. He said "wake up. I am here"

She stopped talking. Then raised her head to look around her as if disoriented. That voice lured her attention and she found herself looking straight into his chalk black pools appearing characteristically bright in the dark room.

Relief flooded through her. She had thought she was dreaming when she heard that voice!

"Let me carry you" he offered softly.

"People will talk. Let me walk" she replied hoarsely, her trembling never ceased even though she didn't sound like she is in pain..

He extended a finger to touch her brow, next to the healing scar tissue where she was hit. He couldn't control that particular impulse. He vowed "I will avenge you, dear one"

Aairah recoiled from his touch. With a frown she said "you caused this. You turned me into this when I had my dignity. You made me suffer when I d..didn't n..need to" she accused, her voice breaking despite her courage in trying to be brave. Her eyes filled with tears. She is feeling particularly weepy and vulnerable.

"I did not mean to cause you harm" he uttered as close to an apology as he has ever gotten before.

"Ouch your highness. You did exactly that" she muttered bitterly. "I have lost everything now. If you take me out, the elder council will challenge you. The news must've spread a lot by now. I am ruined" she closed her eyes. When she opened them, she looks so sad it wrung his heart into twisted knots.

"Everyone in Maicki answers to me Aairah. This is nothing" he stated confidently. He wished he can make her pain disappear along with the incidence.

"But traditions..." She argued knowing how rigid the traditional rules are.

"Shhhh" he stated softly with a confident smile touching the corner of his lips. "I hold the power to make traditions now" he assured.

She did not understand what he means by that. "Can you exonerate me?" She asked hopefully in a childlike voice, wanting, needing to trust him. But her heart still hesitates to take such a leap of fate. Even if he is the emir of Maicki.

He couldn't resist stealing a kiss on her cheek. She is just so adorable. "The real question is, can you put it all behind you?" He asked.

Aairah nodded. "Yes" she whispered. "I believe in destiny" she assured him.

His smile widened a little and he said "let me carry you" once again, he posed the question. This time, she didn't argue. She was hoping queen Neemah will see them so cozy and get a bit on the angry side. It's not nearly close to what she did to her but at least it isn't nothing!

Aairah allowed him to carry her bridal style. All the tension of the past couple of days washed over her, making her feel suddenly so weak she didn't think she could lift a finger to save her life. His steel corded sinews of pure muscle strength gave her a feeling of safety. An unnamed tranquility poured over her. Though she had wanted so badly to do 'gwalo' to queen Neemah if she sees them together, she fell asleep in his arms, so she didn't get that opportunity.

Maybe next time.

Aariz could feel her weight exerting his very tired body. He has been through a lot in the two days he was away. He hasn't slept a wink. When he approached the gates of the widow's chambers, he stopped abruptly. A woman, garbed in black, stood with deathly stillness. Her eyes were red and she looks unearthly. He could recognize her as the eleventh queen of Maicki. She is in the history books which have been document about the Royal heirs. Which means, she has died a long time ago!

Whether it's the trick of the dark or this creature is some spirit taking the woman's form, again, trying to frighten him, it isn't a good sign. He is supposed to stop seeing things...

Aariz tried not to feel fear. This has happened so much it's becoming the norm. It still makes his heart glaze over with that unreasonable amount of dread. That nagging feeling that he is going insane revisited his conscience. He walked further trying to act like he did not see it at all. Through a will of bravado, he brushed passed this woman, feeling her solid form touch his own as he passed by the gate. When he turned around to look again, it is gone! This made him wonder if what he saw was real. The compound seems rather drab and gloomy. Just like the way he had entered it. He looked upon the dirt and saw only the indentation of his own feet. Aariz recited duahs now that he is clearheaded and pushed his feet forward, crossing over to the palace grounds where his guards waited.

He acted as if he didn't see the queen and her companions. Or the dowager and her own companions. He placed Aairah on the back seat and entered from the other side. He gave the signal for leaving. And the cars moved away from the throng of seekers who had hoped to get his highness to stop and listen to them. Yet no matter the threat, Aariz hated bending to other people's rules. Especially when others only need to follow his own rules.

"Take me back to the terminal. And get Madame Yula!" He ordered.

Exactly one hour later, Aariz sent the doctor on his way after he had assured him that Aairah is fine. She only needed rest. But he wanted her to get a few tests to ascertain her overall condition.

He paced in the narrow room thinking of what he would do to avenge Aairah and send the fear of God into Queen Neemah. Even his mother needs a bit of a prodding so they don't bully her again.

Fact is, Aairah needs some power to remain the neutral party.

Queen Neemah needs to be taken down a peg or two so she remembers she answers to him! And ignoring his orders is not only taboo, he wanted her to know it is a fatal mistake.

As for his mother, he wants her to understand that Aairah is dear to him. If she doesn't like her, he wants her to respect the relationship between them. She must accept Aairah. It can't be all that hard because there are a number of times when she needed to accept enemies too and it didn't faze her.

Aariz didn't need to hurt his head. He knows what is best. Perhaps it is time to elect the female Besluitnemers!

When Madame Yula arrived, he went to Aairah and gazed upon her beautiful face. Seconds ticked by as he admired the contours of her face. Lying there so innocently, makes her look like a vision. Her hips rose on a hilly tide from the angle he sought. The small swell of her breasts pushed against her sleeping gown, giving a peeking but tantalizing view.

A frown seems to be permanently etched to his features. The people he cared about had hurt this innocent creature. And because he didn't have the heart to hurt his own mother, queen Neemah just needs to suffer the brunt of his ire. His mother is cautious. She would learn from queen Neemah's mistake!

"Send her in" he ordered softly, not wanting to wake her.

When Madame Yula came in, she gereets him as is customary and remained kneeling until he waved a casual hand of dismissal. She stood with a respectable posture as she awaited the emir's orders.

"I still believe you can help her. So don't disappoint me" he told her.

"Thank you for the faith your highness. I shall strive to give my all" she vowed.

A rueful smile touched his lips as he murmured "is it faith?" A low chuckle escaped his throat and the action felt more damning than if he started shouting at her. This man is deadly. For if she fails him, she might just have signed her death warrant. And wouldn't it be easier if she died swiftly? Somehow she didn't think she would.... Her mind reeled with endless possibilities until she forced her rapidly beating heart to stop and face facts. He is just giving her a warning. Which is a good sign. He is going to test her. And she would pass that test. Nothing will happen to her highness, she prayed.

He stood up, faced Madame Yula, and added in a quiet but eerie tone "I am looking forward to seeing more" and before she could reply, he was already gone.

Madame Yula sighed. She looks upon the sleeping form of Aairah and sighed again. What has she signed herself up for? This girl is a threat to the queen and dowager. They feel like that. If her perception of the two is right, then they will definitely try to eliminate her until they succeeded. In their anger, they might not care who gets caught in the crossfire. Power does that to you.

She must guard against both spiritual attacks and the physical ones. She was suddenly unsure if she is so capable!

....

Aariz did got attacked by the elder council. No. Not just them. But the Fillo clan elders as well and his mother and the queen as well. Even the older concubines are voicing their disbelief at what just happened.

How could the emir remove Aairah so casually from her punishment?! No one should be able to do that but queen Neemah! Tradition is a bloodthirsty wolf when it rains upon a victim in the royal palace. What others do is watch you burn and hope the smoke doesn't choke them on the sidelines!

Aariz had broken numerous traditions. But queen Neemah isn't stupid enough to advertise the reason Aairah was being punished. That would set a course of no return for both her, Aariz and Aairah herself. She knows the emir would never forgive her. And Aairah cannot be saved from public censure and her life, not only in the palace, will be ruined! She is hoping that by doing this, Aairah would begin to fear her stay at the palace. She wanted the whelp to know she is a nobody whom she can make or break when it struck her fancy.

Even though it is within her right to punish Aairah, she also has to answer to Aariz. The queen of Maicki has one weakness. It is that the emir can change her if he so wishes. Though it is a long and tedious process, he could make her life miserable as well. Her peace comes with making peace with the emir!

The Fillo clan must look after the emir's image. For if he gets into trouble, they would suffer even more than him. Because their current good fortune centers in producing a true heir of the emirate. They cannot afford to lose him. The clan might not recover from the loss in a short amount of time. He is invaluable to them! So when they heard rumors that Aairah is not virtuous, they placed a keen eye to see if it is true or not. Naturally, no one will hear of the real reason she is being punished unless her proper punishment has been met. Exile is the last mercy upon wayward souls! Imagine their surprise when they heard the emir has gone into the widow's chamber to retrieve Aairah who is still serving punishment.

They cannot afford to leave the girl with the emir and chance her getting pregnant with a child that will have no bearing upon the emirate. Her mere image will stain the emir's perfect record and being the sovereign heir is about hiding faults and appearing invincible. Definitely, they have made up their minds to fight Aairah. They will definitely strive to get her to exile so she does not present a cause for concern.

As for the elder's council, they are the male Besluitnemers and they run political affairs in Maicki. If they sense a problem that could give them cause to shake the table of power, they will definitely seize it. After all, true heirs are scarce, but not extinct! A lot will celebrate the downfall of the Fillo clan so theirs will rise.

But the dowager is different. She just wants what is best-est for her son.

The older concubines already hold a grudge. When the emir dies, the new emir naturally takes his place and inherits everything from the late emir. But Aariz had shunned all the young aspirants for the concubine position. Concubines are made from slaves in Maicki. Now that he has shunned them, they have no stepping stone to hold their own. It's a tug of war. The emir's wives are naturally from political marriages. But concubines are normally chosen by him. They hold a special place and rule others in their own might. The queen cannot bar a concubine from his majesty. She holds no power to stop them from seeing the emir anytime, any day. They live to please the emir! Their sons and daughters get to be free citizens. So unless a slave girl marries the emir, she will never be free in Maicki. How can they stand by and watch when a stupid one occupies such a high position and then gets protected by the same emir who shunned them?

So the emir does have some explaining to do. Only, he wasn't feeling like giving any.

He called for a meeting and when everyone has quieted after the normal pleasantries, he said "during the era of his highness Aitan Abu Adiel, he elected female besluitnemers to control the excessive squirmishes that had threatened to cause political instability in Maicki..." Documents were shared so the elders can recall the incident and see the new crisis arising from fights between females of the nobility. Recently, even one from queen Neemah and lady Naeemah Alkali. Their supporters had a huge fight and weapons were drawn. Some injured because of a reason no one can tell.

"These fights do get bloody. There is a need for caution. So I have resolved to elect the female besluitnemers" he paused to let it sink. "I will call them Wamuzi in respect to our Swahili ancestors who brought this idea and let it be named in Aafrikaans"  he paused, waiting for them to finish looking through the documents. "Once the necessary documentary is done, the law will pass. Hopefully, our differences too"

There is such silence that if a pin drops, no doubt they will think it's a bomb!

To a lay man, the emir is just addressing an issue, choosing to disregard their complaints upon his behavior. But every man facing the emir today, is no lay man. From the moment the meeting was called, there are those who had begun to think ahead. For some, it was only when the emir opened his mouth that they realized what kind of a meeting they were having. At this point, they could all read between the lines. The emir is displeased with their query and has taken this course of action to make someone the scape goat. It only means he would not cave. He is making his stance clear. He would protect Aairah.

Aariz has never openly protected anyone before. Naturally, everyone is wondering why he is taking pains to do it now. They do not know how to react. They don't know what he is thinking. Perhaps he isn't thinking! Perhaps it is his heart taking over his mind for once. Hope lighted their eyes with keen interest. If that is the case, then the invincible Aariz Almustapha Fillo has just gotten himself a disease that might very well lead to his downfall!

"Will the queen lead them?" The Mrithi Fillo dared to ask.

"My Queen would not be seen attending balls when we have a whole country to run" he quipped. "We need someone to take some of the loads off her shoulder" he decreed. It's not an explanation. Every word is law and he is making it as clear as possible so no one mistakes his meaning. He is cutting Queen Neemah out of this one. It's very very harsh. But it's not just her punishment. She is serving punishment for the dowager and every negative opinion that has brandied themselves about since he had rescued Aairah from that widow's chamber!

The Mrithi Fillo cannot mistake the smirk on the other Mrithis faces. And his mind thundered with angry exclamations. Like 'what the hell did Neemah do to incur the emir's wrath?!'

...

Besluitnemers: decision makers in Afrikaans

Waamuzi is in swahili