YOU KNEW?

When Akira woke up, Thaggar was gone and it was already sunset. She sat up and groaned from the pain in her nether regions, the memory of that day's activity.

The door creaked open and Sarika peeped in with a smile.

"You are finally awake."

Sarika walked in and signalled for someone outside to enter. Akira covered her chest and watched as two older women, a little bit older than Sarika, walked in carrying a large tub and behind them followed about four young girls with buckets of warm water.

"Get up and bath. You'll be serving the council tonight."

Akira blinked in confusion as she only remembered Sarika telling her she would serve the family.

"But you told me....."

"I know Akira." Sarika started then she looked at the other females who quickly bowed and left the room,"The council has doubt s about you and refuse to accept Thaggar's decision to make you his queen. I suggested that if they can interact with you and test you.....as they see fit, then they will see why Thaggar has chosen you."

"Mother you KNOW Thaggar really has no reason to chose me apart from not wanting Savvy! I don't know any of your traditions enough to....."

"That is why I am here, Akira."

Akira was panicked. Why wasn't she informed earlier or woken up so she could prepare herself?

"Come, I'll explain as you get ready." Sarika said gently pulling the sheets off of Akira.

Sarika paused as she looked at all the marks Thaggar had left on Akira and she smiled making Akira blush.

"Even if they refuse, if you and Thaggar keep up then they'll have no other choice but to accept the queen as the one who first bears him a child."

Akira wanted to cover herself but she resisted the urge and got up, feeling a distinct stickiness between her legs.

'He didn't clean me today.' she said to herself,'He must be really busy."

Akira submerged herself in the water and hummed in appreciation.

"All you have to do is be sharp tongued and prideful. They will try to demene you and your background but you should shoot back, insult them if you have to." Sarika explained while Akira scrubbed herself, making sure she was spotless.

"Fanak will attack you the most as he is Savvy's father and he is cunning. Can you handle him?"

Akira's throat constricted but she nodded. How would Sarika feel when she found out her late husband had fathered a child that he married to his son? From what she now knew, Thaggar's father never married any other woman and Sarika must have been feeling she was the only one in his life. Would Thaggar ever do the same?

Sarika helped Akira into a knee length woolen dress that followed every curve of her body beautifully. She looked seductive and innocent at the same time. Sarika added beads to her hair that she put in a braid. An ivory necklace was hung around her neck and some bangles on her wrists.

"I hope your husband will control himself when he sees you." Sarika said as she affectionately caressed Akira's cheeks.

Akira blushed and looked away but she was also wondering how he would react. They left the room together and headed to the kitchen where they found Savvy, dressed in the same dress as Akira. Surprised, Akira turned to Sarika for answers but she seemed just as confused. Another woman, who looked just like Savvy except older, was standing by the table, seemingly inspecting the food Savvy had prepared. The woman turned her eyes landing on Sarika and then on Akira.

"What are you doing here, Daki?" Sarika asked crossing her arms as she looked at the woman.

Daki smiled and walked closer to Sarika, holding eye contact as though she wanted to kill her with that very stare.

"I came to see my son-in-law, Sarika, and of course to see my beautiful daughter."

"Why is she dressed like this?" Sarika asked then she looked at Savvy, her gaze softening,"Savvy, what is happening?"

"Don't act as if you care for me. Since you met this girl even have abandoned me."

"I'm acting for the crown, Savvy, we spoke of this."

"So you're happy that your son is sleeping with her before me?!"

"Calm down my dear." Daki's voice rang out.

Akira felt a chill run down her spine. This woman had an authority about her that affected even Sarika even though she was the queens mother. Her voice was much deeper and yet soothing as well and.... intimidating; awe inspiring even. Akira froze when Daki's eyes landed on her. She felt as though she had been spotted by a predictor and had no where to run.

"Fanaq, my husband who is very alive, felt it was only fair for the council to see both the king's wives to properly compare them."

Sarika visibly recoiled at the ridicule in Daki's voice at pointing out that she was a widow. Widows had no say in matters of the kingdom no matter how influential they were. Akira held Sarika's hand to offer her some comfort only to hear Daki's laugh.

"The ambitious foreigner doesn't even have her own mother to stand beside her and yet she thinks she is in a place to comfort a widow. Pitiful."

Daki looked at Savvy who raised her head proudly and followed her mother out of the kitchen. Akira and Sarika remained rooted to their spots, each trying to fight back the tears that threatened to spill out. Sarika was the first to recover so she hugged Akira.

"You'll be fine Akira. I'm here with you."

"I can't.....I can't win this." Akira whispered beginning to cry,"I know I truly don't deserve to be queen."

"No Akira. You are Thaggar's wife and just as much as Savvy has the right to the throne you do too. You have the upper hand, Thaggar has bedded you. He won't speak for you today but just know he only wants you."

"Wanting does not mean I should be queen!" Akira exclaimed breaking free from Sarika's hug.

"I know but.....we can't let his own sister be the queen Akira." Sarika said quietly, her own tears falling.

Akira felt the air rush out of her and she froze.

"Yes Akira, Savvy is Thaggar's sister."

"You...you knew?" Akira asked moving closer to Sarika who now looked equally confused.

"You....know?"

Akira nodded and then she quickly explained that it was Thaggar who had told her.

"Thaggar knows about this?!" Sarika exclaimed, almost losing her balance but Akira caught her.

"He told me the late king had told him but, who told you?"

Sarika wiped the tears from her cheeks, sniffling back the tears that wanted to fall. She took a moment to collect herself then she looked at Akira who was still waiting for an answer, her own tears now drying on her cheeks. Sarika inhaled deeply but still remained quiet.

"Mother please." Akira begged, her words chocking her.

"It was Daki. She'd told me just after she discovered she was pregnant. Fanaq had been away and she told me the only man she had been laying with was MY husband. She was.....so happy. She thought he would marry her but he didn't. She never told him that I knew and I never confronted him for Thaggar's sake. When I saw her introduce herself as Savvy's mother on the wedding day I just...I couldn't stop it. Savvy was never at fault so I took care of her and tried to give her hope that Thaggar would love her but I was happy he never bedded her. It would be a taboo."

"Is Thaggar just a tool for you?!" Akira screamed suddenly upset,"You people are playing with him as if he isn't even alive. And Savvy too she is fighting for something she can never attain and yet you two, as old as you are, are just urging her on. Is it your children's fault that that man played with you?"

Sarika looked at Akira, shocked at her outburst but she said nothing.

"All for what? What side of you does this feed?"