章 12: FOR MY HUSBAND
"Sarika," Akira said, her voice steady and clear,"I am doing this for my husband and Savvy."
She walked towards her pot of soup and placed it on the fire as if it weighed nothing. She tasted it noted it was saltier so she quickly cut some tomatoes and only squeezed in the juice and added water. She sat down on a stool and patiently waited for it to start boiling.
Sarika, not having the courage to approach Akira, turned away and left the kitchen. Akira sighed in frustration and anger. She didn't know how long she had sat there for and only moved when someone tapped her shoulder. She turned and found Tak squatting beside her. He seemed worried as he looked at her.
"You look beautiful, Akira." He complemented,"But that frown you wear makes it the first thing to notice."
"Help me with the pot." Akira said getting up.
"You won't tell me?"
"Would you care?"
Tak nodded as he moved to the fire to help her. They lifted the pot off the fire and Tak wait patiently for her to tell her why she was sad.
"I'll tell you in the morning. Right now I need to concentrate." Akira said finally as she stirred the pot," Taste it and tell me how it is."
Tak nodded and took the ladle from her. He drank the soup with a smile.
"It tastes just as I remember and sweeter. They'll love it."
"Are you going to be there as well?" Akira asked and Tak nodded," That's good. Whatever I say don't stop me. These people don't care so much about respect for elders so I will speak accordingly."
Tak nodded supportively and she smiled at his compliance. Tak soon left to let her do her duties and she plated out the soup adding a small amount of her chilli on a spoon and placing it beside each bowl of soup.
"Has the withering widow abandoned you as well?" Daki's voice rang behind Akira.
Akira remained calm without showing how startled she was at the new arrival of the mother and daughter.
"My my.....you can't even speak without her here?"
"I don't waste my breath on expired mistresses." Akira said wearing a face of confidence and pride.
"Are you alright? My mother is a married woman!" Savvy screamed.
Before she could say anything else, Daki stopped her as she stared at Akira who hadn't moved her eyes from the older woman's face.
"Start preparing the food now or we'll be late." Daki spat out the order for her daughter.
Savvy frowned but obeyed her mother. Soon they all took their food out to the dinning table and served it as though it was one meal. This was so that those eating wouldn't be biased on what food to praise and eat. Daki had helped Savvy prepare the steaks just the way she prepared it for every meeting and she knew the council members had a knack for meaty feasts. She chuckled when she saw Akira's soup feeling certain the council members would only taste it to not offend Thaggar.
Soon the men started streaming in one after the other. Thaggar was the last to enter with Tak, both of their eyes falling on Akira who seemed lost in thought. Sarika was sitting in her usual seat which was on Thaggar's right hand and opposite her sat Tak. Next to Sarika sat Taki, adorned in jewels to show her status as the princess. There were no seats for Savvy and Akira as they were expected to both stand to attend to any needs of the men. Daki sat opposite her husband instead of next to him so that she could see Sarika clearly. She wanted to relish the woman's defeat when Savvy was chosen to be queen.
Thaggar's eyes were glued on Akira, appreciating her beauty in the dress she wore. If they had been alone he would be peppering kisses on every part of her body but he didn't like that she wasn't smiling. Soon the room was filled with the clatter of spoons and all the council members dove straight into eating the meat. Savvy smiled and looked at Thaggar hoping to see him eating her food as well and she was so happy when she saw him take a bite our of him. The meat was done in no time and they moved to the soup. Without much thought most of them added the chilli as well and stirred the soup.
"I've never tasted such a lovely soup before." Came the unfiltered praise from Fanak, unaware that the soup was not part of his daughter's cooking.
Most of the others praised the soup honestly also believing that it was Savvy's cooking.Daki's face hardened as she listened, glaring at her husband for begining this. He hadn't even praised her meat yet here he was praising the soup.
"I've honestly wished to have a something to accompany the steak, it always seem a little dry and all the flavours are hard to really get but the soup really brings out a whole rainbow of flavour." Another much older man, Turuk, commented.
Turuk recieved a round of nods at the table some even refusing to speak to savour the taste.
"I'm glad you all enjoyed the soup. Akira said the recipe has been past down many generations in her family and I see why."
Thaggar's words hung heavy in the air as the men all froze. Fanak was too fearful to even look up at his wife knowing she wanted to kill him.
"Now we know MY queen can cook, what else do you wish to test her in?"
There was silence. Daki cleared her throat wishing to be the first to speak after the big fumble.
"My son...."
"Women don't speak in the court unless asked to." Thaggar interrupted licking what remained of Akira's chilli,"Isn't that right?"
Daki's teeth clenched and her hands were fisted. She nodded and then looked at Fanak who cleared his throat.
"Well my king, a woman needs to know more than just cook, especially if she aspires to be queen. Isn't that right men?"
They all nodded and Fanak smiled only to hear Akira chuckle. They all looked at her, displeased at her blatant rudeness.
"Do you wish to say something, Akira?" Thaggar asked a little amused.
"If I'm allowed to, my king." She responded and he nodded,"I'm just wondering what else the council wants to see. If a woman doesn't take part in court and cooking and cleaning is not enough, then must I invite you all to my bed chamber to see how much work I'm putting into becoming with child?"
Thaggar chuckled while everyone else was quiet, too shocked at Akira's reasoning. Tak was wondering if the woman speaking was still his sister but he was still proud. Taki burst into laughter too loving her sister-in-law's retort.
"May I speak, my king?" Daki asked fed up with the course of the conversation and Thaggar nodded,"Akira, or whatever your name is, you shouldn't grow wings as you are still a commoner. Insulting the council will bring you nothing but scorn."
"May I speak?" Akira asked Thaggar again and he nodded,"Daki, from what I can see here only my husband is being insulted by the rest of you. You are all openly disagreeing with him when he has seen no potential of being queen in Savvy since he married her."
"How dare you!"
"As for being a commoner well.....as far as I'm concerned I'm the only one who has been bedded by the king."
Savvy gasped beside Akira, her knees almost failing her. She was on the brink of crying. Akira's gaze softened when she looked at Savvy but she had to do what she had to.
"Is this how uncultured you people are?! No wonder your mother chose to die than come here as someone related to you!" Daki snapped and Akira's face hardened once more,"If I was your mother I would also choose a dishonorable death."
"If I was YOUR daughter I would have killed myself. At least my mother was a faithful woman." Akira retorted and Daki's face blanched.
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