‘Let us move to the brass stall opposite. He will meet us there,’ Attem announced.
Affiah was about to ask Attem how she knew that he would meet them there, but then she remembered: Attem always just knew what she knew.
Ituen knew this was a risk, but what was life without stakes?
Ituen strode towards the stall as the plan formulated in his mind. A casual, cursory glance informed Ituen that the queen was moving with three male guards who stood some ways behind her. This was unusual and he liked it; she was clearly a woman with confidence and power.
She was running a hand across the sculptures and chatting with her handmaiden when Ituen moved next to her. There was a respectable distance between them – not close enough to arouse suspicion, and not so far away that striking up a conversation would be awkward. She held still for a few moments before continuing to browse, chatting to the trader about the craftmanship, the detail. She was a woman who knew art. Ituen cleared his throat and picked up a bronze leopard. It was an elegant piece; the creature had a long-arched back that was ready to spring into a pounce, eyes sharp and focused, minute claws extended.
He turned it around in his palm and looked up at the trader. ‘Oga, how much?’
The trader flicked an incredulous look at him. Queen Attem still had not glanced his way. He felt exposed by her lack of attention, and it was then that he realised how badly he wanted it.
The trader clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth irritably. ‘Can’t you see I’m busy? Mannerless boy. You want to interrupt my trade with a queen—’
It was then that Queen Attem raised her chin. Ituen could tell from her profile that the corner of her mouth had flicked up in what seemed to be amusement. Her handmaiden was smiling too. This was objectively a good thing, but it surprised and unnerved Ituen. He had predicted an annoyance from her, which he had plans to soothe, but she had bucked his control of the situation with the curve of her lips. Ituen desperately wanted to see the rest of Attem’s smile. The half that he had seen had hooked into his chest and drawn him to her. He was being baited. For once, he felt like the prey.
‘No,’ her voice was as sweet and husky as a night breeze that pushed through the forest. It wrapped around his pulse and squeezed tight. ‘Let him go before me. I am still trying to decide.’
Ituen tried to reformulate his plan – her voice had scattered it, blown it to pieces. ‘Thank you, Your Highness.’ She nodded, still not looking at him. Ituen asked the trader again: ‘How much?’
The trader stared irritably at Ituen, frown set in between the old folds of his leathery face, arms crossed. When he spoke, it was a snarl. ‘Twenty.’
‘Ah, Baba, now. Please. I am going to visit my mother’s family and still have some ways to go. I need to save some money for food. Ten, abeg—’
The trader’s face creased further with irritation. He wanted to get back to the queen for the ensured sale, but he knew that to be rude to this man would be an affront to her.
‘Then save your money for food by not buying it. Ah! Do you not see the craftmanship? Have you ever seen features like this?’
‘No, sir, and that’s why I need it. It reminds me of a dream I had of the woman I would one day fall in love with. Her curves,’ he tapped the dip in the back of the metallic creature, ‘are as smooth this. She has the leopard’s savagery and elegance. Eyes that . . .’
It was now that Queen Attem turned to look at Ituen. Her gaze pinned him, pressed against his chest and pushed the air out of him in a heavy exhale. She was even more beautiful up close, lips full and smirking, a round and majestic nose that spread a little with her smile.
‘Eyes that what?’ she asked, her smile now rolling around in her mouth and flavouring her voice.
‘Eyes that,’ Ituen swallowed, ‘eyes that look like the night wrapped around the sun.’
Attem glanced at the leopard in his hand. ‘Interesting. I didn’t notice that. You must have a taste for the exquisite. What is your name?’
‘Ituen, Your Majesty.’
Attem nodded. ‘Hawk. So, you are brave, eh?’
The ground beneath them seemed to contract and draw them closer together. Ituen could hear his heart beating in his ears. Attem felt time still. Neither of them could tell who was ensnaring who.
Ituen stood strong. ‘I do what I have to do, Your Majesty.’
‘That is something that brave people say, Ituen. Are you hungry?’
Ituen inclined his head. ‘I could eat. Thank you, Your Majesty.’