Hakuno collapsed on her palette and lightly leaned her head against the wall. The azu had determined that the injury was not as bad as it looked. That was something she could tell him from all the texts she had read! Injuries of the head bled more than any other type!
"What am I supposed to do with this?" she wondered as she lightly touched the bandages wrapped around her head. She had not been worried about it. The plan was to slip out and take care of it but then the King had to get involved.
She gazed at the bloody cloth from the King's clothes. The azu had planned on throwing it out as it could not be returned to the King but she had stopped him from doing so. When she had a little free time she was going to get it cleaned.
Her main question though was why had he reacted that way? She expected Ekur to be upset. The baru was technically her master now and he would be annoyed at having his slave injured so soon. No. He was the one that got upset.
Her fingers ran along the high quality cloth as she thought it over. What was his purpose of getting worried over her like that? It was not out of property concern. She made a face at the thought of that. Property. That was what she was now.
Pushing that thought away she focused back on her current thought process. His actions seemed way too concerned for her well-being. Also he had seemed to have gotten genuinely upset at the text for making her injury herself so. Why? It did not look like he understood his actions either.
On that note, he seemed upset when she spoke about living a life in a traveling caravan. There was no reason for her to bring it up, but a part of her wanted to give him a little payback for forcing her to live this kind of life. And he had seemed upset by that as well if she was reading him right! What did that mean?
Before she could think further on the topic, she heard a sharp gasp from the doorway.
"Hello Shub. It looks worse than it is."
The girl collapsed next to Hakuno and clutched her friend's hands tightly within her own. "What happened? Are you okay? I heard from others that you hit your head and the azu came to treat you and the King stayed by your side. Is that true?"
The slave information network was astounding.
"I am alright. The injury looks worse than it is. I can remove the bandages in a couple of days." I will remove them in a couple of days.
"But still…" Shub looked her over a few times, like she was truly trying to find something wrong with Hakuno. Her eyes settled on the bloody cloth in Hakuno's lap. "Is this what I think it is?" she squeaked. "Then is that part of the rumor really true?" Hakuno tightened her grip on the cloth as Shub felt it. "Oh! It is! It is! This is from the…" Shub dropped her voice to a whisper, "the King. He tore his clothes for you!"
"It is nothing like that," scoffed Hakuno. "He was just worried about his, oh-so-special slave." She shrugged. "He was probably worried I would die from my injury."
"A King does not sit next to just anyone to care for them," Shub replied. Her brown eyes sparkled brightly. "I know you are not from around here at all so you do not know everything about Uruk, but here, a King does not do that. He would not sit next to you, and rip up his clothing for you." She shook her head. "That is unheard of."
Hakuno was beginning to feel uncomfortable under Shub's gaze. The girl used to view her as just a fellow companion but there was something more in those eyes now. Questions. Questions to what Hakuno was and why the King had taken an interest in her. She could not even answer that. It could not just be based on her exotic looks from what Shub had said. Then what was left? What was the answer to that question?
"I am sorry Shub but I cannot tell you anything." She gestured to the shackles on her feet. "I am an odd slave, I will admit that but I really do not know why he is keeping me here for so long. I thought he would…have his way and be done with it so I may move on but I am still here and now in the service of the baru." In a sense, would that mean she was moving up on the social ladder?
"I did not mean to say you had some motive for doing something like this. I feel like you are in the dark as well as me and everyone else here." She nodded. "Yes, I will trust in you Hakuno. As a friend."
"Thanks Shub."
"No problem." Shub got to her feet. "Well, I have to get going. I slipped out of my work to make sure you were alright." She gestured to the bloody cloth. "I have an errand to do down at the river. Would you like me to take care of that while I am down there?"
Hakuno smiled and handed the cloth to Shub. "Do not lose it now."
"A memento from the King? Do not worry, I will not let it leave my sight."
She waved goodbye as Shub returned to work. Now alone, her thoughts returned to the matter at hand. Why did he do this for her? She remembered the final moments before he left. He said he was leaving and then made an annoyed noise under his breath. Why? Was that because she did not acknowledge him leaving?
She sighed. What a child. Was he really that petty to get annoyed over something like that? Well, he did almost fling a tablet on the ground because it "hurt" her. She shook her head. He was just a boy upset about a scratched toy. That was all.
"And we are finally done with this library." Ekur collapsed in a chair.
Hakuno took a quick survey of the room to make sure that there was not a stray tablet lying on the ground. Nope. All of the tablets were stacked neatly on the shelves. Clay tablet signs were in front of each shelf and stated exactly what the stack behind them were about.
"This would have taken much longer without your help. I thank you for that."
Her eyes widen. She could not believe her ears. In the time she was here, Ekur had never really thanked her for anything she did. Lowering her head, she concealed the blush that was beginning to rise up her face.
"Next up we will tackle the one in the basement. I have heard rumors of there being texts in relation to divination with Nabu in there."
"Really?" Hakuno squeaked. "Do you think they would be liver omen texts in relation to him? Or maybe some curse texts to tie up someone's destiny?"
Thankfully, at this point, Ekur was used to Hakuno's random outbursts at the mention of a library. "Maybe," he replied. "There might also be Ugaritic texts in there as well. You can read that correct?"
She nodded. "Yes. I have spent some time in the area. It's very similar to the cuneiform used here. I can read them without trouble."
"Good," replied Ekur. He put his hands into his long robes. "I have a feeling it is going to take just as long as this room, perhaps even longer. We are also going to be underground as well."
Hakuno shifted her dress slightly. There was no point in suggesting Ekur to take on apprentice barus to lower the amount of work he had to do. Ekur wanted none of it. He liked doing everything himself without a younger person telling him what to do.
"You may take the rest of the day off," he told her. "We will start on that library another day."
"Do you require help with your divination tonight?"
"No, it is alright."
Hakuno bowed before she slipped out. She blinked as the sunlight hit her eyes. "The sun is pretty high up already…" They had started the final stretch of this library before dawn. It looked like the day had marched on without them.
What was she going to do with the rest of her day? Maybe go to one of the other libraries and do some reading? Yes. That was what she would do.
She took off towards the stories and legends library. After Ekur had understood her deep love for books, he had asked the King to allow her access to all the libraries except for the ones in relation to the state. To her surprise, the King had agreed to it.
The King.
She had seen him a few times in the past couple of weeks but it had been in passing in the halls of the palace. He acknowledged her presence but nothing more than that. There was no talk like the one they had when she was injured. Did she regret that fact? She was not sure. She knew she had seen a different side to the King that no one else did but what did that mean for her? Did that even mean anything?
Her steps slowed as she reached the doors of the audience chamber. Based on the time, he should be in there now, listening to the demands of his people. Even though he complained about having to sit in on these, he still did the best for them. How could a man who ruled so well have such a childish personality?
She shook her head. What in the world was she doing? Hovering outside the door of the audience chamber, what nonsense was this? This was her time off! She did not have time to be standing around out here!
She walked past the chamber and turned the corner and almost bumped into Shub.
"Oh! Hakuno!"
"Shub. What-"
Shub grabbed Hakuno's arm and pulled her friend behind her.
"Shhh!" Shub hissed. Her fingers wrapped around Hakuno's arm in a death grip.
Walking out of the audience chamber, following behind a slave, was a man. Based on his clothing and jewelry he was of the upper noble class. He was not ugly but he was not pretty to look at either. Something about his dark eyes bothered her though. She could not put her finger on it but she knew she did not want him looking at her. The man followed the slave in the opposite direction of where Shub and Hakuno were hiding.
Shub did not release her grip on Hakuno's arm until the man was finally out of sight.
"What's wrong Shub? Who is that man?"
Shub pressed her hands to her chest. "That was Naram," she whispered. "He is a noble from a neighboring kingdom. He visits every year as an ambassador."
"An ambassador…" This was the first one that Hakuno had seen in all of her time at the palace. Or maybe she has but she had not known. Nobles were always here for some reason or another. "What is the problem with him? You seemed very frightened of him."
He is…he is a bad man. You must stay out of his sight Hakuno." Shub grabbed Hakuno's arms tightly and stared up at her friend with pleading eyes. "You must promise me that you will stay out of his sight. If you catch his attention…"
"What are you talking about?" Hakuno pulled Shub's hands away from her and held her friend's hand tightly in her own. "What do you mean he is a 'bad man'? Why should I not let him see me?"
Shub chewed her bottom lip and looked around like she expected Naram to pop up behind her. "It will be better for you if you do not. Please Hakuno."
"Alright." It was not like she had any protest to that. Naram felt really off to her and she was happy to avoid him.
"Thank you." Shub took a step back. "You will be fine Hakuno." She nodded. "I will make sure of it. You are teaching me to read after all."
"Oh it is not much." After work every day, Hakuno would have a quick lesson with Shub on reading and writing. Shub was still a bit shaky with the alphabet but they had moved on to words. It was not going as well as Hakuno would have liked but Shub seemed happy and for that, she had no complaints.
Shub was about to reply but her eyes widen slightly and she lowered herself to the ground in a low bow.
"Were you waiting out here for me?"
Hakuno blinked slowly and turned to the King. Like always he was dressed in the finest of cloth. The necklace with golden amulets that proclaimed he was the king stood out proudly against his bare chest. He looked as pompous and arrogant as always.
"I was not," she replied. "I was on my way to the libraries when I bumped into Shub and we were discussing a matter that does not concern you."
Hakuno heard Shub's sharp intake of breath. The King's guards also stared at her in shock. Of course no one spoke to the King like that. Maybe it was because of that moment they shared in the library or maybe it was how Shub had told her about Naram. Either way, she had a feeling that whatever Shub was talking about, people outside of the slave sphere were not privy to know.
"Oh really now?" The King put a hand under her chin and made her look up at him.
She averted her eyes to avoid staring into his face. "Yes. It is matters in relation to the gardens and the lily flowers bathed in the light of Gula."
He released her chin and turned away. "You are spending far too much time with Ekur."
"I do not think you believe in the power the Gods hold."
The guards were shooting glances at each other and then back at Hakuno.
The King laughed. "Like I would believe in the power of some Gods. Carry on then."
"I will." Hakuno did not move as she watched the King walk away with his guards.
"I cannot believe you lied to the King like that." Shub got to her feet and dusted the bottom of her dress.
"It was not a lie. There actually was a text I found in the library in relation to Gula and lilies. I just may have exaggerated the connection between the two. Plus it was the fastest way to get him off of the trail. He hates things in relation to divination…what is it Shub? Why are you looking at me with such a weird face?"
Shub shook her head. "No, it is nothing. I just had a thought but it cannot be. Anyway, I must return to work now. Please remember to keep the promise Hakuno."
"I will, do not worry Shub. I will keep that promise."