Complicity:

Umara:
I wake up during the early morning. I don't know if the intense heat or a noise woke me up. I get out of bed and head down the main hallway, looking for the exit to the garden.
Outside, a huge moon illuminates the trees, the place would be very peaceful if it weren't for the murmurs and laughter that I am able to hear. I frown, it's really late. Who could be making such a ruckus at this hour?
I head towards the place where the noise comes from, walking on the stone walkway. From the voices I understand that it is Burya and one of the twins. Getting close to them, I'm about to scold them for the rucus their causing when I realize what's really happening.
The girls are completely naked, stuck in one of the fountains, chasing each other, touching, and…my jaw drops in scandal…are they kissing?!
— Yes, I know. They are a cheeky pair.- Someone says right next to me and I jump in fright.
— Sarab, you're going to kill me with a heart attack if you keep showing up like that, out of nowhere!- I yell.
The Egyptian throws herself at me, putting her hand over my mouth.
— Be quiet! We don't want them to know we're here.- she whispers.
I look at Burya and Mem. They don't seem to have noticed us.
— Let's go. - Sarab says, almost pulling me and dragging me away.
We reach the stairs that go up to the pavilion and he lets go of me with a jerk.
— You have a talent for getting into trouble, Umara.- she mutters, frankly bemused. - Maybe that's your gift? Being devilishly nosy.
— Is it allowed?- I stammer. - What they're doing , they were there, we saw them, ¿right?. Is…is it allowed?
She raises an eyebrow, looking at me with a disgusted face.
—Is that all that matters to you? If their behaviour violates any law or not?
I am stunned.
—Where I come from, those kinds of women are stoned to death.
Sarab gives me a cynical smile.
—Thanks to Ra we are not in the nomad tribes' territory. - she mutters.
—But…
— Look, in Palace you will know many secrets. Good secrets, insignificant secrets, bad secrets, small, big…secrets of all kind. - She gives me a stern look. – There are also deadly secrets, and I advise you to be very careful with those.
She takes a deep breath and looks around, her expression turning rapidly sad.
— There are secrets that can cost the lives of people you love. My younger sister…- I see her chin trembling.- …she thought it was the right thing to tell our uncle about the mark on my thigh.
I look at her stranged. Sarab shakes her head in exasperation and begins to ascend towards the common room inside the pavilion.
The Luna's mark.
—Oh.
—My uncle knew that Kurani Emperor was seeking women with that specific mark for years, and thought that an alliance with the Empire would be profitable. He didn't know that I had put my heart into dedicating myself to the priesthood, he didn't think that my father could oppose to my union with that...- he stops suddenly, his voice is filled with venom and hatred.
— Anyway, my sister is dead, my father is dead...my whole family is.
Sarab reaches the door of her room, pushes it open and brakes hard.
Inside there is a huge altar, on which small candles light statuettes of the different Egyptian gods. I look at Sarab in dismay.
— It is against the Kurani laws, to worship gods other than their own. It is punishable by death.
I instantly pale.
— Burya and Mem´s affair is acceptable, after all there is no risk of them getting pregnant and embarrassing the emperor with a bastard child, their relationship is quite innocent. After all, that Beast doesn't summon them to him often, I suspect he entertains himself with the servant maidens.
She looks me in the eye, sternly.
— You are no longer in the tribes´ territory. These are not your people, rules are different here… As I said… you will know many secrets, it is up to you what you do with them. Surely you have not forgotten that you have your own, and that we all know about your daily prayers. We will keep that secret for you, I assure you, but at some point you will have other secrets and you will have to choose very carefully who you trust with them.
I blink a few times, trying to comprehend everything I just discovered.
— However, if you wish, there are stones out there, go and throw them if that alleviates your conscience, you have also seen what I hide. - The Egyptian smiles broadly. - You can decide if you are going to give me away or not.
Saying this, she turned on his heel, went into her room, slamming the door in my face.


***
— Is something wrong, Umara? You look pale.- Cítiê comments the next morning, during breakfast.
— Surely the monkeys didn't let her sleep. Last night they were particularly noisy.- Zai sputters, looking at her sister out of the corner of her eyes.
Burya has turned pale, and she bites her lower lip hard. She is nervous.
— Actually, I couldn't sleep well but it wasn't because of the monkeys. In fact, I didn't even hear them. I was up later than usual due to my period. I'm in my days and the descent of my…well. It has always been painful.
Sarab looks at me raising an eyebrow, I feel like she's calling me a liar.
— Oh, it's understandable. I will prepare a tea to relieve your colic, if you wish.- Cítiê offers.
— Yes. Thank you, that would be wonderful.
***
Today the girls have practiced target shooting again. Zai and Mem argue constantly, Burya picks flowers and weaves them into bracelets and crowns, Sarab amuses herself picking fruit from nearby trees, she has taken half a dozen maidens with her. And me? I pretend that I am content to contemplate the panorama while I prayed internally.
´´Merciful, have mercy on my soul,
Free me from these chains
Send me back to the Oasis
Of your benevolence."
"Eternal Father, give me strength,
To face my enemies,
To keep my life
Safe from danger.”
“Spirit Guide, - my eyes filled with tears.
grant rest,
To your faithful and righteous children,
Who perished under the sword,
In the desert."
— Are you feeling unwell?- Burya whispers, startling me. -You have turned pale, again.
I smile sadly.
— No. I mean yes…-I release a exasperated huff, this morning I'm incoherent.
— Ah… Are you still in pain? Didn't Cítiê's concoction help you?
— No, I'm better now. And yes, the drink helped me a lot.
She looks at me with some suspicion.
—I'm fine, Burya. Seriously.- I assure you.
—Good!- she yells happily.- Here.- she says, placing a crown of roses on my head and laughing out loud. She turns and walks off in search of the others, handing each one a floral present.
I take the crown off my head and hold it in my hands for a moment, it's amazing, how many thorns this thing has and yet the Russian managed to make a beautiful object out of the stems.
Sarab calls us, she wants to share her fruity loot with us, apparently. I make a move to stand up, having already forgotten the thorns and so I end up pricking myself with one of them.
I drop the crown to the ground. Pursing my lips and looking at the tiny drop of blood that begins to appear on the tip of my index finger.
True, you can take dangerous circumstances and try to bend them to your will, but you will always run the risk of getting hurt.