We are silent as we make our way to Senator Hedari's estate.
I can tell that even Koirna is nervous, and she is never nervous.
"Imagine living in this place." Kejya says dreamily as we make our way to the Senator's home.
It's a beautiful castle with large stained glass windows. It's situated in the middle of an endless stretch of trees and greenery. There are close to ten guards at the huge silver gates. They frisk us and check our of rucksacks.
"What do you have here?" A guard in a red tunic asks in a rough voice as he checks my rucksack.
"My performance outfit." I reply.
He lifts the gold pants and midriff top in the air, examining then inside out. He throws them at me before examining the wreath of white lilies carefully.
When the guards are satisfied that we aren't carrying any weapons and poisons, they allow us to enter the grounds of the castle. There are guards patrolling everywhere.
"I hear these type of houses are common in the capital. If we all do our part today then who knows, we might end up living in a place like this." Koyna says, looking at me.
I know she thinks I'm incompetent. That I shouldn't be performing with them.
I'm going to prove to her today that i'm a good contortionist.I may not be perfect like she is, but I'm good."Now that would be a dream come true." Kejya says.
We head to the far end of the compound where the rest of performers are gathered, chatting excitedly.
"Hmm...how far along is he?" One peculiar man with a long nose, and a long black leather coat asks his crow.
I blink rapidly as the crow caws, as if it has understood the question.
We pass by a woman with piercings all over her face.She's licking a tiny black snake. I nearly trip and fall as I watch her let it slither inside her nostril.
Three male drummers are polishing their drums.The one in the middle with a boyish face smiles at me, I blush as I smile back.He is good looking.
"They are all so beautiful." I say to Kejya as we pass a troop of beautiful belly dancers in red.
They are practicing their hip rolls.
"Yes, and so are we." Kejya squeezes my hand.
She feels that I'm nervous, and rightfully so. There are so many talented performers here.
But also to be among them, means we are good too. Growing up, my father made me believe that I was useless.
At some point I started to believe it.
But being here, chosen to perform for the crown prince of Ithalthi, reminds me that I have value to offer.
I'm worthy.
"Look at them, I bet you some of the silks and jewels they are wearing could feed the whole Wa province." Koirna sneers, looking at the nobles of our province.
The noble men of our province, their wives and families are sitting inside a large tent in front of us. They are chatting and laughing with each other as servants fuss over them, refilling their wine chalices, and getting them food from the nearby tent.
My mouth waters just looking at the little tent where their food is kept. There are numerous gold trays filled with all sorts of meats and fruits.
My stomach growls. I haven't eaten since morning, I was anxious of today's performance."He's here.
The crown prince is here." Someone shouts.
We look at the gates where soldiers march inside the compound.
They are wearing black armor. They are on horseback and armed to the teeth.
Senator Hedari goes to meet the crown prince. He bows low as the crown prince descends from his white horse.
The senator then leads the crown prince to the tent, where the other nobles of Wa Province are bowing as he passes.
The crown prince sits on the golden chair in the middle and waves at us, the entertainers.The crowd around me erupts in cheers.
I join in as we wave back at him.Kejya and I giggle at each other as we cheer along.
"Get ready everyone, there will be no time to waste. When I call you, you should be ready to perform. I'm I clear?" Senator Hedari's eunich, who is in charge of the performances asks.
He's wearing a red feminine tunic, and has painted his lips red.
"Yes," We reply."You, go first." He points at the drummers.
They make their way towards the tent and start their drumming and singing. Kejya and I sway along.The crown prince remains immobile in his seat, from here its hard to see his face expressions.
But when they finish performing, one of his soldiers approach them and hands them a chest of gold.
"Thank you, your highness." The drummers bow down before the crown prince.
They thank him profusely. He acknowledges them with a simple wave.
"Did you see that?" Kejya's eyes go wild.
"It's true then, he is generous to performers." I turn to her.
My eyes are wide with disbelief.
"If he gave them one chest of gold for that lazy performance, imagine how much he'll give us." One of the belly dancers standing next to us tells her friend.
They are both tall and beautiful with flawless skin.
"Definitely not less than five chests." Her friend calculates.
She is right. They are who they think they are, gorgeous, graceful and very talented dancers.
They make me feel ridiculous with the wreath of white lilies nestled around my hair and the gold coloured pants that my friends and I have changed into for the performance.
We watch as more and more entertainers perform for the crown prince. Each troupe leaves with a gold chest.
What if the gold runs out before we perform? I close my eyes and take a deep breath. That won't happen.
Nothing bad will happen, all will go well.
Soon, we will be free and independent and we'll move to Serewenjya, the capital city of Ithalthi.
"Girls, you are next.. Come on, no time to waste." The eunich snaps his fingers at Koirna, Kejya and I.
"Thank you, your highness." I watch as the troupe before us thanks the crown prince for their reward.
"Go, go go." The eunich urges us.
We make our way towards the tent, my knees feel weak at this point, and I'm holding my breath.
This is it, this is the moment that changes my life.
We get to the front of the tent, and in front of the crown prince.He's handsome, with twinkling dark eyes and glowing dark skin.
He has a well trimmed beard, my eyes travel to his rippling muscular arms. I develop a crush on him instantly.
"Your highness, my name is Kejya." Kejya introduces herself as she bows.
"I am Koirna." Kejya bows.
A sense of dread falls on me and I freeze. He's looking at me, and so are the rest of the nobles sitting around him.
"Anaya." I swallow. He's staring at me intently. "My name is Anaya, your majesty."I bow down and the wreath of white lilies on my head falls.
I pick it up as we start our routine.Kejya gracefully performs a backbend and tucks her head and her legs together.
"Wow..." The nobles in the tent clap.
When it's my turn, the wreath on my head falls again as I perform a handstand with my hands on Kejya's back.
Why is it doing this to me now? It was alright when we were practicing. I try not to overthink as we go through the performance.
"Look at that," One of the nobles announces as Koirna folds herself up into the small trunk we carried.
"If you learnt to do that my dear, I'd never look at another woman ever." One of the nobles tells his wife as Kejya performs a split.
I hear a few laughs from some of their friends.
"Are you ready?" Koirna whispers to me as we come to the peak of our performance.I nod.
We've practiced this tough part over and over again in the past month.
"For Serewenjya." She whispers to Kejya and I.
"For Serewenjya." We whisper back.
This is our ticket to the capital.
We simultaneously do our handstands, a bow and arrow tucked on our feet and shoot at the target.
Koyna shoots her arrow first and it lands on the bull's eye of the shooting target that the eunich has erected for us.
"How did she do that?" One of the nobles on the front row asks, standing up.
It's Kejya turn, she shoots perfectly, and the nobles clap.
Then its my turn. My heart beats fast and my palms grow sweaty.
"You can do it." Kejya whispers at me.
I take a deep breath and aim.
"Any time now." Koirna whispers.
I take another deep breath and aim at the target and shoot.
I hear clapping in the audience, I have shot the bull's eye. I did it.
We do it three more times this time using flaming arrows and the nobles are super impressed. Most of them are now on their feet, clapping.
With our routine done, we stand before the handsome crown prince and bow. One of his soldiers approaches us carrying a chest.
This is it, the moment we've dreamt about since we heard of this chance.
I notice that the crown prince and senator Hedari are talking to each other in low tones. Stars, he's so attractive, even when I leave here today, he's going to be my forever crush.
Wait, are they looking at me?
The soldier places the chest in front of us.
"Thank you, your highness. Long may you live." Koirna, Kejya and I say in unison.
I'm so ecstatic I could scream.
I can't wait to get out of here with our chest, and go celebrate with my friends.
We decided we'd leave immediately after our performance. There are thieves known to hijack performers after such festivities. Especially at night.
"It's so heavy." Kejya whispers as the three of us lift up the chest from the ground.
We smile at each other. We did it. Our hard work paid off.
Crown prince Itashi snaps his fingers, the soldier who handed us the chest of gold marches to him.
The crown prince instructs him on something, the soldier nods and then walks back to us.
"You, come with me." The soldier points at me.
He holds me by the arm and drags me away. Away from my friends, and from the chest of gold, from my freedom. I watch as a guard ushers Kejya and Koirna away with the chest of gold.
The beautiful belly dancers approach the front. It's their turn to perform for the crown prince.
My friends look back at me, helpless, as we're dragged further and further away from each other.
What did I do wrong?
Is it because the wreath of flowers fell off my head as we performed?
My whole body trembles with fear as the soldier leads me inside the senator's castle.