The trip the North American lands took about three days. It was faster than Rehema had expected. They used the three days to stop for food, breaks, sleep, and drinks. Before she had left made sure to say a goodbye to her soon to be one year old son Mosi, and her adaptive father Ekon. She waved goodbye to the so far six men that were part of her harem, as the carriage rode away from the her home. She decided to leave in charge Ekon, and Chike will she was gone.

Coming along with her Rehema decided to bring two of her most trusted advisors, and the her sister Esi. The second born child of the late empress Tamela's childern. The rest that came with her were the female warriors, guards, servants, and certain maids.

Now here she was. Her famous major trip and state affair as an empress to be. When the carriage went to a halt of the third night of their journey is when she realized they arrived.

The carriage driver opened the door, "Your majesty we have arrived."

Esi sitting across from Rehema, stretched. "Finally the chilly weather of going up north was driving me crazy." Both of the ladies had dressed in heavier clothing for the weather change. With matching black cloaks that had a lion head embodied in gold on the back, they also wore furs underneath to combat the weather.

The carriage driver helped Rehema taking her hand, with Esi following behind her. Adjusting to her surroundings Rehema found herself facing the assembly building of the queen council. It was a longhouse style building, that stretched over 80 feet on the rural area landscape. Built and styled with log styled wood, two floors high, and an arc shaped roof. An long, narrow totem pole about thirty feet high and was carved of an black and white eagle, stood in front of the building.

Across from the longhouse was a huge calm dark, sparkling colored lake that stretched miles, and Oak trees that surrounded the area.

Two native north American female guards stood standing at the door entrance, holding spears. There was a brick path that led to the entrance. A few feet ahead, and Rehema could see two middle ages women approaching her.

Rehema walked first with her sister following behind her towards the women. The women bowed with their knees, as Rehema approached them.

"Welcome, Empress Rehema, we are delighted to have you here," said one of the women wearing light blue wool coat dress.

Rehema smiled, greeting them with a hand shake. Esi nodded her head as a greeting.

"I'm council member, Lottie Callahan, and this is council member Talana Mallery," Lottie directing her hand at Talana. Lottie was a average height women, with short hair who had grown up in European Lands. Talana on the hand was North American, and stood a few inches taller than Lottie, dressed in a heavy black fur coat that covered her body completely, and white wool gloves. Both women were almost in their seniors years of age.

"We are so sorry about the passing of your mother the late empress Tamela, she was a great leader for her people," Talana said. "And didn't give us hell unlike some other empresses, that refuse to participate at times." Talana said under a mutter.

Lottie gave her a look, and they both turned to guide Rehema and her staff to the entrance of the assembly building.

"Its late and you have come far so we will allow you, your staff, and crew to rest. Tomorrow you will get to formally meet the other empresses," Lottie called out as she walked a few feet in front Rehema.

Esi nudged her older sister, with her elbow as they approached the building.

"What?" Rehema whispered with annoyance in her tone, and moving to the side to avoid Esi's nudges.

"Did you hear what she said earlier, about the other empresses not participating."

"Yeah so?" Rehema gave her sister side glance.

"So!" Esi exclaimed in a loud whisper. "That means were dealing with obnoxious leaders here."

"We just got here, do you have to be suspicious of everything?" Rehema said rolling her eyes.

"Yes, especially with the position your in, your the new girl in town. Don't let them think you are stupid."

Rehema stopped in her tracks, and focused on her sister. "Do you think I'm stupid."

Esi stopped in her tracks as well, "No." She said simply, clearing her throat.

Rehema smiled, "Good, then I think I will be able to handle myself well." They continued to walk following the two queen council members that were a few feet ahead of them. They passed the two females guards standing across from each other at the building doors who bowed at Rehema from their neck.

Entering the Longhouse, inside was warm, and many people all around were working. Guards, servants, and workers were every where doing tasks. Some cleaning, some cooking, and some setting parts up.

"Sorry the all the busyness, they are setting everything up for tomorrow," Lottie yelled over the noise. Soon Lottie and and Talana were directing them upstairs. Lottie turned to say something to Rehema before they went upstairs, "You, you sister, and your closest advisors will stay in the royal guest hall we assigned for you upstairs your majesty. The rest of your crew, servants, and maids brought along stay in the servants hall downstairs."

Rehema nodded, and turned to her crew. "You all may go and rest. You have done a wonderful job getting me here safety, and we all had a long journey, and a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Yes, your majesty," they all said in unison departing away from the stair case in groups.

Rehema turned to Lottie and Talana, "To our rooms?"

Lottie nodded, "Yes to your rooms."

As they climbed up the stairs they found the area was dim black. They were in a narrow long hallway with many different doors on both sides."

"Sorry we can't be too loud, some of the empresses that came earlier are already sleeping," Talana told her.

"It's alright," They went down the hallway, until finally both the queen council members had arrived at a door.

"This will be your room, we gave you a quit spacious one, your advisors will be next door." They opened the door for Rehema allowing her to enter, Esi followed behind her.

"Lady Esi, your room will be-" Talana began but

"I rather my sister stay with me, their is enough room for both of us here," Rehema said. "Thank you for the hospitality we will see you tomorrow."

Both the sister entered the room closing the door. It was spacious indeed. A gaint bed, and a living room area.

"Well not much we can do but sleep," Rehema said collapsing on the bed. She took her shoes, and started to change.

Esi was still walking and looking around the room. It was decorated with north American artifacts and animal fur carpets on the ground, the wall paper with bright native north American patterns.

"I'll sleep on the settee," Esi said referring to the one near the fireplace draped with the fur coat of a wolf.

"Don't be silly this bed is big enough for both of us to share," Rehema said.

Esi shrugged and followed her sisters instructions.

Rehema was now in her night gown and climbed under the bed sheets to get ready to sleep. Esi as well.

The light in the room went out from the candle, and now it was pitch dark. Silence waved over them before Esi spoke up.

"You heard the rumors about the European Lands family, the Frozen Lands family as well, so tomorrow we have to show our strength. To not be messed with." Esi laid on her side not moving an inch.

"I know Esi, now good night." Rehema turned away to not face her sister as she tried to go to sleep.

Before Rehema had left, she got to tell the good news to Omari Dalli that she had given him the rank of imperial noble consort. Now here he was officially moving in the harem hall in the royal palace of sekhe.

The harem hall was the residential area for all of the concubines of the empress at the palace of Sekhe. Each concubines was given a building or housing area, the emperor usually having the biggest. Omari was hoping when Rehema would come back she would be giving him a spacious house in the harem hall. Something that he could rub in Chike's face with and brag about. For now he was staying in the guest's building in the harem hall, which usually kept new concubines' until they were assigned an official house in the harem hall.

He remembered when he had first met Rehema. She was involved with Chike during the time and he wanted to be apart too. It always entertained him when Chike's face would curl with jealousy the more he saw Rehema warming up to him, and eventually bedding with her and gaining a deep relationship. He vowed to Rehema she was who he would loyal too, and did not show interest in anyone else.

He promised himself, he will give her child, and share a girl with her. Chike may have had her first born but its not a girl, a future empress is what Omari aims for. He wasn't going to let anything stand in his way for that, even if he had to play dirty. His family was proud of the status he had received in the family so far, his older sister Adanna Dalli the commander of the Mulim Warriors was even more proud. The Dalli's were a proud family and to now be even closer to the Eze family was a big deal.

Omari had finished eating his lunch when it was time for him to return to the guest hall in the harem for the evening. Getting up from his table he called over his brown spikey hair servant Tano, who had been assigned his servant when he first moved to the royal complex of Sekhe. Omari was going to make sure every servants of his pledge his loyalty to him, and never serve or support any concubine in the palace that wasn't him. Now that he was imperial noble consort that amount of servants assigned to him was eight.

He yawned, "Call the guards over to take me back to the guest hall."

Tano bowed with his knees, and quickly left the room to do what he was told. Coming back five minutes, and he went to his Master. "Your highness, the sedan chair is ready," he said steadily while looking on the ground. Tano remembered being happy to work in the royal palace at first, but being assigned to serve Imperial Noble Consort Omari Dalli was terrifying and cynical.

Omari was a sweet man in front of the empress, but to his servants and the staff of the palace he gave them hell. His first punishment he received as a servant was on his second day when he brought Omari his soup but it was too cold, striking him on the face for it.

He had to beg for mercy before Omari would make him kneel outside in the sun, and make him hold his ears crisscrossed while squatting.

He noticed Omari was always in his best mood when things were going his way. When the empress was paying attention to him, when he was receiving compliment's. When ever Rehema would visit him bed chambers it was a completely different man. Whenever Rehema gave attention to a different man in the harem Omari would take his anger on his servants, or scheme.

Tano walked behind Omari as they went outside so that Omari could get in his sedan. The guards assisting Tano helped him on the seat, they carried the sedan seat by it handles but to guest hall. Tano stood beside them walking along in silence.

Crossing paths on his way to the guest hall Omari had spotted Chike, walking with four male servants by his side dressed in a striking blue agbada, with golden embroidery around the neck, and a wooden necklace that hung down to his stomach area. He could feel Chike stop dead in his tracks when he spotted Omari coming his way on his sedan chair that guards were carrying.

Omari spotted him to and told the guards to lower the sedan. The guards doing so lowered the sedan chair allowing him to exit.

Chike cocked his head on the side as he saw Omari walking gracefully to approached him, with a young tanned skin boy who was servant, by his side that was also a few inches shorter than Omari. Omari did a lazy bow and greeted Chike with an snigger. Omari's servants bowed more respectfully.

Chike kept a steady eye on Omari, his low effort and smug face was disrespect that was an attempt to rile him up. He couldn't keep getting into fights with Omari. Rehema had yelled at them both once when she noticed how nasty their rivalry was becoming.

"If you two keep this up, neither one of you will be part of the harem if I ever become Empress," she told them once sternly.

Now as emperor, the first title in the Harem, he had to be a leader and mentor to others in the harem, and petty fighting with Omari would make him lose his position.

"What brings you hear Omari?" Chike asked gently.

Omari walked around him with his hands behind his back, "I was heading back to the guest hall but I might as well not give up an opportunity to greet the fellow emperor."

"I was just on a walk, with my servants, I heading back to my house," Chike said swiftly, he badly had just wanted to leave.

Omari looked at him with a eyebrow raised, "The Empress has assigned you a house already."

"Yes, Graceview in fact." Graceview was the biggest house in the harem hall, with also the best gardening area. Off course the Emperor was going to get it.

Omari sneered, "Well enjoy it while it last."

"Excuse me?" Chike said raising his voice.

"Well lets be honest here your status won't keep you in power for much long, so enjoy it while it lasts," Omari kept a smug face on.

"I think you confuse yourself with how important I play a role in the empress's life. I was always here before you Omari remember that. Don't allow yourself to overstep boundaries that will harm you, more than anyone else," The servant standing beside Chike shifted uncomfortably.

Omari's smirk disappeared, it was a tense silence between the two men. The servants didn't utter a world but steadily held their breath. Chike glanced at the men working for Omari, noticing something.

"That's a nasty bruise on your servants face," Chike said glancing at Tano. Tano lowered his head quickly trying to hide from it all.

Omari turned around looking at Tano. He rolled his eyes and turned back to Chike, "its not my fault he is reckless and hurts himself when attending to his duties."

Omari took a step closer to Chike switching the topic, "I will be the one to give the empress a baby girl, and you will be the most useless emperor any harem has ever seen." He whispered closely face to face at Chike. "Your status does not matter."

Chike remained unfazed. "Of course it matters Omari, the emperor is the father of the harem, and you ought to behave yourself before your behavior is the cause of you being deranked." This was the common intimidation game that Omari loved to play.

Omari smirked, "Never get too comfortable indeed is the best advice any concubine should follow." Omari stepped back from Chike's face. "Your replacement isn't far." Omari turned around on his heel and directed his servants to take him to the guest hall, leaving a furious Chike, who wanted nothing but to punish Omari for his words.