The Chariot at Dusk
Page 30
While most didn’t know what exactly had happened, what had been sacrificed, whispers of it were everywhere, from the open market stalls to the back rooms of the inns they had stopped in on their way down.
Princess Reha was now queen. A new bond between the land and people had been forged. The gods were back, as were the spirits and old creatures. One man had found a lion eating his berry shrubs one morning. Another saw an air sprite dance along the water of a nearby stream.
More and more people were waking up every day with a newfound power in their veins, with ownership over their connection to the land and gods.
A duty.
Kunal shaded his eyes from the early-morning sun, looking up at the rampart that had been his favorite. A figure was leaning out of the open window, waving down at him.
Esha had gone up earlier that morning to let in the first round of people. It had been her idea to use the Fort as a rest area of sorts. A refuge for the remaining Yavar and as a training school for those whose magic was new and untested.
He grinned and waved back at her. It should have felt odd to be back at the Fort. In some ways it would always be difficult to come back here, to the place where his life had ended and where it had begun anew. It would always be the place that had molded Kunal, beaten him down, but it was also a reminder of how far he had come.
Kunal glanced back up at the rampart, but Esha was gone. The servant’s door creaked open and he turned around just in time to catch her in an embrace and twirl her around.
He would never tire of this. The smell of night rose and the way she fit in his arms. Only a few were this blessed in life, and while he had done his cursed best to ruin what they had built at times, they were here now. Together.
She tilted her head up at him, assessing him. “Did you notice where I was standing?”
“My old station. Where I was the night we met.”
Esha tapped his temple. “I knew you were a smart one.”
“You don’t belong here,” he said, echoing the first words he had spoken to her.
“Neither do you, Prince.” Esha traced a finger over the anguli he now wore, the sigil of the Samyad eagle emblazoned on it.
“But I do belong here,” he said, wrapping his arms tighter around her.
“Yes.” Esha laughed and Kunal reveled in the fact that it was for him, that her laughs would be his gift for the rest of his life.
“A soldier and the Viper? Really?”
“Ambassador and prince,” she said. “Kunal and Esha.”
He raised her hand to his lips, placing a kiss on her knuckles.
“A match for the ages.”
“A match for the history books.”
She clucked her tongue. “Now, that’s taking it a bit far. We’re not that special, Kunal.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Every one of us has a story. And each of those stories is a treasure,” Kunal said.
Esha smiled at him, one of those smiles that he would spend the rest of his life unraveling, trying to understand how he had gotten so lucky that night, all those years ago.
“You really are a warrior poet,” she said.
Esha cupped his face and pulled him close for a light kiss, one of many to come. Forever stretched in front of them, endless and hopeful.
They laced their fingers together and walked away from the Red Fort, their shadows fading into the horizon.
Acknowledgments
I still can’t really believe this series is at an end. I feel so lucky to have been able to write Kunal and Esha’s story, and even more lucky to have found such fantastic and loyal readers. First and foremost, thank you. Your support and love have meant everything, and I’ll forever be grateful that you let Kunal and Esha into your hearts.
To Kristin, my partner in crime: thank you for being my fearless copilot in the wild ride that is publishing. Always thankful to have you in my corner.
To Mabel Hsu: thank you for always fighting for the core of these books. I’ve learned so much from you, and this series wouldn’t exist as is without your guidance and insight.
To the fantastic team at Katherine Tegen Books and HarperCollins: thank you to Katherine Tegen, Tanu Srivastava, Jon Howard, Robin Roy, Aubrey Churchward, David Curtis, Ebony LaDelle, Valerie Wong, Tyler Breitfeller, and all the tireless sales, marketing, and publicity people who have worked on this series. You all are the best!
To Amma, Nanna, and my Akkas: you’ve been my biggest fans since day one, no matter what crazy scheme I come up with. I wouldn’t be here without all of you.
To Aakash: thank you for always pushing me to be my best, even when I don’t want to be.
To Chelsea, Crystal, Madeleine, Rosie, Tanvi: you all are the absolute best, and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have survived the past four years and certainly never would have finished these books without every one of you.
To Mayura, Meghana, Nikki: ten years of friendship and counting. Forever grateful.
To every single person who has read, reviewed, hand sold, promoted, or supported this book, thank you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Glossary
Anguli—A sigil ring worn by all Jansans.
Chai—Indian tea, often heavily spiced with ginger, cardamom, or masala.
Crescent Blades—A rebel group based out of Dharka with the aim to bring down the Pretender King.
Cuirass—Armor for the upper body that includes a breastplate and backplate welded together.
Dhoti—A garment worn by men. It’s a long, unstitched piece of cloth that is worn as pants by wrapping the cloth around the waist and through the legs.
Himyad—The royal house of Dharka.
Jalebi—Thin strips of fried dough drenched in syrup.
Janma Bond—The magical bond between humans and the Southern Lands, gifted by the gods.
Naran and Naria—Twin demigods who pulled the Southern Lands from the sea and founded Jansa and Dharka.
Samyad—The royal house of Jansa.
Sari—A garment worn by women along with a blouse. It is a long piece of unstitched cloth, often embroidered and printed with beautiful designs, that is wrapped around the legs with the end thrown over one shoulder.
Senap—An elite squad of soldiers in the Jansan Army, trained as trackers and stealthy warriors.
Uttariya—An upper garment worn by men and women. It is like a shawl and is typically made of cotton or silk. It can be worn over the shoulder or around the neck. The modern form of an uttariya is the dupatta.
Valaya—A steel bracelet worn by all Dharkans.
About the Author
COURTESY OF SWATI TEERDHALA
SWATI TEERDHALA is a storyteller at heart. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BS in finance and BA in history, she tumbled into the marketing side of the technology industry. She’s passionate about many things, including how to make a proper cup of tea, the right ratio of curd to crust in a lemon tart, and diverse representation in the stories we tell. She currently lives in New York City. You can visit her online at www.swatiteerdhala.com.
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Books by Swati Teerdhala
THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT TRILOGY
The Tiger at Midnight
The Archer at Dawn
The Chariot at Dusk
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Copyright
Katherine Tegen Books is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
THE CHARIOT AT DUSK. Text copyright © 2021 by Swati Teerdhala. Map by Adam Rufino. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you
have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
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Cover art © 2021 by Michael Marsicano
Cover design by David Curtis
Spine Pattern © Graficshop / Shutterstock
* * *
Library of Congress Control Number: 2021933140
Digital Edition JUNE 2021 ISBN: 978-0-06-286929-6
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-286927-2
* * *
2122232425PC/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
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