“Tamas,” Revathi said, “can someone find me a fan to hide behind?”
EMIL CLUNG TO the bridge support and slipped one end of the fire rope through the iron ring driven into the bottom. He tossed the end to Stefan, who started to wind it around the leg. Esmer, in her cat form, was crouched higher up the slope, just where the bridge met the earth. Her ears were up and her tail was still. She was listening.
Emil finished tying off his end and climbed down, leaping over the last few rungs. His still-damp clothes clung to his skin, making him shiver. He felt like he’d never be dry again. His arms and legs ached from climbing, his fingers were numb, and his shirt smelled like canal water and pitch.
Stefan was in no better shape. A permanent pain line had carved itself in his forehead, and he moved like an old man. They’d found the gate just fine, but the canal water was freezing, and unexpectedly fast. Stefan, never a very strong swimmer, had been hampered by his injured arm. Even with Emil helping him, it had taken a long time to reach the bridge. Then they’d huddled together, out of sight of the guards, waiting.
At least climbing up and down the bridge supports had warmed Emil a little. He stretched his stiff muscles and bounced in place. It wouldn’t be long now. He could already hear shouts in the distance. He hoped Abhra had gotten his message and that Heema and her children were safe.
Stefan tied the ends of the flax ropes together and tied another rope to them to use as a fuse. Then he pulled two short swords out of his pack and handed one to Emil, who belted it on.
“Emil . . .” Stefan cleared his throat. “I’m sorry I got you into this.”
“I’m not,” Emil said, thinking of Mara. “Don’t get me wrong, Stefan, I don’t like the people you’re working with and I don’t like helping them. But I’m glad I came after you.”
“Yeah,” Stefan said. He nudged Emil with his elbow. “Me too.”
There was a muffled pounding noise across the bridge, like someone running, and Esmer’s tail flicked back and forth twice.
“Messenger’s here,” Emil said in a low voice. “Won’t be long now.” He prodded Stefan’s shoulder. “Up you go.”
He and Stefan crept up the bank to just under where Esmer was sitting. Emil held the fuse in his hand, as they waited, tense and silent.
Finally there were shouts and the rattle of rapid footsteps. A company of soldiers ran across the bridge, the sound loud and blunt over Emil’s head.
Stefan started to move, but Emil put a hand on his arm.
“Esmer? Check the bridge.”
The slender cat slipped out from under the bridge, as casually as if she were hunting mice. She crept up far enough to see it, then paused, the tip of her black tail quivering.
Emil waited.
The tail lashed three times. All the soldiers were off the bridge.
“Now?” Stefan asked.
“Now,” Emil said. He took the flint and iron and chipped them together, making sparks against the fuse. The fuse lit and sputtered flame. Emil dropped the rocks and grabbed Stefan’s hand.
“Esmer, go!” he shouted. He and Stefan skidded down the bank, rocks falling with them, and ran for the water. It was cold and fast, and Emil dove under, just as the fuse hit the pitch-soaked legs and the Jade Bridge went up in flames.
THEY HAD JUST passed the Lotus Wall when there was a faint rumble far outside the palace and a column of black smoke billowed into the sky.
“Stay calm, keep walking,” Tamas told Revathi. He’d split the mercenaries in their Imperial Guard uniforms into small groups and sent them on ahead to avoid looking suspicious. “We need to get to the princes’ room.”
“Promise me you won’t kill them,” Revathi said, stopping so abruptly that Tamas almost slammed into her. “Right now, promise me. Or I’ll scream and you can kill us both.”
“Of course I’m not going to kill the princes,” Tamas said, his voice a vicious hiss. “I don’t want to start my rule as a child killer. But I will kill Mara if you don’t move right now.”
Aari’s arm went around Mara’s neck, her blade pressing uncomfortably into the fragile skin of her throat. “Do as he says,” she ordered.
Then she let go, cursing as a familiar voice called across the garden.
“Revathi!”
Lady Ekisa came striding up. Tamas’s hand slid behind Revathi, his dagger at her lower back. He whispered something in her ear.
Revathi swallowed.
“I’ve been looking for you all morning,” Lady Ekisa said. “Where have you been?”
Revathi waved her fan gently. “I . . . went for an early-morning walk, but it was too dark and I fell.” The fan fluttered. “I’m all right, but I was very shaken up. Tamas was caring for me until I felt strong enough to come back.” Mara saw a flash as the fan made a complicated movement. “Everything is all right, though.”
Lady Ekisa’s expression did not flicker. “I’m glad to hear it. Are you tending to the princes today?”
Revathi nodded. “Yes.” She lowered the fan, twisting it in her hands. Her fingernails scratched grooves into the wood. “Will I see you later?”
“Of course, Granddaughter.” Lady Ekisa nodded. “I have my own duties to attend to right now, but I’ll be around.” The deep sound of an alarm bell sounded from the direction of the palace gates. Lady Ekisa looked up at the line of dark smoke still rising into the sky from the burning Jade Bridge. “What in the name of the Ancestors is going on?”
Everyone followed her line of sight. Out of the corner of her eye, Mara saw Revathi drop her fan.
“I don’t know, but we should go,” Tamas said. His hand tightened on Revathi’s arm. “I need to get Revathi back to her room and rejoin the other guards.”
“Of course,” Lady Ekisa said, her face bland and pleasant. “Try to come to dinner, will you, Revathi? I’m cooking your favorite sweet rice.”
“That sounds nice,” Revathi said with a forced smile. “I’ll try to make it.”
“Crazy old woman,” Tamas said as they walked away. “Talking about sweet rice at a time like this. She’s more senile than I thought.”
“In my Tribe, she’d have the decency to go off by herself and die quietly,” Aari added. “She’s just taking up resources now.”
Revathi didn’t answer. But as they moved off, Mara looked back to see Lady Ekisa pick up Revathi’s fan.
EMIL PULLED STEFAN out of the canal, both of them gasping. From their landing point, they couldn’t see the bridge burning, but thick, dark smoke drifted down the canal, filling the air with ash.
“Okay, I take it back,” Emil said, rubbing the back of his neck, where a stray ember from the fire had seared him. The inside of his nose burned, and his mouth tasted like canal water. “I really wish I’d stayed home right now.”
Stefan was bent over, his hands on his knees and his body shaking. “It’s all right,” he said, between coughs. “I kind of wish I had too.” He managed several deep breaths and straightened up. “Now what?”
“We can’t stay here,” Emil pointed out. The soaked leather sword belt felt heavy on his hips. “They’ll start looking for the people who set fire to the bridge. We have to get farther into Jade Circle. Besides, Esmer’s waiting for us.”
Stefan pulled his sword out of his damp scabbard and looked at it with disapproval. “Shouldn’t we dry these off or something?”
“With what?” Emil asked. He squeezed the hem of his shirt, splashing cold drops of water on his feet. “We’re both soaked.”
“There is that,” Stefan said. He started climbing the stairs to the gate. “I didn’t realized the life of a mercenary would be so uncomfortable.”
Emil following him up the steps, smiling despite himself. “Uncomfortable and surprisingly boring,” he agreed. “Except for the explosion.” A trickle of water dribbled over the burn on his neck and he winced. “That was exciting.”
Stefan pushed open the gate, then let out a startled oof, as his arms were suddenly full of Esmer. T
he girl hugged him hard, then flung herself at Emil.
“I thought you’d drowned.”
Emil hugged her back. “We’re fine,” he said. “Just a little wet.”
Esmer drew back, wrinkling her nose. “You are wet.” She brushed at a damp spot on her tunic. “The mercenaries are attacking the palace,” she continued. “And every healer and scholar in this part of the city is looking out their front gate, wondering what is going on.”
“So what are we going to do now?” Emil asked his brother. “Because I really don’t want to fight anyone.” Stefan bit his lip.
“The farther we are from the bridge, the better I’ll feel,” he said. “We can figure out the rest from there.”
They hadn’t gone too far, when Emil heard his name whispered from a doorway.
“Emil! Emil!”
Emil held up a hand. Esmer grabbed Stefan’s sleeve, halting him. Emil peered into the doorway.
It was Manik. His hands twisted in the fabric of his apron, and his eyes darted from side to side. “I thought that was you,” he said. “When the bridge caught fire, I said to myself, that boy Emil, he’s got something to do with this.” He reached out and caught Emil’s arm in a strong grip. “I did you a favor, and now you owe me. What is going on?”
Emil hesitated, but only for a moment. Quickly, he gave the cook a sketch of what was happening, including the mercenaries’ plan to put a new ruler on the throne. Manik’s face grew more and more serious as Emil spoke.
“Oh my,” he said, over and over. “Oh my.” His fingers clamped down harder on Emil’s arm. “You can’t go back to the Flower Circle, any of you.”
“Why not?” Stefan said. “We’re already criminals, might as well see it through.”
“Because, my dim-witted little grouse, you and your band of rebels forgot one very important thing. In matters of national importance, the Emperor can call for help.”
“Who’s he going to call?” Stefan said. “We’ve blocked the road out of here. The only armed men within reach are confined behind Jade caste walls.”
“Unless the Emperor calls them out,” Manik said. He gave Emil’s arm a shake. “You stupid children, the only way the Jade warriors can leave is by Imperial decree.”
Emil felt like someone had struck him on the side of the head with a board. If the Jade warriors joined the fight, they’d be coming at the mercenaries from the back, trapping them between enemies and driving them into the arms of the Imperial Guards. The Jade warriors might not be as good as legend painted them, but they wouldn’t have to be. Not if they took the mercenaries by surprise.
Emil could tell by Stefan’s look of horror that the same thoughts were running through his twin’s mind. Manik looked at them and nodded.
“Exactly. And if an Imperial messenger isn’t trying to reach the Jade Circle right now, I’ll cook my sandal in butter and serve it to myself. If I were you,” he said, glancing from Emil’s face to Stefan’s. “If I were you, I’d run.”
Stefan was already moving, darting away. Emil gave Manik a nod of thanks and ran after him. Esmer was close on his heels.
“Stefan,” he said when he caught up to his twin. “Where are you going?”
“I have to warn them,” Stefan said. His eyes were wide and wild. “I have to find the section leaders and tell them not to use the retreat plan. We can’t get over the Flower Bridge now, but there are other ways, routes back into the crypts where we can at least defend ourselves.” He reached up, covering Emil’s hand with his own.
“They’ll all die, Emil. I know you don’t agree, but I need to do this.” His eyes were open and earnest. “Please.”
Emil rubbed his forehead. Everything was moving too fast, spiraling out of control. “All right,” he said, and it felt like ripping his own guts out, like cloth tearing through his fingers.
Like letting go.
Emil gripped his brother’s hand. “All right, Stefan. Go. I’ll find Rajo and warn him.”
Some of the tension went out of Stefan’s shoulders. “Thank you,” he said, looking Emil in the eye. “I . . . thank you.”
Emil forced himself to smile and ruffled his twin’s hair. “Good luck, Steffy.”
Stefan turned to Esmer. “I could use your help,” he said. “You can move faster than I can through crowds.”
Esmer bit her lip and glanced at Emil. He said nothing. It was her decision, and he’d already asked too much of her.
Esmer threw up her hands. “All right, fine. But so help me, Emil . . .” She yanked his head down with surprising strength and planted a brief, fierce kiss on his mouth. “If you get killed,” she said, glaring at him, “I swear by the Long-Tailed Cat that I will never forgive you.”
“Understood,” Emil said. His eyes stung and he wasn’t sure why. He shoved her in the direction of Stefan, who was grinning. “But we have to hurry.”
THE PRINCES WERE still in bed. Sudev had crawled into Paithal’s bed, and even in sleep, Mara could see the difference between them. Paithal slept on his back, face peaceful and mouth slightly open, while Sudev was curled up tightly like a cat, his dark hair messy against the silk pillows. Revathi went straight to them, as Tamas ordered his men to secure the room.
Paithal woke first. “Revathi?”
“Shhh,” Revathi said, sounding like she might cry. She ran a hand through the prince’s hair. “I need you to be very good, all right? Very good and very quiet.”
Sudev blinked at her sleepily. Paithal glanced around at Tamas’s men, at Aari, standing behind Mara. His eyes found Mara’s bound hands, and Mara saw him swallow hard.
“You’re not here to play with us, are you?” he asked.
“I wish I was,” Revathi said, falling to her knees. “I wish I was. Forgive me.”
Paithal drew a deep breath, and his fingers gripped the bedspread. “Did they threaten you?”
“Both of us,” Mara said. Aari poked her with the sharp tip of the knife.
Revathi buried her face in her hands. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Paithal slid off the bed, putting a hand on Revathi’s head. “It’s all right,” he said. “Father and Garen will save us.”
“No one is coming to save you,” Tamas said. There was a wide grin on his face, and he couldn’t seem to stand still. “I’m going to be Emperor and no one can stop me.”
Sudev started to cry.
Paithal looked at Tamas. “I think you will make a very bad Emperor.”
Tamas looked angry for a moment; then he laughed. “What do I care for the opinion of children? I’m about to have the Empire handed to me on a golden plate.”
“Not if you don’t stop talking,” Aari interrupted. “As entertaining as this is, we have an Emperor to negotiate with.” She gestured with her knife.
“You, prince. Get back on the bed. You and I are going to be very good friends.”
“No!” Revathi shot to her feet, standing between them. “You promised,” she said to Tamas. “You swore you wouldn’t hurt them.”
Aari rolled her eyes. “Grab her and tie her hands,” she ordered the men.
Paithal climbed back up next to Sudev, who clung to him. “Why are they waving weapons?” the younger boy asked, his eyes wide. His voice shook. “They’re scaring me, Paithal.”
“Shhhh,” Paithal said, rocking him. “Don’t be afraid, Sudev. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Sudev sniffled and buried his face in his older brother’s tunic.
Aari pushed Mara into a far corner. “Now just sit there and be a good little Sune,” she said. “And no sending.”
Revathi made a pained noise as the men pushed her down next to Mara. Her hands had been tied tightly, and Mara could see the beginnings of rope burns on her wrists.
Tamas looked around the room and gave a satisfied nod. “You,” he said, indicating one of the men at random. “Fetch the Emperor.”
The man left the room. Aari sat on the edge of the princes’ bed and started cleaning her finge
rnails with the tip of her knife.
Mara shifted, moving so that her head was almost on Revathi’s shoulder.
“I think I can get my hands loose,” Mara said in a whisper. “And I’ve got my dagger. I could cut you free and make a move for Aari. . . .”
Revathi shook her head. “Someone will grab the princes before we can get to them.” She straightened her back, steadying herself with an obvious effort. “I hope Grandmother understood my message.”
“I thought that’s what you were doing,” Mara said. “What did you tell her?”
“Well, there’s no fan signal for treason.” Revathi shifted so her mouth was right over Mara’s ear. “But I was able to let her know that I was lying and warn her that Tamas was dangerous.” Her breath tickled Mara’s ear. “Grandmother is very resourceful. She’ll find a way to help us if she can. . . .”
She trailed off, her eyes shifting to the large curtained window.
“Mara,” she breathed. “Is it just me, or are those curtains moving?”
Mara followed Revathi’s line of sight. The curtains were moving a little. It might have been a breeze from a nearby pond.
Or not.
There was another breeze-like movement, and a knife appeared on the edge of the windowsill, barely visible behind the curtain. It glinted a little in the light.
Mara moved her mouth back to Revathi’s ear. “On the windowsill. Looks like a knife.”
“Thank you, Grandmother,” Revathi murmured. “Now if I could just get over there . . .”
Her whisper was interrupted by a bellow of pure rage from the hall.
“Tamas!” The building seemed to shake with the vibration of Garen’s angry voice. “Tamas!”
Aari grabbed Paithal by the arm and yanked him off the bed. She put her knife to his throat and nodded to Tamas.
Tamas cleared his throat. “Garen, I have a blade to the heir’s throat!” he shouted, just as something huge and heavy hit the door. “Break down that door and he dies!”
Sudev shrieked and reached for Paithal, but one of Tamas’s men grabbed him and held him fast.
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