by Andrea Ring
“Everything’s moving along. Mita’s assistant, Chaya, is handling it. Of course, we should speak to her too, and make sure she’s trustworthy, but she was once a personal attendant of my mother’s. I hope that bodes well for us.”
“Are you nervous about speaking to Zara?” I ask him.
“A bit,” he admits. “But we’re not going to reveal anything to her. We just want to probe to see what she knows. My father’s the one who will have to have that conversation.”
“Speaking of your father,” I say. “Kai, you’ve noticed it, haven’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“He doesn’t look well. And I think something more is going on than just gout.”
Kai leans back in his chair. “I thought I was the only one who noticed. You don’t even know him that well yet.”
“I’ve been around a lot of sick people,” I say. “I fear it’s serious. We need to keep an eye on him.”
Kai sighs. “I think he knows. I think that’s why he’s so eager for us to get married. He wants to be there.”
I put a hand on his knee. “Are you okay?”
He nods. “I’ve made peace with it. Shiva said my father will die before this cycle ends, and I thought he was talking about being assassinated, but thinking back, maybe Shiva wasn’t that specific.”
“So if Shiva knows, and if your father knows…does that change anything? Does that affect what’s going on?”
“I don’t think so,” Kai says. “If he knows he’s going to die, he wants the throne secure, which means me married, and if there’s going to be a rebellion, it means I should marry an untouchable. Pretty much what’s been happening.”
“Then let’s get to it,” I say, standing. “Mita’s probably expecting us.”
***
I head to the stairs that ascend to the nobles’ wings, but Kai pulls me in the other direction.
“Doesn’t Mita have her suites upstairs?” I ask. “I thought your father gave her lodging with the nobles.”
“She’s not in her rooms,” he says.
Kai leads me to the courtyard. The sun shines brightly, and the overnight frost steams on all the turrets. This is the first good look in daylight that I’ve gotten of the palace. I long to throw my veil off and cast it into the breeze.
A young girl runs up to me and bows low. “My lady, my most sincere congratulations,” she says.
I startle. “Thank you, child,” I say, returning the bow.
And then I hear clapping. Someone cheers. Kai laughs and grabs my hand.
“Thank you, all,” he says, waving to the crowd. “You’ll meet her at the feast the night before the wedding, but yes, this is my intended, Nilaruna Nandal.”
The cheers grow louder. My cheeks split in an automatic smile, but no one can see.
I bow and wave, dizzy with the sudden attention.
“We must go,” Kai calls, gently tugging me, “but we’ll see you all soon.”
Someone thrusts a yellow daffodil into my hands as we navigate the throng of people. But I cannot see who did it.
“Give her some room, guys,” Kai says, laughing. “She’s a bit shy. Ask her for a dance at the feast.”
I squeeze his hand mercilessly at that.
And suddenly we’re inside, away from the crowd.
I lean against the wall, breathless.
Kai smiles at me. “Do you need a moment?”
“You knew that was going to happen, didn’t you?”
“Tell me you didn’t like it,” he teases.
“I don’t like attention, you know that.”
“But this was happy attention,” he says. “Well-wishing attention. Congratulatory attention. Sincere atten—”
“I get it,” I say. “It wasn’t that bad. I just didn’t realize…I thought I’d be laughed at and spit on.”
Kai’s smile turns to a frown. “Do you think so little of our people?”
“I’m being realistic,” I say. “They might cheer to our faces, but make no mistake, they are laughing behind our backs.”
Kai rubs a hand down my arm. “Nili, I know these people. I’ve grown up with them. We will surely have difficulty with the nobility in the rest of the kingdom, but not here. At some point, you have to trust. You need to have a little faith in people.”
“That just hasn’t been my experience,” I say.
“And yet a hundred people just cheered for you and congratulated us. You’re going to dismiss that?”
“I…no.”
“Good. There will be naysayers, and we’ll deal with them as they come. For now, let’s embrace the joy. You promised to do that, remember?”
I smile. “I did, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
I sigh. “I’m sorry. It just caught me off guard. I’m sorry I ruined it for you.”
“No harm done.” He pulls me into a hug, and I melt against him.
Then I remember the flower in my hand.
“Look what someone gave me.”
“A daffodil?” he says. “I’m amazed one could be found at this time of year.”
“Kai, when I returned to the village after my first visit to Maja as Go-Between, I happened on a field of daffodils. I must have picked twenty. And I thought the same as you. I couldn’t believe they were growing. My mother set them in pots around the house.”
“Are you suggesting a connection?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “It just seems odd, doesn’t it?”
“Did you see who gave it to you?”
“No.”
“Let’s keep it in mind, but I’m inclined to think it’s coincidence. Are you ready?”
I nod.
“There are a few stairs,” he says. “How is your leg feeling?”
“Well,” I say. “I can do it.”
“Then let’s head down.”
VII. MANOJ
I take an early breakfast with my parents. A runner interrupts us with a handful of missives. The first is a security report from the docks, detailing the list of ships to land first. I approve the list and scrawl a brief message for the runner to return to the dock master.
The second missive is for Kai. I hand it back, but the runner shakes his head.
“Prince Kai is indisposed today,” he says. “He asked that you handle his messages.”
My father smiles at me. “Not many men in the kingdom would be given that task.”
I smile back, but truthfully, Kai gets little of importance in his mail. His father and Chief Barun, the king’s advisor, still insist on handling most business.
I open the letter and scan for the sender. It’s from High Priest Sanji in Dabani.
Your Highness Prince Kai ben-Jagir,
The untouchable who lives like a queen in our village has disappeared. Her father is most distraught. I fear it has something to do with the goings-on about which we spoke. I found a shrine to her in a hut in the mountains yesterday. What this portends, I cannot guess. Please advise.
Yours most sincerely,
High Priest Sanji
What in the world? Could he be speaking of Nilaruna? No, everyone knows where Nilaruna is, and she did not live like a queen in Dabani. Who, then, is he speaking of?
I move to the next missive. It’s also for Kai.
My prince,
You will not remember me, but I will remember you for the rest of my life.
I roll my eyes. Another love letter. Kai gets them as frequently as hunger pains.
Yesterday, our son was born.
What?! I startle and knock over my wine glass. Blood red liquid runs over the table and into my lap.
“Careful, Manoj!” my father yells. He waves his hand, and servants descend on the mess. I rise and make my way to the window.
I was one of the attendants for Princess Amara of Westend when she visited you last winter. I have no designs on your crown and do not wish to leave Westend permanently, but I felt it only right to let you know of his existence. As a prince a
nd an upstanding man, I’m sure you wish to contribute to his upbringing. I have named him Thomas ben-Kai. When the ban on incoming ships is lifted, perhaps we can visit.
I await your reply.
Yours,
Alexandra Oakton
Dear gods. What kind of name is Th-omas?
And Westend…that party was one big night of debauchery. I doubt Kai remembers any of it. Faaris encouraged him, as a last hurrah before he had to settle down to finding a bride. Damn Faaris and his libido!
“What is it, son?” my father asks. “You look green.”
I wave a hand. “Just more whining from the lords in Asmar. Something about taxes on their wine.”
My father chuckles. “Whining about the wine. Ha! If they only knew what it cost to keep this kingdom running.”
“Indeed,” I say. “I’ve got a busy day with the ships finally landing. I’m off.” I clap Father on the back and kiss Mother’s cheek.
They beam at me proudly.
***
I hurry to my chambers and sit at my desk.
I consider.
I could tear the letter up.
I could pen a response myself. Something like,
Dear lady,
I do not know who you are and have never met you. Cease with your fantasies. Best of luck.
I could ask Kai about her, see if he remembers spending time with her.
I could just show him the letter and let him deal with it.
But there’s Nili. She knows Kai has had his fun. Bastards are not uncommon. She’s strong. She’ll deal with it. This is the natural consequence of the male sex drive.
And Nili can detect a lie. If I withhold this information, will she see through me? Will it erode her trust in me, and therefore Kai’s trust in me?
I have to tell him.
I just hope Nili is as strong as I think she is.
VIII. HAADY
“I thank you for your kindness, young Larraj,” I say, patting his head. “You are quite the healer.”
Larraj grins. “I didn’t spill a drop of your brews, did I? Maybe you could tell the high priest about that, if you want. He likes to know I’m doing a good job.”
“Indeed I will. Now, if you could find someone to tell me the way to the Parsa home, I would be most grateful.”
“Fadi Parsa?” High Priest Sanji enters my room, and Larraj and I bow low.
“Yes, your highness,” I say. “His brother in Bhutan, Lord Parsa, is my master. I’ve been tending to business in Indrapur for Lord Parsa, and I have a message to deliver to his brother.”
The high priest sits on the edge of my cot. “I did not realize Lord Parsa still associated with his brother.”
“Not often,” I say, bowing my head. “But there is family news he wishes to communicate.”
“And how did you end up in the ocean?”
“As I told the other priest who’s been attending me, I ran out of coin several days before my accident. I happened on a fishing boat along the shore, and tried to catch myself something to eat. My vessel was rocked, by what, I do not know, and I was pitched overboard. I hit my head on the way down. The gods must have been watching over me, your highness.”
Even though my head is bowed, I can feel his eyes on me.
The high priest rises. “Fadi Parsa is a good man. Whatever message you have to deliver, I hope the tidings are not too dire.”
I do not speak. I’ve spun enough lies already.
“Go, then. Since you have no coin, an hour of prayer at the altars will suffice as payment.” I watch his slippered feet pace to the door.
“Your highness?”
He turns back to me. I bow low.
“Thank you, and thanks to everyone in the temple, for aiding in my recovery. Larraj in particular has been a blessing.”
He nods.
“Could you direct me to the Parsa home?”
“The Parsas live in the grand mansion on the northern shore. You cannot miss it.”
I raise an eyebrow. “A mansion? Lord Parsa believes his brother to be an untouchable fisherman.”
The high priest chuckles. “Interesting. It seems the communications have only gone one way.”
IX. THE KING
I settle myself at my desk and shuffle some papers around to look busy.
“You may enter.”
Chief Pragun Barun pushes through the door, waddling like a lame duck. Poor man actually has gout in both knees. I sympathize, but I’d rather have his problem than mine.
“Tell me why we haven’t moved our rooms to the first floor of this damn palace,” he says, stuffing himself in a chair opposite me. “We’re too old to be climbing stairs.”
I smile. “Did you ever think you’d hear yourself say that? That we’re too damn old?”
Pragun laughs. “Don’t tell me to count my blessings,” he says. “I’m old enough to have earned the right to complain.”
“How are the girls?”
He sighs. “How is it that I have seven daughters and you had one child who is a boy?”
“Please,” I say, rolling my eyes at him. “You wouldn’t trade one of them for seven sons.”
“That may be true, but Anjali is seriously trying my patience.”
“Anjali? She adores you. What’s gotten into her now?”
“She’s having a tough time with Kai’s engagement,” Pragun says with a smile. “She knows she never had a chance with him, but still, seeing him actually betrothed to another, someone that none of us knows…she’s just decided to make all of us miserable right along with her.”
“Ah, sweet Anjali. Maybe you could direct her attentions elsewhere. I suspect that now that Kai is getting married, Manoj and Faaris won’t be far behind. Nudge her in their direction.”
“Do not take this the wrong way, Jagir, but you’ve never had a daughter. If I tell her to look at someone, she will turn her head and stare in the opposite direction. It’s maddening.”
I laugh. “You’re too soft. Just arrange a marriage for her, and then her moods will be his problem, not yours.”
“And have seven females — no, eight, counting my loyal wife — angry with me for the rest of my life? I think not.”
What I would give to have my wife angry with me.
“You know, I thought I was doing the wise thing by requiring Kai to choose a bride from another province. I was hoping to placate the nobles in the rest of the kingdom. But now I have angry females in Indrapur and seething nobles everywhere else. Nothing goes as planned, does it?”
“That plan was conceived when Kai was a child,” Pragun says. “And now you have a better plan. Is something else amiss that I don’t know about?”
“No,” I say on a sigh. “There are a few wrinkles, but nothing dire.”
“Like what?”
“I actually like Kai’s bride-to-be. I didn’t expect that.”
Pragun raises an eyebrow at me. “Why is that a wrinkle?”
“She’s an untouchable, Pragun. I feel certain that anyone who gets to know her will love her, but most of the kingdom will never get that chance. We may be saving Kai on one front and dooming him on another.”
Pragun steeples his hands beneath his chin. “What does that have to do with whether you like the girl or not? How the kingdom feels about her is separate from your personal feelings.”
“I guess I’m feeling protective, and since my time’s short, I don’t think I have it in me to protect her.”
Pragun cocks his head. “Your time’s short?”
I push to my feet and make my way to the window. Ships are lined up as far as the eye can see, awaiting their turn to dock. I take a breath.
“The healers say I have a little more than a moon left. It’s a brain sickness. The pain most days makes it unbearable to think.”
Pragun rises to his feet. “You have only a moon to live?”
I turn to face him and nod.
“Jagir, my old friend…what can I do?”
I pace ba
ck to my chair and we both sit. “Exactly what you’ve been doing. After the wedding, we’ll meet with Kai and give him all the information he needs. I should have involved him more long ago, but I couldn’t face it. I can only pray he’s up to the task.”
“Of course he is,” Pragun says, leaning over to pat my knee. “He’s a good man. You’ve raised him right. You don’t have to worry about Kai.”
“You might be out of a job,” I say with a small smile. “He’ll want Manoj to have your position, but I’m sure he’ll keep you around to consult with.”
Pragun waves a hand in the air. “I’ll be whatever Kai needs me to be, you know that. And as I said, I won’t miss climbing these stairs.” He holds his hand out.
I clasp his forearm tight, and he clasps mine. Then he pulls me forward against him.
“For the kingdom,” he whispers into my shoulder.
I nod against him. “For Jatani.”
X. CHIEF BARUN
“Why don’t you give me your report,” Jagir says. “I could have a seizure at any moment, and then you will have climbed the stairs for nothing.”
I shake my head.
Everything has been tipped ass-backwards and upside down. Jagir is ill, Kai will soon take the throne with an untouchable by his side, a rebellion is massing, strange magics are at work, and I may finally get to retire…
“My report seems woefully unimportant given the circumstances,” I say.
Jagir sighs. “We need to maintain normalcy now more than ever. I’ve managed to avoid war for my entire reign, and I won’t stand for it now. I want my son to live and to prosper, and I want the same for your daughters — all the sons and daughters of Jatani. We can fall apart later. Now, we must act.”
Jagir is right. And this isn’t the first crisis we’ve faced together, but knowing it will be our last spurs me a bit.
“The nobles are angry. Asmar and Bhutan are being quiet about it, because they’re thick in the rebellion and do not wish to incite the local untouchables further. They’re worried the untouchables have already made a play for the throne and have succeeded. And you have to admit, that’s the way it looks.”
“And the untouchables there?”
“Disbelief. They don’t buy it. A contingency of their spies has already boarded a vessel to attend the wedding and assess the situation. I have the vessel marked. Should I refuse them landing?”