by Andrea Ring
“And before I knew it, you wrapped yourself right around my heart. Was I vulnerable to it? Was it circumstance? In a way. But in another way, it defies logic. My heart was set irrevocably on Nilaruna. I will still honor my vows to keep her safe, but I do it because she deserves it, not because I love her. I do love her, but that has changed. You have changed it.”
I catch Aaliyah’s eye, and she looks away.
“I betrayed your trust. I understand how important that is to you. All I can say is that what is between us is true. It has nothing to do with Nilaruna or the rebellion. In fact, it exists in spite of those things, and to me, that makes these feelings all the more strong.
“I fear I am truly cursed. My first love died of the yellow fever. My second came into my life when I was a dragon cursed to protect the pass. And now you, you are tearing my heart in two. I love two women on opposite sides. If I support one, the other falls. What am I to do? Tell me and I will do it.”
“You said you still love her,” she says.
“I do.”
“Are you hoping to be with her? At any time in the future?”
“No,” I say. “I’ve made my peace with it. Nilaruna and I will never be together. She loves Kai now.”
“Does he care for her?” she asks. “Even a little bit?”
“He’s hopelessly in love with her,” I say, and Aaliyah’s eyes widen in surprise. “The wedding is not a sham. They are a true match.”
“I never thought…I cannot imagine it. Do they have plans to extend the rights of all untouchables?”
I nod.
“Maja, I cannot turn from the path I’m on. Even if I have to give my life, I will see the untouchables rise.”
“And if this happens without war?” I ask. “Will you let it happen peacefully?”
“That is my dream,” she whispers.
I smile. “And if we make this dream come true…what will your new dream be?”
“Maybe I already have that, too.”
“Have what?”
“You tell me,” she says with a smile.
“Ah, Aaliyah, you’re going to make me say it again? I love you. I want to be with you. I know not how much time we’ll have together, but I’m done protecting myself. I want whatever time you will give me. I love you.”
She bows her head, and her shoulders begin to shake. I lift her chin with my finger, and tears spill down her cheeks.
“Does that mean you will allow me to court you?”
Aaliyah lets out a sob and falls into my arms. “I haven’t cried this much since I was a child.”
“No more tears,” I say, kissing her nose. “We have a new plan. And a new future.”
She presses her forehead into my chest. “I need to tell you something.”
I shiver, and a pit opens in my stomach. “Let’s not,” I say. “As you said, the past is the past. Let’s start fresh.”
“You are a god, Maja,” she says, “and you have the ability to know all. I must tell you this now. Know that you may leave me over it, and if you do, I cannot blame you. But if I hide it, if you find out later, you will certainly hate me.”
“You are the most courageous woman I have ever met,” I say.
She shakes her head. “Don’t. Don’t make this harder.” She finds her trousers and pulls them on. Then she pads to the window and gives me her back.
“We’ve had plans in place for literally two generations,” she says. “None of it was personal. Our only goal has been to alleviate our oppression.”
I nod.
“We’ve been working with those in power, and waiting for the right time…I’m so sorry, Maja. So very sorry.”
“For what?”
Aaliyah turns to me, and her eyes are haunted. “I ordered the assassination of Nilaruna.”
XLIV. PRINCE KAI
Nili and I slept pressed together again last night. Even though I feel safer after clearing everyone in the palace, there is still a threat. I don’t want Nili out of my sight if I can help it.
At least, that is the excuse I give her.
I have servants bring me fresh clothing, and we dress with our backs to one another. I’m tempted to peek, but Nili has asked for so little since coming here, and a wedding night filled with awe is important to her. I can surely wait three days.
I think.
As we exit her rooms, Himmat stops us. “I have messages, my lord and lady.”
I nod at him to continue.
“Healer Wadee says your father is awaiting your arrival. He has breakfast waiting.”
“Excellent,” I say. “What else?”
“Chaya needs you both to visit her for the final fitting for your wedding attire. And there are a lot of loose ends, she says. She’s a bit frustrated with you both, if I may say so, my lord.”
“Indeed. Send someone to let her know we will call on her this afternoon. Anything else?”
“Manoj received a missive for you. He would like to discuss it after you visit your father. That is all.”
“Thank you. Let no one enter, not even servants for cleaning. High alert.”
“Of course, sir.”
We make our way to Father’s rooms, and upon entering, he bounds up from his chair and rushes over, crushing us both in a hug.
“My children,” he says, and his voice is strained. “It’s so good to see you both.”
Nili raises an eyebrow at me over his head, but I just shrug.
“Tell me everything,” he says. He kisses Nili soundly on both cheeks, and gives mine the same treatment. “What’s been going on? How are the wedding plans coming?”
“We’ve been a bit busy and haven’t spent much time on the wedding,” Nili admits as my father leads her to the table. “But we’re finalizing everything this afternoon. My king, I cannot tell you how much it lifts my spirits to see you in good health.”
Father smiles at her. “It feels pretty good on my end, too. When you live with constant pain and suddenly it’s gone…ah, I didn’t even realize how much I’d been tortured. The way I’ve behaved…I must apologize. You haven’t seen me at my finest, Nilaruna. I seek to remedy that.”
We all sit. “You’ve been nothing but wonderful,” Nili says. “The way you have accepted me…no apologies necessary.”
“Bah,” he says. “My son has fallen in love with the perfect woman. I couldn’t have chosen better for him myself, though I take full credit for the way he was raised.”
We all laugh.
“Now let us eat, and you can fill me in.”
We do.
“So after questioning every single person in the palace, that’s the only conclusion we can come to,” I say. “Saphala Parsa must be the one who will fulfill the prophecy and kill Nilaruna.”
My father looks pained. “But she was your friend, your childhood friend. I do not believe you are in danger from such a person.”
“It all fits,” Nili says. “Shiva’s original prophecy said an assassin would arrive by boat, and he said that person was in the palace and Kai knew him or her. Saphala is the only one we know of who arrived on a boat before you lifted the ban. She was in the palace and Kai knows her. And she is the only one we were unable to question. I would vouch for the loyalty of every other person here.”
“You are assuming that your powers are infallible,” Father says. “Someone may have the magic to disguise the truth. What then?”
“We thought of that,” I say. “It is a possibility, but a remote one. Most of those we questioned sincerely believe magic is evil. They’ve been living here their entire lives. I doubt more than a handful has ever even considered playing with their powers.”
Father takes a deep draught from his cup of wine. “What would be her motive in killing you? You already said she probably has nothing but loose ties to the rebellion, and wouldn’t follow orders blindly given. If not in support of the cause, why would she hurt you?”
“Power,” Nili says. “It is all she ever wanted, even as a child. If I a
m out of the way, she can pursue Kai and become queen.”
Father’s hand fumbles with his cup, and it tips, spilling wine over the table.
“Father? Are you alright?”
“I’m fine…it was just an accident. Abdul!” My father rises and stares out the window.
Nili gives me a searching glance, but I know no more than she does.
Wadee’s assistant comes in from the sitting room and begins to clean up. Poor guy. This is hardly his duty, except that my father has dismissed all of his servants from his care.
When Abdul’s finished, my father speaks.
“I’m just trying to look at all sides,” he says. “I’m not dismissing your concerns. I just want to make sure we’re not overlooking something.”
“Let’s leave it for now,” Nili says. “When Saphala recovers, we’ll question her. Until then, she is under guard. There’s not much more to be done until then.”
Father resumes his seat. “I have word that Maja has identified the key player in the rebellion.”
Nili’s head comes up sharply at Maja’s name. “He has?”
“Does it pain you to speak about him, Nili? I’ll update Kai if you wish, and he can break the news to you gently.”
“Break the news? What are you talking about?”
“The leader of the rebellion is a woman named Aaliyah. She’s a powerful magic user, and the owner of a brothel. Maja made a pretense of escorting her to the wedding from Bhutan, and on the way, it seems he’s fallen in love with her.”
I sneak a glance at Nili. Her eyes go to her plate.
“Is she a decent woman?” Nili asks, her eyes still lowered.
“She’s a whore and a traitor,” my father says crassly. “No, I wouldn’t call her decent.”
“Father.”
“That is not what I meant, my king,” she says. “An untouchable whore can become so because of circumstance and for survival, not because she believes what she’s doing is decent. And the rebellion, though treasonous, has a worthy goal at its heart. I wish to know how she treats others, if she is fair and honest and kind.”
“I know nothing of her character,” Father says, “and I do not care. Her actions are all that are important.”
“I strongly disagree.”
I put a hand on top of Nili’s knee. She glares at me.
“Maja is on our side, and whether or not he has feelings for this woman, he will do the right thing,” I say. “We know this, because we know Maja’s character. I feel at ease knowing he is close to her.”
“A whore uses all kinds of tricks,” my father spits out. “She can make a man do her bidding.”
“Maja is not a man,” Nili says. “He is a god.” She stands and pushes in her chair. “I fear I’ve lost my appetite. Stay, Kai, and finish your meal. See what else your father knows. We can parse it out together when you’re through.”
She bows low to the table and takes her leave.
“Have you no sensitivity?” I ask.
“She needed to know,” Father says. “You both did. You cannot count on Maja to ride to Nili’s rescue. Things have changed.”
I throw my napkin on the table. “We haven’t been counting on it. We’ve been doing everything in our power to identify the assassin. Why are you defending Saphala? Is there something we don’t know?”
“Of course not.”
I stare at him. “You’re lying to me. I know it, in my heart. What aren’t you telling us?”
“Nothing that concerns you.”
I stand. “I’ll have to take your word on that, because I have no choice. But I’m an adult now, Father. Soon to be a husband. And if you think for one moment that I have more loyalty to you, or to the crown, than I do to Nili, you don’t know me at all. And if you don’t like it, you can blame yourself. After all, you are the one who raised me.”
XLV. SAPHALA
Once again, I find myself tangled in the web of a complicated plan. I must have a gift.
Or maybe I just enjoy being tied up.
Mistress or princess? There’s no choice, really. I just have to keep Jagir placated. I wonder if there is a precedent for being both mistress to the king and the princess? Jagir wouldn’t have a problem with it, but Kai would never go along. I’d have to keep my relationship with his father a secret.
No. I don’t want to hide any more. As Nili said, untouchables are good at hiding, but then you don’t get the recognition you deserve.
The only thing left to decide now is what to do about Nili. Jagir says she is slated to die, so maybe I don’t have to do anything. But how long am I prepared to wait? I’ve never been patient, and the longer she is princess, the greater her martyrdom will be. That doesn’t sit well with me. She doesn’t deserve to be remembered at all, let alone as the picture of the movement for equality. I cannot let that happen.
One moon, maybe two. That is all the time I will give her.
My door creaks open, and Jagir finds me brushing my hair at my dressing table.
“My king,” I say, standing and bowing. “Good morning.”
“Saphala, my dear.” He takes my hands in his and kisses the knuckles of each. “Have you eaten yet?”
“Not yet, my lord.”
“My servants are bringing a meal right now,” he says. “Would you care—”
“Your highness!”
We both turn to see Wadee in his nightshirt, his feet stockinged and his head bare.
“What is it, man?”
Wadee bows his head. “The queen,” he whispers.
I look at Jagir, but it is as if I do not exist.
He follows Wadee out, leaving the door open behind him.
I wander to the door and peek out.
Wadee trails the king, both of them almost running, to the door across the hall from the king’s main chambers. They enter and close the door. My guards, the two that usually stand right outside, have taken up a post near the stairs, presumably to keep anyone from the queen’s rooms.
I close my door almost all the way and stand with my eye to the opening.
Minutes later, an old woman exits the room. She is crying and wipes her tears with her apron. Then she hurries to the stairs.
For an hour, no one else appears, except for a servant who delivers breakfast to Jagir’s room.
But as I’m preparing to call a servant of my own for some food, Jagir exits to the hall. He closes the door and leans back heavily against it.
Impulsively, I run to him.
“My king,” I whisper, taking his hand. “Is it serious?”
Tears shimmer in his eyes. “She’s gone,” he whispers back.
My heart pounds.
Before I can react, Jagir throws his arms around me. He buries his face in my hair and sobs.
I hold him.
I lead him to his bed.
I rub his back until his tears stop.
I make a different choice.
XLVI. NILARUNA
Kai finds me curled up by my window reading a book.
Staring at a book, I should say. I have no idea what it’s about.
“Are you alright?” he asks, squatting down beside me.
I smile at him and brush a lock of hair from his face. “I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry Father was so rude. That was completely unnecessary.”
I shrug. “I’m in love. It’s okay for Maja to find love, too. In fact, it’s what I’ve wished for him. It’s okay.”
“But he didn’t have to be so cruel,” Kai says. “He wanted to get the point across that perhaps Maja’s loyalties have changed, but he went about it in the wrong way.”
“I don’t blame him,” I say. “Your father doesn’t know me, and he really doesn’t know you and I together yet. He knows nothing of Maja. To an outsider, the situation looks dire. He did what he thought he had to do.”
Kai searches my face. “Does it make you doubt Maja, even a bit?”
“No. He might love another, but I know he’ll always love
me, too. That’s the way I feel about him. Even though we have chosen different partners and must travel different roads, we will still honor that love. I have no doubts.”
Kai pulls me up against him and hugs me. “Good. I wouldn’t want my father’s politicking to ever make you doubt yourself or your feelings.”
I pull back. “Did I hurt you? Leaving like that?”
“No. I understand you, Nili. I know you want the best for Maja, and that has nothing to do with your love for me. I’m okay with that.”
I give him another hug and a soft kiss. “Have you seen Manoj yet?”
“Not yet. I thought you might want to visit him with me.”
Himmat knocks and opens the door without asking. “Your father, he wants to see you immediately,” he says. “Both of you.”
“What is it?” Kai asks.
“I don’t know. But the servants on his floor are upset.”
We hurry up to the king’s rooms. His guards open the door as soon as they see us, and close the door swiftly behind us.
Tears stain the king’s cheeks.
“Mother?” Kai asks.
King Jagir nods.
They hug.
“I’m so sorry, my king,” I say with a bow.
The king pulls away from Kai and hugs me, too. “You would have liked her,” he says. “She would have loved you.”
Kai’s body shakes, but his eyes stay dry. “I’m sorry, Nili. The wedding—”
“The wedding will go on as planned,” the king says.
“There is no need for that,” I say. “We can wait. As long as is needful.”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “This has been a long time coming. The wedding will proceed, and we will announce her death the day after.”
Kai sits down. “Why, Father? Mother deserves the respect of a proper funeral.”
“And she shall have it. Too many things are happening. People have traveled great distances to be here, and if we had the funeral now, we’d have to put the wedding off for a moon. This way, we can have the wedding, and then have the funeral right after. Most people will be able to attend both. This is the right course.”
“Will we be able to celebrate?” I ask. “Kai?”