Finally, Janak said quietly to Devesh, “My offer to kill you, should you lead the Daughters into danger, still stands, courtesan.” His words were harsh, but his voice had a careful respect. Devesh was saving them from the palace guards. If the guards were part of some trap, Devesh was certainly not involved. Nor her father, who might have taken a bullet to buy them a few extra seconds to escape.
Unwelcome tears threatened her eyes, but she blinked them away. There was no time for that. “How did they know where to find us?” Aniri asked, both of Janak and Devesh. “And more importantly, where are you taking us, Dev?”
He ignored her first question, which was probably wise, given they were still on the streets. “I know a place where we can stay, at least for the moment. It won’t take long for them to come after us, and the three of you hardly blend in.”
Devesh had thrown back his hood and left his cloak to flap open, but he had the luxury of doing so. He was Samirian, and while the features of Dharians were not so dissimilar, surely the people would recognize their own Princess Seledri were she to stroll the streets without disguise.
They took two more turns, bringing them off the main thoroughfares of the city, before Devesh led them inside a tinker shop. This was no toy shop, but instead held all manner of large clockwork parts: long steel handles, sheets of raw metal, and gear wheels half the size of Aniri. A row of pamgari stood along one wall, as if lined up for inspection. Their small entourage’s entrance drew the attention of two customers, so Aniri ducked her head and held close to Devesh, who was making haste through the shop to the back.
Along the rear wall, racks of small parts—and bins for holding even smaller ones—created narrow canyons of tinker heaven. Buried in one was a woman in overalls with grease-stained hands. It was hard to tell her age with her light brown hair plaited behind her and her face buried nose-first in one of the boxes. She was digging for something. When she found her prize, an irregular bulb of some kind, she held it up with a grin—Aniri guessed she wasn’t much over twenty. Only then did the tinker notice the four of them hovering at the end of the row. Her grin quickly morphed into a frown for Devesh, who motioned them to stay back.
“I thought ye went to Dharia.” She said it like she wished he had stayed there.
Devesh brushed past that and said, “I need your help.”
“Of course ye do.” The woman’s frown deepened, and she brushed a stray lock out of her face, leaving a faint smudge of grease behind. She scanned them with dark, intelligent eyes. “Whatever trouble yer in, Dev, ye take it right back out of my—” She cut herself off when her gaze landed on Seledri.
Her mouth hung open. “Ye brought the…” She stopped again, then harshly whispered, “Ye brought the princess?”
Devesh swooped in with a kiss that was quick, but nevertheless silenced the woman. Aniri remembered all too well the power of those kisses. The twinge inside her wasn’t jealousy, but a sudden heartache for the woman and a spike of anger for Devesh.
“Please, Riva,” he said, his hands still cupping her cheeks. “It’s for them, not for me.”
She pulled out of his hold and slapped him across the cheek.
He bore it easily, as if he expected it. Or perhaps getting slapped was a common occurrence for Devesh. Then he looked in her eyes again. “I know. But I’m begging you.”
Riva gave him a look of disgust. “That was for you. For them, I have a room upstairs.” She brushed past him, hesitated in front of Seledri, pressed her hands together for an awkward kind of bow, then quickly slipped past. She motioned them toward a door. Past it was a forest of gleaming clockwork parts, boxes of inventory for the shop, and a set of stairs.
Janak led the way with Seledri, no doubt wanting to be first in case of trouble. Although Aniri doubted they would find any in the back rooms of a tinker shop. It was an excellent hiding place, as she was sure Devesh already knew.
He lingered, letting Riva get well ahead of them.
Aniri shook her head. “Do you manipulate every woman you know?”
Devesh gave her a dark look. “Yes.” He slipped past her, heading for the door.
Aniri couldn’t help it. She laughed under breath.
When they reached the stairs, Devesh shot her an even more menacing look, which only erupted another small laugh from her.
“You find that amusing?” he asked, tightly.
She grinned as they climbed the stairs, still trailing behind Riva, Janak, and Seledri. “The honesty. I find it refreshing.”
He blinked, surprised, and then a small smile tugged at his lips.
There were several rooms at the top—from the looks of it, the entire floor served as secondary storage and a laboratory. Riva led them to a small room at the far end. When Aniri and Devesh arrived at the door, she was still scurrying around, picking up spools of wire, wrenches, and a few stray socks in what appeared to be her personal living quarters.
“I’m sorry, yer majesty, I didn’t expect…” She trailed off while she dumped the lot of it into a box on the lone table. She bit her lip. The still-messy room held a single stuffed chair, a miniature kitchen in one corner, and a propped open door to a bedroom. “It’s not much to look at, yer majesty, but yer welcome to it as long as ye need.” She hesitated, then looked to Devesh. “Should I be knowing why they’re here?”
He shook his head. It might not be safe for the tinker to know their plans, but she deserved some measure of thanks. Aniri threw back her hood, pressed her hands together, and bowed.
“Arama, Mistress Tinker,” she said, opting for the formal name of her trade rather than the personal name that Devesh had used. “We can’t thank you enough for your help. We won’t bother you long, I promise.”
Riva returned the gesture. “Arama. And it’s no trouble at all.” She glanced at Seledri and said in a whisper, “Is there anything I can get for yer lady?”
Aniri smiled. Being mistaken for her sister’s handmaiden was a new experience. And not altogether unpleasant. “I’m sure she’ll be fine for the short time she’s here. But she’s had a bit of a shock today. Perhaps a glass of water and a chance to rest.” Aniri gestured to the one chair.
“Yes, of course.” Riva hurried to the tiny kitchen, nudging aside a box of spare parts with her boot on the way. She rummaged through the cupboard for a glass.
Aniri tipped her head to the bump of Seledri’s belly. “How are you faring?”
Seledri rested her hand there. “Well enough.” She looked pale, though.
Riva arrived with the water, offering it to Seledri and guiding her to the chair. “Please rest, my lady. With yer…” She gestured to Seledri’s belly with a flail of hands, like she wasn’t quite sure what to call the child within. “With the little prince or princess on the way, please sit down.”
As Seledri settled into the chair, Riva hesitated, once, twice, then knelt by her side. “Yer majesty, I just wanted ye to know how very glad I am to see ye well. The rumors have been right awful, and I feared the worst. Whatever I can do, my lady, I’m at yer service. Samir needs more people like Prince Pavan and yerself.”
Seledri frowned but placed a hand on Riva’s, which was clutching the arm of her chair. “That’s very kind of you to say.”
Riva’s face colored a bit with her sister’s words. “Don’t take my meaning wrong, yer majesty, but kindness has nothing to do with it. It’s the plain truth. There’s too much hate and fear in the hearts of Samir these days. We need leaders like yerself and the First Son, with open hearts, who understand the value of working for peace.” She ducked her head. “I just wanted ye to know we’re with ye, my lady.”
Seledri’s eyes reddened, and she looked like she might cry. This seemed to panic Riva. She jumped to her feet, did that awkward bow again, and hurried to Aniri’s side.
“What can I do to assist in yer plans?” Riva asked Aniri, her gaze intense.
Devesh stepped up to them and said gently, “It would probably be best if you remained innocent of
our plans, Riva.”
It took a moment for her to take his meaning, then she said, “Oh! Yes, of course. I, um… I’ll leave ye to yer business, then.” But worry was making her pretty face grave. She leaned in to Aniri. “Could I have a word?” She tilted her head to the door they had just come through.
Aniri raised her eyebrows, and Devesh’s panicked look almost made her laugh, but she followed Riva to the door. They stepped just outside and closed it behind them.
“Is yer lady truly well?” Riva asked in a quick whisper. “Do I need to fetch a healer?”
“No, she’s fine.” Aniri smiled at her earnest concern. “And your words truly were a kindness. I’m sure they were a comfort.” Given all Seledri had been through, Aniri knew it had affected her. And she wasn’t surprised at all that her kind-hearted sister had won over the people.
Riva’s shoulders remained hunched, and she fussed with the edge of her overalls pocket, not yet leaving.
“Is there something else that concerns you?” Aniri asked, suddenly worried. They didn’t know this tinker, and only had Devesh’s word she would keep their secret. Which was to say, virtually no assurance at all.
“It’s just…” She bit her lip and looked to her boots, searching for words. “I don’t know yer business.” She shook her head and looked up. “But I know Devesh. He’s got a good heart, but he’s always one to get tangled in matters he should be running from, if he had half a brain. He’s a bit like an old pamgari—he might get ye where ye need to go, but he’s twice as likely to leave ye stranded with a load of rotting fruit.”
Aniri held in her laugh. “I know. But we don’t always get to choose our allies.”
Riva cocked her head, regarding Aniri anew, and for a moment she was afraid the tinker might have guessed who she was. But she only nodded and said, “I’ll be in the shop, for after yer done making yer plans.”
Her accent reminded Aniri of Karan, and she wondered if all tinkers had it. The Samirian ones, anyway. “Thank you for your help. And for the warning.”
Riva ducked her head in acknowledgement and strode purposely down the hall. Aniri took a breath, hoping that Devesh wasn’t going to leave them all stranded with much worse than a load of rotting fruit. She pushed open the door to Riva’s apartment.
“…the streets aren’t safe.” That was Devesh, head to head with Janak in her absence. She should have known better than to leave them alone together.
They both looked to her and backed down from whatever argument they were having.
“Your most royal highness,” Janak said, stiffly, “will you please instruct your courtesan that we will not be taking up residence in Mahatvak.” His tone grew more serious for her. “We’ve delayed our departure far too long. And we’re overdue in getting word to Captain Tarak about our situation.”
Aniri frowned and glanced at the aetheroceiver in his hands. Seledri was still in the chair, eyes closed, and she held the glass of water in both hands, like it was holding her up rather than the other way around. The color was drained from her face.
Aniri stepped up to Janak. “I need to discuss a few things with Seledri first.” She included Devesh in her words. “Could you give us a moment alone?”
Janak frowned but didn’t argue. “I’ll check in with Captain Tarak, to ascertain his status. And I’ll hold off on revealing our plans.” He turned on his heel and took the aetheroceiver into the back bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Devesh hadn’t moved from his spot next to her. “You can stay here in Samir. Both of you. I know places you can hide. Safer places, farther from the city. You can wait until all of this is settled, and we can determine Pavan’s involvement with certainty. If he is innocent, Seledri can explain she was just being cautious, for the baby’s sake. Then she can easily return to the palace, if she wishes.”
Aniri had many more questions for Devesh about what exactly he knew, but first things first. “I need to discuss it with my sister, Dev. Alone.”
He swallowed and hesitated, as if he didn’t want to leave her side.
“Do I need to ask Janak to escort you out?”
He sighed, giving up. “I’ll be right outside the door.”
Aniri waited until he had stepped out, then knelt by Seledri’s side.
She opened her eyes. “Our father doesn’t believe Pavan is involved.”
“What do you think?
“I want to believe it, but how did the guards find us? And so quickly after we escaped? Pavan knows where my father’s shop is. If he were hunting for me…” Seledri’s hands sent trembles through the water in her glass.
“If he were looking for you, would he send the royal guard?” Aniri asked softly. “That seems more like the Second Son than the First. Besides, Pavan visited our father not just once, but multiple times. He wanted to reunite the two of you. That doesn’t sound like someone who wants to assassinate you.”
“It could have all been a ruse. Perhaps Pavan was simply gaining information. After all, why the delay? Why wouldn’t he have simply told me?”
Aniri didn’t have a good answer for that.
“Perhaps my husband didn’t have a lover after all. But that doesn’t mean I’m not a threat to him keeping the crown. I want to think he’s not that kind of man, but…” Seledri shook her head.
“What is your heart telling you?” Aniri wasn’t sure that was the best compass, but she slowly was starting to believe in it again.
“My heart!” Seledri gave a bitter laugh. “You’ve always had the freedom to be yourself, Aniri. To follow your heart. No one decided for you what kind of life you would have, who you would marry, whose bed you would share. It’s never been that way for me. And Pavan… I didn’t think he was the kind who would use me for political purposes, just like everyone else, but with all that’s happened… I just can’t be sure.”
Aniri frowned. “I understand not being certain, believe me. Following my heart has gotten me into more trouble than I care to admit.”
Even now, that seemed true. Less than an hour ago, with her long-lost father insisting she remain in Samir, her heart was certain that returning to Jungali and marrying Ash was the right thing to do. Was her heart simply contrary? Or was it spurred on by her disappointment in her father and her anger at Devesh—the only two men she had loved before Ash? And now that her father had sacrificed himself for her, and Devesh was desperate to help her, she was questioning her heart once more. How could one be sure of a compass when it swung so wildly? But she could hardly share her thoughts on this with Seledri, especially when her sister was in the grips of leaving her own husband.
Seledri had fallen silent, the untouched glass of water still sitting in her lap. Aniri hated the sadness that was drawing down her face.
“It seems you’ve won the hearts of the people, at least,” Aniri said softly. “Pavan mentioned it earlier, actually, and now Riva. In fact, she seems convinced he’s the kind of man who wants peace, and that you’re the kind of Queen Samir needs.”
“The people don’t know all the royal drama that goes on, Aniri. You know that. Our own mother has apparently been lying to her people about her husband for eight years.” She huffed. “Besides, there are plenty of Samirians for whom I am not the ideal Queen.”
Aniri shook her head. “I don’t understand everything at play here in Samir. All I know is that someone tried to kill my sister and her baby, and I’m here to make sure she’s safe.”
Tears seemed to threaten Seledri’s eyes again. She laid a hand on Aniri’s. “You always were the one I could count on. The one who was always there for me.”
“And all this time, I thought Nahali was secretly your favorite sister.”
Seledri snorted a laugh through her tears.
It made Aniri’s heart glad to hear. But she forced a return to seriousness. “It’s your choice, Seledri. Do you want to return home? To Pavan?”
Her sister’s face twisted, and Aniri feared she might cry. “I want to believe Pavan is inno
cent of all of this. But I can’t be sure. And I need to think of the baby.”
Aniri nodded. It was the choice she would make, too.
“I want to go home,” Seledri said, her voice shaking. “To Dharia.”
Aniri squeezed her hand. “That’s it, then.”
She quickly rose and summoned Janak and Devesh back into the room. Seledri sat quietly in her chair, head in her hands, shoulders bent.
“Our plan still stands,” Aniri said. “Janak, please message Captain Tarak again and arrange for him to meet us outside the city gates.”
“Wait!” Devesh held up his hands, eyes wide. “There’s another option.”
Janak ignored him and strode over to set up the aetheroceiver on the table, shoving aside Riva’s box of miscellaneous items to do so. He matched three fingers to the engraved symbols that covered its surface, and the brass box slowly unfolded for him.
“Aniri, your father was right,” Devesh said, desperation creeping into his voice. “Soon, it won’t be safe to be a royal in Dharia. Or Jungali, for that matter, now that they’ve moved against Samir.”
“The war.” Aniri peered into his dark, earnest eyes.
“It’s coming, and it’s not going to end well for Dharia.”
“What do you know, Dev? Tell me. All of it.”
He took a breath and gestured helplessly with his hands, like he didn’t know where to start. “I’m not privy to battle plans, I just know the ambassador was convinced that Dharia’s time was short. She relished the idea of royal blood being spilt just as much as Garesh.”
The ambassador. That thought brought back an image of Devesh stumbling from the ambassador’s bedroom half dressed. “And she told you this between kisses?”
His look of distaste affirmed Aniri’s earlier suspicions that the tryst between them wasn’t one he enjoyed. “She let slip more than one secret I was expected to keep.”
Second Daughter (The Royals of Dharia, Book Two) Page 14