But what did Veer’s earlier words about her father bargaining for her marriage with Kalpeet mean? Exactly what had her actions that day cost her father?
All she had been told was that her marriage had been arranged to the only son of King Bheesmala, Prince Veer of Rajgarh. Didn’t even give her aswayamvara, the custom of bridal choice that her sisters had been given.
She had protested, and railed, but in the end acquiesced. She had to. Because the prince had specifically asked for her hand. And if she refused, it would have to be one of her other sisters. When the fate of their kingdom hung on their marriage, even her father was helpless.
And it did end the war. But not in the way either kingdom had expected.
Veer cleared his throat gruffly. “My earlier apology wasn’t for the bas-reliefs, Princess. It was for my ill-advised words about your father begging me to take you off his hands,” he said, echoing Chandra’s thoughts. “I’m sorry for implying that I was offered Kalpeet in exchange for taking you as my bride. That wasn’t what happened at all.”
“What really happened?” she asked quietly. “Please, I need to know,” she said, when he hesitated.
“Whatever I might say about King Chandraketu, Princess, he was a good father. He just…didn’t think we both would suit.” The fingers on her shoulders flexed, and she read his discomfort in the way he held her. This wasn’t a pleasant memory for him. “In fact, he didn’t think I was worthy of any of his daughters. But the plan of marriage was a sound strategy without which peace talks were not going to proceed. Considering that, even Chandraketu had to bow down his head.”
He turned her by the shoulders, changing their direction slightly. In the dark, she had no choice but to trust him to lead her safely. “You think you had no option regarding your husband?” he continued. “I was asked to choose my wife among the princesses of Amaravathi. And your father kept delaying, refusing to cooperate, prolonging the war and costing many lives. I had to force his hand by capturing and imprisoning you. So, after that night you spent in my camp, he could no longer have a legitimate reason to refuse.”
“Nothing happened that night.”
“But according to your own words, nothingneededto happen, right?” he said, smooth as wine. “Just staying was enough to besmirch your reputation. I remember, Princess.”
Her mouth fell open at the revelation. Perhaps she was naive, but she had always believed in the innate goodness of people and Veer’s actions were as far removed from customary norms as she could understand. “You…you forced my father intomaking a decision. You took away my choice.” Outrage choked her voice, and her hands curled into fists.
Silence fell. They had stopped.
“Yes.” She felt him take a deep breath as his chest brushed against her back. “Yes, I did. I could apologize a thousand times for not asking you, Princess, but the truth is, even if given the choice, I’d do it again. Whatever you may say, our marriage brought the war to an end. If you knew all this beforehand, would that have changed your decision? For better or worse, our lives don’t entirely belong to us.”
“You were bargaining on the honor of women, using underhanded means. That is not how things are done in Amaravathi,” she said, irate.
“Underhanded? Princess, had I wished, I’d have let none of your sisters go, bringing the war to a premature end with Rajgarh’s assured victory. I was under no obligation to release any of you. I was using an opportunity that conveniently fell into my lap. Ending the war saved many lives. And that, Princess, is what is counted as important where I come from.”
They started walking again. “But yes, I admit I am guilty of wronging you,” continued Veer. Was that remorse that softened his voice? she thought. “Of tricking you into a marriage you had no wish for. In a way, I almost understand why you did what you did. I did nothing to allay your fears. My decisions may not please you. But that is the fate of one who is a leader, Princess. Hard decisions come your way, and you can’t please everyone. You only do the best you can and leave the rest to destiny.”
Chandra didn’t have a good reply to that. His answer wasn’t something she totally disagreed with, but it wasn’t something she could discount either.
His words jarred loose a long-suppressed memory.
“You are a pox on the esteemed name of Amaravathi, and I rue the day I brought you and your mother into Tripura.”
Her father had been monumentally angry at her, once the murder trial had concluded.She had never seen him that lost for control before.
Chandra had always been close to her father, the apple of his eye, and he had indulged her far too often, earning her resentment from others who wanted to be the favored child. She ran an absent hand over the exquisitely carved ivory handle of one of her twin daggers tucked at her waist, a family heirloom handed down generations. She had been ecstatic when her father had gifted them to her the day she turned eighteen.
She wasn't as close to the rest of the queens and her sisters. Except for Aswini, the eldest princess who was a genuinely nice, responsible person, determined to keep peace within the family.
“You will no longer step foot in Tripura. I banish you to live out your life in Devarakonda, until you can repent your sins.”Her father’s words pulsed inside a deep well of hurt. She had buried those searing words into the recesses of her memory, afraid to take them out and examine. And despite knowing her father’s disappointment and her own culpability when it came to her loved ones, she couldn't turn away from the path she had chosen, couldn't untangle the web of lies she had woven around herself.
She had no right to throw accusations at Veer when she herself didn't act better.
“It seemed like you were looking for something when I found you earlier,” remarked Veer suddenly, as they resumed their walk.
“It’s nothing,” she said, still piqued by his earlier revelations. And although Veer explained it, she still had her doubts about his reasoning. Why exactly did he choose her? She had given no indication that she favored him in any way.
Chandra was well aware of her shortcomings. She had been described by her various nursemaids as a hoyden, a girl far toofond of masculine pursuits with a temper to match the quickness of her arrows. She couldn’t imagine anyone would be willing to take her on when he had other options.
It was perhaps an insecure realization, but Chandra was honest enough to admit an accurate one. Deference, humility, and grace were favorable qualities that one said to look for in a bride. Perhaps it was because he was a foreigner, but Veer seemed to have a completely different set of requirements.
She shivered, knowing it had nothing to do with the cold and everything to do with the man who was holding her so securely in the dark.
It was strangely intimate to be walking like this, in the gloom, and she noticed things she had no business sensing. Like the way he seemed to not just tower over her but surround her. The pattern of his breathing, the rustle of his clothes, the press of his long fingers as he subtly directed her walk added a strange cadence to the rhythm of their footsteps. She imagined she even felt the beat of his strong heart against her back.
