“Eat up, now,” Erabi said with a smile. “Daylight is wasting.”
Dhoona and Yudhwaited on the bridge beside the carriage that I’d arrived in yesterday, but another larger, dark wood carriage was stationed farther down. This one was pulled by massive black, winged horses with golden manes and eyes like flame. I’d seen these creatures in stables in the royal domain but hadn’t realized that they were winged. They waited, still and patient, but I got the impression that if I ventured too close, they’d happily snap their teeth at me.
A woman wearing black pants and a form-fitting tunic sat in the driver’s seat. Her golden hair was coiled at the nape of her head, the rest hidden beneath a hat that reminded me of a bycocket hat from the medieval period of my world.
She glanced over at us as we approached but didn’t greet us. In fact, she made a point to turn her head away in a manner that felt like a subtle but very deliberate snub.
I arched a brow Erabi’s way, and she shook her head slightly, leading me to the white carriage. “Hop on in. Blankets are under the seats.”
I ushered my friends into the carriage but turned to Erabi. “Who’s the other carriage driver, and what’s her issue with me?”
Dhoona joined us, blocking my view of the woman. “That’s Kalani. She’s Danava Arpita’s daughter. Royal blood on the Danava side.”
“Arpita…one of the Authority? Why isherdaughter driving a carriage?”
“It’s the way it is,” Dhoona said. “After what the Danava king did, his people and his family have been stripped of status.”
“Except Arpita, who gets a place on the Authority panel.”
“Only because her seat is protected by ancient law,” Erabi said. “I’m sure they would replace her if they could.”
I pressed my lips together. “The Danava king’s actions are hardly her fault. And I don’t see why all his people should pay the price.”
“It’s a reminder,” Dhoona said. “A cautionary tale to prevent an uprising.”
“The Danava now work for the Asura, Leela,” Erabi said.
“And those steeds pulling Kalani’s carriage, those majestic chaysavar, belonged to the Danava. They were once mighty warriors but are now relegated to basic transport.”
“Fuck…” I shook my head. How were things so messed up?
“There will be time enough to put things to rights,” Erabi said. “Chandra will help you. I know these are all issues that he has been fighting to change, but without the full power of the throne…” She sighed again. “It has been a futile battle.”
Not any longer. In a month’s time, reform would begin. I climbed up into the carriage, the move elevating me enough to see over Dhoona’s head.
My gaze locked with Kalani’s, and my blood ran cold at the pure, unadulterated hatred in her eyes.
Hatred aimed at me.
I met her vitriol with a nod and a smile. Her eyes flinched, and she looked away. Probably confused by my reaction to her death glare.
Ha, she’d probably spend the next few minutes wondering if she’d miscommunicated her distaste.
I ducked into the carriage, a warm kernel of satisfaction in my chest, and settled beside Bina. Opposite us, Dharma and Joe arranged one of the blankets over their laps. A moment later, we were airborne.
Joe whooped, and Bina grabbed the sill, muttering something under her breath. Dharma stared out of the window wide-eyed as we gained altitude. And it hit me that here, high above the city, surrounded by sky, there were no spying ears to listen. This was the epitome of privacy.
I waited for the awe and novelty to wear off a little, for them to sit back in their seats and relax, then spoke.
“I have something to tell you all.”
Silence reignedfor several minutes after I finished recounting Pashim’s message and Araz’s revelation: the truth that a bond between Asura and drohi could be broken and that not all drohi children were given to the Asura willingly.
“I knew it,” Dharma said. “The way they treat the drohi…and then making everyone believe it’s a choice for the djinn to give up their offspring. And they tried to wipe Araz’s memories? Can you imagine how awful to have to live here and comply with the Asura when he remembered what they did to his family?”
And I’d been brought here just before he was about to be freed. His hatred of me hadn’t been personal. He’d seen me as another cage, and he’d had every reason to want to break out of it.
“I don’t blame him for wanting war,” Bina said. “Not after everything he saw and went through.”
