Chapter 6
ARE WE LIVING THE DREAM?
LEELA
Once we landed on the Shahee Kshetra, the journey to the palace was filled with gasps of awe and wide-eyed wonder as my friends took in the city. When we entered the Prakaash Maarg, zooming toward the upper level of the domain, everyone let out a cry as our stomachs dipped. The light vortex deposited us on the uppermost level, and a few minutes later, we were on the silver tree-lined path to the palace. The fairytale castle came into view soon enough, its gold and white domed turrets gleaming in the sunlight while its many arched windows stared at us like eager eyes.
“Oh. My. God,” Dharma said, head hanging out of the window. “It’s massive.”
“That’s what she said,” Joe muttered. He yelped, glaring at Bina. “Why’d you kick me?”
“Because you were being vulger,” Bina said. “And lying, no doubt.” She smirked.
“Ask Mahira if you don’t believe me.”
“Joe!” Dharma looked over at him in disgust. “Seriously?”
The carriage came to a halt, and a few moments later, Dhoona opened the door. We clambered out onto gravel as the carriage carrying Erabi and the drohi rolled up behind us.
“It’s impressive,” Bina said, head tipped up to take in the palace.
I looked over at Kalani’s carriage. She didn’t get off her seat to let the drohi out; instead, she sat with her gaze fixed straight ahead, reins held in her lap.
Yudh strode over and opened the door. Erabi climbed out, followed by the drohi. Everyone had barely exited when Kalani cracked the reins, jolting the chaysavar into motion. Her carriage rolled past us and around the fountain to our left, heading back the way we’d come.
“Oh…what a wonder,” Mahira said, her hand pressed to her chest as she took in the palace.
Thanil came to stand beside Bina. “It certainly is.”
A woman appeared around the side of the building, small and plump, dark hair threaded with silver piled high on her head. She was dressed in a maroon skirt with a fitted tunic over the top, a black shawl draped over her shoulders. She bustled toward us, her lips curving in a huge, welcoming smile as she took us all in.
“Jhanti.” Erabi hurried toward her, arms open for a hug.
The woman’s shawl slipped off her shoulders, flaring up behind her in a shimmer of silver and black. Wings, like Erabi.
The two hugged, and Erabi led her over to us. “Jhanti is the head housekeeper for the palace and a close personal friend of mine, although we haven’t seen much of each other the past few weeks.”
“You’re always so busy,” Jhanti said, her dark eyes crinkling at the corners.
“So are you,” Erabi said.
“Oh, we have been, especially since yesterday when Guru Chandra commissioned a nest for anchors to be built on the palace grounds.” Her eyes went wide. “He is usually so particular about the aesthetics of the gardens, and the nest will most certainty create an imbalance to the symmetry of the grounds. But he was insistent that the anchors be kept close.” She smiled at me, dark eyes alight with warmth. “He cares very much for your comfort, blood of Vijayroodra.”
“Please, just call me Leela.”
She blinked in surprise. “I couldn’t possibly be so bold as to?—”
“Just do it,” Erabi said with a soft chuckle. “Trust me, Jhanti, it’s what she wishes.”
Jhanti inclined her head. “Very well…Leela, you and your companions must be tired after your journey. Come, let me show you all to the east wing.” She headed back around the side of the house. “We only use the front entrance for events. You’ll be coming in and out through the east entrance, which also provides access to the east wing.”
I glanced back to see Dhoon and Yudh standing by their carriage and slowed my pace. “Jhanti, wait…”
The housekeeper stopped and looked back. “Yes, dear?”
“What about Yudh and Dhoona? Chandra added them to my retinue as security, right?”
“Oh, yes, don’t worry, dear, they will be staying in the east wing too. They’ll join us once they’ve taken the carriage to the stables.”
