He stilled and then slowly lifted his gaze to meet mine, studying me for several beats before nodding.
“We’ll visit the throne in a few days under Authority watch, and it will test you once more to decide if you’re worthy of claiming it. If you are, then ascension and coronation will take place on the equinox in a month’s time.”
“A month. So we have to wait a month to harness the full power of the throne?”
He smiled thinly, his nostrils flaring. “It’s good to see that you no longer question your worthiness.”
I blinked sharply. He was right. I didn’t question it. Not any longer. A wave of calm washed over me. “I’m ready, Chandra. No question about it.”
He pressed his hands to his thighs and nodded. “Good. Now we wait. We’ve fortified the wards around Aakash Sansaar. Nothing will breach them. Our sky domain is safe.”
“And what about the land? What about all the people in the settlements? What about the Asura forces stationed on the ground?”
“They have been alerted of the threat. They will be on guard.”
“On guard? The primordial evil is loose, and they’re going to beon guard? They’ve been on guard all this time against the devouring force, and I’m assuming that threat is going to increase in power now, right?”
“Yes. It will. But once you take the throne,wewill have the power to fight back. To attack, not simply defend.”
A month… “And what do I do in the lead up to the coronation? I won’t sit around twiddling my thumbs. I can’t.”
He leaned forward, his expression earnest. “You’ll shadow me. Learn the workings of court. Learn who to trust and who to be wary of. Shahee Kshetra is your home now, and the east wing of the palace will belong to you and your retinue until you take the throne. After which, the whole palace will belong to you, to do with as you please.” He smiled warmly.
“And you? Where will you go?”
“The guest house will do for my needs.”
“Or you could just…stay here.”
He blinked sharply, and when he spoke, his tone was soft. Hesitant. “You’d allow me to stay?”
“Chandra, you’re my only blood kin. You belong here.”
His expression cleared, and a slight smile lifted the corner of his mouth. He inclined his head. “Then I shall stay as long as you need me. I’ll begin by arranging a retinue for you.”
“What’s a retinue?”
“Advisors. Guards. Assistants. Asura and pari that will stay close to you and be loyal to you.”
Yes, I needed a circle of trusted people, but they wouldn’t all come from the Asura who already lived here. No. “I’ll do what you ask. I’ll learn the way of the court. I’ll shadow you, but I want to choose my own retinue.”
“Of course. I can introduce you to?—”
“I already know who I want. And they’re not here in the Shahee Kshetra. They’re in Prashikshan.”
He exhaled heavily. “I see.”
“Good. Then you’ll arrange a carriage to take me to Prashikshan and enough carriages for me to bring my chosen trusted here.”
He fixed me with a level look, his icy blue eyes cold and unflinching. “I can only allow those who have passed the labyrinth to come with you.”
He wasn’t going to get any arguments from me on that front. “That’s fine. There are four demigods who I want to ask.”
He nodded. “Very well. That can be arranged. But you will need more than four in your retinue. Will you allow me to employ the rest?”
“Yes. You can employ the rest. I also want our anchors here too.”
He shook his head, a soft sound of exasperation escaping his lips. “There is no nest here for the anchors. They will?—”
