Gupta had been right yesterday. I did mind the silence. It felt too controlled. When he spoke of the palace, he made it sound like it was a sentient being, something that could hop and shuffle, talk back and frown. I hadn’t believed him, but I was beginning to. Everything about the palace felt deliberate.
Some of the mirrors around me were lit up with life. A few of the cities inside them were deep in sleep, with a slim moon keeping vigil over their slumber. And then there were the mirrors with darker scenes…
Wars and flags of countries I didn’t recognize. A burning smell, as if it could stretch through the silvery portals and spill into Akaran. I never saw anyone in these reflections; the portals were like a bird’s-eye view looking down. But I still saw the fires. I still saw the horses pounding the ground beneath them, moving out of sight, far beyond the edges of the mirrors.
Up ahead, the white marble floors of the palace had given way to shiny lacquered wood. I walked forward, sure that I could hear Gupta’s voice if he called. Unlike the bare stone walls of the throne room or main hallways, these walls were giant mirrors, darkened with time and peeling to reveal the silver beneath them.
Beneath the shadow of a large arch, something glittered. I stared into the darkness, but saw nothing but a pale wooden door cracked open. The stone was cool beneath my feet and tendrils of light snaked past me, pooling into silver puddles before bringing the room into full view. My eyes widened—
Before me was a twinkling garden. But instead of potted plants and wilting flowers, every piece of this garden was bright and translucent, like it had been carved from glass. I leaned forward… itwascarved of glass. From the stately banyan tree with its ropy leaves to theashwagandhashrub and its bright red fruit, everything was glass and crystal. I walked in a daze through the labyrinth of crystal plants and lightly touched the cool stems. I stroked the glassy tendrils of anamlaplant and laughed as emerald vines glittered and brushed against my skin.
But not even the crystal plants were as lovely as the soft blooms of light winking and disappearing into the translucent vines and petals. Thousands of lights blinked in and out, whooshing and whirling around the plants so that everything seemed wrought of light and glass. It was beautiful. I turned around, taking in the full view of the garden. Moonlight had teased away the shadows and my world had become dream-soft and slicked in glass. For the first time since coming to Akaran, I felt at peace.
“What are you doing here?” thundered a voice behind me.
I nearly jumped. Even without turning, I knew who the voice belonged to:
Amar.
12
THE GARDEN OF GLASS
I raised my chin and stared back at him. I had no reason to feel embarrassed. After all, he was the one who said Akaran was just as much mine as it was his. The doorhadbeen open. And yet, a flush still crept up the back of my neck.
“I was taking a walk,” I said weakly.
“Where’s Gupta?”
“The dining room,” I said before adding defensively, “I only walked a little down the halls.”
His jaw tightened. “I told you that the kingdom’s location makes it dangerous.”
“Gupta told me that anyplace that might hold danger would be locked up,” I retorted. “The door to this room was not locked.”
“Even so,” said Amar. “They might sing through their bindings. It’s better to have an escort.”
“As you can see, I am unscathed from my walk from one hall to the next.”
“Today,” cut in Amar tightly. “Todayyou are unscathed. Tomorrow is unknown. As is the next day and the day after that. Never make light of your life.”
“I never do.”
The vial of mandrake poison flashed in my mind. Life led me here. Life and the desire toliveit.
Gupta burst into the room.
“Oh, good!” he breathed, hands pushing against his knees. He looked like he’d just run from one side of a country to the next. Guilt heated my face. He turned to Amar. “I apologize. I lost track with the riddles.”
“You can leave, my friend,” said Amar. “She is safe with me.”
Gupta looked between us, started to say something and thought better of it. There was a touch of pity in his expression as he looked at the winking lights around us. With one last glance at the garden, Gupta left.
Amar loosed a breath. “I understand, you know.”
I looked up.
“The forced silence… the voices of this palace.”
