“As you wish, my lord. But if we are to follow through with our plans, we need a soul. What better than one that offers itself so freely?” She pointed to the little boy at the edge of the dais, knees drawn up to his chin, staring at Nritti like she was his salvation. “Look at him, he longs to be cut. I should do as he asks.”
“Your enchantment has robbed his will,” I shot back, the words tumbling out before I had a chance to stop them.
Wrong move. Kamala moved closer, her nose nudging into my shoulder, nostrils flaring protectively. I wanted to hug her. Beside me, achurelsucked in her breath and arakshasistumbled backward, as if my words would put all of their lives at risk.
The crowd around us laughed but it was thin and forced. Nritti leaned closer to me.
“When we have hollowed the world above, wouldn’t death be a kinder fate to the boy? Do you want him to return to find his home destroyed? Because that is what they will do.”
In the ruins of the Night Bazaar, I was all too aware of my own mortality. My heartbeat enthralled them. I was food. If they could not have the boy’s blood, they would take mine.
“You are bound to be a great ruler, my lady. But on the eve of your victory, perhaps you can spare a favor to a lowlysadhvi?”
Nritti glared, her jaw tight, but she nodded.
“How about a game?” I asked. “Give me a riddle. If I answer correctly, you will grant me the boy.”
Nritti grinned. “I will play your game,sadhvi. But if you answer wrong, you will take his place.”
Kamala hissed into my ear, “Are you so eager to die, young queen?”
“But on one condition,” I said.
Her eyes narrowed. “What?”
I looked from her to Amar. This whole time, his eyes had never left my face.
“I request a private audience with the Dharma Raja.”
His face was impassive, but he nodded in my direction and the smallest of victories lodged between my ribs, light as a heartbeat and just as hopeful. Around us, the crowd of darker beings sank into the shadows. Some licked their lips. Others just stared.
“You will receive no help,” said Nritti.
She reached down, tugging at the air like it was a handful of chains. Gupta was yanked out from behind the throne of thorns. His face was haggard, dirt creasing his skin. I lunged toward him, but Nritti slammed her heel into the ground and a wall of wind threw me back.
“None of that,” she chided. “Take thepishacha.”
Gupta nodded. I tried to make eye contact with him, but he refused to meet my gaze. Kamala whinnied, rearing onto her legs, fighting to stay close to me.
“We have a deal,” Kamala whispered into my ear. Her voice trembled. “You may not die. Not until I have a bite, or two, of that lush-lush arm, like you promised. If you die, I will kill you.”
I searched myself for a smile. “Have you grown fond of me, then?”
“As one who has grown fond of a particular dish. Nothing more.”
She huffed but she wouldn’t look at me. Gupta dragged her away. My hope felt bruised and cold. Winds teased the ends of my shorn hair and thesadhvirobes did nothing to keep out the chill.
“Which animal is the most cunning?” asked Nritti, stroking the blade between her fingers.
I frowned. That wasn’t a riddle. It was a matter of opinion.
“Flustered so soon by our game?” asked Nritti. She raised the blade, tracing small, sharp circles on the exposed tops of my feet.
Bear? Too lumbering. Tiger? Too noticeable.Sweat broke out between my shoulder blades. I didn’t know the answer. I paused.I didn’t know the answer.
I cleared my throat. “The one we have yet to discover.”
Nritti’s smile curled into the barest of snarls. Behind her, one corner of Amar’s lips quirked into a grin. Kamala laughed, stamping her hooves and tossing her head. But our game hadn’t ended yet.
