“What if we’re spies?” called Vikram.
The knives faltered.
“Spies?” repeated thevanaras.
“Yes. Spies. If you behead us first, you’ll never know what kind of intelligence we may have. Why, if it was so easy for me to steal this… apple… what if it becomes easier for other people to steal it too? We could tell you where your guarding went wrong and teach you how to prevent it from happening again.”
Thevanaras’ tails flicked.
“If it was a trial,” continued Vikram, “then we could talk reasonably. As civilized folk do. And then you can behead us.”
“Leave me out of this,” I said under my breath.
“Not a chance,” said Vikram.
Thevanarashuddled together, tails whipping the air. The decision was on their faces.
“You will come with us and await judgment by our laws,” said the yellow one.
The knives disappeared. A second later, metal weighed down my neck and arms. Chains. Once more, I tried to shake the fruit from my bound hands. It wouldn’t leave. Worse, I felt as if I couldtasteit in my own blood. Vikram was thrown to my side, equally chained.
“I can’t believe you didn’t have a real weapon on hand,” I said.
“I have my mind,” he said. “You should thank me.”
I raised my chained hands. “I am bursting with gratitude.”
“We’re alive, aren’t we? And now I’ve found us an entry into the Otherworld,” he shot back. “No thanks to you.”
Resentment flickered inside me. Much as I hated to admit it, he had saved us. Then again, he’d also used the moment to get us into the Otherworld, which was the last place I wanted to visit. Thevanarastugged us forward and we fell into step, marching through the Chakara Forest.
“Did you steal that fruit?” I asked.
“Of course. I want nothing more than to steal apples. I’ve also always manifested the ability to travel through time, and at night I turn into a beast and only your kiss can break the—”
“I get it. That’s a no. But then where did that image come from?”
His brow furrowed. “I have no idea.”
Thevanarasled us like cattle down a path of trees.
“Ignoring the indescribable stupidity of not bringing any useful weapons, you did keep us alive. Now just keep quiet.”
“Brilliant advice, Princess. Right up there with ‘Breathing is rather useful if you want to live.’”
“You should listen to me, Fox. Who’s the one with more experience at surviving as a prisoner?”
“And who’s the one who was never stupid enough to become a prisoner in the first place? At the moment, I’d say one of our opinions is more useful than the other.”
I glared. “If they don’t behead you, I will.”
“Where will this trial be held?” asked Vikram, ignoring me.
“At home,” grunted the largestvanara.“Must run some errands though. The Queen won’t want to return to an empty palace.”
“If she ever returns,” sighed one of them.
“She’ll come back! Curses aren’t made to be permanent. They like to be broken or they become resentful that everyone’s forgotten about them,” said another.
