Vikram looked at me sharply. “How do you know that?”
“Does it matter?” I snapped, dropping my fingers. “I know it’s a kingdom in the Otherworld. The palace ofyakshasandyakshinis.They’re said to be the guardians of treasure found in trees, rivers and caves.”
He blinked.
“It’s also the home of Kubera, the Lord of Treasures and the guardian of the North,” I muttered.
“So you are a scholar and a soldier. How unusual for a princess.”
I laughed. “The women of Bharata are singers, artists, soldiers and academics. I’m no different from them.”
“How do you know those stories?”
“I have ears,” I said. He didn’t get to know about Maya. “You’ve told me what I’ll get out of this wish, but what about you? You’re the heir, what more could you want?”
For a moment his expression clouded before he shrugged gracefully. “I want everything.”
I recognized a deflection when I heard one, but his secrets meant nothing to me. Turning the ruby in my palms, I found a small engraving on the jewel that had not appeared until now. It was the outline of a man crawling on his hands and knees.
“It’s a ticket. For two living entries into the game.”
“Not two living exits?”
I cursed inwardly. Why was I even asking? I had no desire to play this game.
He grinned. “I asked the same question. Perhaps winning is the only way to leave. So. Princess Gauri, Jewel of Bharata and former heir to the throne. Will you be my partner?”
Absolutely not. I glanced at the ruby in my hand. The moment we were out of Ujijain, I would kill him and take the jewel. I eyed his rich clothes. Those would fetch a good price too. And if I stole his clothes and cut his throat, his death would look as if a robber had gotten to him. No blame on Bharata. I smiled.
“How long do we have to get there?” I asked.
His smile was all victory: “New moon.”
“That’s in three days.”
“Admittedly, I am not quite sure how to get there,” said the Prince, steepling his fingers.
“Did you ask the ruby?”
His eyes widened. “Princess, you have depths of genius untold! I would have never thought to dothe most obvious thing.Go ahead and ask it how to get to Alaka. See what answeryouget.”
I was well and truly going to maim him. I muttered the question at the ruby. The jewel spun and a length of parchment erupted from the crystal:
Alaka is past the place where memories devour and the held-breath place to put an end to cowards.
I may have wanted nothing to do with magic, but it stilldidsomething to me. The words of the parchment wrapped around my heart. When I blinked, I heard Maya’s voice in the dark, spinning tales of grand adventures that would always find their way into my dreams later. But the memory of her collapsed into shards of nightmare. I would never know what happened to her.
“Helpful,” I said, trying to keep from wavering.
“I’ve been thinking about it nonstop. We need an entryway into a place of magic. At first I considered entering through cremation grounds, but I have no desire to end up in Naraka—”
“Do you know where to go or not?” I asked impatiently.
“Can we truly know anything?”
I rolled my eyes. “How soon can we leave?”
“Not so fast, Princess. I want you to be my partner, but I need a demonstration that your reputation is more than rumor. I can’t defend both of us and I have no problem admitting I’d let you die.”
