“In conclusion, the Lady Aasha has my full and unwavering support as Spy Mistress. I accept that she will be my equal, and one day, my successor. I accept that her judgment lies equal to mine. And I dare any of you to refuse—”
A sound of dissent broke the sternness of Zahril’s voice. Aasha couldn’t catch the words, but she imagined she could feel Zahril’s bristle of annoyance. She did not like being interrupted. And she certainly would not like the vague and flowery way that the courtier would present his dissent.
“If that is how you feel,” said Zahril with terrifying calm. “Then I value your opinion as much as I value a dog’s waste in the middle of the kitchen.”
A roar of sound nearly made Aasha push back from the door. She heard outraged cries. Tutterings of displeasure. And through it, one deep, grumbling laugh. She grinned.Vikram.But the laugh was quickly cut off. Probably by a sharp glance from Gauri. Aasha could imagine them on the other side of the door. His face wry and tilting into a knowing grin. Her face calm and swooping into a smile that was unnervingly grim. A pang went through her heart. Though she didn’t miss the culture of Bharata, she missed her friends.
“The Lady Aasha shows a remarkable empathy. Beyond just a calculating sense of knowing how to weigh and evaluate lethal situations with speed and grace, she has a way of reading people… of making them feel welcome. Of opening, even, the hardest of hearts. She could not be a brighter force if she carried a miniature sun in her arms. I will not hear less.”
The hardest of hearts.
Aasha’s smile could have lifted her heels off the ground.
She didn’t stay to listen to more. She had heard enough, and it made her heart light.
With a curt nod to the guards, she went to the harem. Zahril had not seen her in days. She wanted to look as she felt—glowing.
***
“Vikram!” shrieked a voice.
Aasha jolted upright in the bath. She recognized the voice as Gauri’s.
“You’re not allowed in here!” hissed Gauri. “And could you please take off those silks? What does it mean that you almost convincedmeyou were a harem wife?”
“It means that my beauty is transcendent,” said Vikram. “And why do I have to wait for you to see Aasha first? She’s my friend too.”
“Well I met her first.”
“Oh, you can’t be serious. I wasniceto her first. You—”
“—is that a platter ofhalwa?”
“What? Where?”
The door to the bath chambers opened and slammed. Aasha turned to see Gauri barricading the door with a chair.
“I love you!” she called.
“I knew it was too good to be true,” said Vikram, sounding distinctly betrayed. “That was cruel. Fine, I’m waiting out here.”
“Good,” said Gauri. “And please take off that dress.”
“Absolutely not. You may like the sight of me in tight pants, but silk skirts justbreathewith you. I think I’ll go scandalize someone while I wait.”
Gauri just shook her head and laughed, before turning to Aasha.
“I’m glad to see his confidence hasn’t changed,” said Aasha, laughing.
“I’m just glad to see you,” said Gauri. She sat at the edge of the bath, appraising Aasha. “You look different.”
“Better?”
“I don’t think it’s possible for you to look more beautiful,” said Gauri.
“So worse?”
“Again. Impossible,” said Gauri. “Just different. More… sure of yourself.”
