“The general is in a difficult position,” said Bhumika. “The princess is… not her brother’s favorite individual. But she is still imperial blood, and if she dies here—by assassin or by sickness or some ill chance—then the general and his household will be punished. All of us will be punished.” Bhumika’s hand moved a little, where it rested on her stomach. “The princess must be kept in solitude. The emperor ordered it, and he must be obeyed. But her isolation means that Vikram cannot see her regularly either. She cannot be watched, or protected, as well as any of us would like.” A pause. “The general is inclined to give her what little he is able to.”
“You’re telling me,” Priya said slowly, “that you can’t save me from this task.”
“I’ve never been able to make you do anything, Priya. You could walk away, if you like. I think you of all people would find a way to survive, somehow. But if you stay, and become the princess’s maidservant, you could do us all a great deal of good,” said Bhumika. “The general was concerned when he beheld the princess. She is sick, and weak, and she cried a great deal. He doesn’t believe she is entirely well, or that the servant sent with her by the emperor is entirely—attentive. From what I saw of her when she arrived, I am inclined to agree. I can’t place any loyal guards on her doors. Lord Santosh has too many spies in the household for me to rearrange things quietly.” Her mouth twisted. “There’s only you, Priya.”
“You want me to watch her,” Priya said. “Spy on her. Keep her safe.”
“It would be helpful if you could keep her alive without exposing either of us, yes.”
Priya’s stomach felt leaden. “I’ll do my best,” she managed.
“Drink your water. You look terrible.”
“I’ve been sitting in a cell all day. Of course I look terrible.”
“Drink.”
Priya drank. Bhumika watched her as she did so, her own glass untouched, her gaze too knowing by far.
“I know you want to find the deathless waters,” Bhumika said finally. “No—don’t lie to me, Pri,” she went on, when Priya gave her an incredulous look. “Lie to yourself if you like, but Iknowyou. And I know you think if you find the waters, you’ll find yourself. But, Priya, you remember as well as I do the price the waters can demand. I do not want to see you die for this. And if you choose to help me instead, if you watch the princess and her jailer, if you give me information—you may save many more lives than you can imagine.”
“Save your husband, you mean,” Priya said. She regretted the words even as she spoke them; but it was too late, there was no undoing them. And it was not exactly untrue, was it? It was General Vikram who had the most to lose from the emperor’s ire. People like Priya had already lost everything.
“I see. And what do you think will happen to this household if he dies, exactly? No, don’t answer me,” Bhumika said, when Priya’s mouth parted. “Judge me all you like, Pri, I don’t care what you think of me, or anyone else. Call me a whore and a traitor if you wish, I simply don’t care. All I want is to ensure an outcome where as many of us as possible survive. So, will you watch over the princess or not?”
“If the regent has ordered it…”
“Don’t think of the regent.I’masking you. Will you do it?”
Priya looked into Bhumika’s eyes. “You would trust me?” Priya asked.
“It seems so,” said Bhumika mildly.
But still, Bhumika looked at Priya with wary, guarded eyes, the way she always looked at Priya—as if Priya were about to run off a cliff, or push someone off one; as if Priya were unpredictable.
Priya thought of the princess’s dark eyes, bloodshot with weeping. She thought of the princess watching her after Meena fell to her death. Thought of the lack of terror in that blank face. The smooth, steady gaze.
“I’ll do it,” she said.
Bhumika exhaled. “Good.” She drank her own water in one swift gulp. Lowered the glass. “Go and bathe. Rest. I’ll make the arrangements.”
Priya turned. Hesitated. “Bhumika…”
“What?”
“Meena. The assassin.” Voice halting. “She told me she’d drunk the deathless waters from a vial. And that the power was killing her. She told me a temple child gave her the waters. I know now, we’re not alone after all. We’re not the last.”
Silence.
“Bhumika,” Priya prompted.
“Leave me alone,” Bhumika said tiredly. “I’ve got enough to worry about already.”
“You can’t mean that.”
Bhumika shook her head. “Can’t I? If there’s a temple child out there cruel enough to peddle deathless water—bottled, what folly—and send children to die on their behalf, then we do not need to find them. They’re dangerous. And we have enough danger to contend with, Priya.”
“I suppose we do,” Priya said.
