“They’re moving their archers forward again,” he said quietly.
“They don’t think we’re retreating?” Priya asked, cursing inwardly. They were dragging back so obviously. If not for Priya—for the foolish plan she was holding fast to—thiswouldbe a true retreat.
“No, they believe it.” His voice was tight. “But they can afford to leave a force of archers here. I assume their forces are extensive enough at the ford that they think they can defeat the empress without a handful more arrows.”
Well, they were wrong. They had to be wrong, or this battle was already lost.
Another whistling thud of arrows. A horribly strangled shout from the water. Priya didn’t even let herself wince this time. The men were withdrawing behind her in a jangle of armor and hooves and the unsteady creak of chariot wheels.
Priya tensed her muscles, rising to a half crouch.
“Guide Sima back to safety,” she said. “Please.”
Rao gave her a jerky nod.
“I’d rather go with you,” Sima said. She was still shaking, still terrified—but there was a fierceness in her eyes that blazed.
“Sima—”
“As your advisor,” she said deliberately, “and your fellow Ahiranyi, as yourfriend, I would rather be your protector. I’d rather carry a shield to keep you safe than—than simply leave you, running like a coward.”
Priya shook her head.
“I won’t risk you here.”
“That isn’t your choice to make.”
“I will accompany you also,” Rao said.
“You have men to lead,” Priya said.
“That is one of my responsibilities,” he said. “But what I must do is make sure this battle is won, Elder Priya—and I will play any role required of me. If you must live long enough to do what Malini requires of you, for this fight to end in our favor, then I’ll do all I can to defend you.”
She focused on the lessons of her childhood. Hollow out weakness. Move forward.
She would not allow Sima or Rao to die.
Ah, spirits, she could not watch Sima die.
So she’d leave her weaknesses—leavethem—behind.
“The three of us will be more noticeable to them,” she said, gesturing roughly at the opposite bank, “than I’ll be on my own. And you’ll just get in my way. So you’ll both move back, or I’ll make you move back. Understand?”
Priya was not sure how seriously Rao took that threat, but Sima’s mouth thinned. “Priya,” she said. “Please.”
“There are going to be other battles,” Priya said. “Sima. When this ends—when we win. Later, there are going to be other fights where it’s not going to be about… about what I can do. And I promise when they come, you’ll be by my side.”
They held each other’s gazes. One beat. Then Sima exhaled, her grip on the shield loosening.
“Fine,” she said. “Fine, Pri. I’m going to hold you to that.”
“When you move,” Rao said. “We will move.”
He meant, of course, that he and Sima would wait to see if she made it to the water unharmed, before they left her back undefended. But she couldn’t argue any longer. She turned her focus inward.
Slow, deep breaths. Guiding her back into her own magic.
She kept breathing as she crawled from behind the shield and made her way toward the water. She moved with painful slowness—back bent, ready to throw herself flat to the ground, as she tried to be an uninteresting target. She was unarmed, small and dirtied, her hair unraveling. She was nothing and no one of consequence.
