He let everything fall back into place. The waters poured through Rukh once more, and he was back where he belonged, in the grip of the yaksa, where Ashok could feel the presence of the rot in him. Back in himself.
MALINI
There were too many people demanding Malini’s attention—a cacophony of noise, her court women and highborn men and officials all thronging around her. Eventually, she left the council tent entirely. As she walked through the press, Malini searched the crowd with her eyes. When she found Priya she caught her gaze. Held out a beckoning hand to her. “Elder Priya,” she said. “Please accompany me.”
Priya didn’t hesitate. She matched Malini’s footsteps, shadowing her back to the tent.
Lata moved to stand by Malini’s other side. Malini turned to her and said, in a low voice, “Ensure I have a moment. Alone.”
She did not saywith Priya. But Lata looked carefully between Malini and Priya, comprehension in her eyes, and said, “There are going to be many people who want to speak to you directly, Empress.”
“Tell them they will have to wait,” Malini replied.
“Youmay want to speak to them,” said Lata.
“Later.”
“Empress,” Priya said. “If you’re needed here…”
Malini didn’t let her finish. She grasped Priya’s wrist—one firm press of her nails to skin—and drew Priya into the tent behind her. The curtain fell shut behind them.
Inside, the tent was empty.
Malini turned on her heel. She didn’t look to the curtain, or listen to the sounds beyond the canvas. She trusted Lata to do as she asked. Instead, she cupped Priya’s face in her hands, feeling the unhurt wholeness of the face under her hands, meeting the warmth of her lovely brown eyes. “Are you really well?” she demanded. “Priya, be truthful with me.”
“What does it mean to be well when there’s a war going on? I’m well enough, Malini. I… some of my men were lost. Men I knew. I lived with them in Ahiranya. Our tent burned. All my things are gone. I…” She swore, and Malini felt the movement of her jaw, the shift of those delicate bones under skin. “I brought hashish, you know. And wine. And I have no idea if any of it survived. I suppose it doesn’t matter.”
“Lata will find you a new place to sleep,” Malini said. “And we’ll make sure you’re reunited with any of your men that survived, I promise you.”
“What if I stay here with you?” Priya asked. She gave Malini a watery smile, a teasing edge to her smoke-strained voice. “Just like I did when we were Ahiranya, and I was your very own maidservant? I could sleep on the floor. You wouldn’t even notice me.”
“Priya,” Malini said, a tug of desperate fondness beneath her breastbone. “I always noticed you.” A beat. She brushed the dark hair back from Priya’s face, not wanting to release her, wanting to touch her just a little more. “You’re not a maidservant anymore, elder.”
“No,” Priya said. “Not yours. Not anyone’s.”
“Priya…” She hesitated, thinking of Priya’s pride, and the war council, and the hand curled against Priya’s chest. She knew the answer to her question, and yet she wanted to ask it. Wanted the reassurance of words from Priya’s own lips. “Does it offend you that I did not name you my general?”
Thatdrew a laugh out of Priya.
“What would I do with being a Parijatdvipan general? Ahiranya doesn’t belong to your empire. No—I’m better off as I am. Besides, it seems dangerous work, being one of your creatures.” Her smiled deepened, wicked. “It was an amazing thing,” she said, voice low, “watching you in there with those men. You spin beautiful webs. Even when I can only see the edges of them, I have to admire them.”
Malini never told all her plans and machinations to anyone. She had grown less open, she knew; had hardened her heart and closed the doors upon it, so she would never let anyone truly know her.
She could not risk being hurt. Could not risk giving anyone the strength to betray her.
But Priya had saved her life time and time again. Priya had let Malini hold a knife to her. Had kissed her beneath a waterfall, andseenher utterly, all the things in her that were cruel and vicious and broken, and cared for her, regardless.
“I’ll tell you anything you like,” Malini said, letting the tenderness she felt seep into her voice. “Just ask, and it’s yours.”
Priya gazed back at her. Her lips parted slightly, a temptation, an invitation.
“Empress.” A call from the entrance. Lata’s voice, pitched loud. In the space of a breath, Malini’s hands lowered and Priya turned her face away. “Prince Rao is here.”
“I’ll meet him outside,” Malini said. Then she looked at Priya again. “Priya, I…”
Priya shook her head. “I’ll go and find Sima. And you…” She paused, and touched a hand to her own cheek, where Malini’s fingers had been. Then she let her hand drop. “You have work to do. I’ll leave you to it.”
Malini met Rao under the respectable cover of an outdoor parasol, which offered a modicum of shade, but kept them exposed to watching eyes. He looked different. He’d put aside the clothing he’d worn earlier, and was in a simple tunic and dhoti. His hair was damp. He must have washed.
