In the distance, behind his back, the land around the High Prince’s fort was still glowing, burning with flame, a light limning him.
“Stand with me for a moment,” Malini said, after Rao had bowed. He joined her under the large parasol.
“I consider Elder Priya part of my inner court,” Malini said, speaking of her women. “But I also need her in the battles ahead. And I would like her to face them with you.” She trusted Rao—and therefore his men—more than she did anyone else. “What do you think of her?”
“I remember the first time I met her,” said Rao. “She was—blunt. Difficult.” A pause. “I liked her.”
“Of course you did,” Malini said. Affection bled into her voice. “You don’t like simpering, quiet women, do you, Rao?”
His jaw twitched.
“If you accuse me of harboring some kind of—interest—I won’t be pleased.”
Malini bit down on her own tongue to stop herself from laughing at that. When she spoke, her voice was suspiciously choked, but there was no helping it.
“Ah no, I’m certainly not trying to imply anything, Rao. I’m sure your intentions are entirely pure.”
Rao nodded. He looked a little flushed.
“She won’t be bothered by anyone when she travels with me,” he said.
“I’m sure she won’t.”
“I’ll treat her as I would any highborn leader.”
“I expected no less.”
“But there may be rumors,” he cautioned. “I can do nothing to stop that.”
“There will be rumors no matter which contingent she accompanies. There will be rumors if she travels alone. At least with you, Rao, I know there is no risk of any further incidents that may require my—intervention.”
Rao made a hum of acknowledgment.
“Why did you summon her here?” Rao asked. There was curiosity in his voice, but also something very like exasperation. “It’s going to cause you nothing but trouble.”
“Chandra has his fire,” Malini said, after a moment. “And I have her. She won’t be an expected weapon. No matter what Chandra may believe he knows of Ahiranya, he has not seen her wield her gifts as I have. She gives me an advantage I sorely need.”
There were two truths inside Malini’s heart. It was the colder one she spoke.
But the other was this.Because I need her. Because she saw me once, for everything I was and could be, and wanted me anyway. And she sees me and wants me still, over the chasm that should make enemies of us. And yet it does not. Cannot.It was a truth like a wound, like a fragile heart exposed, and it frightened and awed her in equal measure.
Rao nodded. From the way he looked away, staring across the camp at the soldiers packing away weaponry and tents, he did not believe her, but had decided there was no worth in arguing.
“What would you have done if Lord Mahesh had not volunteered to remain behind?” Rao kept his voice low so that his words wouldn’t be overheard. “Did you plan for this? For Mahesh and Aditya both to remain and risk their lives?”
“I planned for Mahesh,” Malini admitted easily, without shame. “But Aditya? No, that surprised me as much as it did you. He has never offered to fight before. Why would I expect that to change?”
“It didn’t surprise me,” Rao said. “The minute you spoke of it, I knew… IfearedI knew what he would do. And Malini, please. You must have known Aditya would volunteer. It was like a trap perfectly woven for him. A hopeless task, a service that could break him—how could he resist?”
A doubt struck her, painful as a blow. Her breath hitched. Priya had spoken so admiringly of her webs. Had Malini woven this one without realizing it?
No, she told herself fiercely.No, I love my brother. I would not. I did not.
“I do not think about Aditya,” Malini snapped. “Why would I? If I thought of him—really thought of him and what he does, what he represents—I would have to kill him. I would have to make it appear accidental. It would need to be something less obvious than leaving himhere.” She gestured at the distant, glowing fort, angry.
“Can you see why I doubt you?” Rao asked. “Why I think this could be a trap arranged for him?”
“You would never have thought this of me when you knew me as a girl,” Malini said, trying not to feel hurt. “Never.”
