I couldn’t bear to look at him, so I folded my hands in my lap and stared at them instead. Seeing him like this reminded me of the hope that I’d had at the beginning of our marriage: that, together, we could defeat the Porcugi. With his wealth and resources and my planning and determination, we should have been able to usher in a new era for our nations. Our children should have inherited peaceful, prospering kingdoms. But I had left, dividing us and shattering any hope for that future. Had I given up too soon?
As I tortured myself with my thoughts, I caught sight of Aru’s hem. What I had thought was silver embroidery was actually a row of small pearls. He must have signed the agreement with the Porcugi.
My heart hardened with renewed resolve. Aru knew how to say all the right words, but he lacked the conviction to do what was necessary and was more than happy to take the Porcugi’s gifts in exchange for Spirits knew what. No doubt Vishwajeet had been whispering in his ear, and without me here to argue, Aru had been all too happy to believe whatever Vishwajeet had said.
I needed to get back to Ullal?—back to a place where I could make sure I lived up to the promises I’d made. But in order to leave, I needed to make sure that my voice was the one that Aru trusted the most.
Clearing my throat, I gently asked, “What were you saying earlier? About Vishwajeet?”
“Just a misunderstanding.” He held on to the secret for only one breath before the words spilled out. “When we realized the gajra was missing, he said that you must have sold it and used the money to fund your war against the Porcugi.”
I gasped?—thankfully, Parushi wasn’t there to roll her eyes at my exaggerated reaction. Thinking of her gave me an idea. “I would never! When I decided to take it with me, I had Parushi tell Vishwajeet so you would know.”
“Parushi told Vishwajeet?” Aru rubbed his chin and frowned. “Are you sure?”
“That’s what she said, and I have never known Parushi to be a liar.” Unlike me. “But this is my fault. I should have found a way to tell you myself.”
“This is absolutely not your fault!” He took my hand in his. “I remember how unwell you were when you left. Your healer has worked a miracle.”
“No,yousaved me?—your blessing gave me the strength I needed to go get the blossoms that healed me.” I needed to keep him firmly on my side. The closer he was to me, the farther he was from Vishwajeet, so I squeezed his hands three times.
He smiled at me the way he had when we’d first met in the rain. It had swept me off my feet, then, because he was so eager and true. Aru wasn’t a bad man; he was just too easily led. And now, I reminded myself, I had to lead him where I needed to go.
A knock rang out through the room, and Vishwajeet entered as soon as the door opened. He was completely refreshed and perfectly coiffed, and he didn’t quite hide his sneer when he caught sight of me. He strode to the sofa and bowed deeply to my husband. “Raja, I have come as you commanded.”
Aru’s nostrils flared. Ever so delicately, he untangled the gajra from my hair. He held the pearls out to Vishwajeet on the flat of his palm.
“The gajra!” Vishwajeet blinked in surprise. Mud was smeared all over the pearls, so it was no surprise he hadn’t noticed I was wearing it earlier.
“You had different ideas about where I might find this, did you not?” Aru’s voice was colder than the white walls that surrounded us. I almost pitied Vishwajeet.
Almost.
“Well, my raja, I-I was just trying to-to prepare for the worst,” he stammered.
He caught sight of my face. I wasn’t making any attempt to hide my enjoyment of this moment from behind Aru.
“At the time, the rani’s behavior was rather concerning, as I’m sure you would agree.” Vishwajeet’s words were as greasy as his nose. “But perhaps I underestimated how taxing her pregnancy was for her. Still, she is now well enough to climb a mountain by herself, so it would seem she’s in better health than she indicated in her letters.”
Aru frowned and gave me a small shrug, silently asking for an explanation.
Which I was more than happy to give. As soon as I thought of it. “Ever since I’ve been well enough to climb the mountain, the blossoms only appear when I go get them myself. I don’t know why, but I didn’t think it was wise to challenge the Spirits.”
“Indeed not.” Aru gave my gajra back to me and then picked up a blossom from the table. He stood and held it up in front of Vishwajeet’s face, so close that the older man had to go almost cross-eyed to keep it in focus.
“It seems you have misjudged my rani,” Aru growled. “On many accounts.”
Vishwajeet’s back stiffened, and he cocked his chin up at the raja. “What about the emissary? What did she do to him?”
“What emissary?” I asked in feigned surprise.
“The one that the raja sent to you so you could settle on the tithes,” Vishwajeet snapped. “He went to Ullal and was never heard from again!”
“I never received an emissary in my court.” I could meet Aru’s eyes with a clear conscience as I said that.
“Nonsense!” Vishwajeet snapped. “Nikith told me he had arrived.”
“Nikith?” I tried my best to look like the confused, brainless woman Vishwajeet liked to believe I was. He didn’t seem to know of Nikith’s death, and he must have been truly desperate if he was revealing the name of his informant. “My brother-in-law has been unwell since the last moon. He hasn’t left his quarters for quite some time. Are you sure you were in touch with him?”
