Aru nodded. “Yes, I remember you mentioned his illness in one of your letters.”
Vishwajeet’s mouth dropped open.
“You’ve made many claims about my rani, but none have been true,” Aru said. “Apologize to her. Now.”
Vishwajeet crumpled under his raja’s glare and said, “I’m sorry.”
“I should not have believed you.” Aru stood tall by my side. “But from now on, I will remember: Abbakka is my rani. She is an extension of me. You will honor her accordingly. Do not make this mistake again.”
Vishwajeet nodded, but he still bowed in deference to the raja?—not me. Our games were far from over.
“I am thankful that the rani had the foresight to bring so many blossoms.” Vishwajeet tried to maneuver back into a position of favor. “She will be able to spend more time here with you. We will send for the baby. Maybe she can even come in time for the signing of the treaty with the Porcugi.”
The more I looked at Vishwajeet, the more I realized he had the most slappable face I’d ever seen. My toes curled against the smooth stone floor, but I kept my face meek as I turned to Aru and twisted my fingers together. “If that is what the raja thinks is best.”
“What’s worrying you?” He pointed to my hands as he raised his eyebrows.
“The blossoms...” I let my voice fade before inhaling deeply and continuing. “They lose their potency with time. If I try to make the tea when they’re wilted, I don’t know how well it will work.”
“We will send our fastest riders?—” Vishwajeet began, but Aru held up his hand.
“You’ve said more than enough.”
Vishwajeet shrank back.
Aru squeezed my hand three times, pressed his lips together, and sighed. “I want to hold this hand forever, but it seems the Spirits have other plans. You must return to Ullal. Now. If you stay any longer, I’ll never be able to let you go.”
I picked up the gajra and pressed it into his palm, pushing aside the pragmatic little voice that told me it would be useful to hold on to those precious pearls. I didn’t want them. I didn’t want anything from him. “Keep these with you. I’ll count down the days until I can wear them again.”
“I will look for you every night in my dreams until you return.” The pearls clacked against each other in Aru’s palm.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I covered his hands with mine, sharing my warmth. “I promise.”
I lied.
Chapter 49
Given the pace of the horses, I knew we were making good time, but the road ahead kept stretching farther. I finally fell asleep long after the stars had made their appearance in the darkened sky, and I awoke only when the sun was burning brightly. One of the guards chuckled as I leaned forward and asked how much longer. He promised he’d tell me when we got close.
As it turned out, he didn’t need to say a word. Only a little while later, my chariot thudded to a halt, and guards brought their horses to either side, blocking my view.
“An armed rider!” one of the guards shouted.
Swords scraped against their sheaths, and a booming voice yelled. “Identify yourself and your purpose.”
“I am Avinash, and I have come to escort the rani back to Ullal.”
The soldier from the stepwell! He was the one whose discretion Thevan trusted after the incident with the emissary. Thevan?—just the thought of seeing him lit my face on fire.
I waved to get the guards’ attention. “I know him! Let him speak!”
The woman to my right stepped aside so I could see. We’d stopped on a path that crossed through an open field, and though trees towered around the grassy clearing, everyone was visible here. The horses stomped their impatience as Avinash bowed deeply. He kept his hands far away from the hilt of his blade. “My rani. Ullal will rejoice with your return.”
“Why were you waiting?” The guard closest to Avinash still had his sword out.
“Our rani never takes this long to return from the mountain,” Avinash said. “When we went to look for her, we found a Banghervari banner near a river and assumed she had been taken to her husband. Our general instructed that one of us wait here until either the rani returned or we received word about when she would.”
“Why shouldn’t the raja want to see his wife?” the guard bristled. “Banghervari is her home now.”
