Kamran’s smirk returned, and his words were slick as oil. “There are many, many dangers at sea. It would be impossible to recount them all.”
“And yet”?—my uncle leaned forward?—“your attacks have posed the greatest danger of all. One could argue that if you simply stopped attacking, the waters would be relatively safe again.”
“So we agree.” Kamran was completely unfazed. “You should give the Porcugi a portion of your spices in exchange for safe travel.”
“We most certainly do not agree.” My uncle kept his chin up, so he looked down on Kamran even more. “To me the answer is simple: If the Porcugi want a share of our goods,theycan payusfor them. They have no right to attack our ships, and they should go back to where they came from before we make them regret their appearance here.”
Kamran laughed, and the joyless sound ricocheted between the columns of the room. “You have no idea what you’re up against. Do yourself a favor and accept their terms.”
“We’ve defeated the Porcugi before and will do it again if we must.”
“No, you have never seen the Porcugi like this,” Kamran said grimly. “The last Porcugi that came were a group of explorers; this time they have come for war. They finally have a raja that understands their strength?—and how to use it. He has more soldiers at his command than you can fathom. And you? Your neighbors have been so affected by the floods that they won’t have any taste for war. Yes, we know about the flooding. No one understands war like this raja, and he would not have sent his general and army here unless he knew he could win. Make no mistake: They will have your spices, one way or another. Just accept the terms and be done.”
I pretended to have an immense interest in the red stone floor as I thought about what Kamran said. He had to be bluffing. There was no way their forces could be so insurmountable. Then again, three Porcugi had managed to wreak such havoc that they filled our infirmary. And he was correct about the flooding in recent years. Ullal had been spared, but other nations hadn’t been as lucky. Their harvests were so small that they needed to make sure they sold everything they managed to save. They couldn’t risk losing ships to the Porcugi?—they might think it better to pay the tithe so at least they’d know the price rather than risk much greater losses.
My uncle sat silently for a moment, considering all that Kamran said, before squaring his shoulders and looking down at the man below. The rumble in his voice betrayed the roar that was so desperately trying to escape. “No.”
It was just one word, but it filled me with warmth. I stood taller and glanced up at my uncle?—the Tiger of Ullal was in his element. His jaw was set, and he left no room for questions.
The Porcugi emissary blinked at my uncle. “Then you condemn your people.”
His certainty gave me pause.
“Nothing can stop the Porcugi,” he said. “Nothing. My parents were traders, and the Porcugi surrounded our ship while we were heading home to Hormuz. They offered us a peaceful resolution, but my parents refused their terms. Then the Porcugi attacked, and we were overwhelmed. By the time they were done, we had lost so many?—including my parents. If they had just taken the deal...”
Kamran cleared his throat. “Accept the tithes. The Porcugi can be as benevolent as they are merciless. You should be happy that you have something they want?—nothing works as well as your spices in their medications. All you have to do is give them a small portion of your harvest, and then they’ll protect your ships. Your trade could flourish like never before! Just agree to the tithes now, and you’ll see all the benefits Ullal can reap.”
My uncle stared at him, stunned. “You would side with your parents’ killers and now ask me to do the same?”
“I ask you to avoid unnecessary bloodshed,” Kamran snapped back. “I was left orphaned, but thankfully my parents had taught me many languages, which the Porcugi found useful. They cared for me on one of their islands and helped me learn their language so I could become an emissary. It is their knowledge and their kindness that has allowed me to live as I do.”
He gestured to his fine robe and held his head high. “As I said, they can be generous?—when people choose to see reason.”
“It would seem that you and I see reason quite differently.” Uncle Trimulya made no secret of his disdain. “You came here under the pretense of negotiating the terms of an armistice, when in reality, you’re demanding a surrender. We arereasonablepeople. If the Porcugi wish to buy or trade for a portion of our spices, we will not spurn them.”
He leaned forward and spoke in a deep voice that thrummed through the entire room. “But know this: Ullal will pay no tithes.”
Before Kamran could reply, my uncle sat up and clapped his hands. “Guards! The emissary is leaving now. Nikith, see him to the gates.”
Nikith went to Kamran’s side and tried to guide him toward the door, but the emissary turned back to face my uncle. “Remember that I first came with kindness. When you call to me for mercy, you’ll find none then.”
My uncle ignored him, but Ektha’s face went pale.
After the doors closed behind Nikith and Kamran, my sister spoke up in a small voice. “Does this mean we’re at war?”
“If they insist on attacking our land and our ships, then yes.” My uncle narrowed his eyes. “We are at war.”
Ektha started to pray under her breath as I looked up at my uncle. His jaw was set, and his mouth was in a thin line.
“The last time the Porcugi came, they were driven away when we united with other nations,” I said. “Have you contacted any of the other rajas and ranis? What do they have to say?”
“Nothing.” The raja rubbed his forehead. “They refuse to take a side. They certainly don’t want to pay the Porcugi, but they’d rather not risk their trade when they’ve harvested so little. Most of them are waiting to see what the others will do before making up their minds.”
“Cowards.” I grabbed my talwar from behind the platform and tied it back around my waist before standing in front of my uncle again.
“They are protecting their nations as best they know how,” Ektha said. “We were spared from the floods, and our army is one of the most feared and revered along the coast. Many do not have those luxuries. We shouldn’t judge them for making different decisions than we do.”
She did have a point. Less-stable nations had much more to lose if they failed in a fight against the Porcugi. They would be far more likely to agree to the monsters’ demands rather than risk what few assets they had when they knew they did not have the strength for battle. No wonder our uncle had sent Nikith to Banghervari. The large, prosperous nation was exactly the ally we would need to encourage others to align with us and effectively battle the Porcugi.
