“Aren’t you supposed to be in the stepwell?” I gestured to the doorway. “Go back until I know it’s safe.”
“Let’s just ask Parushi if it’s safe or not.” Ektha pointed behind me.
I turned and saw Parushi approaching with five guards trailing behind her. She carried an extra sword and waved it at me as she called out in relief. “Thank the Spirits you’re here. And you’re safe.”
“Protect Rajkumari Ektha!” I commanded, and the soldiers formed a ring around her. With a thankful nod, I took the sword from Parushi. It was longer than the one I was used to, but it was well balanced. And it was far more effective than my tambura.
“The raja demands that you both return to the fort,” Parushi said. “He insists that you do not fight, Rajkumari Abbakka.”
I got ready to argue, but Ektha turned to me. There was a slight tremble in her fingers as she touched my arm and said, “Please. Come with me.”
She needed me to protect her. I would convince my uncle I should return to the battle after Ektha was safe. “Parushi, lead the way. I’ll watch the rear.”
We wove our way back toward the fort. Every turn brought more tension as Parushi scouted beyond the tall trees and fragrant blossoms that obscured our line of sight. Ektha’s face had lost all its color, but she kept going. She was a petal adrift in a raging ocean, staying afloat but trapped by the control of the waters.
“Not much further,” I said, encouraging her. “Almost out of the gardens; then it’s a straight line to the fort.”
As we approached the edge of the gardens, Parushi signaled to us to crouch down. We caught our heaving breaths as she spoke. “The nearby entrance has been locked from the inside. We didn’t know where to find you, so we kept a servant’s door toward the front of the fort open for your return. On my mark, we go.”
“We’ll be out in the open,” I said.
Parushi nodded. “We’ll have to sprint. Once we round the corner, we can take cover behind the hedges and archways of the entrance. Until then, keep the circle tight around Rajkumari Ektha.”
I clenched my hilt with white knuckles, warming it with every heartbeat that pulsed through my fingers. My legs were wound tight, like a coiled cobra ready to strike. Next to me, Ektha pulled her long pallu from behind her and tucked it into her waistband. Her fingers trembled, but she looked toward the gate with her jaw set. I extended the pinky of my left hand and touched hers.
She hooked her pinky around mine and murmured, “Together.”
I nodded and tightened the lock of our fingers. “Together.”
“Now!” Parushi yelled, and we sprang forward like a wave crashing toward the shore.
We were a blur of arms and legs and blades as our knotted circle approached the fort. I stayed behind Ektha, expecting to need to encourage her to run faster, but she kept pace. Her bun began to uncoil, swirling down to the nape of her neck and then finally tumbling open along her back so her hair bounced with every stride. But she didn’t pause. She kept moving forward.
A true leader. My future rani.
A frantic blast from the horns made me look behind us. I barely contained a scream at the sight of the monstrous half-man, half-snake creatures slithering through the far beachside wall. Soldiers streamed to the breach, holding the Porcugi and pushing them back toward the opening with an endless stream of arrows and steel.
Except for one, which was heading straight toward us. No bedtime stories could have prepared me for the sight of this living nightmare. Its scaly, snakelike tail and body cleaved the ground as it raced forward, keeping its muscular humanoid torso and sword-wielding arms held up off the ground. Its silver-scaled face seemed almost human, except for its cobra-like hood and massive golden eyes?—easily as big as my hands?—which were focused on our group. The monster never blinked as it propelled toward us.
“Attack from behind!” I screamed.
Parushi sprinted to my side, her bow already in hand.
Ektha needed to get out of here, now. “Parushi and I will handle this. Secure the future rani!” I commanded.
“We need to stay together!” Ektha protested.
“You need to make it to that entrance. I need to make it so,” I told her. Ektha’s eyes pleaded with me, but this was not the time to argue. “Go. I’ll find you soon.”
The guards nodded their agreement, and one of them tossed me a bow and quiver of arrows. I nodded gratefully, but he hardly noticed as he unsheathed his sword while he pushed Ektha toward the safety of the fort.
“Promise!” Ektha refused to go with the soldiers.
“I promise!” I held her eyes, unblinking.
An eternity passed in a heartbeat, but she finally turned and sprinted toward the front of the fort, surrounded by a ring of five soldiers bristling with weapons. I took a step toward her?—following her?—before catching myself. She would be fine. So long as Parushi and I took care of the Porcugi.
I turned, slung the bow and quiver over my shoulder, and ran toward the attacking monster. “For Ullal!”
