“Ektha is dead!” I slammed my hands onto the table in front of us. “My sister is gone, and you want me to play hostess?”
Nikith fell into the chair behind him and dragged his hands down his face.
“Abbakka!” My uncle’s voice cracked through the room, and he stood tall as he became the Tiger of Ullal. “There is work to do!”
His words echoed long after he closed his mouth, but I forced my trembling fingers into fists. I stared down the unfeeling monster standing in front of me with all the strength I had left.
“At least she still has her spirit,” he said, half to himself, before returning his gaze to mine. “You will go and get ready to greet the raja. He deserves a hero’s welcome after his rescue of Ullal today. And he wants to see you.”
My uncle gestured at Nikith, but my brother-in-law’s bloodshot eyes were wild and unfocused.
“Nikith!” my uncle snapped. “The raja. Abbakka.”
“Oh, yes.” Nikith’s shoulders remained hunched even as he cleared his throat and gestured halfheartedly at the scroll in his hand. “The raja is most keen on seeing the rajkumari and spending time with her. He sent word that he couldn’t wait to meet the young woman in the miniatures.”
I snorted. Of course, he hadn’t been happy to see me riding a horse or in a simple lehenga choli. He wanted to see me wearing a lavish sari, adorned with our nation’s jewels. “Well, he’ll be in for quite the shock when he sees me in white instead.”
“You won’t wear white.” My uncle sounded too calm, as if he remarked on the weather, even though every part of him bristled. “We need this alliance, now more than ever. We will say that Ektha is in the infirmary, and you will dress in all your jewels and finery. Later we can announce her death, but for now he must see you as his future rani.”
My pulse screamed through my ears, and it was all I could hear by the time my uncle finished. “My sister is dead, and you won’t even let me mourn her? You expect me to pander to this fool of a raja and pretend everything is fine? As if every breath isn’t a struggle without her? As if my hands aren’t forever stained by the color of her blood?”
“That is exactly what I expect.” My uncle’s black eyes snapped with every word. “Today, you saw how much we need Banghervari’s help. We need to do everything we can to secure this alliance. You are the next rani of Ullal. You owe this to your people. You cannot fail them.”
My lips trembled as a wave of ice washed over me. The next rani of Ullal.
Thevan appeared by my side. He didn’t say anything at first. He just offered a cup of majjige as his tired eyes worriedly searched my face. I took the drink from him and gratefully sipped the buttermilk flavored with ginger and lime, using the time to regain control of my breath.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
I hoped he knew I meant for more than the majjige. Thevan tried to smile, but the corners of his mouth would not stay up.
“Surely Raja Lakshmappa would understand if we asked him to delay his visit.” Thevan’s voice was rough, ragged as the torn seaweed that washed ashore after a storm. “His soldiers saw the cost of the battle firsthand. The Banghervari general was next to my father when he fell...”
His voice trailed off as he looked at me. Tears sprung to my eyes as the loss of Jagath drummed in my heart.
Thevan took a deep breath. “I’m sure they would understand a delay.”
“Come here, Abbakka.” My uncle ignored Thevan’s speech.
I covered my face and tried to stop my tears, but I couldn’t force my feet to move.
“Come here!” my uncle repeated.
“Give her a moment!” Thevan growled from my side. “She’s just lost her sister and now you want her to throw herself at that preening popinjay?—”
“Silence!” The Tiger of Ullal had lost his patience.
My uncle pointed to Thevan and then to Nikith’s side. The soldier followed the unspoken command as he took his place next to my brother-in-law, who still looked gray.
“Lakshmappa is a raja.” My uncle didn’t need to speak his implication: Lakshmappa commanded a country; my uncle commanded Thevan. “You will remember his position. This will be the last time my respect for your father will save you from punishment.”
Thevan’s face went white, and he sealed his mouth shut as he looked away.
“Come here.” My uncle’s attention was back on me. “You are the next rani of Ullal. You cannot cower when your people need courage.”
I glared at him as I pushed down my tears and clenched my jaw so my teeth wouldn’t chatter.
If my uncle saw my shakiness, he ignored it. “Raja Lakshmappa is coming. You will get dressed, you will meet him, and you will charm him. If there is any logical reason you oppose the match, then you can tell me. But, right now, this union may be the only thing that can save Ullal from the monsters that took your sister from us.”
