It took a moment for Parushi to reply, and when she did, she spoke stintingly. “I mean, sometimes the greater good... demands sacrifice from some people, so others can prosper.”
I glared at her, but Parushi wasn’t intimidated. She just looked at me with an expression that said,You know it’s true.And she was right. I did.
“Fair enough. It’s impossible to be beloved by everyone all the time,” I conceded. “At the very least, my uncle’s death is suspicious.”
“Yes. So we need a plan,” Tara said. “If the late raja was poisoned, or even targeted in a different way, you will need to be more careful, Rani.”
The title still felt uncomfortable, like a blouse stitched too tight.
“I will supervise the rani’s food preparation,” Chaaya said. “I promised her mother I would watch over her.”
My voice caught. My mother thought Chaaya was important enough to ask her to protect me. And I hadn’t even known who her brother was. In all these years, I’d never asked her about herself or her family. I forced as much gratitude as I could into two syllables. “Thank you.”
“And I will be your shadow.” Parushi’s eyes were clear again as she gave me her word. “If any harm dares to chase you, it will find me in its way.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for that?” I asked.
“I don’t trust anyone else to do it.”
“Me neither.” I made sure she could hear my appreciation. “I will have a bed set up here for you. A comfortable one.”
She nodded. “None of your fancy pillows with embroidery that will scratch my face, though. Something simple, or I swear I’ll burn it in all its finery.”
Tara cleared her throat. “Moving on. I will inspect the infirmary and check to see which healers saw your father.” Her expression darkened as she said, “If the poison came from any of my people, they will have to answer to the Spirits.”
“Chetan can let me know about any gossip in town.” Chaaya spoke quietly, but there was no hiding her pride in her brother.
“Thank you. All of you,” I said.
Chaaya blushed as Tara nodded curtly and Parushi waved off my thanks.
“Go to bed,” Tara said. “Spirits know you have lived a decade today. Try to get some rest so you can manage our guests tomorrow.”
“Our guests!” I’d completely forgotten about them in the chaos of my uncle’s death. “I should see to them and make arrangements for the rites.”
Parushi frowned. “Someone else will take care of our visitors, and the rites can’t happen until tomorrow anyway. Get some rest.”
“But should I make sure?—” I stood again and walked toward the door.
Parushi stepped in front of me with one arm on her hip and the other extended to block me. “Someone else, Rani. You need to go to bed. We will let everyone know you’ve requested a night of silence to pray for your uncle and sister.”
As if prayers would do me any good now.
“You don’t actually need to pray.” Parushi knew me too well.
“But you do need to rest,” Tara said. “I will send something up to make it easier to sleep. Don’t drink it unless it comes directly from Chaaya’s hand.”
“Find some peace in your dreams,” Parushi said.
“What difference does it make?” I asked. “I’ll still have to open my eyes to this nightmare.”
Chapter 19
The next day passed in a haze of smoke. It billowed up from the fireplace as Chaaya gently dressed me in a white sari of mourning, it curled in front of me as torches lit the throne room and cast their dancing shadows when I was officially proclaimed rani, and it followed me as I knelt in the temple to pray for Aru’s safe journey home.
When it came time for him to leave, I rode alongside Aru at the front of the parade out of Ullal. His stallion kept drifting toward me, seeking my attention and forcing Aru to guide him away so his path would stay straight.
“It seems a shame,” Aru said. “I hate pulling him away.”
