Aru laughed. Why did the Spirits have to bless such an oblivious man with such a beautiful laugh?
“I command my people,” he said. “But you command my heart. I will do everything in my power to make any wish you speak?—and even those you don’t?—come true.”
Parushi walked at my side, and her cough sounded suspiciously like a suppressed gag. I didn’t dare make eye contact with her?—not even my oversize peacock fan would have been able to hide my expression.
“Take us to the temple!” Aru said, and we made our way up the hill.
The path was quite narrow, so they took Aru’s palanquin first and followed behind with mine. Parushi walked between me and the steep edge as we ascended. I worried about her slipping, but she stayed balanced with ease.
“Since when did you become so spiritual?” Parushi asked me under her breath.
“Ever since I realized how much stock my husband puts in the will of the Spirits.” I held my fan up in front of my mouth and kept my eyes forward so it wouldn’t look like we were speaking. “Between seeing the adaiman when I was practicing and the flash of green at our wedding, Aru is convinced that the Spirits favor me. I need to make sure he remembers that. Vishwajeet is going to use every advantage he has. I would be a fool not to do the same.”
“You’re getting better at this.” That was high praise, coming from Parushi. “Good. We’re going to need that. I saw Vishwajeet’s face when we left.”
I bounced along, my head nodding in agreement without any effort as I surrendered to the rhythm of the palanquin. We reached the top of the hill, and the bearers tried to hide their heavy breaths as they lowered me.
“Make sure they get something to drink,” I told Parushi. She nodded and stepped aside as Aru approached.
“You wanted to come here?” He sounded more curious than condescending.
The temple stood toward the back of a large garden that had run wild from inattention. The bushes and trees were overgrown, and the flowers fought with each other for access to the sunlight. Nature’s chaos was on full display, and I loved it.
There were no slabs of marble here. No fine silks or intricately carved statues. The temple itself was made with plain red bricks. They were lighter than the bricks we used in Ullal, but the sight of them filled me with warmth. The pillars were square and had little ornamentation beyond some grooves near the tops and bases, and the doorways were simple rectangular openings. The roof had four square tiers, and at the top there was a circular, ridged roof.
It felt like home, and I didn’t have to force my smile. “It’s easier to feel the Spirits when we’re less distracted by our own artifices.”
Aru looked thoughtful but said nothing as he extended his arm so we could enter together. We ascended the stairs, and I nodded my thanks as I accepted the offered incense stick when we crossed the threshold. The small prayer hall opened into a wide-open sanctuary that already had incense smoking throughout the room. I stood for a moment, appreciating the simplicity of this place. I inhaled deeply, but my breath cut short as I noticed the scent of the incense: sandalwood.
Ektha’s sandalwood.
The world pulsed around me, wave upon wave hitting me as I stared down at my hands, my bloodred hands, clutching my trembling incense. My heartbeat reverberated through my entire body as the heat of the temple settled under my skin and lit me on fire. Pain sliced through my abdomen, and I fell to the ground. The air pushed me down and held me there, shoving my voice back into my throat so I couldn’t speak as I tried to call for help. Balls of light flared behind my eyelids and glowed brighter instead of disappearing as I blinked.
The red on my hands spread up my arms, painting me in my failures. My failure to protect my sister, my failure to defeat the Porcugi, my failure to see my uncle’s assassin for who he truly was. I was covered in their blood, and it crept up my arms and shoulders and then circled around my neck, oozing ever closer as it tried to drown my breaths.
I batted away the clawing hands that reached up to my face, refusing to let them submerge me without a fight, but the hands persisted. Instead of being pulled into the fiery pool, though, a cool wave crashed over my head, soaking my hair. It dripped from my forehead down my cheek and neck, washing away the haze in my vision and clearing the air. Finally, my breaths deepened and slowed, and the air stopped pounding in front of my eyes.
Parushi squatted in front of me, slopping a rag into the bucket next to her before she placed it on my head again as she waited for my eyes to clear. “What happened?”
“Ektha.” My voice sounded like an echo.
“They should have gotten you out sooner,” Parushi muttered. “That husband of yours is worse than useless in a crisis. He was just standing and staring at you.”
I took the rag from Parushi. She made a face at first but relaxed when she saw me dunk it in the water and run it under my chin and along my neck. The bright lights had gone from my vision, and even though my heart still raced, it wasn’t pounding anymore. I could see now that I’d been moved outside. How long had I been out for?
“Abbakka!” Aru ran to my side and crouched beside me. “Thank the Spirits you’ve recovered. You have recovered, haven’t you?”
His fingers trembled as he covered my hand with his. I reassured him with a small smile, and his brow relaxed. But only a little. He helped me sit up and then sat behind me so I could lean on him. He encircled me with his arms, holding me tight and ignoring everyone’s stares. I weaved my fingers between his, and he gave them three squeezes. I squeezed back, and the lines between his eyes disappeared.
“There’s the handsome face I love. You need not worry about me,” I reassured him. Sunshine warmed my fingertips, and I squinted in the light. “I’m grateful you brought me out of the temple and am feeling much better now.”
Aru grimaced apologetically as he looked at Parushi. “I wish I could take credit, but all of it belongs to her. Thank you, Parushi. You protected the true jewel of Banghervari, and I will see that you are rewarded.”
Parushi took a step back, no doubt worried about whatever uncomfortably ornate gift Aru would present to her. “You are too generous, Raja Lakshmappa. It’s my duty. It’s why I stay by her side.”
“Well, I am grateful for it, and I will make sure you know it,” Aru said firmly. “I know my wife will agree that we must appropriately express our gratitude.”
I pretended to be too lost in Aru’s eyes to respond. They could continue their verbal sparring if they wanted. I needed to find a way to use this moment to my advantage. Aru couldn’t think I was weak if I wanted to have any chance of us standing together against the Porcugi. I had to be strong enough for both of us.
