Chapter 42
Nirav stood at the back of the arena, watching the hearing unfold. He arrived after Kalyani had been brought in, but he had heard everyone’s reaction at the sight of her. Panic set in until he finally located Varum beneath the pile of guards.
Soldiers were stationed everywhere, and only their interest in observing the proceedings allowed him to sneak in. He had changed into more humble clothing and wrapped a scarf around his head, but if anyone looked closely or stopped him, he would be discovered.
The plan to reach Kalyani and Varum before they were taken into the arena was gone.
Even if Nirav had an army to storm the building, he wouldn’t be able to get to them.
Kalyani would likely be executed right there in front of others.
Varum, however, would be taken away. Arvind wouldn’t let him live.
His execution would be a big event. That would give Nirav time to find a way to free Varum.
Nirav grinned as he listened to Kalyani hold her own against Arvind.
She was doing better than anyone else in that situation, but it wouldn’t last long.
Arvind didn’t do anything unless he had a plan.
It didn’t matter how well-spoken she was or how strong her answers to his questions were.
Her life became forfeit the moment they busted into Varum’s home and found her. It was too bad, too. He liked her.
And so had Varum.
For the first time, Nirav had seen Varum begin to let himself feel something. What little progress Varum had made would be eradicated with Kalyani’s death. In truth, Nirav feared he might lose Varum forever.
Nirav slowly backed through the crowd and slipped out the doorway without being noticed. He headed down the corridor to the holding cells, where he expected Varum to be brought eventually. It would be a good place for him to hide and wait while he planned their escape.
He turned the corner and ducked his head when he spotted some soldiers headed his way. But it was too late. They had seen him.
“Hold up!” one hollered.
Nirav halted and waited for them to approach. He kept his gaze lowered as he took stock of how many were around him. If he surprised the two guards in an attack, he might be able to get away.
“There you are,” came a feminine voice he recognized.
He frowned as he looked down at a pair of stylish sandals he had seen Tanira wear. Her hand touched his arm, and he swung his head to her.
“I have him. He’s one of my servants who snuck out to get a look at the proceedings,” she said.
Nirav watched her smile and chat with the soldiers before they walked away.
Once they were gone, she spun around so they faced the same direction and nudged him forward. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?” he whispered.
“To save Varum and the human,” she said in a low voice. “Unless you were headed somewhere else.”
Nirav glanced behind him to make sure no one followed. “What are you doing, Tanira?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m helping.”
He stopped and pulled away from her. “You do realize it’s your father leading the trial.”
“I do. And before you ask, I know exactly what I’m doing. Do you want my help or not? As you saw back there, my participation can be very beneficial.”
It was true that she’d be able to turn any soldiers interested in him away, but there had to be a catch. “Why?”
“Believe it or not, I love Varum. I want to help.” Her face fell as she hastily looked away. “If I had known what Dad was going to do when I gave him that report, I never would’ve done it. The man I know as my father never would’ve done any of this or talked to me as he just did.”
“You’re also helping Kalyani.”
Tanira pressed her lips together as she swung her gaze back to him. “I know. Varum cares about her. I knew it the instant I saw his reaction when he spotted her.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“Far from it. But, like I said, I love him. Now, are you coming or not?” she said before she started walking again.
Nirav hurried to catch up. “Do you have a plan?”
“Nay. I was hoping you did.”
“I’m getting one for Varum.”
Tanira glanced at him. “What about the human?”
“Do you really think Arvind will allow her to leave the arena?”
“It’s the first time an outsider has breached the city. He’ll make an example of her.”
Nirav sighed. “That’s what I feared. If they don’t take Varum out before that, I’m not sure what he’ll do.”
“Then we need to be prepared.”
“Admit that it was Varum who brought you to Tarangarh!” the elf in charge bellowed.
It was the third time he had tried to make her say as much, and Kalyani was tired of it. “I told you how I came to be here.”
“You’re lying!”
She was, and she would continue to do so until her last breath. If there was even the smallest hope that she could save Varum’s life, she would do whatever she had to do.
The male put his hands on his hips as he glared at her. “Did you really expect to leave without us discovering you?”
“I did, in fact. Had you been even an hour later, I wouldn’t have been there.”
“Why an hour?” he pressed.
She shrugged. “It was an expression. It wasn’t as if I was keeping time. It’s difficult to know the hour without the sun or moon.”
“If you came to figure out how you can breathe underwater, then why didn’t you approach any of us?”
“I observed.” It wasn’t a good answer, but it was all her rattled brain could come up with. He was leading her in circles. She might have stood against him at the start, but she wouldn’t be able to keep it up for much longer, as evidenced by her latest response.
He chuckled. “You observed. There’s no way someone didn’t see you.”
“You’d be amazed at the places a person can hide and listen.”
“So, you have information.”
Kalyani inwardly winced, wishing she could take back the words. “Listen long enough anywhere, and you’ll pick up things.”
“Are you working for the Masters? Is that why you’re here?”
The minute he brought up the Masters, Kalyani knew what he intended. Cold fury simmered in her veins. She couldn’t relay information about finding the sloop with the abducted humans, since that was in Varum’s report and would link them. She would have to think of something else.
“One of the reasons I’m here is to escape them. The kidnappings are happening all over Shecrish. I had hoped it would be safe here. But I did overhear talk of a group in the city aiding the Masters.”
Just as she expected, her words caused a ripple of unease to move through the crowd. She bit back a smile and waited.
“There have been no links to the Masters here,” he declared loudly. “And there never will be.”
Kalyani desperately wanted to bring up the report Varum had written, but again, she couldn’t.
“It is more likely that you were sent here to spy on us and bring information back to the Masters so they can begin taking my people,” he retorted.
She shook her head, no longer able to hold back her anger. “Humans are being abducted. We don’t work with the Masters. That’s what your kind does.”
Varum had never felt so helpless or powerless as he did while listening to Kalyani’s interrogation. He couldn’t interject or give his side. Each time he tried, the foot on his face dug in harder. The sole was smashing his cheek into his teeth, slicing the inside of it until blood filled his mouth.
He couldn’t talk, couldn’t move, or use his magic. He was useless. And he had no one to blame but himself. Kalyani’s death would be on his conscience. He had dragged her here. Had refused to take her home because it was a little too dangerous. Now look where she was.
Maybe his parents had been right to leave him. They must have seen the kind of carnage he was capable of leaving in his wake, all for the sake of saving a city that had never wanted him.
He saw Kalyani curl her toes inward. She knew what awaited her, and she stood fighting. He owed her that, at the very least. Varum might not be able to use his voice or his magic at the moment, but he would as soon as he got everyone off him. He just needed a small diversion.
“You stand in the face of every resident in Tarangarh with your insolence,” Arvind retorted. “You should be begging for your life.”
“Since when is it a crime to enter a city?” Kalyani asked.
Varum smiled through watery eyes. Until the last, she was playing innocent to protect him.
“I’m giving you one last chance to tell me who brought you into the city,” Arvind said.
Kalyani wondered how Rohan would’ve fared if he had been standing in her place. He likely would’ve had better answers that would’ve saved himself and Varum. She had done the best she could, but even she had to admit it hadn’t been great.
All the years she had kept her true self from her family, and for what?
Because she had been afraid of how they would react?
They would never have turned away from her.
She had kept silent because she hadn’t wanted to learn the truth.
Varum had tried to tell her, but she had brushed his words off and changed the subject.
She nodded at the elf in charge. “I’ve repeatedly told you how I got into the city. I didn’t know it was an offense to enter. However, I did go into others’ homes and take their clothing. I’m sure, like in any other city, I will need to pay for those crimes.”
“Offense? Crime?” He snorted a laugh. “You honestly have no idea how serious this is, do you?”
Oh, she knew, but she had to pretend not to.
Besides, she wanted it spelled out for everyone watching.
There had to be others in the crowd like Varum and Nirav.
Those who disagreed with such a barbaric practice.
Not that she expected that to stop her death, but it might get people talking after she was gone. It might even spare Varum.
And that would make everything worth it.
“I suppose I don’t. What will it be? Two years? Five years?” she asked as the building went silent.
“Death.”
The word echoed in the arena. She felt every eye on her. Varum was watching, but she wouldn’t look at him, no matter how much she wanted to see his incredible eyes again.
She sighed dramatically. “Well, that’s excessive.”
Kalyani’s remark and everyone’s response were just the diversion Varum needed. He kicked one foot free and rolled onto a hip, dislodging those piled atop him. Then he was on his feet. He didn’t go to Kalyani. He headed straight for the one person who had begun all of this—Arvind.
He made it four steps before the guards grabbed him again. Varum locked eyes with Arvind. They stared at each other, hate growing with every second that passed. Arvind suspected Varum, but without Kalyani admitting it, there was no proof.
“Toss her out!” Arvind said and pointed.
Varum jerked his head around to see Kalyani being hauled off the platform and dragged toward the back window. She wasn’t fighting them. In fact, it looked as if she had given up. He met her gaze before she looked away.
It was then that his heart broke.