Chapter 2
I’M SAFEST IN THE TRUSTED CIRCLE
Someone had provided me with warm clothes, leaving them on the bed when I’d gone to shower.
Wool trousers in a soft dove-gray, a midnight-blue, knitted long-sleeved top with a high neck to shield from the chill, and brown leather boots that came up to my calf.
A fleece-lined, navy-blue coat finished off my ensemble.
Hair up in a knot, face rouged, eyes lined in kohl, the woman who looked back at me from the full-length mirror looked like a stranger, chic and expensive, even with the dark smudges under my eyes.
It was almost time to leave this room, and when I returned, I’d be housed in the east wing.
Chandra would finally get his bedchamber back.
I wasn’t sure why he’d housed me in his private quarters rather than putting me in a guest suite, but I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t taken the opportunity to snoop and find out a little more about the enigmatic liege.
I now knew that he loved reading fiction, heavy on battle scenes and romance. That roses were his favorite flower and scent, and that he organized his wardrobe by putting clothes of the same color together.
Staying in his chambers and spending time with him had given me a better understanding of the man beneath the liege mask of authority and indifference. I wasn’t sure I would have gotten through the last few days without the comfort his presence provided.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
“Come in.”
I expected Chandra, but Erabi entered instead. Her gossamer wings were folded over her shoulders like a shawl, and her expression was wary. This was my first time seeing her since Chandra brought me back from the labyrinth.
I forced a smile. “I’m all right.”
She exhaled and hurried into the room, arms opening, wings flaring out to rise up behind her as she offered me a hug.
My throat pinched as I leaned in to accept the embrace. “Thank you.”
She sniffed and made circles on my back.
“You’re going to be okay. Everything will be okay.
And the clothes fit perfectly too. See, it’s a sign.
All will be well.” Her voice was a little too high in pitch for me to believe her, but I appreciated the effort.
It wasn’t her fault that my heart was too battered and bruised to be fooled.
Erabi patted me and pulled away, looking up at me through misty eyes. “Let’s go get your friends, shall we?”
“You’re coming with me?”
She smiled and nodded. “Chandra has asked me to accompany you. He cannot leave the royal domain at this time. Meetings and…things.”
“The primordial evil stuff?”
She nodded again, her expression grave. “But we will go. We will stay the night and return tomorrow.”
“What about my flight training?”
“You will have that here. Chandra has found you a trainer.”
A pang of irritation pinched my chest. “I don’t need a trainer. I have Pakshiraj.”
“Yes, but Pakshiraj cannot see your form when you are riding. You need an observer in the air who can help you correct form and demonstrate where needed.”
My shoulders dropped a little. “Good point.”
“Of course it is.” She squeezed my hand. “Come. Let’s go.”
I followed her out of the guest suite and onto an equally plush corridor.
Although Chandra had kept me locked in his room for the first couple of days, I’d been given free rein of the palace since then, but I hadn’t had the will or inclination to explore it, preferring to remain in the safety of his chambers with my thoughts and memories for company, so this was my first time walking these halls.
The corridors were lined with paintings of various sizes set in gilded frames.
Ornate plaster moldings hugged the ceiling in a design of roses and ivy.
We crossed through a wooden archway intricately etched with a filigree design and onto polished wood floors that led to a landing and a dark wood banister and staircase.
The ceiling was higher here, holding a huge chandelier dripping with crystals that caught the sunlight streaming in from the arched windows set high up on the walls, refracting it into a rainbow of colors.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Erabi said softly.
“There’s another one in the north wing that’s designed to make the whole stairwell feel like you’re standing in a starlit sky.
I’ll show it to you when we return.” She led the way down the staircase into a small entranceway and then through a door that led us into wider corridors and marble floors.
We passed antique furniture, ornate lanterns, more paintings, velvet-covered seats, and tapestries woven with silver and gold thread until we finally came out onto a stone patio that overlooked the front of the palace.
A set of marble steps led down to the gravel drive where the royal carriage waited. My heart leapt at the sight of the majestic moona. The ivory equine creatures pawed at the ground, tossing their silver manes and exhaling rainbow mist.
Dhoona and Yudh appeared from around the side of the carriage, silver eyes bright in their stone faces. I hurried down to meet them, the tension I hadn’t realized I was holding easing a little at the sight of the brothers.
“Vijayroodra.” They inclined their heads.
I approached and lightly touched the cuffs of their black tunics. “Just Leela is fine.” They looked up, and I smiled into their eyes. “How are you both?”
“We should be asking you that question,” the one I recognized as Yudh said. “We heard about Araz…”
My throat pinched, and I nodded. “He saved my life.”
“He was an honorable drohi,” Dhoona said. “He will be missed.”
Hearing them talk about him in the past tense hit hard. My eyes heated, and I blinked to staunch the flow of tears that wanted to come.
“We should go,” Erabi said, her tone soft with empathy.
Yudh opened the carriage door. “We will take you to Prashikshan and have been instructed to wait until you are ready to return.”
“We’re staying the night,” Erabi said.
“Then we shall wait for you on the bridge.”
Was he serious? “Like heck you will. I’m sure that we can find you both beds for the night within the walls of Prashikshan.” I looked across at Erabi, who shook her head and shrugged. “You’re not staying on the bridge overnight. I’ll sort something out when we get there.”
“As you wish,” Dhoona said.
“Liege Chandra has assigned us to your security,” Yudh said. “We are to be your shadows in the Shahee Kshetra.”
Security… “Is my life at risk?”
“Yes,” Dhoona said at the same time as Erabi said, “No.”
I arched a brow at her.
She sighed. “It’s a precaution. No one would truly dare to—”
“All due respect, glittery one,” Yudh said, “but there are factions who would very much dare.”
Oh yes, the factions. There was one who favored monarchy over the Authority, a rebel faction who wanted neither to rule and hoped to put control of the realm into the hands of its people, and then we had the Authority champions who would do whatever it took to squash both monarchy and the people.
Yep, I knew all about the factions. “Monarchy can be held with a regard for democracy. The people should be given a voice. A real voice with votes.”
Erabi blinked up at me. “A vote? For everyone? You could do that?”
“Yes. I could, and I will. Decisions that affect the people should be decided on by the people, not some figurehead or a panel of nobles dissociated from the real issues the general population is facing.”
“But if you have votes, then what’s the point of a monarchy?” Erabi said.
I winked at her and put my fingers to my lips. “Exactly.”
I climbed into the carriage, and Erabi followed, taking the spot opposite me.
The door closed behind us.
“You truly meant what you said just now, didn’t you?” Erabi said.
“Every word.”
She pressed her lips together and nodded before rummaging beneath the seat and retrieving blankets that she draped over our laps. “It gets cold up high.”
“I know…” And this time I didn’t have Araz to keep me warm.
Umbra met us at the gates to Prashikshan. I guess a message had been sent of my arrival. I still wasn’t entirely sure how the domains communicated, but maybe it was something Chandra could explain to me when we got back to the royal domain.
She studied me as I approached, her gaze dark with knowing, and once again my throat tightened.
I waited for her to say something, to mention Araz, steeling myself for her words of condolence and empathy.
But they didn’t come. She merely dipped her head slightly, an action that seemed to both acknowledge my pain and communicate respect.
I swallowed hard and returned the nod.
Umbra’s attention shifted to Erabi, her gaze growing unfocused as a slight smile lifted her lips. “Erabi, it’s good to see you. It’s been too long.”
“Oh, it has indeed,” Erabi said softly.
I looked between them, sensing a kinship. A past. “How do you two know each other?”
Umbra blinked sharply and looked across at me. “I once lived in the Shahee Kshetra.” I waited for her to elaborate, but instead she ushered us into the courtyard. “Come, let’s get you to Dharti house.”
Dhoona and Yudh hung back, obviously unsure of the welcome.
I opened my mouth to ask for shelter for them, but Erabi beat me to it. “Umbra, we’ll need beds for Dhoona and Yudh, and food and water for the moona.”
“Well of course,” Umbra said, smiling warmly at the brothers. “It’s all arranged.” She flicked her wrist, and the gates opened wide enough to let in the carriage. “You may rest in the dormitory. Both you and your moona will be fed.”
“Gratitude,” Dhoon and Yudh said in unison.
We left the brothers to get settled and headed to the house barracks with Umbra.