Chapter 14
THE FACE IN THE PAINTING
Arpita met us personally at the mansion doors. Dressed in a simple black and silver sari, hair up in a knot, no makeup except a little kohl, she looked a lot younger than I expected her to.
She greeted us warmly, hugging me and enveloping me in the scent of jasmine before leading us into her home.
The domain might be dark and dreary, but Arpita’s home was filled with color and life.
We passed huge gold and silver framed paintings of beautiful landscapes.
One in particular had me slowing down to study it.
It was an aerial view of the domain, but in the painting, both the palace and the city below were lit up.
The painting was filled with movement and possibilities, and my heart ached for what was lost.
Arpita joined me by the painting. “One of Danava Harish’s paintings.”
“Oh…Who was he?”
“My great-great-grandfather…” Her mouth turned down. “The murderer of joy.”
I stared at her. “You mean…”
“Yes. Harish is the reason we are forced to live the way we do.” Her smile turned wry. “Come. Let us not discuss such cheerless things.”
She led us through a set of double doors into a dining room where one wall was made up of windows so we could look out into the night.
Chandeliers holding candles hung above a table large enough to house at least thirty, but only one end of it was occupied by a small group of people. Arpita led us across the room toward them.
Yudh and Dhoona peeled away and took a place by the wall on either side of the table, their stony gazes fixed on the gathered Danava.
I scanned faces, recognizing only Kalani.
Arpita’s daughter had her hair piled high on her head tonight, and her riding outfit had been replaced by a sari in a deep purple shade.
A gold torque circled her bicep, and silver bangles hugged her wrists.
She peered across at me from dark kohl-rimmed eyes, her gaze landing like twin daggers.
Goodness, she really had a hatred for me.
Arpita led me to the top of the table where the end seat and three to the left of it were unoccupied. She offered me the main seat.
I shook my head. “This is your domain, and that is your seat by right.”
Keyton pulled the chair adjacent to hers out for me. The spot placed me opposite Kalani. I smiled across at her and was met with a flinch of her eyes.
Chandra took the spot beside me, and Keyton sat next to him.
There were four Danava on the other side of the table, including Arpita. A small gathering indeed, and although Chandra had filled me in on who they were, I was curious to put faces to those names.
I didn’t have to wait long for Arpita to do the introductions.
She indicated the guy at the end of the table.
“We have Hari, my advisor.” The man inclined his head, silver hair glinting in the lantern light, a small smile curving his lips.
“Then we have Talin, our head of security for the Manor,” she continued.
This man was younger, and his neatly clipped goatee seemed like an attempt to look older.
I smiled and nodded, and he returned the gesture.
“We have my niece Deepi next,” Arpita said.
“I’m also the estate manager,” Deepi added quickly.
“Yes,” Arpita agreed, biting back a smile.
“It’s so lovely to meet you,” Deepi said. “So kind of you to agree to dine with us, and ouch!” She shot a glare at Kalani, who completely ignored her.
It didn’t take a genius to work out that Kalani had either kicked or pinched the woman under the table. Arpita must have surmised the same because she glared at her daughter, mouth pressed in a thin line of disapproval.
I smiled warmly at Deepi. “I’m honored to be invited.”
She beamed back at me.
“I believe that you’ve already met my daughter Kalani,” Arpita said stiffly.
“We haven’t been formally introduced, but yes.” I inclined my head toward Kalani. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
The corner of her mouth twitched as if she was attempting to force her lips into a smile and failing.
“Well,” Arpita said quickly. “We should eat.” Women and men dressed in black and silver came gliding into the room carrying trays laden with dishes which they began unloading onto the table.
The delicious aromas of spiced lentils and curried meats filled the air, and my stomach grumbled loud enough for everyone to hear.
I winced. “Sorry. I haven’t eaten a bite since lunch, and the flight training worked up an appetite.”
Kalani sat up straighter. “You’re training to fly?”
It was the first spark of real interest aimed at me, and I latched on to it. “Yes. Pakshiraj is an amazing teacher, and Garrit has been great too. The—”
“Pakshiraj?” She narrowed her eyes. “He let you ride him?”
Chandra chuckled softly. “Pakshiraj not only let her ride him, but he also chose her as his bonded.”
Kalani sat back in her seat, wide-eyed. I glanced at the others to find her reaction echoed on their faces.
“Did you know about this?” Kalani asked her mother.
Arpita shook her head. “No, I was not informed.” She looked across at Chandra. “The Authority, is it aware?”
“Rajni was informed,” Chandra said.
She nodded slowly. “Of course he was.”
Pakshiraj hadn’t taken a rider. Ever. So yeah, him choosing me was news, but the way they were all acting, as if it was some kind of immense revelation, didn’t make sense. “What am I missing here?” I looked from Kalani to Arpita, but it was Chandra who answered.
“Pakshiraj is a monarch. The king of the thunderbirds. And although he has never claimed a rider, he was once Indra’s mount.”
Indra…The name was familiar. Where had I heard it before…Oh yes, Indra was the deva who killed Vitra using the sacred weapon called the Vajra. Bhoomika had explained this to me months ago.
“Do you even know who Indra is?” Kalani asked, brow raised.
“Kalani!” Arpita snapped.
I smiled thinly. “It’s fine, Arpita. Yes, Kalani, I know who Indra is.”
Kalani pressed her lips together, her eyes narrowing again. “It’s good to see that they’re educating you, at least.”
Arpita sucked in a breath, clearly preparing to admonish her daughter, but I interrupted before she could speak.
“I’m learning things. But I know there’s more to learn.
About the Asura domain and the Danava. About the deva and the history of this place.
I’m grateful for any knowledge you can pass on.
” She blinked sharply, her scowl softening a little.
“So…Pakshiraj was ridden by Indra before the deva left and never chose a rider after that?”
“Yes, until you,” Deepi said, her eyes brightening. “Which can mean only one thing…You are indeed blood of Vijayroodra!” She clapped her hands together. “Because Indra seeded that bloodline, you see.”
Ah, so it seemed there’d been doubt here.
Just as the Authority had said there might be.
Maybe we needed to make the Pakshiraj thing more public.
Maybe if we did that, it would be enough to stop me having to take this Vasuki test. The raees might be placated by it, but would the demigods and the humans accept it as enough proof?
I had no doubt that the factions contained people from all walks of life here because all the people of this world were governed by the Authority.
“Well,” Arpita said with a warm smile. “On that note, we should eat. Please.”
Keyton prepared me a plate, and I prepared one for him as we’d become accustomed to doing. It was only when we’d swapped plates that I realized how quiet the room was and that all eyes were on me.
“It is a custom at the palace,” Chandra explained. “One that Leela and the demigods who live with her have cultivated.”
“You serve your drohi?” Arpita asked.
“We serve each other. We take care of each other.” I tasted the rice, spiced fluffy and fragrant.
“But your drohi is…He was taken, was he not?” Talin said with a frown. “Araz is now the primordial evil.”
My mouthful turned to ash.
Chandra tensed beside me. “This is hardly appropriate dinner conversation.”
I swallowed, the food tasteless now. “It’s fine, Chandra. Araz isn’t a topic to be avoided. I want to talk about him. He mattered to me.”
“He couldn’t have mattered that much,” Kalani said, her lip curling. “You replaced your bond quickly enough.” She looked to Keyton then back to me. “This dynamic you’re presenting is obviously an act.”
“Kalani!” Arpita snapped, her hands fists on the table. “You are excused.”
“No.” I kept my gaze fixed on Kalani, my eyes hot with the threat of tears.
Tears of frustration and anger. “I want to address your daughter.” I took a steadying breath, and when I spoke, my tone was cold and even.
“I will tolerate your insolence and your barbs if they are aimed simply at me, but dare speak of him or our bond with such disregard again, and I will exercise whatever power I have to ensure that you never speak his name again. Am I making myself clear?”
Tension crackled in the air, and I could feel everyone looking at me. I didn’t care; I had eyes only for Kalani. I needed to see her acquiesce. I wanted to see her cowed.
Instead, a spark bloomed in her eyes, and the corner of her mouth lifted. “You loved him. Truly loved him.”
My throat throbbed. “He was my everything.”
She nodded slowly. “My apologies for assuming. I would like to stay for the meal if you will have me.”
Silence stretched for long seconds, as if the room waited to exhale.
The hot coal in my chest cooled. “All is forgiven.” I forced a smile. “And this spread looks and smells scrumptious.”
“Then let’s enjoy,” Chandra said stiffly.