Chapter 33 #2
She bowed deeply. Her yellow robe was neither the white of the monks nor the saffron of the healers.
It landed somewhere between the two, like the color of freshly bloomed purging cassia.
On one shoulder, she carried a large brown bag that bulged and threatened to tear where the threads had worn thin.
In her opposite hand, she held a fan made of white and green feathers.
My breath caught when I realized what it was—the white feathers were unremarkable, but there was no mistaking the green ones: They were adaiman feathers.
There must have been at least six woven into the design. The woman was truly Spirits blessed.
Or so it would seem.
Vishwajeet smiled with satisfaction as he followed my gaze. “I am sure that Nallini will be of excellent service.”
He turned to leave, but before he did, I called out to him. “Vishwajeet! Nobody brought a bed for her. There is enough room where Parushi and Chaaya sleep, but she will need her own bed.”
Vishwajeet looked bemused for a moment. “She is a monk.”
“She will have a bed.” I left no room for questions. “She will do as she likes, or doesn’t, but she will have one. See to it.”
He smirked, as if there was no reasoning with me, and placated me with an “Of course” before he left.
Stillness settled in as the four of us stared at one another, sizing each other up.
Nallini was about the same height as Chaaya, and although her loose robe obscured her build, she had long, delicate fingers.
Her large eyes were slightly downturned and were offset by her slender nose and full lips.
I couldn’t help but wonder what she saw as she looked at me expectantly.
Nallini raised an eyebrow, and I realized she was waiting for me to invite her in.
“Welcome.” I gestured for her to join us. “Please, come in and tell us about yourself. I must confess that Vishwajeet gave us only the sparest of details.”
The woman nodded her thanks as she entered, then bowed deeply again. “Thank you, Rani. As he said, my name is Nallini. I was born here in Nandavara but went to study the healing arts at the temple in Belthangady.”
“What brought you back?” I tried to keep her attention on me instead of Parushi’s glowering expression.
“I was summoned back when people heard about me.” She held up her fan and pointed to the green feathers. “These are gifts from the adaiman, but I’m told you may already know that.”
“Yes, but I won’t claim to have as many feathers as you.
” I met her piercing black eyes, which cloaked her secrets as she searched for mine.
“Well, we welcome you. This is Parushi and Chaaya. I have known them for as long as I can remember. And I will trust all of you to help care for me and this baby.”
“I will do my best to make myself useful.” Nallini inclined her head.
Given her lack of surprise about my pregnancy, it was clear that Vishwajeet had already told her about it.
Granted, she would have found out rather quickly given how often I was vomiting, but it confirmed that they had spoken before she came to my room.
Now I just needed to figure out what else they had talked about. But how to do it tactfully . . .
“We know you’re a spy.” Parushi stepped to my side with her hands on her hips.
“Parushi!” I was a little embarrassed by how high my voice jumped on the second syllable.
She turned to me. “You spoke to me as my friend, not as my rani. Next time, if you don’t want me to speak, use a command instead of asking for a favor.”
“Noted,” I grumbled.
Parushi turned back to Nallini. “You’re a spy.”
“Obviously.” Nallini gave Parushi a wry smile.
Parushi blinked at her in surprise. “Well, don’t think we’ll be foolish enough to say anything of importance in front of a friend of Vishwajeet.”
Nallini frowned. “Vishwajeet doesn’t have friends. He has allies. I am neither.”
“You just admitted to being his spy!” Parushi crossed her arms and leaned toward Nallini. “Now you’re trying to say you’re not his ally. Get your story straight.”
Parushi laughed as if she’d made an especially clever joke, but nobody else joined in. She didn’t seem to care.
After the laughter faded, Nallini said, “You have no great love for nuance.”
I silently begged Nallini to control her tongue. If she kept talking like that, Parushi would never forgive her.
“I have a greater love for honesty,” Parushi snapped.
“Then I’ll speak plainly.” Nallini still had her bag on her shoulder. “Vishwajeet has ordered that I be here and that I keep him informed. I had little choice in the matter when a pair of guards took me from the infirmary without so much as a word. I was lucky to be able to grab my supplies.”
“You really are a healer?” I asked.
“Yes,” Nallini said. “A talented one, if my teachers are to be believed. I have a knack for creating effective tinctures and pastes. Well, it’s not really a knack. It’s taken a lot of time and study to develop my recipes.”
“The rani is not here to test out any of your concoctions.” Parushi thrust a hand in front of me, and even Chaaya appeared troubled.
“I would never dream of using anything other than established remedies for the rani,” Nallini said. “I’m here to make sure she has as smooth a pregnancy as possible so she can bless us with a son and heir to Banghervari.”
Or a daughter who would be heir to Ullal, I added mentally.
“You cannot expect to be allowed anywhere near the rani.” Parushi took Nallini by the arm and pulled her toward the door. “You’re a spy for Vishwajeet. We can’t trust you.”
Nallini knew better than to try to overpower Parushi. She reluctantly followed but twisted back to face me. “If you get rid of me, he’ll only find someone else. Probably someone less straightforward.”
“Leave her,” I commanded.
Parushi dropped Nallini’s arm and came back to my side, standing with her arms crossed and her teeth clenched so tightly I could see the muscles on her cheeks popping out.
Nallini stood in front of me, with her palms out and open.
“I have no allegiance to Vishwajeet, but I have no choice but to obey him. He’s the one who took me to the temple to become a monk when I had nowhere to go after my parents died.
As we walked to your chambers, he reminded me that he could take away everything he’s given me. ”
“What’s your plan?” I asked.
“You’ll need to give me information to pass on to Vishwajeet. Regularly,” Nallini said. “Otherwise, he’ll ruin me. And nobody will take pity on a rejected monk. They wouldn’t dare risk the wrath of the Spirits.”
“Not our problem,” Parushi said.
“True, but I could become your problem.” Nallini cocked her eyebrow at Parushi.
I sipped my tea. Parushi didn’t trust Nallini, and Nallini was completely unimpressed by Parushi. Both spoke of the other as if their breath was better spent doing anything else.
“Nobody needs to threaten anyone,” I said. “Nallini, even though you’re here as a spy, I am grateful for your training in healing. Whenever you’re making a medicine or ointment for me, Chaaya or Parushi must watch so they can learn.”
Chaaya nodded from the shadows, and Parushi acquiesced with a small tilt of her head.
“So they can make sure I’m not poisoning you.” Nallini narrowed her eyes.
“Yes,” I said. “That too, and I won’t pretend otherwise. Let’s start from a place of mutual respect, at least. You admitted that you were a spy, so I’ll admit that I will always want someone to watch you.”
“I would never poison you,” Nallini said. “Poison is a tool of cowards.”
“I know that too well,” I said. “But I don’t know you.”
Nallini pursed her lips. “And what do I get in return for this agreement?”
“We don’t kill you.” Parushi smacked her sheathed dagger across the palm of her hand.
“Enough, Parushi.” I turned back to Nallini. “I can’t offer much, but I promise to always give you some information for Vishwajeet.”
“You’ll have to make sure it’s enough.” The healer monk finally put down her bag. “For now, he controls our fates.”
“Then we’ll have to change that,” I said.
“How?” Nallini cocked her head at me the same way that Parushi did whenever I was setting myself an impossible task.
“I’m not sure yet,” I said. “But you’ll come to know something about me: I won’t stop until I’ve won.”
Nallini met my gaze and held it. “I don’t doubt it.”