To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(60)

Kitran brought out the stew, sourdough, and butter. As they ate, Graciella listened to her sister’s description of how they found the villagers waiting for them when they arrived, carrying their sick children and elderly to meet them.

“Thank Zehu for the healing powers of this stone.” Jiandra touched the Omaja, then looked at Graciella. “If you could have seen the grateful faces of those poor people, sister, it would break your heart.”

Tears stung Graciella’s eyes. “I can imagine.”

“We were meant to make that journey, brother,” Yajna added. “Jiandra spoke to Tejeshwar at the temple in Nirren.”

Yavi sat up straight, dropping his fork to his plate. “You saw Tejeshwar?”

Jiandra smiled. “Yes. When I put the stone in the water at the temple at Nirren, Zehu appeared on the wall behind the altar and told me he was Tejeshwar.”

“Zehu is Tejeshwar?” Graciella gasped.

“That’s what he said. He called the Nandals ‘my people’ and said they know him here as Tejeshwar. And he had a warning for us.”

Yavi leaned forward. “A warning?”

“Tejeshwar said Thakur has a living son who’s forming a rebellion against us. He said this son would soon gather his forces and attack, and that we must be ready. He didn’t say when.”

“Who is this son?” Yavi demanded.

“I don’t know,” Jiandra replied. “Only that he seeks to claim the throne of Nandala. But Zehu—or Tejeshwar—said that you and Yajna must face this battle when it comes and fight to prove your worth to rule Nandala. He said your victory would lift Nandala’s curse for good.”

“We are ready,” Yavi gritted through his teeth, glancing at his twin.

“Yes, brother.” Yajna’s hand curled into a fist. “We will crush this foe together.”

Graciella broke in. “I’m scared. I don’t want either of you to fight in a battle.”

“I’ll help them,” Jiandra reassured her. “I can heal them if they are injured.”

“But how can you be near both of them to heal them in a fight?”

Jiandra glanced at the brothers. “Not that it was well thought out in advance, but in the battle against Thakur, since Yajna carries arrows, Yavi carried me on his back. Yajna followed us.”

Graciella glanced at Yavi, glad he would have Jiandra’s instant healing if they chose to go that route again. But then a thought occurred to her. “How can Yavi leap and spin with you on his back?”

Jiandra chuckled. “You would be amazed at his strength.”

“What about your child?” Graciella persisted. “Can you ride on someone’s back while you’re with child?”

Yajna turned to his wife. “That’s true, Jiandra. Will the stone protect you both against injury? Otherwise, you stay here with Gracie during any fighting.”

“Zehu said not to worry about my own safety or my child’s. The stone protects us both.”

Graciella was relieved about that, but still concerned about the twins facing an impending battle. She wanted to help. “Yavi, you will have to step up my sword lessons so I can help fight.”

“Oh no.” He waved his hand in the air. “No. Absolutely not. No female in this household who isn’t wearing a stone of protection goes into battle. Not while I’m Emperor.”

“I agree,” Yajna said. “You must stay hidden away and safe, Gracie.”

Graciella pressed her lips together. It seemed best not to argue with them for the moment.

“Did you say Yavi is giving you sword lessons?” Jiandra asked, eating a bite of stew.

Graciella brightened. “Yes. He’s so good at teaching. I’m learning to fight with two swords like he does.”

“Two swords?” Jiandra raised an eyebrow at Yavi.

He smiled. “Your sister is quite a quick learner, actually.”

Jiandra turned on Yajna. “You’ve never taught me how to use a bow.”

“You’ve never asked, my dear,” he defended himself. “Would you like to learn archery?”

“Well, yes, now that I think of it. I can’t have my sister becoming a warrior without me.” She winked at Graciella. “If she’s getting private lessons, then I want them too.”

“Private lessons from the best,” Graciella toasted with her wine. “Yavi is certainly the best.”

“At swords, perhaps,” Yajna corrected her.

Yavi grinned at her. “He’s just jealous. He knows he doesn’t stand a chance in battle without me by his side.”

After dessert, the four of them went upstairs to Yavi’s study for a glass of katsuri. Jiandra explained to Graciella what little she knew about Uman, the leader of the cult that Terijin had been involved in.

“We killed Uman during a bandit raid a few weeks ago,” Yajna added. “I shot him with an arrow through the neck.”

“I wonder why the ghost of a little boy would be wandering the palace looking for his father, saying this Uman was his brother?” Graciella asked.

Yavi rubbed his lower lip thoughtfully. “I was wondering the same thing. And now that we know Thakur has a son out there somewhere…could this ghost, or Uman, have been connected somehow with Thakur’s son?”