The Tiger at Midnight (The Tiger at Midnight Trilogy #1)(105)

Kunal started. Laksh was hoping he wasn’t returning to the Fort?

Laksh shook his head. “I almost can’t believe it. You, Perfect Kunal, deserting.”

Kunal’s mind raced as he tried to figure out how to explain in a way that Laksh would understand. But would he? Or would he see a failed soldier, one who had abandoned his duty? Despite the certainty with which he had turned away from the camp, Kunal knew those questions would haunt his own dreams for many moons to come.

“I’m not deserting, I’m just—”

“Then what? Just taking an early morning stroll with your pack and weapons?”

“I always carry my weapons.”

“You should be glad it was me who heard you and not one of the other soldiers,” Laksh said with a little shake of his head.

And Kunal was. If it were any other soldiers, they would have attacked first, not bothered to ask questions. Laksh’s questions were sharp weapons in themselves, but they were buying him time to figure out what to do next. If only Kunal knew what to say.

“Laksh, I—”

“I just don’t understand why you wouldn’t tell me. That the Viper is one of those—that you’re joining those Dharkan rebels, the Blades.”

“Those Dharkan rebels?” Kunal said, before he could help himself.

Weeks verbally sparring with Esha had trained him to hear the nuances in words he would’ve missed before. Kunal snapped to attention, focusing on Laksh’s face. Where he thought he would find disgust, shame, horror, he saw—nothing.

At the Fort, they never referred to the rebels as the Dharkan rebels. They were just “the rebels” or “the Blades.”

“Don’t you mean the rebels?” Kunal said again, trying to maneuver around any verbal trap.

Kunal thought back to his conversation with Esha on their journey here, about how someone had wanted to distract the Fort and the Blades. And the venom with which he had said the Dharkan rebels. Could there be a new resistance group, a Jansan one?

“Because there are no other rebel groups, that I know of, anyway,” Kunal continued, his voice steady. A muscle jumped in Laksh’s cheek but otherwise, his face remained impassive. Kunal finally felt like he had gained an inch in this conversation, even if Laksh was closer to the truth than was comfortable. He ignored the little feeling of betrayal that seemed lodged in his throat. “Right? Only the Dharkan rebels. And how do you know the Viper is one of them? Unless there’s something else you want to tell me, Laksh.”

“Time with the Viper has changed you,” Laksh said, with a tsk of his tongue and a smile.

Laksh reached forward to Kunal, who shook his head and backed away a pace.

“Did you know that our land is dying? Not just growing a little weaker in spots as they told us at the Fort, but wasting away? This wild monkey chase has only made it all the more obvious to me,” Laksh said.

Kunal watched Laksh pace in a half circle. It was as if a new person had replaced the hurt Laksh from before. He had always been a chameleon, but this whiplash change left Kunal mentally scrambling to catch up.

“I did.” Kunal figured this was a time for honesty. Lies were hanging over both of them. A spot of truth might salvage their friendship. “I saw it firsthand in some towns. The hunger and death.”

Laksh gave him an approving look, raising his hands.

“You noticed. And from your tone of voice, you don’t approve.”

Kunal shook his head. “No, but I don’t see how this answers my question.”

“Vardaan is killing our land, our people. He is not one of us, so what did we expect?”

Laksh had never been a soldier of choice, but this was more than a disgruntled soldier. His words held the ringing surety of someone converted.

An eager look spread over Laksh’s face. “I’ll admit it, I felt a bit betrayed at first when I saw you leaving, but more that you chose those Dharkan rebels. I’ve been looking to turn you for a year now. Alok would be an easy one to turn, but you? You held your duty above yourself. How would I convince you that there was more to the world? So much more that had been hidden from us? But I still hoped that one day, you’d awaken to the truth.”

Laksh grasped Kunal by the shoulder. “I’m glad in an odd way. You are a true Jansan and you’ve fought hard for your country.” His voice grew softer, more cajoling. “But you’ve been led astray. We all were. Ever since I saw the light of justice under Dharmdev’s guidance, I feel like I’ve found purpose.”

“Careful, Laksh. You’re talking treason,” Kunal said, his voice quiet.

His mind whirred, making connections with a speed only fear could usher in. Laksh had mentioned this man, Dharmdev, “the Lord of Justice.” He must have been converted into this apparent new group of Jansan rebels.

Or was that a ruse to catch him out? Have him admit to treason only to take him back? Kunal didn’t want to believe that of his old friend, but having been so close to freedom, he grasped at it that much more. He said nothing.

“Kunal, do you know what the Fort soldiers did just moons ago to my village? When I went back, nothing was left but ribbons of clothing from my sister’s dolls. Everything else had been set aflame.”

Laksh’s voice broke, a storm of pain shuddering across his face, and it was so deep Kunal almost had to look away. Laksh had returned from his last visit home different, changed. Kunal had assumed it was maturity making him more serious. He had never known, never asked.