The Tiger at Midnight (The Tiger at Midnight Trilogy #1)(55)

Gone. Of course she was gone.

He lurched into a sitting position, the creak of his bones and joints like a squeaky wheel of a fruit seller’s cart, before being thrown back by the pull of the resin. Groaning, Kunal grabbed the knife near him and hacked at the strands to pull himself free.

Once he was free, he rose to his feet and dusted himself off. The only consolation this time was that he had finally managed to grab something. He could only hope it would be useful.

Kunal patted his back, feeling for the scroll he had stolen. It was still in its place, tucked into the back of his pants. He allowed himself a little smile for thinking quickly and grabbing a scroll from her bag when he boosted her up, realizing there was a chance she would abandon him to his fate.

Which was exactly what she did.

Once he was out of this hole, he’d take a proper look at it. With any luck, it would give him some clue as to where she would be next, where the rebels were.

In the corner of the pit was a small pail hanging from a rope, and with a few steps he had the pail in hand and tugged. Inside was a thin scrap of paper, which Kunal almost didn’t notice. He caught it before it fluttered to the ground.

A note and a rope. She was the one getting more predictable.

Kunal didn’t know if she was aware that with each action, she gave away a part of her story. Letting him live, leaving him a rope. This wasn’t the Viper who was rumored to have torn through a Senap Guard, leaving only one survivor.

Kunal grimaced. Every time she showed her humanity, his stonelike belief in his duty cracked. Was there a way he could fulfill both of his debts—to his uncle and this enigma of a girl?

Becoming commander was the only way to guarantee a fair trial for Esha—he ignored the small part of him that whispered that even then, it might not be so easy.

Maybe it was time to send another note to Alok.

Kunal closed his eyes as the inside of his head split open in pain without warning. He leaned forward, pressing his thumbs into the soft inner corners of his eyes. After some minutes, the pain subsided to a throb.

He groaned as he moved up the rope, note safely tucked into his pocket. Whatever tincture she had used to knock him out had left every muscle an aching, fraying mess, and his head—it was as if someone was steadily driving hot nails into his skull.

Kunal pulled up to the top of the pit, swinging each leg up and over.

Purple streaks of night bled across the sky like sweeps of a brush. It had been hours since Esha left. Night would blanket the sky soon and he would have no chance of following her. Even now, he had only a vague idea of where she’d go next. It was likely she’d completely abandon her previous route now that she knew he was following her.

He brushed off his hands on his pants and finally drew out the note, frowning and unsure of what to expect. Funny how in such a short time he could read her words and hear exactly the way she would have spoken them.

It’s a good thing you have an interest in the arts because after this, you might need to look for a new job, soldier. I’m sure the other Senap squadrons would love to hear how you’ve been bested by a mere girl not once but twice. Maybe they’d regret banishing us from the army. You really should go home. I’m sure you have a cushy room in the Fort with some sweetheart pining away, waiting for you. Who knows?

The only thing I know is that you’ll never catch me. I’m the Viper.

He chuckled despite himself, hearing her voice in his head.

You know, that might be what I’m called, but I used to be more frog than scorpion. Life has made me the scorpion. It’s easier to betray someone than to trust that they’ll do right by you. Especially in this land.

Now, I want a story next time I see you. I expect it will be sooner than I anticipate.

Tell me something I don’t know, soldier.

Kunal folded the note up in precise rectangles and tucked it away, coming to a slow realization as the dim light of camphor lamps began to shine through the windows of houses.

He still wanted to take Esha back to the Fort, but now, he also wanted something else too. He wanted more time with her. He wanted to convince her that when he gave his word, he meant it—she would be given a trial and he would fulfill his debt to her. He wanted to change her image of the soldiers by leading them the way they deserved to be led—with honor and by an honorable commander.

To try to show her how wrong she had been and how right he could make things.

Little by little, her eyes would light up in understanding and radiate her complete trust in him. It was only a dream, after all.

A fortnight in pursuit, and he had no Viper in his custody. But he knew that she loved mangoes and counted the stars when alone to remind her of how far she was from home.

He could envision the look on his uncle’s face if he’d been alive—disappointment.





Chapter 37


Esha couldn’t be sure, but she thought she spotted Kunal a few streets over in the small town of Chinta, her one stop before Amali. She ducked into a colorful stall, letting herself get lost in the rows of indigo silk and white muslin. Esha grabbed a silk uttariya to wrap around her head as a shadow moved toward the opening of the tent, her heart racing.

In seconds, the shadow passed, but her heart didn’t let up on its tempo. Instead, at the thought of him, it rose in a thudding crescendo that drowned all of her other senses.

Esha felt her heart turn traitor and she knew it then—the winds had shifted between them.