The Tiger at Midnight (The Tiger at Midnight Trilogy #1)(56)

She was close to the mountains now and knew if she made the trek, she would get to the other side and be on Dharkan soil soon. Esha had sent as much by owl to the rebels a week ago, trying to code some of the urgency she had felt in the note.

How things had changed since then. She just needed to make it through the next few days without running into the soldier and she’d be home and free.

Why didn’t the thought make her feel happy anymore?





Chapter 38


It had been two days since Kunal had been left behind in Faor, and the next closest military garrison was in Onda, a small town near the river and to the east of the Hara Desert.

The troops were stationed in a sun-speckled stone tower to the west of the town’s center. He turned his mare in that direction as he entered the crumbling town walls, a casualty of yearlong battles fought over the town’s proximity to the river and iron mines. Kunal could tell his horse was tired from her low whinny and slowed her to a trot, feeling a warmth beneath his fingers as he absentmindedly rubbed her neck.

Kunal got a better look around as they ambled their way through the narrow roads that led into town. He immediately noticed that people looked healthy, whole, unlike in Ujral. His newfound cynicism assumed it was due to the army presence in the town.

It had been a full day’s ride since Faor, but the scroll stolen from Esha hadn’t left his mind. He knew that it was a military report by the script it was written in, Old Jansan. Only the Fort leadership wrote reports in the dead language.

His Old Jansan was rusty, underused in the past two years as he’d been out on more Senap missions, but he could understand bits and pieces. Enough that he had been able to read the title of the report.

Sundara.

The site of the battle that had led King Mahir to push for a cease-fire. It had been celebrated at the Fort, the victory that had shown the enemy’s weakness. But more important to him, this military report on Sundara was in his uncle’s strong scrawl.

What could his uncle have written about Sundara? He had said the campaign was Vardaan’s order and he had little to do with it. Kunal didn’t know, but this would be his best chance to find out. After checking in for the mission, he would go to the garrison’s vast library. It would be vital in deciphering the report and whether it had any clues to where Esha might go next.

He arrived at the stable and a small boy ran forward. Kunal dismounted and tried to hand the reins to the boy, but his horse nipped at his head. The boy scrambled back and Kunal sighed. The mare was getting attached. Kunal petted her, blowing softly into her nostrils until she calmed down.

An hour later, after his horse had been taken to the stable and a bath, he was ushered into a small dining room by the housekeeper. After weeks of hard traveling, Kunal rather enjoyed being treated like royalty. He dove into his food, carefully ladling the stew of spiced lentils and vegetables over the cashew-and-clove-studded rice.

Laksh’s voice filtered in before Kunal saw him, and he rose to his feet in surprise as his friend entered the dining room. Laksh hid his surprise better, giving him a huge grin. He was tanner, his skin a deep brown from days in the sun, and he seemed skinnier, more drawn in the face. But that twinkle remained in his eyes.

“Been following me, have you?” Kunal said.

“I’ve had enough of that. It took me two loops around the western hills of the Varulok region to shake off Rakesh,” Laksh said, grasping Kunal’s shoulders. “You are a sight for sore eyes, Kunal. I know I grew up around here, but it’s easy to forget how sand seems to get in about everything.”

“If only I could say you were wrong.” Kunal grinned, his heart buoying at their easy banter. After all the confusion and uncertainty, Laksh was a beacon of light.

Familiar. Constant.

He ached to tell his friend everything. Spill out the story he had inadvertently started with Esha, the confusion he felt at having to take her back, but something prevented him as they sat at the table and caught up.

Maybe it was the wary undertone that slipped into their conversation. Light, but as if they knew there was still a competition going on. Esha wasn’t just a normal girl he could talk to his friend about—she was both of their marks.

“Where to next, Laksh?” Kunal asked casually, holding the tiniest of hopes that his assumption had been wrong and their friendship was still more important than the competition. Kunal was in the lead, yet he had never felt more lost. Or alone.

The skin around Laksh’s eyes crinkled and he gave a wry smile. “You know I can’t tell you that.”

“No?”

“It’s a competition. Thought you’d care more as the general’s nephew.”

Now Kunal frowned, ever so slightly. “Who says I don’t?”

Laksh put his hands up. “Not me, that’s for sure. I was teasing.”

Kunal rubbed his brow and sighed. “This chase is getting to me, Laksh. I’m tired.”

“Then turn home. Let me win,” Laksh said, grinning. When he realized Kunal hadn’t teased back, his face changed. “I know. It actually makes me miss the Fort in some ways. I miss the structure.”

Kunal nodded. He felt the same way at times. But he also felt a thrill at making his own path for the first time. Deciding where to go and what to do. He wondered if this was what it would be like to be a full Senap guard. If nothing else, it made him long for his release from active duty, more so than normal. The alternative—deserting—was not an alternative at all.