The Fire Queen (The Hundredth Queen #2)(29)
Across the way, our people line the fence of the civilian encampment to glimpse Prince Ashwin and me. They cry my name, and a memory chills me. They chanted for me the day I won my rank tournament.
Ashwin grasps my arm to demonstrate our unity. I allow his touch to linger, but as we begin the climb to the palace, I tug away.
“Kalinda,” he starts, “I didn’t—”
“Don’t.” I will not hear his defense of Deven’s punishment. The damage is done.
We reach the pinnacle of the hillside, and our people still intone my name, their emboldened cheers heard on high. I pray their shouts wake Sultan Kuval, for when he hears their voices sounding as one, he will know we are not beaten.
11
KALINDA
As Natesa finishes brushing kohl around my eyes, her knuckle grazes my nose, triggering an itch. I reach up to scratch it, and she smacks my hand away.
“You smudged the corner!” she fumes and then fixes the blemish with impatient brushstrokes.
After I slept until the early afternoon, Natesa dragged me out of bed to ready me for the declaration ceremony. I have been avoiding the mirror glass since earlier, when I stole a glimpse of my pallid reflection. Every broken shard of my heart was visible in my bloodshot eyes.
Natesa stands back to admire her work. She has been short with me since we were told servants are not allowed to attend the tournament proceedings. She does not like being left out almost as much as she dislikes people ordering her about.
“That’ll do,” she proclaims.
I brace myself for disappointment and look at my reflection. My makeup is flawless. My hair is brushed to a shine that could outdo a brass gong in the sun, and the plum sari is elegantly majestic. Natesa has fashioned me into a rani.
Our days of eyeing each other maliciously are over. We have come a long way since she conceded to me during our rank-tournament battle. She no longer calls me names, and I do not bait her. We are not friends, but we are friendly.
She rests a fist on her hip. “Well?”
“Thank you,” I say, my tears swelling.
She pats my back awkwardly. “Don’t spoil your face.”
“Sorry. I’m tired.” And raw, inside and out. I was daring last night, brash in my purpose, but the light of day has revealed the truth.
Deven has pushed me away.
I am a mosaic of busted pieces desperately held together. I long to burrow under my bedcovers and shut out the world, but I have to face the trial tournament and act every part the collected rani the mirror glass pretends I am.
“Would you like to tell me what happened?” Natesa asks, her voice quiet.
Her offer is kind, but I doubt I could answer without shedding more tears and spoiling her hard work. “Maybe another time.”
Natesa turns away before I can see her full reaction, but her jawline tightens.
The door opens, and Opal slips inside. She stays near the exit, her gaze full of pity. She must have heard what took place in the prison hut. Opal holds up a sheer gold veil. “This is from Brother Shaan. He said you only have to wear it tonight.”
So I am to play the part of the grieving widow before the sultan’s court and other foreign dignitaries, am I? Brother Shaan knows wearing a symbol of devotion to Tarek disgusts me. But he is concerned about keeping what I did in Vanhi a secret. Someone could see through my lack of grief over losing Tarek and ask questions.
I go to Opal and let her hook the veil behind my ears. The gossamer cloth brushes my nose, hanging from below my eyes to my chin. “About yesterday,” she begins. “I’m sorry—”
“I’m not mad at you anymore. I understand you were only following Brother Shaan’s orders.”
She relaxes a tad, relieved and grateful for my forgiveness. “I won’t hide anything from you again, Kindred,” she promises. I smile at her through my transparent veil. “Prince Ashwin is waiting for you in his chambers.”
My smile falls. “I can walk to the garden myself.”
“His Majesty wants to tell you what he learned about Captain Naik’s punishment,” Opal says with an unsaid plea. She has been sent to retrieve me and could be in trouble if I disobey. I am not afraid of defying the prince, but not if my rebelliousness will wrong Opal.
“Oh, all right.” I stride out the door ahead of her. I may as well face Ashwin before the declaration ceremony. Who knows what I could do to him in public should he upset me further? But with each step down the corridor, my anger strengthens. Nothing Ashwin has to say will relieve him of his culpability.
Rohan stands guard outside the prince’s chamber. He opens the door, and I careen past him inside.
Ashwin is waiting, dressed in his finest apparel, an elegant gold-embroidered scarlet tunic over fitted dark-gray trousers. He gapes at me. “Kalinda, you look . . . you look radiant.”
My cheeks warm despite myself. Rajah Tarek saw me as a possession to own and control. Everything I did reflected upon his greatness. Ashwin’s compliment is sheer, unselfish approval.
Across the palace grounds, a gong rings three times, jolting Ashwin out of his daze. “That’s our summons,” he says.
“Opal said you wanted to speak with me first.”
He rakes a hand through his combed-back hair. “Yes, of course.” He shoves his fidgety hands into his pockets. “I wish to explain about last night. I’m very alarmed by Captain Naik’s punishment. I give you my word I had nothing to do with it. Vizier Gyan claims to have received a written order from me. I swear to you I sent no such message. Brother Shaan did not make me aware of your party’s arrival, and, as you recall, I was with you at the time of the . . . incident.”