The Fire Queen (The Hundredth Queen #2)(72)

Our procession turns away from the city, weaving into the outskirts of the Morass, down a road lined with massive banyan trees. The treetops arch above, the branches threading together like clasped fingers. Children dangle from the boughs overhead. One child leans down and yanks hard on my braid and then swoops out of reach before I can swat him. The relentless hounding almost releases my tears, but I concentrate on each shaky inhale, matching it to the sway of the elephant.

Almost there. A little longer.

Twin teak trees mark the entrance to the outdoor amphitheater. Far ahead, Sultan Kuval’s servants set down his and Ashwin’s litters. The rest of the procession halts in succession. I slide down off the elephant, and Opal comes to my side. She takes in my sticky clothes and hair.

“Kindred, are you all right?”

“I’ve faced far worse than rotten fruit. Once I’m wearing my armor, no one will see the stains.” I throw a smile at Opal that I doubt is convincing and then leave her to meet the others.

Ashwin spots my blemished sari as I approach the entrance to the amphitheater, and his face sets in anger. I plead silently with him not to cause more of a spectacle. Citra is already smirking at me like she has a blade to my throat, and Sultan Kuval looks me up and down with pompous satisfaction. I clamp my molars together at their tiresome ridicule and garner every scrap of dignity I have left. Let them think I’m unshaken. Let them worry if I have my powers.

I join Ashwin’s side, and he views the full damage. “What happened?” he demands.

“The spectators on the roadway expressed their opinion of me.”

He faces Sultan Kuval and Princess Citra, and his voice slices at them like an arrow. “Why were your people permitted to accost my kindred?”

Citra jolts at his use of “my kindred.” Oh, yes. Ashwin knows where best to retaliate.

“The voice of the people may declare their favored warrior,” answers Sultan Kuval.

Ashwin risks staining his tunic jacket by pulling me against him, resting his hand on the small of my back. “Kalinda doesn’t need the voice of the people. She has me.”

Citra chirps an uncertain laugh. Ashwin glares at her, stone-cold. She sniffs in dismissal of his resentment and revolves away. Sultan Kuval twists the end of his mustache, his gaze troubled. Doubt is a powerful motivator, but it will only take me so far.

The sultan leads us down the path to the sunken amphitheater. The wide oval stadium and arena are dug into the ground, the steps leading downward. The rows of seating for spectators are made of hard-packed land that rings the massive pit in the jungle floor.

Green pennants with the dragon cobra symbol rap in the breeze above the upper row of the stadium where we stand. All of the spectators are Janardanians. Sultan Kuval must not have permitted my people to attend due to the outbreak, not that they would cheer for me. As a chambermaid, Natesa was not allowed to come. Indah and Pons are seated near the sultan’s imperial box. My solitary supporter from home is Ashwin.

I slip my hand into his clammy one and anchor myself to his unwavering faith in me. He is my blood, my ally, my rajah.

Drummers line up alongside us and strike a furious beat. The audience rises and faces the top of the stairs. While the drummers thump a marching rhythm, Sultan Kuval and Citra start down the stairway.

Ashwin tugs my hand, urging us to go next. As we descend into the amphitheater, I pray that the gods will have mercy and restore my powers before I reach the bottom. I avoid the defiant stares of the Janardanians and reach for my inner flame. My soul-fire is quiet, like a muffled voice. A hand has smothered it to silence, but it is there.

At the bottom of the stairs, the crowd towers high as the sky. Citra kisses her father’s cheek, and then Sultan Kuval leaves her and enters the imperial box that overlooks the arena.

“I’ll be right here,” Ashwin whispers to me.

I have wrung his hand so hard my fingertips are numb. He gives me an encouraging squeeze and then enters the imperial box. The sultan’s wives and courtesans occupy another reserved area above Kuval and Ashwin. Tevy is with the women, come to support her sister. If only Natesa could be here.

Bladesmiths heft heavy armor onto Citra and me. One drops a helmet that is too big onto my head, and the other straps a breastplate on me too tightly. They offer me a khanda. I refuse, opting for my lighter daggers. The armor is heavy, sinking me further into this pit of doom.

Standing before his throne, the sultan lifts his arm, and the drumming stops. “Welcome to the finale of the trial tournament! Our first challenger is Princess Citra—”

Spectators stomp their feet to demonstrate their support. Citra leaps over the barrier and drops down several feet into the arena. She lands without difficulty and then raises her arms to the stomping and starts to pump them. Her arms start slowly and then push faster. The audience matches her rhythm with their stomps, and soon the entirety of the amphitheater tremors under their feverous thumping. Finally, her people launch to their feet, their thunderous acclamation shuddering through me.

Citra grins and sweeps her arms down into a regal bow.

The cheers of the crowd peter off so I can hear my crashing pulse.

Sultan Kuval lifts his voice to finish the introductions. “Our second competitor is the kindred of the Tarachand Empire.”

Boos begin before the sultan can say my name. Ashwin scowls up into the crowd and then faces forward, deciding the group is too big to silence with a fierce look.