The Library of Fates(18)

My father was standing at the head of the table, surrounded by his advisors. Before him was a roll of parchment filled with frenetic, curlicued text. Once again, several pairs of eyes snapped up in my direction. Mala was right—they had been up all night, strategizing. I glanced at the parchment with interest.

A treaty.

“What is it, Amrita?”

I assessed the faces looking back at me, regretful that I had barged in on their council meeting for the second time in a matter of days, but I knew I had to put aside everything—my sense of propriety, any feelings of betrayal or anger that I had toward my father. I had to tell him what I knew.

“The oracle. She said something about animals running loose, some sort of fight on the western border. She told me we can’t trust Sikander. She said something about an attack. I know it all sounds vague, but—”

“There was a breach at the royal zoo this morning,” Shree offered.

“And Mala mentioned something about activity on the western border,” I said.

“A tribal war, most likely. We’re looking into it,” said Bandaka.

“Papa, you know I don’t believe in such things, but—”

“We’re handling it, Amrita.” He looked around the room at his advisors before he turned back to me. “We’re putting the finishing touches on a treaty. One that keeps you safe. You’re not marrying Sikander,” he told me. “You’re not going to Macedon with him. Your betrothal is no longer on the table; it’s not open for negotiation.”

“But what about Shalingar? What about—”

“We’re agreeing to all of Sikander’s terms, but he doesn’t get you. And we keep Shalingar secure.”

“But . . . how is that possible?”

“It’s possible because I can’t allow this . . . marriage. The treaty focuses on trade relations, tariffs, allowing Sikander access to our ports. But the alliance won’t be built on a marriage.”

I looked back at my father, tears in my eyes. I wondered how much he was giving up to keep me away from Sikander. That was all he had ever wanted, to keep me safe.

“Thank you, Papa,” I said to him.

“Thank your brilliant family,” he said, gesturing around the room. “These are the best legal minds in Shalingar. And they all love you very much.”

I smiled at Shree and Bandaka and Ali, my hand instinctively reaching toward my heart. “Thank you,” I whispered before I went to my father, embracing him.

“And I’m not ready to see you go yet,” he whispered in my ear. “Now, don’t worry about a thing. We’ve got it all handled. We’re presenting this information to Sikander today . . .”

I didn’t hear the rest of what he said. Because behind my father, out the window, I could see an elephant running across the grounds.

And I wondered if, despite my father’s best intentions, it was simply too late for us all.

¤

I carefully uncurled the note in my hand as I walked out of the Map Chamber, and in Arjun’s fastidious handwriting were the words:

My love,

It took everything in me not to stay in bed with you, not to wake up with you this morning. But then I thought, I get to wake up with you every morning for the rest of my life. I can’t wait for the adventures that await us. I have always loved you. I will always love you.

Your Arjun

A smile inadvertently spread across my face.

I had an intuition about where I would find Arjun. I walked down the interminable main corridor filled with elaborate displays of shields and swords till I arrived at the east courtyard. It had always been one of our favorite places to meet: a verandah of white marble and light, filled with ferns and palm fronds. Lush vines crawled up marble columns into the hazy sunlight that poured through the open roof. A small pool filled with fluorescent blue fish, darting this way and that, shimmered in the center of the space. A marble fountain gurgled, as though in a constant state of delight. Sparrows and parrots flew down from the edge of the roof into elaborate nests. Off in a corner was a hammock, surrounded by fragrant jasmine plants.

“Arjun?” I whispered, and he emerged from behind a palm tree, his hair a mess, dark circles under his eyes. But he looked happy to see me.

“So you’ve been up all night too?”

His face opened into a smile and he pulled me into his arms, running his fingers through my hair, kissing me softly at first, and then more ardently.

“How can I sleep when I can’t stop thinking about you?” he asked.

I breathed in his familiar scent, my hands on the sides of his neck. “I can’t stop thinking about you either,” I told him as I buried my face in his chest. “My father is—”

“Working on a treaty to present to Sikander. I heard.”

I nodded into his collarbone. “I saw a zebra. And then an elephant. And the fight on the western border—”

“I know.”

“What do you think?”

“I think your father is doing the best he can, but Sikander has been known to turn his back on treaties. What’s stopping him from simply saying no? I’ve been thinking about our plan, researching routes from here to the east. I know so many people along the way who would help us.” He hesitated before he added, “Sikander’s last dinner is tonight.”