proceed carefully. Hmm?”
Kishan nodded tentatively. “What are your terms then?”
“Oh, not much. A trifle, really. You see, I’m what you might call a collector.”
“A collector of what?”
Lokesh laughed. “Many things, but in your case, there is something in your possession
that might spark my interest enough to make me consider giving up a title for Yesubai
a good trade.”
“And that is?”
“There is an amulet in your family’s possession. Two of them, in fact.”
“The Damon Amulet? What would you want with them? They aren’t of any monetary value.
They’re merely trinkets handed down in my family.”
“Yes. I’m aware that they wouldn’t fetch much of a price, but you see, they’re very
old.” Lokesh smiled like a jackal. “And I have a special affinity for…old relics.”
“I see.”
Kishan lowered his head, his jaw working as he considered my father’s proposal. Finally,
he said, “I will give you my piece, but Dhiren has the other one in his possession.
I doubt he would consider giving it up so that I might be able to steal his bride
away from him.”
“Yes. I can see how that might be a problem. Still, it’s both pieces or there is no
bargain. If we cannot come to an arrangement, then Yesubai will be married to your
brother. However unhappy she might be.”
Kishan said nothing but I could see the desperation in his eyes. As much as he wanted
me, he knew there was no way Dhiren would voluntarily give up his amulet. Not if it
meant losing me.
Behind Kishan I could sense my father gathering his power around him. If he couldn’t
manipulate the prince, he would kill him. “Kishan,” I offered, “maybe there’s another
way.”
“How?” he whispered. “Ren won’t help us.”
“What if we took him by surprise?”
“What do you mean?”
“Yes, Daughter. What are you saying?” I didn’t miss the implied threat in my father’s
voice.
“What if we arranged a robbery?”
“Ren doesn’t keep the amulet on him. Even I don’t know where it is.”
“So my father could send soldiers in disguise to meet Dhiren on his journey home.
They would have specific instructions to discover the location of his amulet, and
then they could detain him while you go and retrieve it. He’ll never even know we
were involved.”
Epilogue
Fade
Things didn’t exactly go as planned. Hajari and a few of my father’s men stole me
away from the palace the next night and took me back to Bhreenam, where Kishan met
me with open arms. “What’s happening?” I asked.
“Ren proved difficult. He wouldn’t cooperate so he’s being brought here. We’re to
greet him in the main hall when he arrives. It’s not what we intended to happen, but
Ren left us without any other option. Your father says we’ll have to confront him
openly and that he believes Ren will be more amenable if he sees the three of us as
a united front. My brother is technically your father’s prisoner, but he assures me
he only means to threaten Ren until he gives us what he wants, then he’ll sign a new
betrothal agreement.”
“But—”
“Ah, there you are, my dear. If you will excuse us, Kishan, I will escort my daughter
to her chamber to rest and change before your brother arrives.”
“Of course,” Kishan said and squeezed my hand as my father pulled me away. When we
arrived in my chamber, I let out a small cry when I saw Isha waiting for me. She was
much thinner, and her face looked tired, but she was alive, and at that moment, it
was blessing enough.
Pointing to the bed, my father said, “You’ll be dressing the part. I expect you to
look your best, and as such, you will not adorn yourself in your typical veil. I want
you to be a distraction for both brothers. If you’re very lucky, I’ll let one of them
live. But should my plans fail”—he stepped forward and cupped my face, forcing me
to look into his eyes—“everyone you love
Kishan nodded tentatively. “What are your terms then?”
“Oh, not much. A trifle, really. You see, I’m what you might call a collector.”
“A collector of what?”
Lokesh laughed. “Many things, but in your case, there is something in your possession
that might spark my interest enough to make me consider giving up a title for Yesubai
a good trade.”
“And that is?”
“There is an amulet in your family’s possession. Two of them, in fact.”
“The Damon Amulet? What would you want with them? They aren’t of any monetary value.
They’re merely trinkets handed down in my family.”
“Yes. I’m aware that they wouldn’t fetch much of a price, but you see, they’re very
old.” Lokesh smiled like a jackal. “And I have a special affinity for…old relics.”
“I see.”
Kishan lowered his head, his jaw working as he considered my father’s proposal. Finally,
he said, “I will give you my piece, but Dhiren has the other one in his possession.
I doubt he would consider giving it up so that I might be able to steal his bride
away from him.”
“Yes. I can see how that might be a problem. Still, it’s both pieces or there is no
bargain. If we cannot come to an arrangement, then Yesubai will be married to your
brother. However unhappy she might be.”
Kishan said nothing but I could see the desperation in his eyes. As much as he wanted
me, he knew there was no way Dhiren would voluntarily give up his amulet. Not if it
meant losing me.
Behind Kishan I could sense my father gathering his power around him. If he couldn’t
manipulate the prince, he would kill him. “Kishan,” I offered, “maybe there’s another
way.”
“How?” he whispered. “Ren won’t help us.”
“What if we took him by surprise?”
“What do you mean?”
“Yes, Daughter. What are you saying?” I didn’t miss the implied threat in my father’s
voice.
“What if we arranged a robbery?”
“Ren doesn’t keep the amulet on him. Even I don’t know where it is.”
“So my father could send soldiers in disguise to meet Dhiren on his journey home.
They would have specific instructions to discover the location of his amulet, and
then they could detain him while you go and retrieve it. He’ll never even know we
were involved.”
Epilogue
Fade
Things didn’t exactly go as planned. Hajari and a few of my father’s men stole me
away from the palace the next night and took me back to Bhreenam, where Kishan met
me with open arms. “What’s happening?” I asked.
“Ren proved difficult. He wouldn’t cooperate so he’s being brought here. We’re to
greet him in the main hall when he arrives. It’s not what we intended to happen, but
Ren left us without any other option. Your father says we’ll have to confront him
openly and that he believes Ren will be more amenable if he sees the three of us as
a united front. My brother is technically your father’s prisoner, but he assures me
he only means to threaten Ren until he gives us what he wants, then he’ll sign a new
betrothal agreement.”
“But—”
“Ah, there you are, my dear. If you will excuse us, Kishan, I will escort my daughter
to her chamber to rest and change before your brother arrives.”
“Of course,” Kishan said and squeezed my hand as my father pulled me away. When we
arrived in my chamber, I let out a small cry when I saw Isha waiting for me. She was
much thinner, and her face looked tired, but she was alive, and at that moment, it
was blessing enough.
Pointing to the bed, my father said, “You’ll be dressing the part. I expect you to
look your best, and as such, you will not adorn yourself in your typical veil. I want
you to be a distraction for both brothers. If you’re very lucky, I’ll let one of them
live. But should my plans fail”—he stepped forward and cupped my face, forcing me
to look into his eyes—“everyone you love
Similar Books
