Page 102 of The Burning Mountain
“Yes?”Pouravaglanced up at Chandra’s shocked whisper and seemed to register her astonishment.
A smile curved across his—her lips. “Ah, I see. Veer mustn’t have had time to explain. This is my magical ability. Disguise. It’s how I manage to escape my handlers all the time.”
Chandra stared at her as she worked on the lock. She appeared exactly like her father, down to the scar above her right eyebrow. A gunnysack satchel, tucked into the cummerbund at the waist was the only difference she could spot. Was this another trick?
“You’re lucky I’ve come to help you escape,” continued Revathi. “The bars of this prison are reinforced with my father’s magic. It’s impossible to break free.”
Dumbfounded, Chandra stood back as the door swung in. Revathi grabbed her hand. They both hurried along the corridor and then past the short flight of steps to a door in the wall.
“Why are you doing this?” Chandra finally managed to ask after she recovered from the shock. It was odd to see Pourava’s face without the ever-present sneer he wore in her presence.
“Because I want to help my cousin,” said Revathi. She cracked open the door and peered out. “And I absolutely don’t want to marry him,” she said with conviction in her voice.
“So, King Pourava has magic too? Do all of Veer’s relatives have magic? Am I the only one who doesn’t know that?”
“My father makes things so strong they can be unbreakable.” Revathi had a slight smile on her face, as if she was remembering something. “We used to have games all the time as children,trying to break out of some of his reinforced prisons. I always came first. To answer your other question, yes, most of the royal families of the northern kingdoms have magic. How come you don’t know why the rest of the Saptavarsha doesn’t approve of us?”
Chandra had no answer to that. She had assumed, foolishly, that it was because of the war seven years ago and the ceremony for sovereignty that preceded it.
“Right. This is how we’re going to escape. The guard patrols happen mostly on the outer perimeter at night. Hopefully, no one waylays us. But if they do, tie this rope loosely around your wrists and pretend I’m taking you somewhere as a prisoner.”
Chandra had doubts about this plan, which seemed to be made up on the spur of the moment. But she was not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
“Wait. What about Billadev?” she asked, jogging to keep up with Princess Revathi. They made it successfully past the inner gate and moved toward the outer gates, keeping to the shadows. “Is he okay?”
“He’s fine. He’s actually waiting for you outside the walls. I can get you past them, but after that, you’re on your own.” Chandra had a weird sense of déjà vu. This was like the time she was rescued from Thianvelli’s palace. A woman had helped her at that time too.
Fortunately, or by design, they encountered no one as they made their way out.
They reached the tall gates set in the perimeter wall with patrolling guards, but Revathi led her away toward another small opening, hidden behind a loaded cart. “This is my secret escape hatch. No one knows its existence.” They both ducked under the cart and Chandra discovered the opening was only large enough to let one person crawl out.
“What about King Pourava? What if he discovers that you helped me escape? Will you be all right?”
“Don’t worry about my father, Princess. He’s gone to Taxilla, likely to haggle out a promise from Veer. He might be mad about it, but he’s not going to hurt his only daughter.” Then added, “I think.” She shook off her uncertainty and said, “You should go. Billadev knows these parts and he can get you to Rajgarh, provided you stick to the trade routes. Good luck.”
She walked away, but palmed her forehead, as if remembering something and came back. Crouching once again, she handed Chandra the satchel from her waist. “Oh! I almost forgot. Here. This contains everything we confiscated from you, and?—”
“The Lotus Key!” Chandra smiled with what felt like the first genuine happiness since she stepped into Vivismati. “Thank you.”
Revathi stared at her. “You have such a lovely smile, Princess. I can see why Veer is so smitten,” she said.
Chandra’s hand reflexively went to her scar and Revathi correctly interpreted her thoughts.
“Beauty is but one facet of attractiveness, Princess, sometimes not even the most important one. The scar does nothing to detract from your draw. Trust me.”
Chandra was struck by the perceptive remark coming from the princess who could legitimately boast of the kind of looks that stopped you in your tracks. But perhaps, such loveliness was as much a curse as it was a blessing.
Revathi’s expression turned wistful. “I wish for a love like that for myself. One that can see beyond the superficial,” she said and then shook her head, somber once again. “I hope, Princess, that you’ll forgive my father for his actions one day. He’s doing all this for me. I know it’s not right and it doesn’t excuse his behavior, but…”
Chandra placed a hand on her arm to halt her words. “No need to say more. I understand. And please call me Chandra. I wish to be friends.”
Revathi squeezed her hand in gratitude. “Stay safe. Stay alive. You are important in my goal to avoid what my father has planned for me.”
50
OLD RIVALRIES
Chandra woke up to theclip-clopof horse hooves, the plodding walk of camels, and the rumble of many carts. It took her a minute to reorient herself to the unfamiliar surroundings. They were with a caravan of travelers going toward Rajgarh.
