Page 50 of The Burning Mountain
The gathered ladies had no response to the roundabout compliment.
“I heard you’re all magic wielders, so why don’t you do some magic if you want the dove that badly?” asked the woman who had stood up straighter.
“What are you saying, Leelaveni?” asked the Sanchi queen, frowning. Archana Devi now recognized that lady by her name. She was the wife of a local feudal lord whose villages bordered the kingdom of Vivismati. She was also Jyesta Devi’s cousin’s daughter.
“I have no magic, my lady,” admitted Archana Devi, bringing Jyesta Devi’s attention back to herself.
Leelaveni’s brows rose. “No magic? Then why did King Bheesmala choose you over my sister?”
“He refused to marry your sister?” said Jyesta Devi indignantly, turning to Leelaveni for confirmation. “Even after knowing her advantageous connections to Sanchi and Hoysyala? What insolence!”
Archana Devi’s smile became more fixed now. She knew this was one of the reasons behind the not-so-subtle rude behavior of the other ladies, but she had been hoping no one would say that to her face.
Jyesta Devi’s mouth twisted in a sneer as she faced Archana Devi once more. “I see, Bheesmala could have only married down, after refusing us. There is nothing in you that would ever compare with any of my family members. We were doing him a favor by offering a hand in marriage, even though Rajgarh is a smaller kingdom and yet, he had the audacity to throw our offer back in our faces.”
“He claimed he was in love,” chimed Leelaveni. Her curious gaze hadn’t budged from Archana Devi. Probably trying to figure out what she had that made her superior in Bheesmala’s eyes.
“Hmph, excuses if you ask me,” said the queen of Sanchi.
Archana Devi felt a squeeze at her hand and glanced down at her son. Even at four, he understood what the other ladies were saying to his mother was not complimentary. Archana Devi squeezed his hand back in reassurance.
“What has happened, lies in the past,” said Archana Devi, swallowing her retort, striving for patience. “If you believe this is because of something I did, then I apologize.”
“Your apology is as paltry as the gifts you bring to my gathering,” said the queen with a toss of her head.
“This is such a small request, Your Majesty,” pleaded Archana Devi, ignoring her insult. “Please, I am asking this for my son.”
The queen’s gaze wandered to Veer, who kept his head bowed down as instructed, eyes closed to slits, so it looked like he was sleepy.
Jyesta Devi then craned her neck to see past the edge of the cliff face and saw the tree they were talking about, the wind rocking the nest gently, but miraculously didn’t unseat it yet.
“You want my soldier to risk his life, climbing over the cliff face to bring a bird’s nest that your half-asleep son desires?” said Jyesta Devi, her face set in disgruntled lines. “This type of request is beneath me to fulfill. You may go ask your husband.”
Archana Devi gritted her teeth. “He is not here. I’m asking you as your guest.”
Jyesta Devi gave her a sideways glance, that still managed to convey her derision. Per the rules of hospitality, you were supposed to honor a guest’s wishes, and Archana Devi’s direct request meant Jyesta Devi couldn’t refuse without the risk of seeming churlish.
“All right, I will help you,” she said, but there was a hard light in her eyes. “If you will be the last one to accept thetamboolamtomorrow.”
Archana Devi stood stunned. Thetamboolamwas a parting gift from the host to the guest, given in the order of importance. To receive one when all the others had, meant she would be admitting to the other kingdom’s superiority over Rajgarh. She couldn’t do that. It would be like a slap in the face to her husband in front of the other kings.
“Speak to my ma with respect, you old woman,” said Veer suddenly.
The ladies drew back in affront and flinched as Veer glared at them, abandoning his instructions to keep his eyes hidden.
“Veer!” Archana used the free end of her saree to hide him and turned to the ladies. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive my son’s hasty words. He didn’t mean them.”
“Why are your son’s eyes like that? Is he afflicted with something? He’s hideous.” Jyesta Devi minced no words and shuddered.
“He isn’t hideous,” said Archana Devi furiously as her anger boiled to a flash point. She would bear their slights but to go after a defenseless child was a new low. “He just happens to have magic, and his eyes change when he is using it.”
Jyesta Devi’s face twisted in disgust. “I’m glad Bheesmala refused my cousin’s suit,” she said. “Your people are abnormal and unnatural. Your invitation is hereby rescinded. I only invited you because my husband requested so. But this isn’t to be borne. Take your son and leave this place immediately. We don’t want abominations like him to be with us on such a happy occasion.”
“Are you even sure we are safe with him? Maybe we should restrain him until the men come back,” said Leelaveni doubtfully, signaling to the guards to capture him.
Veer, seemingly sensing trouble, tugged his hand from his mother’s and climbed the short wall that ran along the edge of the cliff, deftly scampering across the narrow ledge and then carefully lowering himself onto the branches of the babul tree.
“Veer!” Archana Devi ran after him, but she was too late. He had climbed to where the nest was tucked into aVon the branches.
