Page 87 of The Burning Mountain
“You speak as if it’s a failing.” Veer rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment, his conscience pricking him again.
“It can be both a strength and a failing. There should be a degree of impartiality when you occupy positions of power, because you never know when you might be called to deliver judgment, and it helps to have that distance.”
“Isn’t that why you never form any attachments?” asked Veer with a sidelong glance at his friend. “Why you’ve forsaken marriage for bachelorhood?”
“We’re not talking about me,” said Shota irritably.
Veer said nothing but saw Shota’s hands go to the scar on his chest.
He knew the inciting incident that changed Shota this way. He knew his sense of personal responsibility was so high he took on the vow that no one asked of him. All it did was put two people needlessly through the pain of losing their loved one.
40
SWARA
“What do you mean you are forbidding us from going to Swara?” demanded Billadev, frowning at the captain of the guards who stood barring their way.
“We oversee the safeguarding of the princess. Swara is a village of ten thousand strong. We won’t be able to guarantee security,” said the captain. He was a buff soldier in his thirties with small sharp eyes under a pronounced brow ridge and an aggressive jawline, who seemed to delight in thwarting their plans. Although it was hard sometimes to ascribe such cleverness to a decidedly unpleasant man.
Like now, for example, when they had decided that a trip to the nearby village of Swara might yield some clues, but the captain dashed that plan, citing dubious reasons.
“I appreciate that you are guarding us, but this is preposterous,” said Chandra, and tried to appeal to his sense of reasoning. “I’ve traveled all the way from Amaravathi without any mishap, and that’s with fewer guards than what you have now. And how do you expect us to get any information unless we search for it?”
“King’s orders, Princess. You aren’t to go anywhere until the mystery of the pillars is solved,” said the captain. “Can’t disobey my instructions now, can I?”
“Well, then, you better be ready to explain the lack of progress to him,” said Billadev, giving voice to his frustration.
“He knows everything already,” spoke the captain. “King Pourava is getting daily updates on the situation. We’ve provided everything you need. Learned scholars and manuscripts and such. What more do you need? If you want a particular thing, just say the word and we can have someone fetch it from Swara.”
“I wish I knew what I was looking for! I won’t know until I see it,” Chandra burst out. “You aren’t helping matters.”
The captain sucked on his front teeth, as if pondering the matter, but his eyes remained implacable as ever. “I think you’re just using this as an excuse to avoid finding the key piece. After all, you’re from Amaravathi. Meru’s explosion is something Amaravathi could only wish for in their dreams.”
Chandra’s mouth fell open in outrage. He wasn’t even bothering to couch his suspicions in polite speech anymore.
“Guard your tongue, Captain,” said Billadev, anger sharpening his voice. “The princess has been a great help in this quest, and you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Hmph. Never trust anyone from Amaravathi,” grumbled the captain, putting an end to the conversation by rudely walking away.
“I’m sorry, Princess, that you had to listen to such nonsense,” said Billadev in a low voice.
“It’s all right. I’m sure it’s what everyone else is thinking with every day that passes without a solution to the problem,” said Chandra. She tried to shake it off. It had been a while since she was viewed with loathing, and she had almost forgotten what that felt like. Almost.
“Not everyone in these parts hates Amaravathi,” said Billadev.
Chandra didn’t argue with him but wondered how Veer bore the animosity every time he visited the southern kingdoms. Kalpana was right. The longer she hid the truth, the more complicated it became.
“Will you do me a favor,” she said slowly, twisting therudrakshabracelet over her wrist, thinking hard about how they could circumvent the problem. “Go to Swara yourself. I’m sure they wouldn’t object toyougoing anywhere.”
“But…I don’t feel comfortable leaving you with them, Princess. On top of that, what will I know about what’s important?”
“You sell yourself too short, Billadev. Since I can’t go, it’s the next best thing. Please consider it a request.”
Billadev sighed and agreed.
41
THE RUDRAKSHA BEADS
