Page 21 of The Burning Mountain
“I don’t understand,” said Chandra, feeling bewildered once again. The relationship between the two sisters didn’t seem to be smooth sailing. She got the impression there were some hidden, hard-to-understand nuances here.
“Gauri has a habit of listening to whatever counsel is given to her. And I’ve no doubt the Resistance influenced her to stay back in Thianvelli.” Namata Devi shook her head as if in regret, but there was a hardness in her eyes. “Just so they can have someone they can rally behind. It’s worse because the only surviving heir of Thianvelli is with her.”
“Prince Aditya is no longer with her.”
For the first time since the start of their meeting, Namata Devi’s gaze exhibited shock. “What are you saying?”
“It’s true. Aditya has been captured. He’s a prisoner.”
“What nonsense,” she scoffed, but Chandra saw the doubt in her eyes. “If it’s true, I would know it. The news would reach me.” She stopped and Chandra practically saw her mind working through the possibilities. “And besides, if Aditya is really caught, none of the present royal family would allow him to live. They would execute him on sight.”
“Prince Aditya disappeared right in front of your sister’s eyes,” said Chandra. “She believes King Naga Bhairava employed a wizard to kidnap him.”
“Forgive me, but my sister’s word is not a ringing endorsement,” said Namata Devi, her eyes scrunched in disbelief. “My sister relies too much on the advice of others. What proof do you have to convince me that Naga Bhairava is behind this?”
“I don’t have proof,” admitted Chandra, with a dip of her head. “We haven’t been able to find the whereabouts of where Aditya is imprisoned, despite our efforts. But are you really going to bargain on the slim chance that your sister might be right this time? She isn’t as stupid as you seem to think.”
Namata Devi’s eyes flashed a warning. “Careful, Princess. I may insult my sister, but I don’t like it when others imply it. And I never said she was stupid—just easily influenced.”
Namata Devi descended to a tense silence, her expression worried. Chandra had heard gossip that the eldest princess wanted the throne for herself, but her fear for her sister and nephew, just now, appeared genuine.
Who was Namata Devi really? What were her desires, her priorities? Everything about her seemed shadowed and mysterious, the numerous rumors that swirled failed to paint an accurate picture of the princess whose goodwill among the people of Thianvelli was divided.
“What’s your interest in all this, Princess? Try as I might, I cannot see Guruji daring to send the exiled princess ofAmaravathi into a dangerous quest. After all, you don’t just belong to Amaravathi, you are the daughter-in-law of Rajgarh too. Despite being abandoned by your husband, this would be a political quagmire if you get caught.”
“You’re right, of course. There’s another reason I’m here.”
Chandra knelt at the table and, using her forefinger, picked up the condensation that frosted on the glass of cold water and drew on the surface of the table.
Namata Devi glanced up from the drawing of the key piece.
“The Lotus Key! Is Meru going to explode soon?”
Somehow Chandra was not surprised that Namata Devi already knew of the legend.
“Yes.”
“Then why are you here and not your brother? Where is Prince Bhupathi? Surely as the male heir, it falls to him to complete the key?”
“My brother is missing too,” said Chandra, her voice taking on a somber tone whenever she thought of things back home. “My father fell sick, and my brother left in search of a cure.”
Namata Devi went silent for a while as she absorbed this information. “I’m sorry, Princess. I didn’t know your father was that sick. It couldn’t have been easy. No wonder Amaravathi decided not to get involved in our mess.”
Chandra acknowledged her words of sympathy, which appeared genuine, with a nod. “I’m not alone. My husband is with me.”
This managed to shock Namata Devi for a second time. “Why would the scourge of the north bestir himself to help his wife?” she asked in a stunned voice. “Who he professes to hate? And to complete a key that is none of his business?” Her brow cleared suddenly as the answer came to her. “Unless…of course. Rajgarh’s chief city isn’t far from the Meru.”
“Yes. Now you know why we’re here. The key piece in Thianvelli has been sheared in two. One hangs around Prince Aditya’s neck, and Gauri Devi told us you’d know the location of the other half.”
“It isn’t easy to get to it?—”
“But where is it?”
“Thepanch-pashuthrone.” Namata Devi’s astute eyes further sharpened as she gave her a serious warning. “Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to get it. The throne is in a specific room of the treasury and without the right cipher needed to get you safely across, you’ll die a gruesome death.”
“Will you help us, then?” asked Chandra, hopeful.
Namata Devi remained silent, which made Chandra rush into speech.
