“It’s King Jay and King Asad.”
And just like that Nakia’s heart went from hopeful to dread, like ashes ran through her blood. What do they want? They weren’t friendly with Ashni, and they had no kind of sibling relationship. In fact, Asad’s twin had attempted to steal Ashni’s kingdom and even murder her. Did they know what happened to Ashni? She knew in the pit of her stomach that those two were going to try something.
“Prepare to greet our guests!” She had to plan. She wouldn’t let Jay or Asad finish what the North tried, namely killing Ashni.
Chapter Five
NAKIA COULDN’T FIGURE OUT why Ashni’s older brothers were in the Kingdom, but it couldn’t be good.” They had only seen her family once since Ashni moved her base to the West, and that was because the Empress wanted a look around. To stay on their mother’s good side and pretend to support Ashni, her older brothers had flocked to Chandra’s side.
Fahim and the younger twins, Kek and Kiran, wrote often. Fahim, especially. Through letters, Nakia got to see the positive influence of the Great Amir. Ashni and her brothers had so many things in common. There was never a word from Jay or Asad. There was no reason for them to be here unless they knew something they shouldn’t.
“What’s going on?” Saniyah asked as she rushed into the throne room.
“You know?” Anyone close to Saniyah and Ashni probably knew. Why wouldn’t someone inform her?
“I was informed. What’re they doing here?” Saniyah’s expression was as confused as Nakia felt.
“I wish I knew.” Nakia shook her head. “Do you have any information?”
“No, but you don’t live with someone in charge of intelligence gathering as long as I have and not learn a thing or two. Layla’s parents will sit with you when they arrive.”
“I already ask too much of them. I have Varaza.” Nakia motioned to her guard, who winced. That wasn’t a good sign.
Saniyah marched up the dais, staring Nakia down. “That wasn’t a request. If they’re here to harm you, you need the best. No offense, Captain.”
Varaza shook her head. “Can’t be offended by the truth. I’m good, but I can’t see myself fighting either of them.”
“Then it’s settled,” Saniyah said.
“I don’t recall agreeing. I can look after myself,” Nakia replied. It wasn’t like Jay or Asad could murder her in front of people. She only needed to be careful of them trying to poison her, and she didn’t see how Badar or Samar could help with that.
“This isn’t up for debate. We need to find out what they’re up to, and we need to do it fast. They’re subtler and deadlier than Amal could ever be.” Saniyah left.
It was hard to believe anyone could be deadlier than Amal. He had tried to poison his own sister once, maybe more. He had no problem with trying to fight Ashni to the death. Jay and Asad came across as haughty jerks, but they didn’t seem on Amal’s level. Perhaps Amal had learned all he knew from them.
“Make the smart move,” Varaza said.
Nakia sighed. They were right, and it wasn’t like she had a choice in the matter. Not even ten minutes later, Layla’s parents appeared from shadows on the floor, dressed in black robes with black beads on their wrists and necks. Even their eyes were black. They tended to only do that to show their power.
“In your holy attire, too,” Nakia whispered, eyeing them. She felt underdressed in her robes. Jay and Asad must be as bad as Saniyah made them sound.
“We want to remind them of our status. They tend to think of us as Layla’s parents only,” Badar said.
“And they seem to think that means we don’t command respect,” Samar added, smoothing the beads around her wrist. “Did they inform you they were coming?”
“This is a complete and total surprise. Ashni didn’t mention anything, and there’s been no letters from them since she left,” Nakia replied.
The timing bothered her. Did they have something to do with Ashni’s poisoning, or did they put the barbarians up to the raids? Was there a spy in Ashni’s ranks who informed the pair Ashni was away, and they were coming to start trouble?
The latter was the most possible, and it meant Jay and Asad saw her as weak. They might be trying to take over before Chandra could step in. They think they can run all over you. Nakia couldn’t allow that.
Badar’s lip curled as he looked to the front of the throne room. “They know something.”
That much was obvious, but Nakia would need to put people on it just to be sure. Not to mention, there would probably be more questions when the brothers settled in.
For now, Nakia needed to prepare to entertain, throw together something grand. If only to play the game. But she also needed to do something about Ashni’s arrival. She couldn’t allow the brothers to find out Ashni was hurt. Who knew what they might do?
“Can one of you look into them?” Nakia asked.
Badar chuckled. “We’re not leaving you. Adira left behind spies. Use them.”
Shadow Walkers weren’t trained spies, even though their magic, fondness of night, and habit of not making noise should have paired well with spying. Unfortunately, they felt spying was dishonest. Somehow it was all right to torture and kill someone using their shadow. Nakia didn’t understand the rules, but now wasn’t the time to wonder.
She had never used Adira’s spies before. She never had a reason to do so and wasn’t sure how to go about it. She cursed herself for rarely paying attention when Ashni and Adira went on about information gathering. It seemed like a tool for warfare. This wasn’t war. Or is it?
If it was war, she felt woefully unprepared.
Nakia called in trusted servants to prepare for Jay and Asad’s arrival. She wouldn’t embarrass Ashni. Wait, Ashni. If she was still unconscious, Nakia needed to have some place where the brothers couldn’t see her.
“Varaza, can you move with stealth?” Nakia asked. It would shock her that Varaza could do anything quietly.
“If you need me to do so,” Varaza replied with a bow.
“Ashni trusts you with my life. Now, I want to trust you with hers.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Meet Hafiz and Naren outside the city. They should be on the main road back and will be here soon. Have them bring Ashni in quietly. Make sure no one sees you. I’ll prepare a place for her and get word to you where you should bring her.”
“I’ll go now if you’ll be well guarded,” Varaza answered.
Badar stepped closer. “We won’t leave her side until the brothers have gone.”
Varaza nodded and bowed to Nakia before rushing off. Nakia hid a flinch. She hated that she was about to make Badar a liar. It was just Ashni was more important than she was.
Now all Nakia needed was loyal servants to get a room ready for Ashni. Even if Ashni was better, Nakia couldn’t risk any leaks about Ashni’s conditions.
“When Ashni arrives, you’ll need to tend to her,” Nakia said to Samar. Her voice hardened. She wouldn’t let those plans change just because Jay and Asad were around. Samar would offer Ashni the best care.
“Naren will replace me as guard,” Samar said with no argument in her tone either.
Nakia would’ve preferred Hafiz to Naren. She had seen them both in action and Hafiz seemed to know his business more than Naren. Hafiz’s confidence made him a bit of a jerk. However, there had to be something to Naren for Samar to trust him to take over. Something Nakia never got a chance to see…and hoped things would stay that way.
“Do you think Jay and Asad know what happened to Ashni?” Nakia asked.
Badar shook his head. “Layla and Adira would never let something so sensitive leak. Your spies will figure the brothers out.”
Nakia’s stomach flipped. What if the spies didn’t? What if they got swayed by Jay and Asad, true rulers in the Roshan Empire, and not a seat-warmer like her?
“Be bold, little moon. The unknown doesn’t need to mean doom. Face it as you have in the past. Be bold,” Badar
said.
Those close to her liked to say that, reminding her of what they’d seen her through. After all, she had sat down with men who could kill her within seconds and helped broker deals to end wars. She could do this. Can you, though? A terrible voice whispered. All of those are done through the knowledge that Ashni is by your side, and they’d have to deal with her if they touched you. You alone are nothing.
How long would the voice of her father haunt her? Nakia ignored it as best she could. The voice could talk all it wanted, echo her father, but she couldn’t freeze. There was too much to do. Nakia changed clothes, putting on something more spectacular to greet her guests in. Silk robes with actual golden thread and gems sown in a diamond pattern throughout the top.
Multicolored jewels were rushed to her and her best diadem placed on her head. The crown was heavy with precious stones. It wasn’t the best she had ever appeared, but it was better than how the brothers would’ve seen her before the change. Nakia made herself comfortable on the throne. It seemed like forever and no time at all that Jay and Asad were announced at the palace gate and then into the main hall.
“King Jay Akshay and King Asad Akshay.”
Horns sounded as they entered. Drums came in after the horns, beating out the rhythm of their steps. The brothers stood before the throne in all of their finery, with their attendants behind them.
A bit much, but not as bad as when Amal arrived. Nakia smiled at them. They grinned back.
Jay had a slight mustache across his fresh face, taking away from his terracotta statue look. He still glowed, like a halo of light surrounded him. Like a bear turned into a man, it was a surprise to find there was enough teal and gold material to make his royal robes. In fact, there were stories that he could become a bear if he wanted. It was more than enough to know he wielded fire, as all of Ashni’s brothers did. Nakia hoped he couldn’t also transform into a bear.
Asad seemed different. Aged. There was a gray undertone to his once warm, cinnamon complexion. More lines crinkled on his face, as if stress stalked him, burdening him. They might be here for revenge for Amal. Asad was clearly affected by the absence of his twin, even if they didn’t spend time together before Amal was put under house arrest.
“Welcome, King Jay. King Asad. It’s a pleasure to see you,” Nakia said. It was irksome to tell such lies with a straight face, but it was a lesson she learned early on in dealing with people who hated her.
“It is good to see you again.” Jay’s smile seemed genuine, his amber eyes almost sincere. A better liar for sure. “Forgive our intrusion, but it was brought to our attention that it’s been years since we saw our sister’s conquest and we should make ourselves familiar with it.” He bowed his head a little to drive the apology home.
“After all, this is part of the Empire.” Asad smirked, and Nakia knew then and there this was about inheritance. “We should be up to date on it all.”
Jay cast Asad a cutting glance. Well, one of them should be up to date and Asad probably wasn’t the one. Jay jumped into the conversation. “Yes, like the whereabouts of our sister. Why doesn’t she greet us with you?”
“Unfortunately, Ashni isn’t here at the moment. She has the heart of a conqueror, much like your father’s,” Nakia replied. They needed to be reminded Ashni was the one carrying on their father’s legacy. She probably had a better shot to the throne than Asad.
“What great lands have stolen her interest now?” Jay asked. His eyes drifted to Badar, as if Badar would react. Badar’s jet black eyes stared into Jay’s soul. Is he trying to intimidate Badar? If he thought he could get something out of Badar, Nakia didn’t want to know how powerful Jay thought he was or might actually be. Jay focused on her again.
“The north. It’s no secret she won’t stop until the world is called Roshan,” Nakia replied. Her voice was controlled, even though she felt short of breath.
“There are other ways to honor our father. She leaves you alone too often, Highness,” Asad said, as if he were so concerned, but she didn’t see either of his spouses.
“I’m far from alone,” Nakia replied. She glanced at Badar and he squared his shoulders. Her chest was a little tight. We need to move this along. “I put together a feast in honor of your arrival. I set it for later tonight, assuming you’d like to refresh yourselves after such a long journey.”
“We had hopes of visiting with our dear sister. Do you have an estimate when your spouse is set to return?” Jay asked. His phrasing wasn’t lost on her. Even though Chandra considered her a daughter through marriage, he didn’t consider her family. His words set her apart.
“War is tricky,” she replied. If anything, once finding out Ashni wasn’t there, the polite thing would be to stay for a couple of days to recover from their journey and then return to their homes. That wasn’t about to happen.
“Surely she won’t be gone for months. Our father taught us the folly of leaving a spouse for so long.” Asad smirked.
Nakia’s stomach twisted. That’s creepy. Nakia wasn’t sure what he meant, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Asad meant her harm. No doubt about that. Okay, I’m very happy to have Badar and Samar here. Shadows flickered against the wall but didn’t move beyond that.
“Oh, her spouse is quite understanding, much like yours.” She grinned, doing her best to look cheerful. She wasn’t scared of Asad, just bothered. Her nerves twitched under her skin. What can I do to get them out of here soon?
Jay chuckled. “Perhaps we’re overtired from the journey and anxious to see our little sister. We should take some time to settle in. We can speak again tonight at the feast.”
Nakia nodded. “I look forward to it.” Like I look forward to any form of torture.
The brothers bowed as servants rushed in to lead them to their quarters. Nakia maintained her regal position for long moments after they were gone, even though she wanted to slouch. Her heart hammered, like it might break her ribs. What the hell was happening?
“They know something,” Badar said.
“But what?” Nakia scratched her chin.
“We have to find out,” Samar replied.
Nakia wasn’t in the mood to deal with intrigue, but she was ready for it. Saniyah would use Adira’s spies, and Nakia had a few of her own. Usually, she used them for far more innocent things, such as learning the preferences of visitors to make deals go her way. Now, they’d learn how much the brothers knew about Ashni. Her spies had saved the kingdom before with information. With luck, they could do it again. They were servants, but servants could get people talking. They knew how to win people over and knew how to disappear in a room.
“I’m going to write Chandra. I want to know if she sent them here,” Samar said. But why would Chandra send them? To make peace perhaps? That didn’t sound like her parenting style.
“That’s a good start. I need to make sure the space for Ashni’s ready.” Nakia climbed to her feet. Ashni would be home soon, and she wanted to receive her beloved without any other issues.
Layla’s parents nodded and followed her. The room she had chosen was in the lower levels of the palace, some place she didn’t think Ashni’s brothers would ever bother to look. The tiny room was supposed to be a shrine area for servants, but Nakia had granted them a larger space closer to their quarters when she moved into the palace. Her generosity paid off now. Servants had prepared the room with a small bed, sitting pillows, a desk, and a few of Ashni’s favorite books in case she was awake. Only a couple of trusted servants would be there, just in case.
“What more do you think we need?” Nakia asked, looking around.
Samar pressed a hand to the bed. “Once I assess Ashni’s condition, we’ll see what we need. I have oils to burn and dark salves to empty the poisoned spaces. I’ll probably need a space to mix herbs, compounds, and other medicines to make sure she can fight against the poison.”
“All right. May she be awake and clear,” Nakia said.
She pressed her hands together
in prayer. Please, to any gods listening, don’t let my spouse die. Her chest burned, on fire with worry. It was as if her insides were about to turn to ash. Ashni had faced, avoided, and cheated death often. Did she have any more great escapes?
***
Everything was black, even when Ashni opened her eyes. Well, she thought she opened her eyes. It was impossible to be sure. Am I even here? She looked down but saw only darkness. Even when she tried moving, she wasn’t sure if it was happening or not. There was sensation, a prickle under the skin, but not what was expected.
She tried to bring forth her lightning to illuminate the area. No tingle tickled her fingers. No surge of power flowed through her. Nothing to let her know she even still had her talent. What the hell is going on?
Still, she tightened her hand, waiting for the inevitable spark. Again, nothing. Her lightning always came when she called. Was this Layla’s void? No, Ashni was familiar with that trick and the void didn’t feel like this. The void was cold, an endless pressure. This felt like floating.
Maybe some other Shadow Walker had trapped her, but she couldn’t see why. She didn’t make it a point to spar with many Shadow Walkers. They whined about her talent too much. Had she been helping train the children? Maybe one of them misused a spell or technique. She waited a moment to see if she would be freed…and it didn’t happen.
Where am I? She meant to speak them aloud, and though she could hear the words, they seemed to be in her head. She tried again. Anyone there?
Her voice carried in the darkness, but there was something about it that let her know it could’ve been in her head. No response, no echo, no indication there was anything. No sound anywhere.
Am I dead? She remembered a battle. But there was no way she died in a battle. Her father taught her better. She had the best people around her. She couldn’t be dead.
Or can I? She needed a sign of something. She listened. There was no sound. Nothing. She inhaled, or so she hoped, trying to catch a smell. Absolutely nothing. Maybe she was dead, and this was the afterlife. No gods, no glory, no joy.
Blood Rain (Warrior Class Book 3) Page 7
