Blood Rain (Warrior Class Book 3)
Page 10
That didn’t sound like a good idea. When Nakia glanced at Layla’s parents, she could see they shared her doubt. Ashni’s brothers didn’t need to be aware of anyone close to Nakia or they’d use the person against her.
“Saffi, eat with me first. I’ve been busy all day.” Nakia led her to another room. Servants moved to prepare an early lunch.
“I’ll never get used to these pillows,” Saffi said as they sat.
Nakia nodded. “It does take a while.”
They ate for a while. Nakia introduced Saffi to some nobles, but Saffi only wanted Jay and Asad. It felt like a test, if Nakia denied her, it would prove Saffi had traded one prison for another. So, against her better judgment, Nakia invited Saffi to the dinner. The way Saffi smiled had been enough to light her heart, though it didn’t quell the dread that sat heavy in her belly. At dinner later that evening, the moment Asad’s eyes landed on Saffi, she knew this was a mistake she couldn’t take back.
Chapter Seven
ONE AFTERNOON, NAKIA FOUND herself being dragged along by Saffi to their lunch spot. Usually, Bashira and Saniyah would’ve been there waiting, but Jay and Asad lounged on the decorative pillows, like they belonged there. Gut churning, Nakia took her usual spot and Saffi went to hers. She wished Bashira and Saniyah were there, if only for the sense of normalcy, but Bashira was forbidden to come to the palace and Saniyah refused to come while the brothers were there.
Jay grinned. “Good afternoon, ladies.”
His eyes drifted to Badar, who stood off to the side. Badar was in all black once more, eyes darker than ink. Jay didn’t look bothered and didn’t focus on Badar for more than a second as though he didn’t matter.
“How has the day treated you thus far?” Nakia asked with a small smile of her own. Her face hurt from the falseness of the expression, but Saffi’s giggle was disconcerting. Please, Saffi, no. Don’t be taken by them.
“Fair. The weather here is beautiful,” Jay replied, tugging on his top teal robe. It was warm enough for them to sit in the garden, enjoying the clear sky. A large umbrella protected them from the bright sun.
Nakia laughed. “Say that to Ashni in the winter.”
“She’s become accustomed to her desert, which is how it should be,” Asad replied.
Nakia arched an eyebrow. “Why is that?” Were they trying to take Ashni’s territory? She wanted to rub her face; except she didn’t want to show stress.
Asad made a show of waving a hand. “The Empire is as vast as it needs to be. Anything more is unnecessary.”
That argument surprised her, not just because she assumed Asad wanted Ashni’s bit of the Empire, but because this was the son of a conqueror. Nakia didn’t think any of the Great Amir’s children would frown at conquest. “How so?”
Jay glowered. “She’s not considering what it takes to maintain an empire every time she adds to it, much like our father. If she bothered to speak with our mother, she’d know she’s doing more harm than good.”
“And maybe she needs to consider that it’s time to surround herself with people who know those things,” Asad said, chest puffed out.
“And you’re here to educate her?” Nakia couldn’t believe their arrogance. Jay sounded like he believed those words. If he did, what were they after? Jay wouldn’t get caught up in revenge for Amal.
Knowing the Roshan, Nakia could understand Asad craving some twisted form of justice for Amal. The twin bond was supposedly more than sharing a soul. It was something like being born twice. Without Amal, Asad probably felt like he was missing not just a piece of himself, but all of himself. Jay, though, had no part to be missing.
“We’re here to help her understand what’s necessary, especially if she’s expanding across a river,” Asad replied. He stared Nakia down.
Nakia shook her head and popped a date in her mouth, eyes never leaving Asad’s gaze. “She has no desire to expand north.”
“Yet she’s up north right now.” Jay leaned over and gathered a few items to eat, as if it was safe to do so now. Was it just a way to make it seem like Nakia gave in because she ate first? Nakia didn’t want to overanalyze the lunch.
“You’ve misunderstood her mission. She’s up there because there are barbarian tribes coming into our land and harassing our citizens,” Nakia replied.
She glanced at Saffi. Saffi had her feet tucked under her, her hands on her knees, and her gaze downward, like she was trying to stay as quiet as possible to avoid troubling the waters. This was definitely more intense than Saffi banked on and it seemed all her excitement had fled.
Asad rolled his eyes. “You speak of barbarians and say, ‘our land and citizens.’” He finally decided to eat something but didn’t break eye contact with her. She hoped the fish tasted like ashes in his mouth.
Nakia leaned in a little. “Am I not her?”
Jay held up his hand. “He means no disrespect, just pointing out you’ve mentioned barbarians, but then you say she doesn’t want to conquer the north. What else is to be done with barbarians?”
“She needs to stop the barbarians from attacking our towns.” Nakia arched an eyebrow. Are they not listening to me? “She wants to continue her conquest of the west.”
“Which is still a waste.” Asad shook his head.
Nakia rubbed her palms together and looked between the pair. “Are the economic and trade opportunities a waste? There are more markets than ever before. You cannot deny the money going to the Empire from the West as well as the new goods. Let’s not forget there have been new inventions introduced to the Empire from the West. Products, food, jewels, medicine, and so much more. Those are only made possible through Ashni’s actions.”
“How much is it costing to connect all these new trade paradises?” Asad showed all of his teeth. For a moment, he looked almost…demented.
Nakia shrugged. “Money sometimes has to be spent to be made. That’s the cost of the Empire.” War was never cheap. It was when the war was done that the actions yielded benefits. She had seen this herself, read about it in histories.
Jay let out a loud, clearly forced laugh. “Ashni has prepared you well with her line of thinking. If it were up to her, the Empire would be the world.”
Nakia tilted her head and squinted as she studied Jay. “Was that not your father’s dream? Ashni’s honoring the Great Amir.”
Jay sat up taller, towering over the four as he did. Saffi clutched her knees more tightly. Nakia was torn between staring Jay down or comforting Saffi, who seemed overwhelmed. Part of her hoped this might be the thing to keep Saffi away from the brothers. In the end, she reached over and took Saffi’s hand.
“There are other ways to honor him. He was more than a conqueror,” Jay said.
That’s true. Nakia read up on the Great Amir. He seemed like a playful, good-natured person. There were tons of stories about him doing things with his children, honoring his family with his actions, and passing several laws to help the average citizen. She could see those things in Ashni.
There was a law entitling every Roshan citizen to bread, but Ashni included meat with that. Usually rabbits or rodents. It was illegal to murder a slave in the Empire, but in Ashni’s territory, slaves could sue over maltreatment. Ashni carried on her father’s legacy through those laws, her way to honor him. Why did Jay want to pretend he knew Khalid better than Ashni? They act as if they’re better than she is.
Asad sniffed. “Besides, conquest sullies the Empire. Dad allowed everyone under the sun to be Roshan, but not everyone deserves it.”
“Because Roshan culture is superior to all others?” Nakia raised an eyebrow.
Asad motioned to her with both hands. “You tell us. Have you not forsaken your culture for ours?”
Nakia gave Saffi’s hand a squeeze before letting go. Saffi looked up, seemingly a little more confident. Jay and Asad glanced at Saffi, but briefly. They kept their focus on Nakia.
Nakia shook her head. “Not at all. There are things about Roshan culture I like, so
I’ve adapted to my own. There are things from my culture that I like, so Ashni and I mix and match. That’s what this whole city is about. Ashni does that because her father did that.”
Asad frowned as he chewed on a piece of glazed jerky. “He did so much more.”
Were they trying to test her knowledge of the Great Amir? Was she some pretty-faced barbarian that Ashni liked to keep on her lap? For a brief moment, doubt gnawed at her stomach, but she refused to let it bait her. She’d show them.
Nakia put her hands to her mouth for a second, covering a frown as she thought. When she lowered her hand, a smile lingered on her lips. “Did he not want to bring people together? Unite everyone? Ashni has the same desires. She doesn’t look down on people because of where they were born or their social status. I think that the Roshan allowing for upward mobility is wonderful, and Ashni’s taken it one step further and used it to great effect.”
Ashni used the flexible class system of the Roshan to gain loyalty. Well, Nakia hoped they were loyal. Thanks to spending time with Hafiz, she understood how some of the pureblood Roshan looked down on the assimilated citizens. If push came to shove, would the sterlings abandon Ashni for bringing in so many barbarians? Would the barbarians abandon Ashni for want of autonomy? The brothers might stir things up and start a revolt.
Jay cleared his throat. “Maybe now isn’t the time for such a discussion. We can talk to Ashni. Has she gotten word to you of when she’ll be back?” He sampled some of the flat bread and diced goat.
“From what I’ve been told, they’re talking to the top five tribes, but there are dozens scurrying around up there,” Nakia replied.
Asad sucked his teeth. “Ashni hasn’t won them over with her charming personality and might of the Empire already? Can she even still call herself a conqueror?”
Nakia kept her calm, even though she desired nothing more than to snap at him. “She’s not always a conqueror. Sometimes, she’s a liberator. In this case, she’s a defender.” She was tired of Asad trying to tear Ashni down. What had he accomplished to outshine his sister? Nothing she knew of, beyond being the older twin to a psychopath.
“Ashni rescued me,” Saffi said, voice low, eyes on the floor. The lunch was definitely more political than she bet on. The brothers scowled at her, seemingly offended that not only had she spoken out of turn, but she contradicted them.
Nakia placed a hand on Saffi’s knee again, which got her to look up. Saffi smiled and Nakia couldn’t help smiling back.
“As a gift to her beloved spouse, undoubtedly,” Asad said.
“Deep down, Ashni wants to protect people,” Nakia replied, knowing he probably couldn’t understand.
“We can’t protect everyone and trying to take on too much will simply lead to everyone’s demise. If it were up to Ashni, she’d pull every drowning slob into our boat until we all sink,” Jay said.
Nakia knew the logistics of working things out in an empire this size. Whenever they had to wait for a response from the capital, it showed. Even when Ashni tried to keep up to date with Khenshu, it was maddening sometimes. But it didn’t mean they should give up. Not when this was Ashni’s dream, her father’s dream, her people’s dream. Besides, Ashni’s march West helped many people, not only the Roshan. Ashni would never stop, unless that poison in her system took her out.
***
Ashni couldn’t be sure how long she was lost in darkness. She felt like she was nowhere and everywhere as she watched the tiny version of herself. Why do I need to see this? I already lived it.
Tiny-Ashni dipped and dodged as her martial arts master, Mahir Qabil, came after her. She thought she was fast and then she was on the floor and her little butt hurt. Mahir was never gentle with her, even though she was small. He glared at her with hard dark eyes and posed to strike with thick muscles and powerful hands. It would definitely hurt if he hit her, even if she managed to put her guard up, which was unlikely. He was about to teach her a painful lesson. One she learned many times. One she didn’t want to learn again.
Mahir’s hand twitched. Her heart leaped into her throat, and it felt like she was about to come out of her skin with fear. The air grew heavy, and sparks jumped from Ashni’s hand. Right before he was on her, lightning crackled from her fingers. Gasping, he leaped back. For a long moment, he stared with wide eyes. She almost apologized, but instead scrambled to her feet, in case he was being coy.
“The rumors are true,” he said.
Ashni clutched her hands into fists as small bolts of lightning popped around her. Spasms shot under her skin. Taking a breath, she flexed her fingers until the lightning faded.
Mahir took one step closer. “You can control it?”
She shook her head. “I’ve only done it twice. I just calmed down, and it went away.”
He nodded. “I suspected your talent would come soon. Your brothers’ Fire didn’t come until they were seven. You’re barely six. And lightning? Lightning is meant for the gods!” His face broke into a grin that eased her heart out of her throat and back into her chest.
“So, will I get my Fire then?” She was tired of Amal acting like he was so great because he could beat her in a match, but she’d take him apart with fire. Maybe Asad and Jay, too. Okay, maybe not Jay.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not sure, Highness. Talent like yours is quite rare.”
“But I’ll get it, right?” Her brothers had Fire. Her father had Fire. She had to have Fire. She couldn’t be different again.
He kneeled down to her level. “You might’ve been blessed with something different.”
Ashni scowled. She didn’t care what lightning was about. She was supposed to have Fire, just like she was supposed to have a richer skin tone. She didn’t fit the Akshay family, and this only further proved that. She didn’t need that.
“I want Fire,” Ashni said.
“It’s not up to me.”
“I want Fire!” Thunder boomed outside and the wind howled loud enough for them to hear it. Ashni could feel that it was her. It was like the storm pulsed through her and fled her to the outside world. “I don’t want this. I don’t want it.”
Tiny-Ashni took off and the scene dissolved into the throne room.
“Mommy!” Tiny-Ashni leaped onto the high throne, landing on her mother’s leg.
Her mother grunted. “Careful. You’ll break my leg.”
“Is Dad back yet? He has to tell the gods I don’t want it.” He was the son of a god. They had to listen to him, right?
Her mother stroked her head. “He’ll be back in a few days. Why do you need him to talk to the gods?”
“Because he’s the Son of the Sun. Khurshid will listen to Dad and give me the right talent!”
Her mother laughed. “And what’s the right talent?”
She glared at her mother for being so dense. “Fire! Lightning doesn’t fit. All the boys do Fire. You’re even the daughter of a volcano god. I’m sure Khurshid will want to fix his mistake.”
Her mother’s pink lips pursed. “Are you saying the king of the gods made a mistake?”
“How else do you explain lightning?” Tiny-Ashni stared her mother down.
Chandra smiled at her, eyes shining in a way Ashni had learned to hate, but now missed. Her mother looked at her with such love. Her mother looked at all of them with nothing but love.
Chandra ran her hand through Tiny-Ashni’s braids. “The same way I explain how a conquering prince showed up to my tiny village to take over and ended up marrying me. Sometimes, life doesn’t make sense to us until far down the line. Questioning the gods rarely helps.”
Tiny-Ashni scratched her forehead. “So, this is for a reason, but we don’t know what it is?” It was a damn good reason. Forgive my young insolence, Khurshid.
Her mother nodded. “Gods have different goals than we do. They sometimes have different plans for us, and we don’t discover those things until later. Don’t fight this blessing. Embrace it and see where it takes you.”
***
Nakia sat down to yet another meal with Jay and Asad. She didn’t want to make a habit of this or the fact that Saffi invited herself again. Lunch should’ve scared Saffi off or at least bored her. Nakia wasn’t sure if her sister was simply exercising her freedom and wanted to spend sister time together or if Saffi was infatuated with the brothers. Please, be the former.
Badar sat with Nakia. He didn’t eat. He watched, probably expecting poison. And honestly, he wasn’t the only one. Nakia eyed the fruit dripping with honey.
“Any word from our dear sister yet?” Jay asked.
She wanted news about Ashni as badly as Jay pretended to want to hear from her. Samar was busy reading up on medical texts now after her initial tries failed to clear the poison from Ashni. Thinking about it made Nakia’s stomach turn, and that was only the top of her worry list.
It was still a mystery as to why the brothers were here. Saniyah continued to investigate, but nothing was conclusive. Servants reported the brothers never spoke about it. It was like they were on vacation, enjoying palace life, eating at all hours, drinking whenever they wanted, and playing with any free persons who would let them.
Nakia sipped her wine and surveyed dinner, needing comfort food. She grabbed some bread and spread jam on it. “She’s planning to stay in the North.”
Jay arched an eyebrow. “Oh?” He bit into a roasted chicken leg.
“Yes. She means no disrespect to you, of course, but the tribes up North are a danger to many of her citizens.” Nakia glanced over at Saffi. She looked better than the last time, nibbling on a skewered squid.
“She couldn’t even spare us a direct communication after we traveled all this way for her?” Asad inquired much too innocently.