More Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition)

by Barbara G. Tarn

  "I find it exceedingly mean to suggest to a mourning man that he marries," Rohit replied bluntly. "Lord Hitendra?" He stared at a handsome middle-aged man with black hair and eyes. "Did you suggest Rahul marry Chitrangda?"

  "No, your majesty!" the man answered, clearly startled. "It wouldn't occur to me to suggest marriage to a widower."

  Then Lord Hitendra had considered Rahul married to Kartik. Rohit had been almost sure Lord Hitendra had nothing to do with the murder. He nodded and looked past him to a bulky man with a hooked nose that he thankfully hadn't transmitted to his daughter, the fair Nalini.

  "Lord Balavan?" Rohit asked.

  The man cleared his throat and fidgeted before answering. "I admit I suggested to his majesty he consider my daughter to ease his sorrow after the passing of his lover," he said. "I had no reaction from his majesty, though."

  Of course, he was too hurt to react. Rohit nodded, his face impassive. He stared at a man on his right, another father of a marriageable daughter.

  "Lord Sudesha?"

  "What's wrong with suggesting the shadow king marry?" Lord Sudesha exclaimed. "I mean, I don't even know why King Daruka Dahana allowed him to keep a man by his side!"

  "Because that man saved his life," Rohit said through clenched teeth. "And you had no right to suggest my brother marry without consulting me. He's the shadow king. I'm the main king. I produced the heirs to this throne. He doesn't need to breed."

  "But if you'd failed or if your twins don't survive infancy, wouldn't it be better if he bred too?" Lord Durjaya said. His contempt for Rahul was plain and Rohit narrowed his eyes.

  "If my twins don't survive, Ajay's twins will reign," he said bluntly. "That was decided by King Daruka Dahana five years ago. Ajay should have been the shadow king if we hadn't found Rahul alive and healthy."

  "Our king is a jester," Lord Durjaya muttered. "Amrendra is doomed."

  Rohit slammed his hand on the table to stop the murmurs and comments.

  "This doesn't justify murder! Who paid the Akkoran assassin to kill Kartik?"

  "What?" Even Ajay couldn't believe his ears.

  "Kartik was killed?" Lord Hitendra asked, eyes wide in shock.

  "Rahul found a poisoned dart and the wound on Kartik's body," Rohit answered.

  Lord Durjaya scoffed. "The gypsy won't be missed," he muttered.

  Rohit took a deep breath, grabbing the table with both hands. He needed to stay calm. Ajay was cursing under his breath by his side.

  "Lord Durjaya, Lord Balavan, Lord Sudesha, you are no longer needed in this room. You are discharged from the High Council. Prince Ajay will help me choose the replacements."

  "Young fool," Lord Durjaya said with contempt. "Amrendra is truly doomed now!"

  Rohit clenched his teeth and pointed at the door. The three lords rose and left.

  "I hope you know what you're doing," Ajay whispered.

  "I will find who ordered Kartik killed," Rohit replied, determined, looking the remaining councilors in the eyes. "Lord Hitendra, as the eldest of this council, do you have any suggestions?"

  Lord Hitendra straightened. "If you really think someone paid an assassin to kill your brother's husband, we will find him. Anyone in this room could afford it, and so could the dismissed councilors."

  "I could be the one," Ajay added. "I might have wanted Rahul out of the way too."

  "You're not that cunning or slimy," Rohit snapped. "What I don't understand is... why kill Kartik? Why not Rahul himself?"

  "We shall find out, Your Majesty," Lord Hitendra said, bowing his head. "I hope your brother will attend the next council and provide us with more information on what he has discovered. I wonder why he didn't bring this to our attention himself."

  "Because he said he had no proof, and he still doesn't know enough about the people of the kingdom, or even the nobles of this court," Rohit said. "I will serve justice, though. I'll find who ordered his beloved killed and why."

  ***

  Harish was up now. He'd gone to the bath chamber and allowed the barber to shave him. Another servant had brought a tray of food from the kitchen and put it on the low table of the antechamber, but he hadn't touched it yet.

  He stood on the balcony doorway, looking at the new downpour that bathed Delen in grayness. When the wind blew the right way, he could hear the sea roar on the nearby coast. If the weather gods were as upset as he was, the thunderstorm was well deserved.

  He wondered if Rohit would figure things out. Now that he'd unburdened himself of the notion of Kartik's murder, he still felt empty, but less overwhelmed. He'd always miss Kartik, but if Rohit could bring justice, he'd find a way to cope with the loss. He owed it to his twin, who had a loving family and lovely children.

  He considered visiting his nephews and nieces for a change, but maybe he should wait for Rohit to come back from the council session first.

  A commotion outside his door made him turn, puzzled. The servants were all gone, but there were still guards outside for his privacy. The door burst open and a nobleman about his age rushed in and threw himself at his feet, hugging his leg as if it were a safety line. Four guards burst in after him – two royal guards and two from some other nobleman's retinue – ready to drag him out again with apologies.

  Harish raised his malformed hand, which stopped the four armored men dead in their tracks.

  "What is it?" he asked the man attached to his leg.

  "Your Majesty, I beg you, save me," the other said, head hung, eyes closed, squeezing his leg further.

  Harish waved the guards away and they left with deep bows, closing the door behind them. The two who belonged to somebody else's personal guard glared at both him and the kneeling man.

  "You can let go now," he said as his hand fell back down to his side. "Please remind me who you are."

  The other pulled away but remained on his knees, head low. "Arjun, son of Lord Durjaya," he said.

  "Ah, yes, the council head." Harish frowned. Lord Durjaya had never liked him. Or Kartik. For whatever reason.

  He stared at the son. A handsome man with brown hair and eyes. He remembered Arjun was married with children, much like Rohit and Ajay and everybody else at the Amrendran court.

  "Who is after you?" Harish asked. "Can't your powerful father protect you?"

  "He is the one I'm begging you to protect me from," Arjun answered, head still bowed. "King Rohit dismissed him from the council this morning and it threw him into a frenzy... I have learned things I wasn't aware of and can't go through with his plans. I just can't."

  Harish suddenly remembered the colors of the other two guards that had burst into his room after Arjun. Lord Durjaya's personal guard. What had made the powerful lord send his men after his son? Harish was still puzzled by politics and nobility things, five years later. Most of their behavior he didn't understand.

  They seemed all so far removed from the rest of the world – Rohit included. But Rohit listened to him when he had something to say, the others not so much. And since he was the shadow king, he usually kept his mouth shut.

  Not this time, though. He frowned. "What are his plans?"

  "End the twin dynasty of Amrendra."

  Harish leaned on the wall and looked outside again. The thunderstorm was worsening. He smiled ruefully at the thought of how close Lord Durjaya had been to getting rid of him and Rohit.

  He went to sit by the low table and started eating. Enough moping around, he'd help Rohit discover the conspiracy that wanted both him and his twin dead.

  Arjun hadn't moved, so Harish invited him to sit with him.

  "Does your father want you on the throne?" he asked between bites. Now he was curious to know what went on in the head of the head of the council. He was ready to accept anything Arjun said without questioning it, he'd let Rohit decide if it was right or wrong.

  "At first he thought about a joint government with me and Ajay, so we could keep the double name of the king, but today he decided one king was more than enough," A
rjun said, eyes low. "Ajay could have twins, or his descendants could have twins, bringing back the twins line into the royal house, so..."

  "So just you, since he's too old. Does he have supporters?"

  "Yes. Your majesty, I'm glad to see you eating again. I had come to tell you about the conspiracy hoping to shake you from your mourning. Have you seen how it affects your twin?"

  "I know it affects Rohit, but I can't help if my heart is broken."

  "Mine was broken too when I learned it was my father who caused all this sorrow. I have always admired you and Kartik, and his death has disturbed me even though I didn't really know him. But I saw how much you loved each other and I will freely admit that I had often envied you."

  Harish stared puzzled at the nobleman. He thought everybody at the Amrendran court put up with him and Kartik because King Daruka Dahana and then Rohit and Ajay had wanted them to. He wasn't aware that there were people who genuinely liked him for who he was, a shy prince with commoner's wisdom and hidden wounds only Kartik and Rohit knew about.

  "I'm touched by your admission, and assume your envy never wished for mine or Kartik's death," he said.

  "Certainly not!" Arjun finally looked him in the eyes. "If I had known what my father had in mind, I'd have come to you immediately and warned you! When he finds out I've given out his plans, he's going to disown me and disinherit me and kick me out of my own house... but I don't care. I had to tell you."

  "Why did you come to me and not Rohit?" Harish asked. He was starting to like the nobleman.

  Arjun blushed, but didn't avert his gaze. "I have known Rohit since childhood and he never had quite the effect you have on me," he said. "You might look the same, but you're very different."

  "He's the perfect twin." Harish waved his malformed hand. "I'm the jester."

  "You are not a jester. You are a wonderful human being who wasn't as lucky as we were. You survived years of hardship and, I assume, abuse and still had the grace and strength to smile every day. Now smiles have vanished from both faces of King Rohit Rahul and it's a shame."

  "Mm." Harish sighed. "You will have to give me more time before I really smile again. Kartik was unique, and I will never forget him."

  "None of us ever will. But if there's anything I can do for you..."

  Harish stared at Arjun. Was he suggesting himself? Wasn't he married already? What was really going on?

  "I think we should talk with Rohit and Ajay," he said, looking away and finishing the food in front of him. "I don't think I can make any decision right now."

  ***

  Rohit almost couldn't believe his eyes when Rahul stepped into the great hall with Arjun. Relief flooded him. Rahul had left his room. Must be a good sign.

  The great hall was full of courtiers and noblemen, including the recently dismissed councilors, but Rahul didn't seem to mind. He made a beeline for Rohit and Ajay who sat side by side on the dais next to Rahul's empty seat.

  Murmurs followed his twin as he sauntered determinedly forward, followed by Arjun who looked worried. Rohit wondered what that was all about. Had Arjun's father said something that might compromise him? But why did Arjun go to Rahul instead of him or Ajay, whom he knew better?

  And then a courtier swiftly stepped forward to stop Rahul's march while everybody else stepped back to make room for him. Arjun screamed a warning, putting himself between Rahul and the obvious assassin who aimed straight at the shadow king. The dagger hit Arjun's shoulder, making Lord Durjaya scream, "No!"

  Guards quickly intervened to take down the assassin, while Rohit, Ajay and Lord Durjaya rushed near Arjun who had collapsed in Rahul's arms.

  "Might be a poisoned blade, call the royal physician!" Rahul ordered with surprising coldness.

  The man who couldn't save Kartik was soon by Arjun's side, tending and cleaning the wound. Rohit could hear Lord Durjaya curse under his breath as he watched, glaring at his son and calling him a fool.

  The royal guard had made a circle around the fallen nobleman, allowing him to breathe and the doctor to take care of him. Rohit ordered the people to disperse and the great hall was empty by the time the doctor said Arjun could be safely moved to his bed.

  "Not his bed, mine," Rahul said, determined. "Take him to my apartment."

  "Why?" Lord Durjaya was red with outrage. Arjun was passed out and couldn't comment.

  "Because I want him to survive so he can repeat to my brother what he told me," Rahul replied, staring at Lord Durjaya. "That's why he was following me, we were going to reveal your plan to Rohit and Ajay."

  Rohit felt proud of his twin, then his words registered. "What plan?" he asked bluntly.

  "He wants us dead." Rahul looked at him, waving at the plump lord with his malformed hand. "And since it's taking me too long to die of heartbreak, I guess he decided to be more direct." He looked at the assassin that lay on the marble floor in a pool of his own blood. Of course he wasn't going to let himself be captured alive. "I bet he has a blowpipe somewhere on him," Rahul whispered, frowning.

  "Search him," Rohit ordered the guards. Sure enough the blowpipe was hidden in the folds of the assassin's clothes, along with more knives and the noose. "So we found who killed Kartik," Rohit said. "And he just tried to kill you as well." He looked at Rahul. "What did you discover?"

  "Lord Durjaya plans to put Arjun in our place," Rahul said. "He isn't alone, and Arjun hadn't named his accomplices yet. That's why I want him to survive and tell us who supported his father's claim."

  "You slimy toad!" Ajay screamed, furious. "How dare you attempt to take the lives of the Amrendran royal family! When I think in what high esteem my father held you..."

  Lord Durjaya scoffed. "Dahana trusted me more than his own twin," he said. "After the young god left our court, things started going wrong for us. Dahana had only you, and Daruka had... him." Rahul didn't react to the obvious contempt in the lord's voice. "I was the one who sneaked in the nursery and took away the sickly, imperfect baby to give you," he pointed his finger at Ajay, "a chance to be on the throne!"

  "Pity he survived and we found him," Rohit commented, sarcastic. "You should have accepted his return, like we all did. Including Ajay and his father."

  Ajay nodded, still scowling at Lord Durjaya. Rahul was quiet now, as if expecting Rohit to make the final decision.

  "Is that why we now have three kings instead of two?" Lord Durjaya retorted. "I wasn't the only one who thought the twin kings were doomed. We hoped that by killing Kartik, Rahul would die of heartbreak, and you'd soon follow suit, since you are so attached to each other. But then you kicked us out of the council and we had to do something. If only my stupid son hadn't interfered..."

  "Arjun saved my life," Rahul said. "I will save his. I know he has family..."

  "Arranged marriage," Ajay said quickly. "I doubt he ever loved his wife."

  "You were the only one who had the one you loved by your side," Rohit told Rahul tenderly. "We married out of duty, and you know where my heart was at the time."

  Rahul nodded, serious. The Gallian mercenaries had been killed in border skirmishes throughout the years, Gaia first, then Kenuwee and their men. It was all Amrendrans guarding the borders now.

  "Please do take my son to your bed and abuse him as much as you can. He doesn't deserve to hold my family name," Lord Durjaya said with contempt. "I disown him and will pass the family name to his son."

  "I'm not taking him to my bed, I only want him to recover from the wound in a safe place," Rahul snapped.

  "And you won't have anything to pass on, since you're now stripped of all your titles and belongings," Rohit added. "You, and your accomplices. Please tell us their names and they will be taken care of."

  "I will never tell you." Lord Durjaya scowled at them. "And eventually someone will kill you all."

  ***

  Harish saw Arjun stir, thus he went to sit on the edge of the bed, like Rohit had done with him the previous morning.

  He hadn't slept much after the
arrest of Lord Durjaya, but it wasn't the loss of Kartik that had kept him awake. He had laid down listening to Arjun's breathing and thinking back to the confrontation with Lord Durjaya in the great hall. His lack of a wife had put Rohit in danger as much as himself.

  Arjun opened his eyes and focused on him. "Your Majesty..."

  "I'm fine," Harish said. "Thank you for risking your life to protect me."

  "I was afraid my father would try to force your hand..."

  "Your father was arrested. He refuses to tell who his accomplices are. Did he tell you before you came to me? Otherwise Rohit will have him tortured before someone else hires another assassin to kill us."

  "Yes, I know their names." Arjun tried to sit, but Harish put a hand on his chest to keep him down.

  "Wait here, I'll fetch Rohit. You're still weak, and I'd rather know you're here safe than wandering the corridors of the palace."

  Arjun nodded.

  Harish went to Rohit's apartment and knocked. His twin was up and still lingered with his wife, but as soon as he saw him, he let her go.

  "Did Arjun come to?"

  Harish nodded and greeted Laxmi who now looked worried. Rohit quickly kissed her and they headed back for Harish's bedroom. Arjun gave them the names and Rohit frowned. Harish wasn't sure he knew them all, and he didn't care.

  "Thank you, Arjun," Rohit said before leaving. "You can go back to your palace, your father has been dispossessed by royal decree."

  Harish and Arjun watched him leave. Again Arjun sat, ready to leave, with his bandaged shoulder and naked torso. Harish had never noticed how handsome Arjun was.

  "No rush to leave," he said. "You're still weak."

  Arjun stood. He was slightly taller than Harish, much like Kartik had been.

  "I better go, Your Majesty. Before I do something I might regret."

  Harish stared at those brown eyes and recognized what was behind them. His lips slowly curved into a smile.

  "I know desire when I see it, Arjun. Please stay."