By Grace alone canst one wield the strength of his god; and so by Grace alone canst one be one lifted, evermore Crowned above men, yet merely to serve men.
Grace is entailed from father to thrice the generation down his line, after which his progeny will remain nobly blessed.

—The Four Laws of Saegyr
the first and second

18

↝ THE FAVOURED CONSORT ↜

'I asked this young lady to help with the measurements,' said Kithrel. Isla dared not even look at him. 'I've concluded we have more than enough room for four bunks. We can have them tiered, as the Angals do. It makes for much more effective use of space.'

'As you say, maharaj.' The look on Samrin's face begged otherwise.

'I know such changes disquiet you, but you will all see it is for the better. They are remarkably low on crime, the Angals. The key, I've discovered during my post, is not in harsh retribution – but rehabilitation. Harder to achieve when you sleep with the rats and defecate where you eat.'

'Of course, maharaj.'

Kithrel hawked his throat in frustration. 'Never mind. What good are you if you're only here to pander. Well? Be gone with you! And let the girl with me – Lilja, is it? A pretty name. I can only think of one more sweet-sounding.'

Is that a threat? It was difficult to tell under the smile on his face. One he has clearly learnt from his father.

Pepper scuttled down her arm, ready to launch at the so-called prince, but Isla grabbed the salamander by its tail. Even you can't save me now, Pep. And don't forget how he likes to punish impertinent daemons.

Samrin coughed. 'If it pleases you, maharaj, but The Honourable Consort, Raji—'

'You need not use my own mother's title with me, captain. I know who she bloody well is. Out with it!'

The captain was unperturbed. 'Rajini Amarin requests you attend the midday meal at once.'

Rajini Amarin. The Rama's third wife – barring the Maha Rani. Isla pictured the royal pedigree and tried to summon the names descending from hers. Three children, but only one of them a son. That can only mean one thing.

'Ah. Of course.' Kithrel interrupted her thoughts. 'The hosts will not eat before I arrive. It will not do to have them wait any longer.'

Isn't he supposed to be abroad on an emissary duty of some kind? Though someone did mention rumours of his return. He must have came home on Tempestorm ... and I with him. Isla cursed her ill luck. Why he decided to spend the journey as a working officer instead of the privileged prince he apparently was, she could not guess.

'Will you not be joining us?'

She started at the question. Kithrel and Samrin were already some paces before her, making their way towards the exit. Only she and Master Chendra still stood, rooted to the floor.

Why not expose me? What game is he playing? He was looking back at her, as cordial and charming as a prince ought to be.

'Our deepest regrets, maharaj, but we must make our journey to Kathedra before sundown,' said Master Chendra with much apologetic bowing.

'Ah. Is she not a dhayang here?'

'Lilja? No, maharaj, she still resides at the palace asraam.'

Kithrel lifted his brows. 'I see. Well, you are welcome to travel with our retinue later this evening. We will keep you safe.'

Isla could read the discomfort on her tutor's face. It was a great offense to decline royalty, and he of all people should know it. 'I ... that is ... we ... we thank you for your most gracious offer.'

'Excellent. I look to see you at the dining hall.' Kithrel gave a cordial nod and led the others away, leaving Master Chendra and Isla in dreaded silence.

'Foolish girl!' Came her tutor's rebuke after long. 'Drawing the attention of a maharaj!'

Isla agreed. Kithrel played along with her secret, but it did not mean he would keep it forever. 'He only wanted help measuring the –'

'– prison cells. Pah! A young girl, completely alone with a man? Maharaj or no – do you know how that will reflect upon you?'

'What was I to do? Refuse royalty? Besides, we are alone together now, too.'

His face turned beetroot red, and his voice echoed magnificently when he yelled, 'That is different!' He waited until the echoes died and, quieter, said, 'You don't want anything to do with the royals, girl. If you'd just take my advice for one thing, let it be this. Baseborn as you. There are too many risks.'

Isla stumbled as he pulled her along. 'You are blowing things out of proportion, old man. The maharaj has no interest in me, nor I in him. Though I am curious why he would be spending his time measuring the cells.'

'Maharaj Kiet has always been ... adventurous.' The mention of his name confirmed Isla's conclusion. 'When Maharaj Khaisan replaced him as crown prince, he used his freedom to ... learn from the world. Starting with a small part of it, anyway. He's spent his last year in Anglioc, so it's no surprise he's returned with many ... strange ideas.'

'Was he not there as some sort of emissary?'

'He was. Strengthening our ties to the western world. We've not many allies in Cor Regnis, so his posting at Anglioc was an important start.' They were ascending the steps, the dungeon entrance now a flicker of light before them. Master Chendra paused to face Isla. 'Maharaj Kiet is much more merciful to the commonfolk than his peers, but he's still royalborn, and second in line to the throne. Don't cross paths with him if you can help it.'

Isla was not planning to.
    

❖ ❖ ❖
     

If Phrae questioned the existence of the Water Palace girls, she no longer could after the midday meal. It was held in the largest chamber yet; larger even, than the dining halls of their own asraam. A rectangular maze of tables circled the room, cushions laid out along one side so that its girls all kneeled facing the centre of the chamber.

The heart of the maze was reserved for the grandest table. Its surrounding cushions were empty still, though the platters had been brought out and lay steaming upon the wooden surface.

'I'm happy you decided to stay after all,' said Master Khan.

They were waiting upon the eastern doors, swarmed in the confusion of dhayang that streamed in to take their place along the tables. The girls were more subdued, here, compared to the dhayang of Kathedra. They took their cushions in silence – those who spoke only did so in short whispers. Even their syarong were styled more conservatively; tied into long kaftans or shouldered drapes. The shuffle of their fabric only accentuated the ceremonial ambiance.

The warden took them through the maze – girls bowing their heads to their tables as he passed – and welcomed them to the cushions in the inner-most ring. 'This row we reserve for the masters and guests.'

It was closest to the grand table, where no doubt the royal guests would be seated. Isla could smell the roast and honey. Small servings had been laid out for all but the royal table; upon which only the wholest, plumpest fowls were served.

'Can you believe it?' whispered Phrae beside her. 'Rajini Amarin is here!'

'I take it you wouldn't mind staying at the Water Palace, after all.'

'Not if they get more of her likes!'

Master Khan heard. 'Rajini Amarin's a faithful royal visitor of ours, but not the only one. The Maha Rama sends his own granddaughters, time and again, to learn from our dhayang. Rajini Chei habitually visits. She stays for days, weeks, when she's in one of her more solitary moods. She always finds peace here.'

Chei ... The recluse, as Prijsti had called her. The Maha Rama's first consort, after the Maha Rani. If she and Amarin often pay visit to the Water Palace, likely one of them found and appointed Haana.

'We even host Rajini Dhvani now and then. Though normally she comes once a year to oversee the Civil Servants Examination.'

'And Rajini Amarin?' asked Isla. 'What is her business here?'

'None of yours,' hissed Phrae.

Master Khan chuckled. 'No worries – that one's no secret. She has a peculiar hobby for a lady of her standing. Collects formidable creatures; many of which can be found in our surrounding woods.'

Prijsti, too, said as much. 'She hunts them herself?'

'Ifrit burn me if she does! Rajini Amarin is too delicate to partake in a hunt.'

'Delicate? She is second-rank.' She had read it in the annals.

'A second-rank beast-reader. So unless she can talk an arachnape to swinging into one of her cages ...'

She speaks to animals. With Haana's bondmate on the loose, that could mean ill for Isla. That is, if Amarin was indeed Haana's master. But if that were true, the bondmate is the least of my problems.

A young woman called from one corner of the chamber then, announcing the arrival of 'Her Highness, the Honourable Consort, Rajini Amarin.'

Everyone rose, Isla's knees already red and chafed despite the cushion separating her from the ridged floorboards. The rajini drifted in with the scent of jasmine, her syarong a royal blue kashmeer under silver lace, clipped over her shoulder and the small of her back before fanning the floor behind her.

It was easy to see why she, of all the Maha Rama's brides, was his dearest. Though that doesn't mean much, considering how quickly his favour fell from Chei once she could no longer bear children.

They all lowered their heads when the herald again announced, this time the arrival of 'His Serene Highness, the Maharaj Kiet Ametjas. Second in line to the throne of Surikhand.'

And the potential death of Isla Prijanskar. He passed like a tide, and Isla ventured a glimpse. He had donned a robe in his maternal house colours, which he swept back as he knelt across the table from his mother. I'm done for, if she is truly my hunter. He came here to hunt beasts for his mother's collection, after all. How fitting a metaphor.

'Please. Sit.'

His words were met as a command, and the midday meals commenced following his first bite. Nobody spoke but in whispers. Even then most of the dhayang were too struck to speak. Phrae barely touched her bird, though Tran ate with more ease.

'My son informed me we have the pleasure of additional company this eve,' said the rajini, loud enough for the chamber to hear. 'Dhayang, I am told, of the Grand Palace?'

'Yes, My Honourable Consort,' answered Master Khan on behalf of his guests. 'Master Chendra here has served your palace for forty years. It's his girls he brought today.'

'Please forgive our inconvenience.' Master Chendra bowed at the mention of his name.

'Why do you apologise? The dhayang are indispensable a jewel to our kingdom. Moreso those so foresighted as to observe the Water Palace long ere thence they attend. We are most glad to ensure your passage safely home.'

Phrae flushed ear to ear at the praise, so lost for words that she missed Master Chendra's prompting scowl.

'Your Highness honours us,' said Isla. Her mentor's relief was palpable. For the first time, Kithrel met her face. No, she corrected. Maharaj Kiet.

Speaker of ancient tongues, master of daemons, brandisher of the void. How could I not have even suspected?

Rajini Amarin smiled, and there was no question wherefrom her son acquired his allure. If she were a killer, she hid it well.