The Tower of Bashan (16 page)

A memory flashed before her eyes of a woman holding her down and raking a blade diagonally across her face. Spittle from her harsh words mixed with the blood running into her eyes.

Her father had killed that woman.
Not out of love for me though, but out of the insult to his home.
No one from Juntark ever showed me love.
She sighed.
Why do I care about fulfilling the promise I made to Father? Will he even accept the jewel should I bring it to him? Of course, he will. Regardless of what I mean to him, the jewel means power.

“You all right?”

Andrasta blinked, turning toward the carriage. Rondel’s head poked between the parted crimson curtains. Clean-shaven, he wore his newly trimmed, shoulder-length hair in a single, tight tail at the back of his head, a common style among the nobles in Bratanic according to him.

Without the beard, the scar at his throat is far more obvious. Like he said, we both need to put pride aside.

“What do you mean?” she answered.

“You look like something’s bothering you.”

“I’m fine,” she lied.

She still could not bring herself to discuss what the Jewel of Bashan truly meant to her, and what it would likely mean for their partnership.
I’ll need to say something eventually.

“Just trying to play my role as you requested,” she told him.

Rondel gave her a curious look, then grinned. “Well, you’re doing admirably.” He nodded to the front of the carriage. “Can you tell our overzealous friend that although I appreciate his efforts, he should tone things down a bit? I don’t want to incite a riot. And tell him to head toward the inn. But go the long way. We need to make sure we’re well seen with the carriage before settling into our rooms.”

CHAPTER 11

“What else?” asked Chand.

Lela had met him in an alley on her way to the palace. She had quickly recounted everything she could think of, especially the details of the conversation between Prince Minander and Princess Mira.

“That’s all they discussed.”

“But what else? Remember what Beladeva said. He wants to know everything.”

Lela frowned. She thought that the crime lord meant that as a way to drive the point home that it was important for her not to miss anything. She didn’t think to take the meaning literally. Lela took a deep breath and spoke about everything else that she could think of regarding the princess, regardless of how trivial it seemed. “ . . . . oh, and the princess is not as smart as everyone thinks she is.”

Chand showed the first bit of emotion with a slight bulging of his eyes. “What do you mean?”

What do I mean? That’s not true. She’s extremely smart. So why would I say that?

She realized in a very short time that despite rumors about Mira being a hard woman, she was likable.

Is this a small favor for Mira so Beladeva underestimates her? He already knows so much. What’s the big deal if I say one fib?
The thought of continuing the small lie made her not feel as helpless under Beladeva’s control.

“I just think she’s lucky. I mean she isn’t an idiot, obviously. However, much of her success seems based on luck, not careful thought. At least that’s what I think right now. I’ll know more the longer I’m around her.”

“All right. I’ll let Beladeva know. You can go.”

Lela began to turn. A thought struck her. “I have a question.”

“Yes?”

“Seeta. She was dismissed by the princess. What happened to her?”

“Why do you care? From what others said, she was hard on you.”

“I know. I was just curious.”

“Dead.”

Lela’s hand went to her mouth. “Why?”

“Because she thought herself above Beladeva by going against his will and not helping you. She had also failed him several times. His patience goes only so far. Remember that.”

She swallowed, already regretting her lie.

I will.

* * *

Rondel eased his boots off with a sigh, massaging his insteps and cracking his toes and ankle. He sat on the edge of a long bed at an inn in the nicest part of the Business District.

He sniffed the air.
One that actually smells clean. Though honestly, I think I miss the country smell of Sagal.

He winced switching feet.

Andrasta grunted. “Don’t tell me you’re that tired from the little bit of walking we did today.”

“We did more than a little bit of walking. We covered the market twice, the docks, and met with half the major bankers in the city.”

“If just a few days of not training is having this much of a toll on you, maybe you need to join me on the roof later tonight.”

Rondel rolled his eyes. “Yes, because that wouldn’t take away from the personas we’re trying to establish, me grunting and sweating on a rooftop with sword in hand while my bodyguard beats on me like a practice dummy.” He placed one foot down on the floorboards and picked up the other to work loose a knot near his heel. “It’s these stupid boots. They were designed for appearance over comfort. It’s hard work looking this good.”

She snorted and sat at a chair near the door. She drew her sword and began running a whetstone along its length.

Rondel strode over to a large window that led to a balcony. The view overlooked the western side of Bashan. Deep purples and crimson reds shone on the horizon while the last remnants of a pale yellow glowed in the distance. Before disappearing completely, the light danced off the top of the Tower of Bashan.

All of his notes said the jewel was kept at the top.
The blasted thing is taunting us.

Two days since returning to the city. We should have heard something from the palace by now.

He drummed his fingers on the balcony railing. Though Lela had given them valuable information upon re-entering the city, they had not seen her since. According to Kunal when he dropped off the rest of their clothes, her new duties to the princess kept her so busy she barely did anything more than stop at home to sleep before running back to the palace.

Only eight days away from the big event. Not much time to get on the guest list.
A gurgling sound came from his midsection.

“Sounds like that curry we had at lunch isn’t settling well,” Andrasta said.

“It’ll be fine,” said Rondel, not so much speaking about the curry as he was trying to convince himself of his plan’s success.

A knock sounded at the door. Rondel turned slowly to Andrasta. She paused in sharpening her sword. He gestured.

“I told you I wasn’t going to be your servant.”

“I’m not asking you to shine my boots or wipe my rear. Just answer the door. Wouldn’t a bodyguard want to make sure someone dangerous wasn’t there to slip a dagger between my ribs?”

She sighed and gave in. A boy on the other side of the door handed Andrasta a letter. Rondel was sure the messenger was supposed to wait for some sort of acknowledgement but after one look of Andrasta he seemed eager to leave. She closed the door on him before he could change his mind, making the decision for him.

“It looks like it’s from the palace.”

Rondel hurried across the room, snatching it away from her. “Dear esteemed blah blah . . . welcome to the great blah blah . . . I hope you are blah blah blah . . . Please accept this invitation to tomorrow night’s dinner at the Rose Palace where we might discuss how Bratanic can become long term trade partners with Bashan, and perhaps, even allies.” He paused. “Cordially, Prince Minander I.”

“Prince Minander? I thought we were trying to get in with the princess.”

“Close enough. We did it,” said Rondel folding up the letter with a breathless sigh. “Besides, the safer bet is we play both sides to double our chances of getting that invite to the big party.”

“So now the hard part begins.”

Rondel began pacing. “No. The hard part was getting noticed.”

“You still look worried.”

“There’s always a little bit of worry, but I’ve spoken with kings and emperors with far more power and notoriety. The key is to be well prepared and kiss up at every opportunity.”

“Two things you’re good at, especially the latter.”

Rondel took a sweeping bow. “I do try.”

“What did the letter mean about allies?”

“You’ve heard enough about the political climate in the area. The city-states of Kindi are constantly making and breaking alliances. They hope to find any advantage over the others. I’m willing to bet the prince sees the arrival of an emissary from Bratanic as a chance to gain resources others don’t have.”

“So, you’re going to negotiate terms of war?”

Rondel shrugged. He took a seat at a desk near the window where he began to scribble notes. “I’ll speak about the queen’s small clothes if it gets us into the tower. I know how much this means to you. Given the distance between Bratanic and Bashan, we’ll be long gone before he ever suspects us anyway.”

“Then promise him Juntark’s spears too if it will help.”

He smiled while pulling out another sheet of paper where he scribbled a message. “I’ll keep that in mind. Here. I need you to find out where Lela is and give this to her. Now that we have a date in mind, I need to know what she’s learned since last we spoke.”

“You can’t let Harshad run the message? It might look funny for your bodyguard to leave you alone for so long.”

“True. Which is why you’ll have to make sure no one sees you leave. Either that or reveal another piece of our plans to Harshad by having him deliver a secret message to the princess’ personal servant.”

Andrasta put the whetstone away and rose with a sigh.

“You hate it when I’m right, don’t you?”

She scowled and snatched the message.

CHAPTER 12

Lela trudged down the dark street, thankful for a clear night sky so that the bright half-moon could light her way. Under normal circumstances, the cool air might have been uncomfortable, but lately she welcomed the change in temperature. Princess Mira liked to keep the rooms in the palace warm to the point Lela often grew light headed.

Despite another long day, her little legs hurried, knowing she’d have to be at the palace bright and early on the morrow. She knew spying on the princess would not be an easy task, however she had underestimated the demanding, physical nature of the job. The princess seemed always on the move, tirelessly meeting with various figures of Bashan and its surrounding lands, usually in secret so Prince Minander would not notice her efforts.

But at least my belly is full,
she thought with satisfaction. Her tongue still tasted the buttery, warm bread from earlier. There were perks to being the princess’ personal servant that she had not considered before.

A muffled scream sounded in a nearby alley. Even with the protection of wearing Beladeva’s sigil, Lela quickened her pace out of habit.

The princess had offered her an adjoining room to sleep in so that Lela would not have to travel in and out of the palace each day.
Under normal circumstances, Lela would have jumped at the opportunity. Not only would she have even closer access to the princess, but she would also enjoy more of the comforts she dreamed of. The bed’s imported mattress, thick pillows, and clean sheets called to her like a temptress.

However, she had declined the offer, too worried about Kunal to leave him to his own devices. She had explained to Princess Mira that she lived with a sick family member that needed her attention. To her surprise, Mira offered to bring the sick family member into the palace as well. The gesture had touched Lela, highlighting a softness few saw of the princess.

She had hesitated before declining that second offer, but in the end she lied that her family member was too set in his ways, and would never leave the place he called home. Mira had seemed disappointed, but the comment was enough for the princess to drop the issue.

It would be nice to live in the palace. But then it would be much harder to meet with Andrasta and Rondel. Or especially Chand.
Guilt washed over her.
Besides, how can I accept the princess’s hospitality when I’m betraying her more each day?

She rounded a corner, nearly jumping out of her skin as Andrasta loomed above.

She always seems more intimidating without Rondel.

“What are you doing here?” Lela asked once she collected herself.

“Waiting for you. We haven’t heard from you in days.”

“Sorry. The princess has kept me busy. I couldn’t get away. I can give you an update now though.”

“Save it until tomorrow. We got an invitation for dinner tomorrow night with the prince.”

“The prince? Really?”
The princess didn’t mention anything. Does she even know?

Andrasta gave Lela a slip of paper. “Rondel wants to meet at midday to go over what you’ve learned since last we spoke.”