“We are too,” Aahal chimed in, followed by nods from the others. Harun merely nodded, his shoulders sagging down, a burden released.
The prince turned to Kunal. It was the first time Harun had looked Kunal straight in the eyes. His hands were down by his sides, palms open, and he waited. He asked no question, but Kunal knew that he was expecting an answer, and, to his surprise, Kunal had already decided.
Reha was the key to saving his land, but in the wrong hands, she was also the key to its destruction. He might not be a soldier of the Red Fortress anymore, but he was still sworn to protect his land and his people. And after all the wrongs he—and his uncle—had done, this was one thing Kunal could do right.
Kunal gave a short nod.
Esha hadn’t expected that. A moment of hesitation as Kunal weighed both sides, analyzing everything behind those amber eyes—that she had expected.
“First, we need to find out where that caravan is going,” Harun said.
“There will be a shipments room in the military garrison of Gwali,” Farhan said, moving forward. “I’ve been reading up on the recent renovations the king did to the royal and martial sectors of Gwali ever since the start of the War of the Brothers. Some light reading for the journey.”
“Light reading,” his twin, Aahal, mocked, using air quotes. Farhan was the more serious and studious of the two, while Aahal was glib enough that he could charm anyone.
“Perfect, book brains has already figured it out. We break into that room,” Bhandu said.
Kunal shook his head but held back from saying more. Harun cocked his head at the other man.
“Why are you shaking your head, soldier?”
Kunal hesitated for a moment. “It could easily be falsified. Many of the infantry are trained to have multiple versions of such records to protect the army’s goods.”
“Then we bribe them for the real records,” Bhandu said.
“Won’t work. They won’t have access to the real records.”
“Then we threaten them,” Bhandu finished.
“Martial punishments are gruesome already. Not sure any threat you delivered would outweigh their desire to save their skin.”
There was a beat of silence in the room.
“Okay, then what? If all records in the palace could be falsified and we can’t outmatch the army in cruelty or money, what do we do?” Arpiya asked, breaking the silence. Everyone looked at each other before finally turning to stare at Kunal.
“The Fort,” Kunal said. “The Fort keeps detailed records of every caravan and shipment.”
“You want to go back to the Fort?” Esha said before she could stop herself.
“No,” he said quickly. “You asked what could be done. I’m just saying the most accurate documents will be there.”
“If the soldier says the only place to get that information is the Fort, then that’s where we’ll have to go.” Harun walked toward Kunal, considering him. “Normally, I’d say it’s a mission for the Viper but . . .”
“They’ll be on high alert after the general was killed, especially as they believe it was at the hands of the Viper. Probably have new protocols that you don’t even know of, ones designed to look for rebels and the Viper, in particular,” Kunal finished. Harun nodded.
Esha looked between the two of them, narrowing her eyes.
“What if . . .” Kunal cleared his throat, a bright look on his face that Esha didn’t trust. “What if I went back? Got the information. Saw what the new protocols are.”
“Why would we let you go back to the Fort?” Esha said, her lips pursing.
Harun leaned forward. “I second that question.”
“Third,” Farhan said quietly, Aahal nodding next to him.
Kunal looked Esha full in the face, his amber eyes trained on her.
“You did turn me, didn’t you? I’d like to be useful.”
Esha tried not to make a face. He was using her own words against her, and, she had to admit, she didn’t particularly like being on the receiving end. “I can be your eyes and ears on the inside. I’m not suited to being idle.”
“How can we trust you?” Arpiya asked, arms crossed.
“I’m your best option for finding out where the caravan went,” Kunal said, though now his brow was beginning to furrow.
“I trust him,” Esha said. She trusted Kunal, but having him return to the Fort, be among his fellow soldiers . . . the idea didn’t exactly excite her.
“Why would you do that? For us?” Harun asked.
Kunal’s eyes flickered to Esha. “I want to . . . bring back balance. Reha is the best chance for me to make my country whole again. So if this is what it takes to get her back safely, then I will do it.”
Harun frowned, and Farhan and Bhandu wore matching looks of worry. It was Arpiya who spoke next.
“It’s dangerous, and it’s a risk. But he’s the only one who can get into the Fort—and he’s volunteering. Let’s not discredit that. Esha is out of the question after her last venture to the Fort, and the rest of you would be made in moments.”
Bhandu scoffed in the corner.
Arpiya continued. “We don’t have a lot of choice here. Esha can put together the best rescue plan this side of the Ghanta Mountains, but it won’t matter if we can’t find Reha once we’re in the city.”
“There’s always a retinue of soldiers that go to the Mela. We can plan to meet in a week’s time in the Pink Palace in Gwali, at the start of the Mela. By then I’ll have confirmation of where Reha has been sent,” Kunal said, color rising to his cheeks.
Esha tried not to shake her head. Soldiers. The minute he saw the outline of a new mission he was chomping at the bit. She hoped that’s all it was.
“How will you get yourself sent in the retinue, soldier?”
There was a lightness in Kunal’s movements now, a bounce almost. “Senap,” Kunal said. “I’m not just a soldier. I’d just been promoted to Senap before leaving on my miss—leaving the Fort. And my new post was to be Gwali. The retinue will be a backup.”
Something flashed across his face, a tension, that Esha had gotten used to noticing in her soldier. She took note of it. Part of her thought the Fort wouldn’t be so kind to a soldier who failed a mission, even if it was an impossible one. But he knew the Fort better than she did.
Harun considered Kunal with those shrewd eyes. “But you’re no longer part of the Fort. Or at least, that’s what you keep telling us.”
“No one else knows that,” Kunal said. “For all they know, I’ve merely been busy. If I fail to check in three times, they’ll mark me missing or dead. But if I get to a garrison soon—”
“You’ll be back on the books,” Harun finished. “Gwali, you say?”
A slow grin coiled around Harun’s face, one that Esha didn’t care for. She knew the way Harun thought, if only because it was so similar to herself.
Kunal nodded once, firmly.
Harun tapped the edge of Esha’s bed, tracing his fingers over the blanket. “I’m surprised you didn’t think of this, Esha. I’m assuming the soldier told you this when you turned him—it must have been one of the reasons you attempted something so risky, right?”