Kunal’s lips momentarily pursed, but he nodded. “I’ve just gained their trust. Plus, I have no interest in facing down an angry Bhandu.”
“How will we communicate? You and I?” He traced little circles over the skin of her knuckles. Esha shivered.
“I’ll leave you notes,” she said.
A quick glance around told her that no one was outside the tent. She leaned forward to cup his face, fighting back a groan of pain. She drew a thumb over his lips, her eyes flickering to them.
He took the hint and kissed her, slowly, gently, taking care not to put pressure on her left side. Her frustration and annoyance faded to the background. She could live in these moments, bathe in them, wear them like armor.
She might need to for this upcoming fight.
Esha tensed up again, and Kunal pulled back, looking at her. “Are you okay? Did I push into your wound? I knew I shouldn’t have—”
She shushed him with another kiss, a quick one. “I’m fine. I just started thinking about the task we have ahead of us. Do you remember being at court?”
“Not much.”
“Understanding the politics, making alliances, will be important. Tensions will be high with the Sun Mela now open to Dharkans. Not to mention the peace treaty looming over everything.”
“You’re really making me look forward to this mission,” he said.
“What’s not to like? Subterfuge and schemes. You’ve dealt with vicious vipers and snapping turtles. It’ll be fun,” she said. “Your first mission as a rebel.”
He shook his head.
“I’m not a rebel, Esha. I’m not sure I can do this,” he said softly, revealing the fear that had begun prickling at his chest.
“You’re not. You’re a soldier. And that’s why you’re perfect for this role. Just be yourself.”
Kunal chuckled, but she could still see a flicker of worry in his eyes. Esha felt it too, a needling thorn under her ribs.
Chapter 5
Kunal strode toward the Fort, wincing as he rolled his shoulders. He hadn’t mastered landing when he flew and always managed to hit something—this time it had been a series of towering rosewood trees. He picked a few leaves out of his hair before he came into view of the Fort.
Kunal spotted two soldiers at the watchtower and raised a hand in greeting. Before he could even lower his hand, a conch shell was blown and two more soldiers ran up the gatehouse steps to the top of the watchtower, peering down at him.
They shielded their eyes as they looked at him and for a moment Kunal worried—would he be accepted back?
But then they waved him in, away from the official entrance.
He had barely knocked on the soldiers’ entrance to the Red Fortress when it flew open and he was barreled into. It took Kunal a few seconds to realize that he wasn’t being attacked but, rather, embraced.
Kunal patted Alok awkwardly on the back, unused to such affection from his friend. But gods above, was he happy to see him. Alok pulled away, coughing a bit as he straightened and pretended like he hadn’t just squeezed Kunal within an inch of his life.
“Kunal,” he said. “It is good to see you in fine health, comrade. Praise to the king that we received your hawk in time.”
Kunal raised an eyebrow at the formal tone and was about to remark on it, when footsteps turned the corner and Commander, now General, Panak appeared. It was quite the welcome party.
“Soldier, glad to have you back,” the new general said, echoing Alok’s words. “Especially after what happened to the other men on your mission.”
Kunal dropped to his knees, crossing an arm over his torso, four fingers to his chest. “General, it’s with my sincerest of apologies that I come back empty-handed. I’ve failed the mission, and I accept any judgment on your behalf for my punishment.”
Kunal had prepared for this. He hoped it would be something light—extra menial labor in the Fort or to the journey to Gwali, at worst a demotion. It was only now that his heart seized and he thought of all the other punishments that might be befitting his failure. Kunal had assumed his standing as a loyal soldier, as a recently made Senap, would help him. The Fort couldn’t afford to lose another soldier after losing three, but nothing was for sure.
“Kunal.” He looked up, startled by the use of his first name. “There was no failure. We sent you on an impossible task. Three of your fellow soldiers didn’t return, yet you were wily enough to escape. You’ll eat with me tonight at the main table and give me your full debrief.”
General Panak clasped Kunal around the arms and dragged him up to his feet. “And we’ll discuss your commission day tomorrow as well.”
He clapped Kunal on the shoulder once before turning away. “Alok, make sure this soldier gets a hot bath and food.” It wasn’t until the general’s footsteps faded away, disappearing into silence on the stone floors, that Kunal faced Alok.
“Has it been like this since I left?” Kunal didn’t try to hide the bewilderment in his voice. His uncle would’ve imposed some sort of punishment, even if it was light, simply to make an example of failure.
“Don’t be fooled,” Alok whispered. They walked down the hallway toward the training courtyard, where soldiers milled about. There was a lively lilt to the air, and Kunal realized what it was—conversation. They had never been allowed to have conversations during training.
Alok stopped in a small alcove that overlooked the training courtyard but was still half shrouded in shadows.
“If anything, the Fort’s become more dangerous,” Alok said.
“Really?”
“At least before, you knew what to be scared—to be aware of. This new veneer of being friendly, not just comrades, it makes me uncomfortable,” Alok said.
Kunal chuckled. “Well, there are a lot of reasons that could be true—”
“No, don’t be fooled. It seems the general has plans for you, or you’ve caught his eye. But things haven’t really changed around here. Punishments are just as arbitrary, but they’re no longer solely based on the rules.”
A rustle of feet on the stone moved up toward them. “Be careful tonight. I don’t trust General Panak.”
“Like you trusted my uncle?” Kunal said, a little more sharply than he intended.
Some of the tension in Alok’s shoulders dropped. “Don’t be a pillock, Kunal. Your uncle had his issues, but he ran this Fort like a well-oiled wheel. People understood their place, understood the rules.”
Kunal looked closer at his friend, saw the truth in his eyes.
“And you’re worried about what happens when highly trained and well-armed soldiers no longer understand the rules?”
“With clear rules, even unspoken ones, there’s order. I don’t know, Kunal. Something has changed.”
Kunal looked around, thinking back to the new feeling in the air. Change was a good thing, in his mind, especially after all he had learned about his uncle and the Fort’s role in Sundara and the Night of Tears. Maybe Alok was right. Or maybe he was being paranoid after being alone in the Fort for months.
It wouldn’t hurt to be careful tonight, however skeptical he was of Alok’s fear.
“I’ll be on guard during dinner, then, and I’ll report back to you,” Kunal said, unable to resist throwing in a wry smile.