The Tower of Bashan (20 page)

Lela waited patiently. Though she had been a quick study on the princess’s needs, she found herself at a loss.

Mira sighed. “He’s right, you know. At least partially.”

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty?”

“The rulers of Kindi’s other states. Even with a common enemy, decisions will not be made swiftly. Too many are eager to look for tomorrow without ever figuring out what’s needed today. Father used to say as much.”

“Oh.”

Mira looked up. “We’re alone. Speak freely. What do you think of my brother’s nonsense?”

Speak freely?
“It would be nice to have Kindi united once again.”

Stupid.
That’s not what she wanted to hear.

She guffawed. “Yes. It would be nice. In fact, it’s what I dream of every day.”

“Just not the way the prince suggests.”

“No. He thinks our grandfather and father were incompetents or cowards for not taking his approach. He doesn’t understand how brave it was for them not to use force. They could have brought in mercenaries or formed foreign alliances. The problem is that reuniting Kindi through spilled blood will only weaken us in the long term. There would always be animosity toward Bashan from the other states if we united our lands through battle. Animosity that would lead to more wars. Besides, we should never rely on foreign soldiers. I know Bratanic is half a world away, but who’s to say they might not harbor ambitions of their own. Their empire is burgeoning.”

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, but why didn’t you tell the prince as much?”

“He only listens to people who tell him what he wants to hear.” She shook her head. “He never learned patience in his studies abroad. Had he, he might have seen the progress being made. Our great grandfather damaged Kindi, our grandfather ensured Bashan survived the petty wars and feuds that followed. Father began mending the relationships between the independent states. Minander was supposed to be the one to complete the process of uniting Kindi again. But peacefully.”

“I wish there was something I could do to help.”

Mira’s head bobbed slightly as she tucked in her lower lip. She froze. “Actually . . . How do you find out so much about the goings on of the palace? Things like this very dinner you told me about?”

Lela shrugged. “I’ve become good at ensuring people don’t notice me.”

“Is it the same way for you outside the palace?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s safer that way.”

“I bet it is. Hmm, I . . . No. Nevermind.”

“Are you sure there isn’t something else I can do for you?”

“No. It’s too much to ask. That will be all for tonight. I wish to be alone with my thoughts.”

Lela bowed and left.

* * *

Rondel stepped into the carriage. Andrasta closed the door behind him.

Once outside the palace’s gates, he positioned himself near the front so that he could speak to her through the window. “You did well.”

“I barely said anything.”

“Exactly. Just what would be expected from a bodyguard. What did you think about it all?”

“I’m glad that it’s over.”

“I mean about the prince and princess.”

“They obviously hate each other. Him more than her.”

Rondel grunted. “Yes, though after the prince announced his intentions, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s more balanced. Mira was not pleased with that little surprise.”

“Nor did she seem pleased with you.”

“You picked up on that too?”

“It was pretty obvious.”

“Yes. She eyed me suspiciously from the start. You noticed she barely spoke, and only then at the end of the meal. She listened and gauged my reaction to the prince’s ramblings and posturing. She studied me like someone made for the role of ruler. Too bad for Bashan that by law the prince will rule. She seems the better choice.”

“And for our purpose?”

“The prince is without a doubt better for us. He’s desperate to become Kindi’s unequivocal ruler.”

“Why did you dance around answering his questions about military support?”

“Because it’s too big of a request. Whether I end up telling him yes or no is not important. What is important is acting like it’s the toughest, most impossible request he could have made. There’s no way I could agree to a request like that if I were a real emissary. Not without personal approval from the queen. So, I need to keep up those appearances. Make him sweat, make him haggle over details, and so on. Besides, I’m not promising him anything until we get on the invite list to the tower.”

“Are you worried that he won’t invite us?”

A little. It is odd that he didn’t extend the offer tonight.
“No. We should be fine.”

CHAPTER 15

Lela walked home with a heavy heart. She should have felt ecstatic. Rondel and Andrasta managed contact with the prince and princess because of her.

Of course they didn’t get the invite to the party. But that should come soon.

Not from Mira though. She didn’t seem to care for Rondel.

Guilt gnawed at her stomach. Betraying Minander meant nothing to her. The more she learned about him, the less she liked him. However, the princess was another matter. Mira tried to put up an emotionless front, but she was a good person, someone who truly cared about Bashan and its people. Lela had wanted to tell Mira that she had nothing to worry about from Rondel and Andrasta, that no matter what “Lord Rickar” eventually agreed to, it would mean nothing to Minander’s plans of war. There would be no ships and there would be no army. But by doing so, she’d ruin the plan for breaking into the tower.

The plan that will give me and Kunal our new life.

She took a left and stumbled to a halt. Chand stood in the middle of the sidewalk looking displeased, arms folded across his thick chest.

“Chand.”

“So you do remember me, Little One.”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because we haven’t heard from you in several days.”

“No one contacted me for a meeting. And I’ve been busy keeping an eye on the princess.”

“Helping her is more like what I hear.”

“What? I don’t understand?”

He gave her his back. “Come. Beladeva wishes to speak with you. He isn’t pleased.”

* * *

Unlike her last meeting with Beladeva, Lela had the good fortune of not wearing a bag over her head as she trailed Chand. They didn’t walk far.

Two guards waited outside of an old brick and mortar slaughterhouse near the market. Rats scurried across her path, running to bins filled with the discarded entrails and bones from the day’s work. Lela crinkled her nose at the smell of death. For once she was glad she had not eaten recently.

Dressed again in an outfit of white clothing and a black turban, Beladevea sat behind a small desk in the back of the slaughterhouse. On the desk lay a stack of ledgers and several loose pieces of papers. One of the papers fell from the desk as Chand walked by, landing at her feet. She glanced down and saw it was a shipping document belonging to one of Gulzar’s vessels.

Chand whispered something into Beladeva’s ear, then took position at his right.

The crime lord leaned back, and sighed. “Tell me what you’ve learned.”

Lela recited every bit of information she had learned from both the princess and prince. She included even the tidbits picked up from eavesdropping on other servants and guests of the palace. Beladeva did not interrupt her once, and by the time she finished, her throat felt dry, but mostly from nervousness.

She waited.

He studied her, giving away nothing, whether displeasure or satisfaction.

“It’s not enough,” he said finally.

She panicked. “There are two more things,” she said, grasping at what might satisfy one of the most powerful men in Bashan. “The guard schedule is supposed to be random, but I’ve been able to figure it out. I also learned information related to deliveries made to the palace as well as servant routines. It would not be difficult to—”

“Break in?” he asked, cutting her off. “Little One, I am not a common thief. I do not wish to loot the palace. Even if I did, it would be easy, as I control the people who make those schedules.”

Lela swallowed. “My apologies.”

He waved a hand dismissively. “Moving on. Now, based on your last report to Chand, you said the princess is not as clever as people perceive her to be. Is this true?”

Of course that’s where he would choose to focus. Too late. If I change my opinion it will make me look indecisive.
“Yes,” said Lela, realizing a moment too late that being indecisive in Beladeva’s eyes would be more favorable that being named a liar if caught in her deception.

“I find that hard to believe based on your report. She seems to be meeting with countless people, trying to get her hands into everything.”

No turning back now, Lela. Just make sure the lies are sprinkled with truth. That will make them easier to swallow.
“That’s because she’s trying to grasp at anything she can use. She’s becoming desperate.”

She worked her jaw. It felt odd to speak poorly of Mira.

“I see. I’ll keep that in mind.” He paused. “However, I’ve also been hearing some troubling things from my other contacts at the palace about the relationship you have with her.”

She tensed. “Who?”

“Who, doesn’t matter. What matters is your loyalty to me. They say you’re helping the princess. Is this true?”

“Of course, it’s true. But that has nothing to do with my loyalty.”

“Explain.”

“What is there to explain? I’m her servant. I’m supposed to help her. If I didn’t, she would not trust me. And if she did not trust me, then I couldn’t get the information you want.”

“Some have said that you are sneaking around, spying on others.”

“I am.”

“So you don’t deny it?”

“Why should I? I have to give Mira something of value, otherwise I’m not useful to her.”

“The others who work for me do not like you spying on them.”

She shrugged. “You told me to learn all that I could about Princess Mira, not sympathize with others.”

Beladeva grinned, eyes flicking back to his right. “I’m beginning to like this girl more and more, Chand.” His attention returned to Lela. “Good. Keep doing what you’re doing. But you need to push more. I’m not sure she’s lost as much power as she’s letting on. I need to find out what her plans are with all the random messages she’s sending out. Smiths? Dock workers? What does this all relate to? Is she really as inept as you think or is she smarter than we originally gave her credit for?”

Lela nodded in understanding.

He leaned forward. “Now, what more do you know about Rickar and this bodyguard of his?”

She blinked, surprised at the question. “No more than what I’ve already said. Rickar is an emissary from Bratanic, the woman is from Juntark. He came to Bashan to negotiate trade routes for his country.”

He grunted. “I need more than that.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Did I stutter? Speak in a tongue you do not understand?”

“No. It’s just that I’m so busy at the palace with the princess. How do I find the time to learn anything about them too?”

“You have the nights entirely to yourself, don’t you? Plenty enough time to get information on them.”

“Why me?”

“Because Chand said you’d be up to the task.”

Lela gave Chand a look, but his face was a mask of stone.
Why would he say that when it’s obvious he isn’t as impressed with me? Does he want me to fail?

“What exactly do you want me to get from them?”

“I want to learn more about them personally. They could be of use to me.” Beladeva stood and readied himself to leave. He paused. “By the way, how is that uncle of yours doing? Kunal is it?”

Lela froze. “He’s doing well.”

“I hear he’s cleaned himself up. Even got into tailoring again.”

She said nothing.

“That’s good. I like to see someone get back on their feet. It’d be a shame if something causes him to stumble again though.”

Her stomach knotted. “I’ll do my best to get you what you need.”

“I know you will. In the meantime, give your uncle my regards.”

CHAPTER 16

Lela felt like a walking corpse as she took her place in line outside the palace’s walls. She had barely slept the night before. She had been certain that Beladeva would’ve been pleased but in the end, she had not given him enough.

She probably should have spent time pretending to learn more about Rickar and Yumna after her meeting in case someone checked up on her. However, she needed to figure out how to get Beladeva the information he wanted without betraying Rondel and Andrasta.

What to do? Can I appease Beladeva? Can I shield Rondel and Andrasta long enough to pull off stealing the jewel?