The Tiger Prince (56 page)

“I do not question,” Pachtal said quickly. “I only suggest that Kali might triumph sooner with assistance.”

“I agree.” Abdar’s frown disappeared. “We shall have an army.”

“Not until you ascend the throne.”

“Why do you argue with me? Do you think I’m not aware of the difficulties? I have thought of a way to solve the problem.” Abdar smiled. “Can you not see I am devastated by grief over my father’s death? My physician has become so concerned that he insists I must leave the city and seek a change of scene.”

Pachtal waited.

“We will announce to my father’s mourning subjects that I’m going to Narinth to the summer palace to recover my health.”

“And the army?”

“I’ll need a large escort to protect me on my journey. Everyone knows that the British colonel would like nothing better than to find a way to oust me from power. If we catch MacClaren by surprise, I will not need more than a few troops. You will arrange to have a ship ready downriver.”

“But will these troops follow your orders when they learn you are breaking the mourning and going to Cinnidar instead of Narinth?”

“Oh, I believe they will. Once you point out that when we return from Cinnidar, a month will have passed and I will be eligible to ascend the throne.” He paused. “And punish all who displease me.”

“It could succeed,” Pachtal said slowly.

“It will succeed. The plan was given to me by the divine Kali and she cannot fail.”

“And what if Pickering suspects your plan? He is no fool.”

“I cannot attend to everything. I will have to rely on Kali to take care of Pickering.” He smiled at Pachtal. “Kali … and my friend, Pachtal.”

“You are joking,” he said, startled. “I cannot kill an Englishman.”

“Not death. Merely a temporary stomach disorder that will make him too ill to care what I am doing for a few weeks. Is that not possible?”

Pachtal smiled. “Entirely possible.”

“Why so quiet?” Ruel filled Jane’s coffee cup and his own before sitting down beside her before the fire.

“I don’t have anything to say.” She sipped the coffee, gazing down into the flames. She was aware of the usual friendly hum of talk around the
candmar
but felt oddly remote from it. “Do I have to talk all the time?”

“Not all the time. Just when something’s wrong. I hate like hell knowing there’s something bothering you and not knowing how to fix it. Is it me?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The hell you don’t,” he said roughly. “What did I do?”

“Nothing.”

He reached out and covered her hand with his own. The warm, hard touch of his flesh against her own made her gaze fly to his face.

“That’s better,” he said curtly. “You’re looking at me. Now talk to me. You’ve been working yourself into the ground for my sake trying to get this damn track laid and yet for the past three days you’ve never even smiled at me.”

“I didn’t realize smiling was required.”

“It’s not required. I just miss it.” He turned her hand over and began tracing patterns on her palm with his index finger. “It … warms me.”

She looked at him, startled. “Ruel …”

“I thought it was getting better. Do I have to go out
and find another baby elephant to pull around just to get you to smile at me?”

The motion of his finger on her palm was causing little ripples of sensation to tingle up her wrist and arm. He had touched her like this when he had sat beside her on the veranda in Kasanpore, she remembered. He had stroked her palm and talked of Cinnidar … and the painting in the maharajah’s car.

She felt a flush heat her cheeks. Like the woman in the painting, she had knelt for him in the summerhouse. She had felt him inside her, his hands caressing her while he rode her as if they were two mating animals unable to get enough of each other. The erotic memory was suddenly there like another presence beside them in the firelight. She could almost feel his hands cupping her breasts as he plunged—

She tried to pull her hand away, but his hand closed on her own.

“No.” He met her gaze. “Let me touch you. I have to get near you some way.”

He was getting too near, she thought breathlessly. For the past days he had been companion and ally, damping down any hint of physical sexuality, but now the sensuality that was so much a part of him was there before her.

“I wouldn’t do this if there were any other way,” he said thickly. “It’s not what I want for us.” He laughed desperately. “Correction. I want it like hell. It’s just not all I want and I’m afraid I’ll scare you off if I reach out and grab.” His fingers moved up and stroked the thin skin of her wrist.

A hot shiver went through her. “Let me go, Ruel.”

“Why?” He glanced at the crowd of laborers around the campfire as his fingers continued to feather the sensitive skin at her wrist. “No one is paying any attention. The Cinnidans are always touching each other in affection.”

She knew that was true and Ruel’s caress was probably not even visible to most of them, half hidden as it
was between their bodies. The knowledge did nothing to rid her of this feeling of excruciating intimacy.

“Besides, you like it. You want it. Let me come to your tent tonight,” he murmured. “I’ll make you—”

Li Sung sat down next to them. “I have something to talk to you about.”

Jane drew a quivering breath of relief as Ruel’s hand dropped away from her wrist.

Ruel shot her a look that was composed equally of frustration and ruefulness. He picked up his coffee cup and turned his gaze to Li Sung. “Talk.”

Li Sung said, “I believe I know a way to make the construction go faster.”

“How?”

“By using the elephants,” Li Sung said. “Our slowdown right now is because of the clearing problem. In Kasanpore, elephants were sometimes used for clearing.”

“Wild elephants?”

“No, elephants that had been trained for years by their handlers, their mahouts. But I have talked to Dilam about this and, if I can get Danor to clear the trees I want him to clear, she thinks the other elephants will follow him. Since they have to consume such vast quantities of leaves anyway, we might as well guide them in the way that’s most useful to us.”

Ruel turned to Jane. “Do you think it will work?”

“I’ll have to think about it. This is as much a surprise to me as it is to you. Li Sung didn’t mention the plan to me.”

“I forgot,” Li Sung said absently, and then went on. “If you and Jane combine crews, Dilam and I will be freed to take the elephants and go on ahead to clear the terrain along the track route from here to the canyon wall.”

“Just the two of you?”

“I’ll need three Cinnidan elephant handlers to help me besides Dilam. It would be dangerous to have too many people in the area with that many uncontrolled elephants milling around.”

Ruel turned to Jane. “Well?”

“We could try it,” she said slowly. “If we can get the Cinnidan High Council to provide these mahouts.”

“They will.” Li Sung smiled confidently. “I visited Dilam’s village last night and spoke to them. The handlers will be here tomorrow.”

“I’m surprised they gave in so easily,” Ruel said. “They’re very careful of the safety of their people.”

Li Sung smiled. “I took the precaution of making a splendid entrance into the village on Danor’s back. They were very impressed.”

“Well, you seem to have everything under control.” Jane smiled with an effort. “It’s a fine idea. We’ll have to see if it works.”

“It will work.” Li Sung stood up. “I’ll go tell Dilam you approve.”

“Yes, do that.” Ruel smiled as he watched Li Sung walk away. He added in a lower voice to Jane, “Not that it matters. I have an idea he would have gone ahead and done it anyway. Our Li Sung is changing. You won’t find him in your shadow these days.”

“He was never in my shadow,” she protested.

“Wasn’t he?”

“I never meant—” She stopped, appalled. “Did I make him feel that?”

Ruel shook his head. “No, he stayed there because he had no reason to step out … until now.”

Jane watched Li Sung move across the clearing to where Dilam was sitting with a group of Cinnidans. Ruel was right, Li Sung had changed enormously in the past two weeks. Even the way he moved was different. Though he still limped, his gait was quick and purposeful and, when he stopped beside Dilam and began speaking, his expression was intent, alert, and held more humor and determination than she had ever seen in him. This Li Sung would never be content in anyone’s shadow.

She looked down at the coffee in her cup. “The Cinnidans think he’s some kind of magician when they see him riding Danor.”

“Power.” Ruel’s gaze was still on Li Sung. “I think the elephant shared his power with him, but now Li Sung knows he doesn’t need it.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s found it in himself.” Ruel suddenly chuckled. “God, how smugly profound I sound. But it’s true. At this rate, he may be invited to sit on their council before I do.”

“Perhaps.” Jane threw the remainder of her coffee into the flames and abruptly stood up. “I’m going to my tent.”

Ruel’s smile faded. “You don’t have to run away from me. I’m too much an opportunist not to realize I can’t do anything more tonight. I would never have even started it if I hadn’t wanted to find out why you were upset with me.”

“I’m not upset with you,” she burst out. “Everything in my world doesn’t revolve around you. There are other things that—” She turned on her heel. “Good night.”

“Other things? What other—” He stopped, paused and then said, “Good night.”

She could feel his thoughtful gaze on her back until she entered the shadows beyond the firelight.

Shadows. The word reminded her of Ruel’s words about Li Sung. She had never wanted to keep Li Sung in her shadow. She had always wanted sunlight and happiness for him, to give him everything he wanted and needed.

But he did not need anything from her any more and what he wanted he could win for himself.

She would just have to become accustomed to this new Li Sung.

“It’s hard to believe,” Ruel murmured as he watched Danor press his forehead against the bole of a young tree and push against it. “I’ve never seen this before. Amazing …”

Danor pushed again and the tree moved, the roots tore from the earth, and the tree toppled to the ground.
Jane nodded. “Li Sung seems to be able to do anything with that elephant. I think we’re going to be able to give you your railroad in those two months. We’re up to almost five miles a day.” She smiled with an effort. “I’m very grateful, of course.”

“Are you?”

She turned to see Ruel’s gaze fixed on her face. “Do you doubt it?”

“Yes.” He held up his hand. “Oh, I’m sure you’re happy about the increase in production, but there’s something wrong.”

“What could be wrong?”

“Li Sung,” Ruel said softly. “He doesn’t need you anymore.”

Pain twisted within her. “He never needed me. Li Sung was always completely independent.”

“Not this independent. He relied on you for understanding and affection.”

“We’re still friends and friends always need each other.”

“He’s mad about that elephant and he’s become accepted by the Cinnidans as he’s never been accepted by any people.”

“I know.” She could hear the huskiness in her voice and swallowed. “And I’m happy for him.”

“He’s not going to want to leave the elephant or these people. If you leave Cinnidar, you’ll have to go alone.”

“And I suppose that pleases you.”

“Yes, it does,” Ruel admitted. “Because with Li Sung here, it gives you another reason to stay after the railroad is finished.”

“I can’t stay.”

“You can do whatever you wish to do.” He smiled. “I simply hope to make sure your wishes coincide with mine. And I think I’m getting closer to doing that every day.”

He was getting closer. Since that evening by the fire he had never again touched her, but they worked together, ate together, strove toward a common goal. He
was always there, helping her, encouraging her, sharing her problems and triumphs. Sometimes she felt so close to him that it was as if they were one person. She tried to change the subject. “Have you had a report from Medford lately?”

“This morning. He’s almost reached the canyon floor. Another two days should do it.” His gaze searched her face. “You look tired. How much rest have you been getting?”

“Enough.”

He muttered a curse. “You said yourself you’re ahead of schedule. Let me and Dilam and Li Sung shoulder the load for a while.”

“Abdar will be—”

“And let me worry about Abdar.”

She shook her head.

He stared at her in exasperation. “Damn, you’re stubborn!”

He turned Nugget and kicked him into a gallop, leaving her in a cloud of dust as he headed back to the site.

He came riding back late that afternoon, leading Bedelía. “Come on,” he said curtly. “I have something to show you.”

“Can’t it wait?” She wiped away the perspiration from her forehead on her sleeve. “We still have a few hours before dark.”

“It won’t wait,” he said. “I’ve told Dilam to come back and supervise the crew until it’s time to pack up for the day.”

“But Li Sung needs Dilam with the elephants.”

“Come on.” His tone was inflexible and so was his expression. “Now.”

It was clear he was not going to be dissuaded. She mounted Bedelia. “What’s the problem? Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” He spurred ahead, heading south. “Follow me.”

At first she thought he was taking her to the clearing area where they’d been that morning, but before they got to it he veered to the east and took a trail through the jungle. Twenty minutes later they came out of the jungle on the bank of a lake.

“Here we are.” He reined in Nugget in the feathery shade of a casuarina tree and slipped out of the saddle. “Get down.”

“Where are we?” she asked blankly as she gazed around at the color and beauty shimmering wherever she looked. Scarlet poppies carpeted the banks, and across the lake flame-of-the-forest trees bloomed brilliant orange, casting fiery reflections in the cool, serene blue of the water. Farther down the opposite bank twenty or thirty elephants lazily cavorted in the shallows. “I don’t understand. What am I supposed to see?”