Hemagiri

II

Vrindha walked into the tavern that was barely filled. It wasn't only Karawan's business that had dulled. Even the bartenders had left to see the king and the prince. Including Karawan and herself, there were only five people there.

With the people outside in the streets cheering for the king, most buildings in the capital city were empty. She hadn't bothered getting a proper glance at the king or the prince while walking the other way to Karawan's. She knew better than to. Even the prince, despite the obnoxious nonchalant expression he bore she could handle seeing. The only person she didn't dare put herself in the vicinity of was the king.

It would barely take her any time to lose all sense of logic and make him pay for murdering her father.

After everything she had achieved in life, after everything she had put herself through to get to where she was, after everything she had sacrificed, she was not willing to let it be taken away by someone like the king.

It didn't take her long to find Aniya, huffing silently in anger with a jug of half filled alcohol and a tumbler in hand.

When she sat next to the princess, she didn't bother deigning her presence with even a look. "A coffee for her," she yelled out to the owner.

Vrindha was long past asking her to be quiet to mask her identity. Telling a drunk person to not do something only made them want to do it more. Besides, Karawan was the only person there who wasn't drunk and he knew it was the princess in his place. If word got out of her presence in his tavern, it was his head that would be rolling.

"So..." she started.

"Life sucks," declared Aniya, chugging another glass of alcohol and not wasting a moment to pour another glass. Vrindha looked up at Karawan, actioning for him to cut the supply for the princess. The look she gave was enough for him to nod in understanding. He had already made enough profit off Aniya.

"It does."

"If you're here to advice me-"

"I'm not."

Aniya finally looked at her, tears brimming her eyes and lips wavering. Steeling herself, she just said, "Good."

For most people, dealing with Aniya's addiction was a burden, but for Vrindha, it was easier to deal with something like this. As selfish of a thing as it sounded, Vrindha was glad she wouldn't have to deliver another speech. Any social energy she had woken up with after a four hour sleep had been spent entirely on Surya.

So no speech with Aniya was something she could definitely deal with.

It was words she regretted a while later when the king had left and Aniya had completed the entire jug, as she dragged the princess back to the back door of the tavern that was hidden from plain sight. Thankfully, people still hadn't started pouring into the place and the door was covered by a thick pillair from the customers. As Karawan pulled the wooden door open, it groaned. Vrindha didn't waste a moment in shuffling into the cellar, not wanting anyone to notice her or the princess.

Karawan signed, asking if she would be alright. Vrindha just exhaled quietly, "I'll take care of her. Give me some time, I'll be back soon."

He nodded, closing the door. When it shut, she made Aniya lean against the door, removing the rug on the ground to reveal a trap door. Opening it, she let the latch hand and rest against the ground. She looked up at Aniya and decided against letting her span the three feet distance between where she was and the trap door.

Grabbing her, she didn't give her a warning before pushing her into the hole. With a yelp, the princess went down. It wasn't like she could have taken the ladder down.