Chasing the Sun

XI

|| - Lady of Labyrinth -||

“And most importantly you are a fearsome thing to behold in your own right!”

- The Wrath and the Dawn
_________

Curse, promise, secret, and bargain; words reeled in her mind as Kashi played with the dagger in her hand, watching the way its edge reflected the candle light. Her face was blank; pale although she was recovering fast. The look in her eyes was cold and sharp as she silently listened to Afreen’s account of the events transpired while she had been unconscious. To say the least, Kashi had been awoken into a chaos, much of which she had no idea how to deal with.

Afreen snatched her wrist with the dagger and pointed it at her own throat as she dropped to her knees. Kashi winced out of her train of dark thoughts as the movement caused pain to shot up her wounded arm.

“If you too believe that I’ve been a traitor, kill me at once Kashi Bai,” she finished in her usual haughty tone, although her eyes started to glisten. “Had it been my life on stake, I would never have bargained with McLane.”  

“Hush Afreen,” Kashi silenced her rather firmly, at the same time letting the dagger fall and clatter on the floor. “I trust you as much as I trust myself, please do not blame yourself anymore.”

“But commander Satyavaan –“

“Is a bitter man,” Kashi cut across, her eyes narrowed as she stood up. “I know he dislikes you rather strongly.” Afreen snorted, as if to oppose her use of such a soft word like ‘dislike’ to describe Satya’s disposition towards her. “But his opinion does not influence mine. Both of you are my people.” She turned to look at Afreen, her gaze determinedly blazing as their eyes met. “I trust my people.”

There was a pause in which Afreen watched as Kashi paced, hands folded against her chest.

“McLane!” She said after a moment, her tone furious. “The man ruins everything! Just because of this useless painting business Satya got trapped for no reason.”

It was the first time they had openly discussed the events following Aziz Khan’s adventure down the secret tunnel. The man seemed convinced that since the tunnel essentially led to the lawns of Shab; Kashi’s residence, it meant Meghdyuth had some connection with Satyavan who was in charge of guarding it.

Kashi knew at once that this reasoning was simply a mask to legitimize their age old feud. Aziz and Satya did not see eye to eye. It was common knowledge that the Nawabzada envied his foster brother. He was only making most of the opportunity. But since Kashi had been unconscious and consequently there had been no more sightings of the rebel Meghdyuth, it seemed most of the lower court was convinced that Aziz had caught the right man.

“He will not betray you, no matter what he is being put through.” Afreen said slowly, after a moment. Kashi turned to look at her, stopping in her tracks for her moment. She wondered why Afreen was not more pleased at the prospect of seeing Satya being punished, even for a crime he did not commit. There was a time when Kashi was convinced that she would enjoy killing the man herself, if given the chance. Something, between them seemed to have changed. But she did not have time to ponder on that at that moment.

“I don’t like to think in that particular direction,” she replied rather bitterly. “His silence is only going to cost him. It is better if we could act swiftly.”

Afreen eyed her for a moment, her eyes wide.

“You’re not thinking of pulling another Meghdyuth stunt are you? For that would be the worst way of repaying him.”