Page 18 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin (The Nightfire Quartet #4)

SEVENTEEN

Yasen and Miraan followed Ajay and Row through the streets of Ishaan, passing through the chaos churning around every corner. Miraan wore a scarf over his mouth, nose, and hair, leaving only his eyes uncovered, hoping to avoid recognition.

Posters hung all over the city, hammered with purpose by the royal guards in their crisp, emerald sherwanis. One half featured the likeness of Miraan’s serious face, and the other half bore Zarya’s.

The words traitors wanted for treason were printed across them in bright red ink.

These were no hazy illustrations. They had every detail of Zarya’s face accurate down to the last freckle.

Yasen worried that if she set a toe over the borders of Gi’ana, Dishani would drop shrieking out of the sky. He did think “traitors wanted for treason” sounded a little redundant, though. Who was editing these things back in the palace?

Yasen also wore a hood to obscure his features, namely his bright silver hair. Despite his role in rescuing Zarya and the prince from Dishani’s clutches, it didn’t appear he’d made the priority list of traitors for now.

He was trying not to be offended.

Miraan stared at a poster, his dark eyes shining with the threat of tears before he turned and walked away, leaving Yasen to catch up. They passed through the wreckage of Ishaan: the burned-out buildings, the broken-down carts and fruit stands, the crying women and children.

Had they made everything worse in the name of progress?

Could anyone stand here and say they were better off?

After arriving in Ishaan last night, they’d all chatted for a while before Ajay and Row promised to take them to their new hiding place.

They turned a corner, passing through a square where a giant jade astrolabe dominated the center, surrounded by flower boxes that a few weeks ago had been bursting with the last of summer’s blooms.

Ajay then ducked down a dark alley, and they walked in single file until they came to a gate set into the city wall. He used a bit of magic to unlock it, and they found themselves in a dense section of forest.

Without saying a word, they continued through the trees as the sun rose overhead. Yasen lost track of time but estimated it was about an hour before Ajay said, “We’re nearly there.”

Finally, they emerged to find an encampment swarming with people. Makeshift tents had been erected while dozens of bedrolls lay lined up in neat rows on the ground.

“You did this all in such a short time?” Miraan asked, his voice hushed to a whisper.

“We had no choice,” Ajay answered. “The Jadugara were coming for them.”

“This way,” Ajay said, leading them deeper into the trees until they came upon a clearing where hundreds of people had gathered.

Someone had erected a few wooden crates in the center where Vikas, Farida, and Rania stood, looking over the crowd. Yasen also spotted Suvanna and Apsara on the fringes, stalking back and forth to help keep order.

“The Jadugara are hunting us!” Vikas was shouting to the crowd.

With Farida’s recovery, they had become co-leaders. Row had informed them that Farida and Vikas became friends almost immediately and were working together as one.

“You must protect yourselves. We’re doing everything we can to get your friends and family out of the city, but the palace has increased patrols, and it’s becoming harder and harder to hide.”

Farida stood next to him, nodding and agreeing. Shortly after their attempted coup, she discovered she had four anchors and was learning how to use them.

“What happened to the ones they’ve captured?” someone shouted, and Farida shook her head.

“We’ve been told they are attempting to re-collar them. Jadugara from other realms have been sending their stockpiled ink back to Ishaan,” she said, her voice soft but with the strength to carry over the clearing. “Our informants claim they’ve been unsuccessful so far. Something about the procedure is preventing the magic from taking hold again.”

“With the manor no longer useable, we’ll continue with Operation Starbreak in the forest,” Vikas said. “I’m urging everyone to line up and have your collars removed. Once you’re free, they can’t take you again.”

An anxious murmur rippled through the crowd. “Some are still unsure about Aazheri magic,” Row whispered under his breath. “I can’t blame them.”

Yasen nodded as Farida began speaking again. “We will resume training for the Army of Ashes imminently,” she said. “We must protect ourselves. We can’t hide out here forever. We have people scouting the city to collect whatever weapons were left behind. Once they’re gathered, I urge you to train during every spare moment. You will also continue to receive lessons from the Aazheri who have joined our cause.”

Last night, Row and Ajay claimed the Rising Phoenix hoped to approach the palace again, but they disagreed on whether another attempted coup was the answer or whether they should approach things with more diplomacy.

Either way, they had to prepare themselves.

The royals weren’t currently fighting back, and it was their one advantage. With Dishani indisposed and Miraan out of the picture, the prince suspected they were retreating into the safety of the palace walls to lick their wounds and hide behind the Jadugara as they’d done for so many years.

He’d explained that the king consort, Kabir, had always been a figurehead. He’d rarely been included in important state affairs or politics when Asha had been queen.

When they’d first married, he’d bristled against it, but ultimately, his wife had no interest in including him in these matters.

She was the queen, and her word was final.

Eventually, he gave up and decided to enjoy his life of luxury without responsibility by drinking and sleeping around. It was the arrangement Miraan’s parents had made many years before his birth, and they both seemed happy enough with it.

When Asha disappeared, Dishani had already been acting as her mother’s right hand for many years. She stepped directly into the role, once again leaving Kabir to tend to himself.

That left Miraan’s two youngest siblings, who’d also been sidelined from making any important decisions. Dishani had spent her entire life shutting people out, terrified someone would try to take her power. She’d allowed Miraan to assist her only out of necessity and only because she refused to trust anyone who wasn’t blood.

Not that any of that had worked in her favor, either.

“We must come together for our freedom!” Vikas was shouting now. “We can only survive if we learn to trust each other and those who’ve come to support our cause. I understand why you are wary, but change is here, and there is no stopping it anymore.”

Yasen moved along the crowd’s edge, studying their faces and bared necks. The temporary tattoos were gone, and there was no need for pretenses out here.

Vikas and Farida took another few minutes to address everyone’s concerns before they broke apart and returned to their tasks and training.

Vikas, Farida, and Rania jumped down from their perch and quickly headed over at the sight of Miraan.

“You’re back!” Vikas said, throwing his arms around Yasen. “We were so worried about you.”

Apsara and Suvanna joined their huddle a moment later.

“Where have you been?” Rania asked.

Yasen and Miraan filled them in on everything they’d experienced in Andhera.

“When is Zarya coming back?” Farida asked.

“Soon,” Yasen said, though his words sounded more confident than he felt. He hated leaving her behind. Despite Rabin’s assurances, he was worried. “But in the meantime, we’re here to help however we can.”

“You could help Apsara and Suvanna train the army,” Farida suggested.

“Consider it done,” Yasen said.

He was done with fighting, but for this, he would return to that life one more time. They’d need to assess their weapons stock and create some kind of order within their ranks. Then write up ledgers with names so they could keep an eye on their numbers.

“What are you planning to do about the Jadugara?” Miraan asked.

“We’re deflecting them as much as possible,” Rania answered. “Sending them on wild goose chases. Their power is slipping away, and they’re lashing out.”

“We’ve also been keeping an eye on them,” Suvanna said, gesturing to Apsara. “Intervening whenever they try to harass anyone. A few tried to arrest us.” She barked out a wicked laugh. “They’re all dead now.”

Vikas blew out a breath and ran a hand down his face. “We’ve been trying to quell the riots amongst those who remain in the city, but it’s been impossible so far.”

Yasen had been impressed with Vikas from the day he’d met him. When he’d saved him in that gambling den, he’d shown no fear. When Zarya had freed him, he’d accepted the change in his destiny with stoicism. When he’d been made the leader of an entire rebel movement, he’d stepped into the role like he’d been born into it.

And now, when everything had gone to shit, he was bearing the weight of it all in a way that would have seen most people crumble.

Everyone fell into silence as they watched the area slowly empty.

“We proceed with our plans,” Farida said. “We resume Operation Starbreak and do whatever else we can to dissuade the rioters. We understand why they’re angry, and though I’d prefer to channel my rage in other ways, we also can’t deny this to those who need it as an outlet.

“But we also need to keep moving forward. We try again. We learn from our mistakes, and we take the palace down. Nothing changes if we can’t convince those in power to amend the laws, no matter how many collars we break.”

Everyone around the circle nodded.

“I think I need to talk to her,” Miraan said. Yasen gave him a sidelong look, but he didn’t object. At least not externally. Internally, the idea of Miraan going anywhere near his batshit crazy sister made his stomach twist. He didn’t like that he cared this much about the prince, but there it was. Eventually, he’d have to detangle himself from these feelings, but that was a problem for another day.

“She’ll arrest you immediately,” Row said. “You’ve seen the price she’s put on your head.”

“I have to try,” Miraan said. “I will send a note seeking amnesty so that we may discuss these matters. My sister is many things, but she is a woman who takes pride in her honor. I believe any promise she makes not to harm me.”

Everyone shared skeptical looks around the circle. Yasen’s mouth pressed tight, holding in the tirade he wanted to unleash on Miraan.

The prince then turned to Vikas and Farida and bent at the waist. “If you’ll allow it, I would like to act as the liaison between the resistance and the Madans. We all know that change must come from the top for it to be permanent, and I am best positioned of anyone here to make that happen.”

Vikas and Farida traded another look before she nodded. “I do think that makes sense. But we don’t want to put you in danger.”

Miraan shook his head. “I accepted the risks the first time I sent money to the Rising Phoenix. At that moment, I committed myself to the very end. I cannot stand idle and allow this to continue while I have the power to do something.”

He inhaled a deep breath.

“My sister has ruled with fear and abuse for long enough. It’s time for me to do what I should have done from the very start and either convince her to see the error of her ways or, finally, take her down.”