Page 62 of Heart of Night and Fire

“Nevertheless, if you need anything, please ask.”

“Thank you,” she said eventually, sensing his concern was genuine.

“You didn’t start the fire. You tried to save her. Most wouldn’t have even done that,” Kindle said.

“You aren’t going to tell me I’m a fool for crying over the life of a vanshaj?”

The flecks of red and orange in Kindle’s dark eyes flared for a second. “There’s nothing less valuable about the life of a vanshaj. She deserved to be saved as much as anyone else.”

A loud crack drew their attention towards the Jai Tree. One of its thick branches had splintered under its weight and was slowly bowing. Apsara and Suvanna jumped up from where they were still sitting in the middle of the courtyard. With her arms raised, Apsara used her magic to snap the branch from the tree before she eased it into a safer position.

Koura was circling the Jai Tree, gently laying his large hands on the bark and scrutinizing the surface, his jaw hard and his eyebrows bunched.

“What’s going on?” Zarya asked Kindle, gesturing to Koura.

“No one has been able to get inside to check on Rani Vasvi,” Kindle said, his voice low. “The door is blocked.”

“Does it hurt her if the branches break?” Zarya asked, a horrified hand drifting to her throat. Kindle didn’t respond. His lips were pressed together, and she supposed that was answer enough. She swallowed, thinking of how much pain the queen must be in right now.

“They need to get to her,” she said, and Kindle nodded.

“They’re trying. And not just for her sake. If she dies, there will be no enchantment protecting the city. Even if she does survive, I worry that she won’t be able to hold it in this weakened state.”

At that moment, half a dozen peri—the same tiny creatures they’d seen at the peri anada—streamed out from a hole at the base of the tree. Flittering around Koura’s head, they bounced through the air, gesturing wildly. With the blanket wrapped tightly around her shoulders, Zarya strode towards Koura with Kindle on her heels.

“The queen is alive!” Koura declared, just as a group of soldiers entered the courtyard with axes slung over their shoulders. Koura began directing them, and the soldiers set to work. The thunk of metal hitting wood became the only sounds in the courtyard as everyone held their breath. A pained shudder ripped through the tree with each strike. Zarya imagined that if she strained hard enough, she could hear a distant scream.

Finally, the doorway shifted, and Koura shouted out a series of orders as people scurried left and right to obey. Before long, the door had been unblocked, and Koura ducked inside with his retinue of healers armed with supplies.

“Can they help her?” Zarya asked Kindle.

“I hope so. The queen’s imperviousness to magic includes the healing power of Niramaya, but they will do what they can.”

Zarya caught sight of Vikram and Yasen handing out blankets and checking on injuries. Guards were collecting the dead, lining them up in rows to be identified by their loved ones. Zarya’s throat constricted as she thought of the woman’s family who would have no body to bury. Nothing to hug one last time.

Someone thrust a steaming mug of chai into Zarya’s hands, and she looked up gratefully to find Vikram.

“I’m so relieved you’re okay,” she said, accepting the cup and taking a sip of the hot tea.

He studied her face and asked, “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “I’ll tell you later.”

Reluctantly, he nodded and turned towards the burned tree with his brows furrowing, his pale face contrasting with the dark circles under his eyes.

“I’m sure she’ll be okay.” She placed a hand on his arm. “I know she means a lot to you. Koura will do everything he can.”

Vikram nodded, his expression grim.

The queen’s steward, Tarin, had entered the courtyard with the Princess Amrita clinging to his arm, her face crumpled with worry. Zarya heard him demanding to be let inside to see the queen, his gravelly voice rolling over the courtyard stones.

Apsara blocked the entrance with her arms crossed and her expression inviting little argument. “Once Koura has examined her condition, you may go inside to see her,” she said.

Tarin grunted, smacking his cane on the ground, clearly displeased with her answer. He told her he would stand here and wait. Apsara shrugged as if it made no difference to her.

“Is the princess okay?” Zarya asked. She wasn’t entirely sure what Amrita’s relationship with the queen was, but it was obvious Rani Vasvi meant something to her. “I should go and speak with her. She was so kind when she helped me in the infirmary.”

Vikram looked over to Amrita and then back to Zarya, rubbing his forehead.