In their Tara’s absence, the clan had gathered to discuss Mehr’s fate. Although the Tara held the greatest power in a clan, the view of the clan as a whole held great sway, and a Tara could not easily deny her clan’s united will.

The will of Ruhi’s clan, tonight, did not seem particularly unified.

The question of whether to allow Mehr a full place in the clan was a fraught one. A great number of the clan feared that she was still vow-bound to the Maha. They feared he had sent her in search of others with the amata that he could take and bind to his service. Others—like Sohaila—argued that all Amrithi deserved a place in the arms of a clan. Lalita, new as she was, had done her best to merely listen and interject only rarely.

Kamal walked out of the darkness and touched Lalita on the shoulder.

“She’s back,” he said. With no little relief—she had never cared for the laborious business of Amrithi politics—Lalita nodded and stood up.

Kamal gestured at the inner circle, and someone reached a ladle into the pot simmering over the communal fire and filled a cup. They passed it back to Kamal, who placed it in Lalita’s hands. She nodded her thanks and headed away from the circle.

Ruhi was walking up the curve of a dune, a defeated turn to her shoulders. Lalita walked toward her and handed her the steaming cup of steeped herbs, which Ruhi drank fast and handed back to her. Lalita held the cup tight. The night had been bitterly cold, and warmth was welcome.

“Go and rest,” Lalita said.

“I will,” said Ruhi. “But first, tell me what the others said.”

“They’re still arguing,” Lalita said.

“Have they come to a consensus yet?”

“About allowing Mehr into the clan proper? Not at all,” Lalita said with a sigh. “But they won’t countenance giving her up to the Maha. They’ve agreed on that, at least.” She saw Ruhi’s shoulders slump and gave her a look of surprise. “Did you really believe they would make any other decision?”

“I don’t know what to believe anymore,” Ruhi said tiredly. “These are trying times, Lalita.”

“Oh, I’m very aware. Now sleep,” Lalita said pointedly. “I’ll make sure someone else keeps watch.”

“Will you go to her?” Ruhi asked abruptly. Her expression was raw. “Will you comfort her?”

Ruhi did not say, because I cannot, but there was no need. Lalita understood.