Ye Eun stifled a giggling snort, scooping up Ae Ri and disappearing into the tunnels.

Sanjeet blinked, glancing down at his hairy muscled chest. “Oh. The priests don’t allow normal clothes into the spring. It’s said to defile the water.” He bit his lip, scanning me anxiously. “I’m so glad you’re all right. I’ll explain everything, I promise, but . . .” He glanced at the sky, which was fading fast, streaked with shadowy indigo. “You’re supposed to dip in the spring before sunset. It’s part of your treatment. I can carry you.” He shrugged, looking sheepish. “I’ve been doing it every night for days.”

I nodded shyly and placed my arms around his neck for balance as he scooped me up from the altar. The spring deepened quickly as he waded in, hot water lapping at our bare skin. When he set me down, my feet barely touched the bottom. Beneath the water, his hands closed around my waist, steadying me.

“There,” he sighed as steam rose around us. Then he swallowed hard, drawing me close so his chin rested atop my head. “I was beginning to think the treatments weren’t working. If you’d slept another day, Dayo was going to rush Kirah home from Songland. She’s probably coming anyway. News of your illness spread fast. As we speak, the entire empire is burning incense for your recovery.”

This close, I could feel his heartbeat, erratic as his chest pressed against mine. “Jeet . . . What happened at the fortress?”

He sucked in a breath. “Well. The good news is, while the transition wasn’t pretty, Djbanti’s revolt was incredibly well organized. The commoners have seized control of the realm and elected their own chieftains to divide property and carry out the people’s demands. If you and Dayo choose to recognize their new government, I’d guess Djbanti will resume trade with other realms in a matter of months.”

“And the bad news?”

“Djbanti’s nobility—cronies of the former warlords—have taken sanctuary in Oluwan, and they’re demanding support from the crown.”

My eyes widened. “Why would they expect help from us, after our Imperial Guard warriors defended the commoners? I’d have thought the nobles would be furious.”

“Ah . . . the nobles don’t exactly know about that part.” Sanjeet sighed and released me, running wet fingers through his hair. “At least, not yet. My warriors and I were wearing plainclothes. I had to make sure we weren’t recognized, since we were technically breaking imperial law.”

He was right. Anointed Ones weren’t supposed to interfere in a realm’s internal conflict; that job belonged to the vassal rulers. The imperial councils only ruled on a larger scale, mediating peace and trade between realms, and hearing escalated court cases.

My eyebrows rose. Since when did Sanjeet start conducting subterfuge missions on behalf of commoners?

“There’s a lot to explain,” he mumbled.

“I’d say.” I smiled at him, intrigued.

“It’s a long story. And I’m not a hero for most of it. Maybe when you’re stronger—”