Venkat stiffened, then smiled even wider to hide it. He could already tell where this was going. Worse, more guests were gathering around them, boxing him in. He should have just waited for Nayan.

“You must be quite knowledgeable,” the man continued. “Given great responsibility. Tell us of the trade; is your supply truly so limited as they say?”

Venkat had seen Nayan easily deflect people who thought they could wring favors out of him. Asha, too, in her flamboyant way. She’d have the man laughing about something else completely by now. Too bad Venkat didn’t know how to do that when he wasn’t sitting behind the big desk in the archives.

“It’s fine?” he hazarded. “Busy.”

“I have been waiting months. Surely it would not be much—such a small gesture—if you were to make an exception for me?”

A server in an impeccable ivory kurta passed by with a tray of golden goblets, and Venkat almost ambushed him in his haste to grab one. “I’m thirsty. How about a drink? To the glory of the betrotheds, Princess Asha and Prince Chintan!”

“A drink”— the man laughed and clinked his goblet against Venkat’s—“and perhaps a dream as well.”

Venkat’s smile felt nailed on. Where was Nayan?

Even more guests had joined them, eyeing Venkat like a shark that had found fresh chum, and he had to resist the urge to back away. “Apprentice,” another nagini purred, sipping her amrit, “is it true the council fears another breach?”

The first woman offered him a suggestive grin. “You can certainly confide in us. Lord Nayan would not mind.”

Yeah, right. Time to go. Venkat stared over her shoulder and made an apologetic face. “Speaking of Lord Nayan, I think I see him over there. Excuse me.” He loped off, only stopping when half the hall separated him from his covetous audience.

On this side of the grand chamber, the palace architects had erected a pond designed to mirror the holiday celebrations outside. Golden plates coasted on the pond’s surface, each covered with enameled diyas, a little pot of oil, and a dark blue lotus with a flame at its heart. Venkat knelt next to the pond and focused on the flame.

They were only people, he reminded himself. He could do this. He dealt with people every day, even if it was from behind his desk.

“That was not so terrible,” Madhu said, gliding up in an indigo choli and matching ornaments. It was strange to see her in her nagini aspect for once. “A tad clumsy, perhaps, but finesse can be learned.”

His neck flushing, Venkat ducked his head. He hadn’t known she’d been observing him. “Thanks?”

“Shall we circulate?” she asked.