It was a powerful oath, one made to their Lord. Breaking it was damning. Durkhanai had not sworn to many things in her life. It was a sacred act, as sacred as blood.

“At the very least, my father will appreciate you keeping me as a guest here for longer,” Gulalai said. “But Durkhanai—be warned. The Badshah’s greed for victory is alarming, not only to me, but to the others as well. It seems he is losing sight of anything else. You wouldn’t want anybody to take advantage of the situation.”

“Is that a threat?” Durkhanai asked calmly.

Gulalai laughed. “No, my friend. A warning. As your ally, I find it pertinent to tell you.” She held Durkhanai’s hands. “And I am glad to be going home only to return. We will continue our misadventures when I do.”

Gulalai winked.

“Go now, draft that contract,” Durkhanai replied with a laugh. “I have more matters to attend to.”

And she did. Durkhanai went next to the ambassador from the B’rung zilla, Palwasha-sahiba, who Durkhanai understood now to be there only to barter some sort of legitimate advantage.

B’rung was a small zilla, sharing a border with Marghazar in the south. Over tea, Durkhanai listened to the ambassador’s grievances, and the main problem seemed to be that the B’rung zilla was largely inaccessible due to exceptionally hilly terrain.

“I went out some nights to inspect your roads,” Palwasha-sahiba said. “I’ve found them to be quite extraordinary.”

So that explained why she was out that night.

“If Ma-Marghazar could aid in the construction of some roads,” she continued, closing her eyes when she stuttered. “B’rung would be most grateful.”

Durkhanai tested the same technique she used with Kurra’s negotiations and found that both Palwasha-sahiba and the Badshah were immediately compliant.

He was willing to do anything for soldiers, his insatiable greed guiding him.

Gulalai was right; the Badshah seemed ready to do anything for more troops against the Luhgams. She knew how badly he wanted to win this war, but he was becoming rash.

He wasn’t seeing things clearly, clouded by emotion.

But they had successfully negotiated with three zillas, which left Durkhanai with one more: Jardum.

But that was a matter for another day. For the time being, Durkhanai was spent, mentally and physically exhausted. She went back to her rooms and took a long, steaming rose bath, but even as she cooled off, clean and warm, she could not quiet the anxiety within her.

There were a thousand emotions running through her veins, and she squeezed her eyes shut, curled her hands into fists, doubling over, breathing hard.

That night, she dreamt of him.

When she awoke, Durkhanai felt him everywhere.