'A gift, maharam, from The Honourable Consort, Rajini Chei.' Isla lowered her gaze, folded kashmeer extended in her hands.

Maharaj Khaisan's voice dripped with suspicion. 'A gift?'

His guards held her at bay. She would not have even gotten this close were it not for the rajini's motif—a wreath of rice stalks in faded copper—laced upon the chest of her ossa. Nobody could mistake the accent of red grains over sage green; a colour the rajini had carefully and precisely selected.

'To congratulate you on your recent accomplishments as right judiciary bench.'

The frown slowly eased from his face. Maharaj Khaisan nodded, and one of his guards stepped forward to take the cloth from Isla's hands, unfurling it before the crown prince.

Silver and black swayed in the afternoon breeze. 'A cloak, maharam, as befitting for a guardian of the law. It is made of the finest kashmeer, lined with winter ermine to symbolise the coming season.'

'It is fine indeed.'

'The rajini hopes it will serve you well for the remaining trial to come.'

'You can extend to her my gratitude.'

I'll do no such thing. Isla bowed low. Her grandmother knew nothing of this ruse, though she did not doubt the rajini would soon hear of the expensive commission she had only recently funded. But she would deal with that when it came to it.

It had taken Isla three days to finally see the crown prince; even now she had to accost him upon the covered corridors bridging the walk between the Grand Palace and the royal stables. It was impossible to catch him when he bothered to attend court assemblies, and when he was not engaged in matters of the state, he was off gods knew where.

'Thank you, maharam. Your hard work is much appreciated.'

'Of course.' His voice lifted along with his chest. 'I'm merely doing my duty.'

'If I may be so bold as to say; I was a dhayang at the academy before the rajini retained me into her House. One of the girls lost to the runesmith was a friend of mine. I'm sure I as well as the other dhayang can now sleep easy knowing you have secured the villain into your dungeons.'

'But then you must be displeased with my role as right judiciary bench.'

'Not at all, maharam. You have only done your duty to ensure a fair trial and that the real culprit has indeed been captured. Someone must hold scrutiny over the prosecutor's case; that witnesses are also presented to speak on behalf of the defence. And someone must ensure the severity of punishment does not exceed the gravity of the crime.'

'You found his sentence not too lenient?'

'Quite the contrary, I thought it judicious of you. For all his crimes, the runesmith was still acting under Rajini Dhvani's directions. Sparing both him and the silver-servant was wise. You would not wish to deter other silver-servants from obeying the royalborn to whom they have sworn fealty.'

It was Kiet who took the penalty of death off the table, but attributing it to the maharam seemed to work. Maharaj Khaisan was nodding along, all the wariness gone from his face. 'Yes, that is exactly so. I'm glad you understand. I can only hope the commonfolk, too, have such high comprehension of courtly affairs.'

Isla gave him one of the smiles she had seen Phrae share with many of her suitors. 'I doubt it, maharam, but that is why the throne rests upon your hands, not ours. We see only what is presented before us—celebrations and grand victories—but nothing of what lies below the surface.'

'Indeed. And some like to celebrate their glory more loudly than others.'

'May I have a word with the rajini's messenger?'

Isla jumped at the voice. She turned and there he was, marching down the shaded walkway toward them.

Maharaj Khaisan's smile was broad. 'Uncle! What a long and healthy life you must live!'

'You must be weary following your morning ride.' Kiet passed his nephew's ring of guards, all bowing in his presence. 'I will get her out of your hair.'

Isla suppressed a sigh. 'I'm afraid—'

'Now,' snarled Kiet. He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her away. He did not stop until they stumbled into the stables, Kiet pushing her through the open doors and out of sight. 'What do you think you are doing?'

Isla whipped around to face him. He looked angry, but it was her who should be incensed. 'What do you think? Since you refuse to ascend the throne, I need to start ingratiating myself to the man who will!'

A few soldiers stood guard just outside the main doors, stable hands were busy cleaning and grooming, but between the sound of their brushing and the restless patter of horses, no one would have heard her. Still Kiet pushed her yet again, this time into the first empty stall they passed, sliding it shut behind him. 'Khaisan is not a man you wish to play with.'

'Do I look like I'm playing?'

'You are mistaken if you believe he can be seduced into indulging your whims. Khaisan indulges one person alone and that is himself!'

'You know, he doesn't seem half as bad as you make him out to be.'

Kiet's chuckle was dry. 'You must be quite insatiable. Does the truth-weaver's company not suffice?'

'How dare you!' The back of her hand met his cheek like the crack of a whip.

Kiet nursed the spot, a flush of deep red already breaking across his skin, but otherwise gave no acknowledgment of the capital offence. 'Dhvani's daughters have convinced their mother to be tried without participation. That means there will be no confession, and Khaisan has already insinuated their scepticism of Chei as an objective witness.'

'I can make her participate.'

'No.' He was so close, she could feel his hot breath. Kiet dropped his voice. 'By law has she the right—'

'To the epps with the law! It does no good when you're the only one abiding by it!'

'Do you wish the realm to learn of your theurgy? For Judhistir to learn? You saw what an emperor would do to keep a truth-weaver; can you imagine the depths one would sink into for a mind-crafter?'

Isla snapped her mouth shut. Making Dhvani participate in her own trial would require a forceful coercion—no subtle, discreet manipulation would work. The rajini would know then of her theurgy, and if she knew, the Maha Rama would immediately hear of it, too. 'So you need me to testify. I already said I would do it—now it's best you leave before you bring question to our integrity for communing before the trial.'

'Except now you've made the maharam aware of your connection to Chei. Your word is already as good as hers.'

So that is the issue. Isla sniffed. 'Then I guess you need to figure it out before her trial tomorrow.'
   

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☆ this chapter is dedicated to Kawaiidonut2 ☆

Video: Atmos Vibe
Image: Original artists unknown

Kiet is not impressed with Isla's schemes. Do you think she's going to get away with it, or will he knock some sense into her?