Kaushalya reclined in her seat. I detected a hint of displeasure in her eyes. “What else have I missed in the palace?” I asked quickly, nearly tripping over my words in my eagerness to change the topic.
“So much!” Sumitra angled her body toward me conspiratorially. “Has anyone told you what happened at the wedding of Arya Ravi’s daughter?”
When I got to my room, Asha was waiting for me.
“You received a message.” She waved the scroll in the air, her other hand on her hip.
I tried to grab the paper, but she pulled it out of reach. “I am your radnyi!” I said, but my reluctant laughter gave me away. It was a balm to joke with Asha, after everything that had happened.
“It has been months since you last saw me.”
“I have been busy,” I protested. “Much has happened in my absence.”
At this, she sobered. “Yes. It has.” She stepped toward me and extended the letter.
“And what do you think of it all?” I asked without looking up, opening the scroll.
She must have responded. But I did not hear her over the roar that filled my ears at Ravana’s words.
Radnyi Kaikeyi,
I have sent this to correspond with your arrival in Ayodhya, which as you may know does not come a moment too soon. I hope that you are able to put a stop to the nonsense I have heard, but I have hope—not certainty. How is Rama to become king? He is too young, and he will not deal with the pressure well.
My limbs tingled with apprehension. What if someone had intercepted this? It would have certainly bolstered Rama’s claim that Ravana’s asura blood made him dangerous, for his letter made little sense. Who was Ravana to question the decisions of Ayodhya?
But I recognized in him a parent’s concern and took a deep breath, pushing away my nerves. Surely I would react similarly to anything to do with my children.
I know there is no proof, but I have an unshakable belief that Rama mistreats my daughter. Kaikeyi, if you fail to help her, nothing will stand in my way. So far you have experienced only my kindness, but my wrath is not inconsiderable. You will not be around forever, Kaikeyi. When you are gone, will she not have more to fear?
Ravana
I nearly crumpled the letter in frustration. I did not have time for Ravana’s nonsense, nor was I inclined to indulge him after learning he had lied long ago about his heritage—in my reply, I would need to make clear that I could not change matters of governance simply because he requested so. And despite his strange belief, Sita was not being mistreated by Rama, only vying for his affection. Ravana’s grief over losing her was clouding his mind.
“Did you hear what I said?” Asha asked. “What is this?”
“It’s too much,” I muttered.
“What is? Are you listening?” She came to stand in front of me and waved her hands before my face. “Rama may be unready, but he can grow into the role. You will be his saciva, like you were his father’s, and show him the right path. It is all very sudden, yes, but you have done more difficult things.”
“Yes,” I said softly, but I was uncertain. In truth, I did not know what I could do.
I rubbed my eyes. The warmth of the room was pressing down on me. Without warning, I was standing before a holy fire, Agni’s words closing around me like a trap. It is what you will do.
At the next meeting of the Mantri Parishad, Rama and I found ourselves at odds. At our eastern border with Videha, a village had happened upon a seam of gold while digging the foundation of a new temple. Some had been sent to Ayodhya, and Dasharath wished for suggestions on what to do with the unexpected windfall. I immediately suggested we build another granary, remembering what had happened just this past season. We would not have had the funds for such a construction otherwise, and it was the prudent thing to do.
But as soon as I was done speaking, one of the new advisors cleared his throat. “That is an excellent suggestion, Radnyi, but it seems to me that the past season’s problems were due to a rakshasa. If we wish to prevent such occurrences again, perhaps this gift would be better spent on new weapons for the army.”
This was such a silly idea that I almost felt bad for the boy. Demons outside our borders cared little about the strength of Kosala’s armies. But before I could explain the folly of such a plan, Rama said, “The gods gifted this gold to us, in exchange for our kingdom’s piety in building a new temple. It would be fitting, then, to use it to strengthen our army on their behalf, and to defend ourselves from their enemies. We may find ourselves at war sooner than we expect.”