“Fulfill your purpose then,” Pramila ground out. “Accept your fate, so that I no longer need to look at you.”
Malini said nothing to that, and Pramila’s expression flickered—spasmed with something dark that lay far beyond hate. Then she calmed. Reined in her fury. She straightened her shoulders. Smoothed the pleats of her sari.
“More medicine, I think,” Pramila announced. “You’re overwrought, Princess Malini.”
Malini’s exhale was a shudder. Almost soundless.
“Now,” Pramila said. “Move. Princess.”
For a long moment, Malini remained where she was, folded over Priya, holding her wrists in that painful grip. Then, finally, she released Priya and moved away.
Priya lowered her head. Waited.
Pramila raised her hand. Malini made a sound, faint as falling leaves.
Pramila struck Priya, unimpeded. This time the blow wasn’t fueled by rage. This was a deliberate act designed to remind Priya of her place, and Malini of her own, but it did not make the cut of the rings any less painful, the blood in Priya’s mouth any less nauseating.
“Fool girl,” Pramila said. “Take the princess to her room. Now. I’ll be along in a moment.”
It wasn’t long before Pramila stormed in, carrying the carafe.
“Drink it,” she said, slamming the wine down at Malini’s side.
Malini tried to pick up the vessel, but her hands were trembling. Their brief walk—when she had been so lucid—had exhausted her. Before she could drop it, Priya crossed the room. As she drew closer Pramila flinched—or moved to strike her, it wasn’t entirely clear—but Priya looked at her, and the older woman went still. Priya saw a flicker of shame pass over Pramila’s face, at the sight of Priya’s bruised, red lip. The rage had passed through her, after all, and now they were all still here. Pramila. Malini. And Priya, who did not matter at all. Who wore a split lip and a red cheek as a reminder of Pramila’s shame.
I will need to take control of this task from Pramila, Priya thought. I will need to ensure that the princess isn’t poisoned anymore, or she will die.
Priya leaned down and took the carafe from Malini. She poured out a measure and placed it in Malini’s hands.
“Carefully now, my lady,” she said. “Here.”
She helped Malini raise the cup to her lips. Helped her drink.
If Pramila hit her again she was not sure she would be able to control herself, or that she would want to. She pressed her teeth over her tongue, distracting herself from the throb of her cheek.
Still kneeling before Malini, she offered the carafe back to Pramila, eyes demurely lowered.
If she hurts me again, I will break her fingers. Her wrist. I’ll give her face a bare-handed blow. I won’t stand it. I won’t. I—
Pramila took the carafe and swept from the room without another word. A moment later Priya heard the click of the lock. With no key herself any longer, she knew that she and Malini were prisoners until morning.
She exhaled, some terrible tension unfurling from her shoulders.
“You are not good at allowing your pride to be debased, are you?” Malini murmured.
“My lady, I am a maidservant,” Priya reminded her. “I have no pride to debase.”
A small smile crossed Malini’s lips.
“Ah, that is a lie you think you need to tell a highborn lady, is it not? But I know you have pride. We all do. You may ‘lady’ me, and ‘ma’am’ at your seniors, but I can see the iron in you.”
Malini raised a hand, brushing her knuckles against the swelling of Priya’s cheek. Her fingers trembled, still. Priya could feel the sting of the touch. It burned through her blood, sang, and she thought, Oh.
Oh no.
This was more than simple fascination. This was attraction and it was… not remotely convenient.
“Sometimes you must allow your pride and virtues to fall away in order to win the war,” said Malini.
Priya’s breath stuttered, just a little. “Thank you,” she managed to say. “For protecting me.”
“Don’t thank me. I didn’t save you for your sake. I did it for mine. If she had angered you truly enough, you would have hurt her. And then you would have been sent away, and I would be alone again.” Malini was already beginning to sway. She exhaled, then closed her eyes and lay back.
“Will you stay near, when I sleep?” Malini had turned her face away. “Just—you may lie down here if you like.”
Priya swallowed. Did she…？ But no.