The Conspiracy

The rain kept pouring outside of his window, matching his mood. Harish lay on his plush curtained bed in the fetal position, barely listening to the sound. It was morning, but the light had gone away and the room was bathed in a dim gray light.

A gush of wind brought in the smell of earth and leaves. That season when they changed colors and fell still felt new to him after five years in the royal palace of Amrendra. Not a golden prison, but home, on the hills of Delen, facing the ocean.

When he'd first set foot in the three-room apartment five years earlier, his eyes were wide in wonder at his sudden change of status. From jester to prince heir of the most northern southern kingdom, that was quite a jump!

But then, he was an acrobat, jumps were never a problem. He'd jumped off Master Zahin's wagon to run away from his itinerant circus with Kartik. He'd jumped down the wall of the royal palace gardens of Lakeshi, to escape from the king's lust. And he'd jumped into his new life with the same ease. Because Kartik was by his side.

His savior, his protector, his lover, his world. The one and only he cared for. The hero he had admired for ten years in the itinerant circus and who had finally admitted he loved him. They'd been so happy together, whether wandering through Lakeshi, hiding in its jungle, or even here, in the Amrendran palace, in this very room that now felt so empty and cold...

He heard voices and footsteps. Servants were bringing lamps for him, but he wasn't going to get out of bed anyway. He barely watched as they set down the flickering flames and left with deep bows.

The shadows started dancing on the white walls and the downpour slowly stopped. It was still a gray day, but it was less dark outside. Inside, nothing had changed. Not for him and his empty bed.

"What do you mean my wretched cousin is still in bed?" Ajay's voice erupted from the antechamber, sounding indignant.

Harish didn't move. Not even his twin had managed to shake him so far.

Ajay muttered something and then everything was quiet. A redbreast sat on his balcony and sang, which made him cry.

Rohit stepped into the room unannounced and came to sit on the edge of the mattress.

"Rahul," he called softly. "Will you come downstairs to eat?"

"No," he answered with a lump in his throat.

He hadn't gone to the family dining room in over a month. He hadn't left his apartment in over a month. He didn't want to see anyone, but couldn't leave Rohit out. They were twins. He knew Rohit could feel his pain and his sorrow. But they couldn't read each other's mind and some things he couldn't say, not even to Rohit. Especially since Rohit called him by his new name.

Of course only Kartik had promised to keep calling him Harish. Everybody else called him Rahul or Your Highness. Your Majesty, even, since King Daruka Dahana had passed away, both twins close to each other, Dahana first, then Daruka.

The shadow king always goes first. He wondered if some great sorrow had killed his uncle, and then his father. He was now the shadow king, since Rohit was more fit to govern than him, but still had to attend all the High Council and Private Council sessions.

"Rahul, you're being stubborn," Rohit said patiently. "If you don't go out of you apartment, how will you find another Kartik?"

"There is no other," Harish said sourly. Nobody could compare to Kartik. "And I don't want to see the people who murdered him."

Funny, he'd said it at last. He heard Rohit hold his breath for a moment.

"Rahul, we don't know what killed him," Rohit said. "A sudden, unknown sickness the royal physician couldn't stop or prevent..."

"He was murdered," Harish repeated somberly.

At first, he was so upset he had let anyone see him. Even at the funeral, lords and servants had come to him, and sometimes said things that had upset him even more. Not the servants, of course, the lords who attended the High Council.

Thus he had retired to his apartment and refused to see anyone. Only Rohit was allowed in his bedroom, Ajay wasn't allowed beyond the antechamber.

"What makes you think Kartik was murdered?" Rohit asked cautiously.

Harish uncurled from his position and sat. He leaned towards the bed table and took a small ivory casket, normally used for small items. It contained the rings he'd received as prince heir, a golden bracelet, a golden medallion and a small piece of parchment where he'd written his name – Harish, not Rahul – and Kartik's enclosed in a heart when he was still learning to write.

He opened it and took a small dart the length of his middle finger that lay over the folded parchment and showed it to Rohit.

"I found this when it was too late," he said. "The sudden sickness was a poisoned dart."

Puzzled, Rohit took it to look more closely.

"It's still poisoned," Harish warned. "Don't scratch yourself with it."

"How do you know?" Rohit gave back the dart.

"I've seen some in Akkora. The Assassins' Guild sometimes use them down there. They have blowpipes and can kill by shooting those poisoned darts from a safe distance." Harish put the dart back in the casket and closed it. "Someone hired an Akkoran assassin to kill Kartik."

"But how do you know it's what killed Kartik?"

"I found it on the floor and I checked his body. I found the wound on his neck, it was so tiny nobody saw it. It was a quick way to dispose of him."

Harish could feel again the still body under his hands, the small cut that had stopped bleeding, see the strange color of Kartik's face. Unknown sickness my ass, he was killed!

Rohit's eyes were wide in shock. "But... why?"

"So they could offer their daughters to the poor mourning shadow king," Harish snapped, looking his brother in the eyes. "You might have welcomed him to the family, but the council never liked Kartik. And they got rid of him so they could push their daughters at me. I will not set foot in the council room while those people are there."

"Which people?" Rohit asked.

"Ask them. You'll know." Harish curled up again in the fetal position. "I have no proof against anyone. I'm sure you'll find who did this to me."

Rohit hesitated, then stormed out. Harish felt strangely relieved. He was still mourning, but now that he had managed to pour out his suspicions, he felt better. He knew Rohit was a true king and would handle the matter better than him.

***

Rohit was furious. He couldn't believe someone in the High Council had paid an assassin to kill Rahul's lover. Why? To weaken him, them? Was someone trying to get rid of the twin kings? And who dared?

Rahul suspected one of the lords who had pushed his daughter after Kartik's death. Many lords had the means to pay an assassin, including his cousin Ajay. But Ajay hadn't mentioned he should marry more than Rohit did. They both knew how much Rahul loved and trusted Kartik. Besides, if Rahul married, Ajay's position might be rickety again. No, Ajay would never think of killing Kartik or getting rid of Rahul.

Rohit was also mad at his twin who had kept his suspicions to himself for well over a month. He might not have proof, but he'd found the poisoned dart, and that was enough to start an investigation.

He knew Rahul was deeply wounded and mourning, but he couldn't believe his twin had kept his sorrow to himself, as if he weren't aware they shared so much. Laxmi had given him twin heirs and baby girls, but after Kartik's death, he'd felt as empty and lost as Rahul was.

Ajay read on his stern face that he was angry as soon as they met outside of the High Council room.

"What is it, Rohit?" he asked, puzzled. "Will Rahul attend today?"

"No, he will not attend until I throw out a few people," Rohit answered through clenched teeth.

"What? Why?" Ajay asked, nonplussed.

"You'll see."

Rohit marched in and sat at the round table with Ajay at his left. The chair at his right was empty, and had been so since Kartik's death.

Rohit watched the councilors gathered around the table, twelve men that ranged from his father's age to his own. Some had been in the council of King Daruka Dahana, others had taken the place of retired members under the request of King Rohit Rahul.

Not that Rahul ever chose anyone, not even Kartik. Rohit knew Rahul wanted to keep his private life separated from his public life, and had succeeded for five years. Why would anyone decide to get rid of Kartik if not to push a daughter into a royal wedding?

Rohit put his hands on the table and interlocked his fingers, staring at the polished wood to gather his thoughts.

"My lords," he said. "Let it be known that my brother will not set foot in this room until I get rid of a few people. He has never requested anyone to join this council, but now he's asking me to remove someone, and I feel compelled to oblige him."

He heard mutters, but didn't look up yet.

"Which of you suggested he marry your daughter?"

"What does this have to do with it?" Lord Durjaya asked.

He sat right in front of Rohit, a plump nobleman who had been in the council for twenty years. He had a son, Arjun, slightly older than Rohit himself, and his daughters were all married off. But he'd always showed contempt for Kartik, even though the gypsy had always been very well-behaved in his few public appearances by Rahul's side.

"I find it exceedingly mean to suggest to a mourning man that he marries," Rohit replied bluntly. "Lord Hitendra?" He stared at a handsome middle-aged man with black hair and eyes. "Did you suggest Rahul marry Chitrangda?"

"No, your majesty!" the man answered, clearly startled. "It wouldn't occur to me to suggest marriage to a widower."

Then Lord Hitendra had considered Rahul married to Kartik. Rohit had been almost sure Lord Hitendra had nothing to do with the murder. He nodded and looked past him to a bulky man with a hooked nose that he thankfully hadn't transmitted to his daughter, the fair Nalini.

"Lord Balavan?" Rohit asked.

The man cleared his throat and fidgeted before answering. "I admit I suggested to his majesty he consider my daughter to ease his sorrow after the passing of his lover," he said. "I had no reaction from his majesty, though."

Of course, he was too hurt to react. Rohit nodded, his face impassive. He stared at a man on his right, another father of a marriageable daughter.

"Lord Sudesha?"

"What's wrong with suggesting the shadow king marry?" Lord Sudesha exclaimed. "I mean, I don't even know why King Daruka Dahana allowed him to keep a man by his side!"

"Because that man saved his life," Rohit said through clenched teeth. "And you had no right to suggest my brother marry without consulting me. He's the shadow king. I'm the main king. I produced the heirs to this throne. He doesn't need to breed."

"But if you'd failed or if your twins don't survive infancy, wouldn't it be better if he bred too?" Lord Durjaya said. His contempt for Rahul was plain and Rohit narrowed his eyes.

"If my twins don't survive, Ajay's twins will reign," he said bluntly. "That was decided by King Daruka Dahana five years ago. Ajay should have been the shadow king if we hadn't found Rahul alive and healthy."

"Our king is a jester," Lord Durjaya muttered. "Amrendra is doomed."

Rohit slammed his hand on the table to stop the murmurs and comments.

"This doesn't justify murder! Who paid the Akkoran assassin to kill Kartik?"

"What?" Even Ajay couldn't believe his ears.

"Kartik was killed?" Lord Hitendra asked, eyes wide in shock.

"Rahul found a poisoned dart and the wound on Kartik's body," Rohit answered.

Lord Durjaya scoffed. "The gypsy won't be missed," he muttered.

Rohit took a deep breath, grabbing the table with both hands. He needed to stay calm. Ajay was cursing under his breath by his side.

"Lord Durjaya, Lord Balavan, Lord Sudesha, you are no longer needed in this room. You are discharged from the High Council. Prince Ajay will help me choose the replacements."

"Young fool," Lord Durjaya said with contempt. "Amrendra is truly doomed now!"

Rohit clenched his teeth and pointed at the door. The three lords rose and left.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Ajay whispered.

"I will find who ordered Kartik killed," Rohit replied, determined, looking the remaining councilors in the eyes. "Lord Hitendra, as the eldest of this council, do you have any suggestions?"

Lord Hitendra straightened. "If you really think someone paid an assassin to kill your brother's husband, we will find him. Anyone in this room could afford it, and so could the dismissed councilors."

"I could be the one," Ajay added. "I might have wanted Rahul out of the way too."

"You're not that cunning or slimy," Rohit snapped. "What I don't understand is... why kill Kartik? Why not Rahul himself?"

"We shall find out, Your Majesty," Lord Hitendra said, bowing his head. "I hope your brother will attend the next council and provide us with more information on what he has discovered. I wonder why he didn't bring this to our attention himself."

"Because he said he had no proof, and he still doesn't know enough about the people of the kingdom, or even the nobles of this court," Rohit said. "I will serve justice, though. I'll find who ordered his beloved killed and why."

***

Harish was up now. He'd gone to the bath chamber and allowed the barber to shave him. Another servant had brought a tray of food from the kitchen and put it on the low table of the antechamber, but he hadn't touched it yet.

He stood on the balcony doorway, looking at the new downpour that bathed Delen in grayness. When the wind blew the right way, he could hear the sea roar on the nearby coast. If the weather gods were as upset as he was, the thunderstorm was well deserved.

He wondered if Rohit would figure things out. Now that he'd unburdened himself of the notion of Kartik's murder, he still felt empty, but less overwhelmed. He'd always miss Kartik, but if Rohit could bring justice, he'd find a way to cope with the loss. He owed it to his twin, who had a loving family and lovely children.

He considered visiting his nephews and nieces for a change, but maybe he should wait for Rohit to come back from the council session first.

A commotion outside his door made him turn, puzzled. The servants were all gone, but there were still guards outside for his privacy. The door burst open and a nobleman about his age rushed in and threw himself at his feet, hugging his leg as if it were a safety line. Four guards burst in after him – two royal guards and two from some other nobleman's retinue – ready to drag him out again with apologies.

Harish raised his malformed hand, which stopped the four armored men dead in their tracks.

"What is it?" he asked the man attached to his leg.

"Your Majesty, I beg you, save me," the other said, head hung, eyes closed, squeezing his leg further.

Harish waved the guards away and they left with deep bows, closing the door behind them. The two who belonged to somebody else's personal guard glared at both him and the kneeling man.

"You can let go now," he said as his hand fell back down to his side. "Please remind me who you are."

The other pulled away but remained on his knees, head low. "Arjun, son of Lord Durjaya," he said.

"Ah, yes, the council head." Harish frowned. Lord Durjaya had never liked him. Or Kartik. For whatever reason.

He stared at the son. A handsome man with brown hair and eyes. He remembered Arjun was married with children, much like Rohit and Ajay and everybody else at the Amrendran court.

"Who is after you?" Harish asked. "Can't your powerful father protect you?"

"He is the one I'm begging you to protect me from," Arjun answered, head still bowed. "King Rohit dismissed him from the council this morning and it threw him into a frenzy... I have learned things I wasn't aware of and can't go through with his plans. I just can't."

Harish suddenly remembered the colors of the other two guards that had burst into his room after Arjun. Lord Durjaya's personal guard. What had made the powerful lord send his men after his son? Harish was still puzzled by politics and nobility things, five years later. Most of their behavior he didn't understand.

They seemed all so far removed from the rest of the world – Rohit included. But Rohit listened to him when he had something to say, the others not so much. And since he was the shadow king, he usually kept his mouth shut.

Not this time, though. He frowned. "What are his plans?"

"End the twin dynasty of Amrendra."

Harish leaned on the wall and looked outside again. The thunderstorm was worsening. He smiled ruefully at the thought of how close Lord Durjaya had been to getting rid of him and Rohit.

He went to sit by the low table and started eating. Enough moping around, he'd help Rohit discover the conspiracy that wanted both him and his twin dead.

Arjun hadn't moved, so Harish invited him to sit with him.

"Does your father want you on the throne?" he asked between bites. Now he was curious to know what went on in the head of the head of the council. He was ready to accept anything Arjun said without questioning it, he'd let Rohit decide if it was right or wrong.

"At first he thought about a joint government with me and Ajay, so we could keep the double name of the king, but today he decided one king was more than enough," Arjun said, eyes low. "Ajay could have twins, or his descendants could have twins, bringing back the twins line into the royal house, so..."

"So just you, since he's too old. Does he have supporters?"

"Yes. Your majesty, I'm glad to see you eating again. I had come to tell you about the conspiracy hoping to shake you from your mourning. Have you seen how it affects your twin?"

"I know it affects Rohit, but I can't help if my heart is broken."

"Mine was broken too when I learned it was my father who caused all this sorrow. I have always admired you and Kartik, and his death has disturbed me even though I didn't really know him. But I saw how much you loved each other and I will freely admit that I had often envied you."

Harish stared puzzled at the nobleman. He thought everybody at the Amrendran court put up with him and Kartik because King Daruka Dahana and then Rohit and Ajay had wanted them to. He wasn't aware that there were people who genuinely liked him for who he was, a shy prince with commoner's wisdom and hidden wounds only Kartik and Rohit knew about.

"I'm touched by your admission, and assume your envy never wished for mine or Kartik's death," he said.

"Certainly not!" Arjun finally looked him in the eyes. "If I had known what my father had in mind, I'd have come to you immediately and warned you! When he finds out I've given out his plans, he's going to disown me and disinherit me and kick me out of my own house... but I don't care. I had to tell you."

"Why did you come to me and not Rohit?" Harish asked. He was starting to like the nobleman.

Arjun blushed, but didn't avert his gaze. "I have known Rohit since childhood and he never had quite the effect you have on me," he said. "You might look the same, but you're very different."

"He's the perfect twin." Harish waved his malformed hand. "I'm the jester."

"You are not a jester. You are a wonderful human being who wasn't as lucky as we were. You survived years of hardship and, I assume, abuse and still had the grace and strength to smile every day. Now smiles have vanished from both faces of King Rohit Rahul and it's a shame."

"Mm." Harish sighed. "You will have to give me more time before I really smile again. Kartik was unique, and I will never forget him."

"None of us ever will. But if there's anything I can do for you..."

Harish stared at Arjun. Was he suggesting himself? Wasn't he married already? What was really going on?

"I think we should talk with Rohit and Ajay," he said, looking away and finishing the food in front of him. "I don't think I can make any decision right now."

***

Rohit almost couldn't believe his eyes when Rahul stepped into the great hall with Arjun. Relief flooded him. Rahul had left his room. Must be a good sign.

The great hall was full of courtiers and noblemen, including the recently dismissed councilors, but Rahul didn't seem to mind. He made a beeline for Rohit and Ajay who sat side by side on the dais next to Rahul's empty seat.

Murmurs followed his twin as he sauntered determinedly forward, followed by Arjun who looked worried. Rohit wondered what that was all about. Had Arjun's father said something that might compromise him? But why did Arjun go to Rahul instead of him or Ajay, whom he knew better?

And then a courtier swiftly stepped forward to stop Rahul's march while everybody else stepped back to make room for him. Arjun screamed a warning, putting himself between Rahul and the obvious assassin who aimed straight at the shadow king. The dagger hit Arjun's shoulder, making Lord Durjaya scream, "No!"

Guards quickly intervened to take down the assassin, while Rohit, Ajay and Lord Durjaya rushed near Arjun who had collapsed in Rahul's arms.

"Might be a poisoned blade, call the royal physician!" Rahul ordered with surprising coldness.

The man who couldn't save Kartik was soon by Arjun's side, tending and cleaning the wound. Rohit could hear Lord Durjaya curse under his breath as he watched, glaring at his son and calling him a fool.

The royal guard had made a circle around the fallen nobleman, allowing him to breathe and the doctor to take care of him. Rohit ordered the people to disperse and the great hall was empty by the time the doctor said Arjun could be safely moved to his bed.

"Not his bed, mine," Rahul said, determined. "Take him to my apartment."

"Why?" Lord Durjaya was red with outrage. Arjun was passed out and couldn't comment.

"Because I want him to survive so he can repeat to my brother what he told me," Rahul replied, staring at Lord Durjaya. "That's why he was following me, we were going to reveal your plan to Rohit and Ajay."

Rohit felt proud of his twin, then his words registered. "What plan?" he asked bluntly.

"He wants us dead." Rahul looked at him, waving at the plump lord with his malformed hand. "And since it's taking me too long to die of heartbreak, I guess he decided to be more direct." He looked at the assassin that lay on the marble floor in a pool of his own blood. Of course he wasn't going to let himself be captured alive. "I bet he has a blowpipe somewhere on him," Rahul whispered, frowning.

"Search him," Rohit ordered the guards. Sure enough the blowpipe was hidden in the folds of the assassin's clothes, along with more knives and the noose. "So we found who killed Kartik," Rohit said. "And he just tried to kill you as well." He looked at Rahul. "What did you discover?"

"Lord Durjaya plans to put Arjun in our place," Rahul said. "He isn't alone, and Arjun hadn't named his accomplices yet. That's why I want him to survive and tell us who supported his father's claim."

"You slimy toad!" Ajay screamed, furious. "How dare you attempt to take the lives of the Amrendran royal family! When I think in what high esteem my father held you..."

Lord Durjaya scoffed. "Dahana trusted me more than his own twin," he said. "After the young god left our court, things started going wrong for us. Dahana had only you, and Daruka had... him." Rahul didn't react to the obvious contempt in the lord's voice. "I was the one who sneaked in the nursery and took away the sickly, imperfect baby to give you," he pointed his finger at Ajay, "a chance to be on the throne!"

"Pity he survived and we found him," Rohit commented, sarcastic. "You should have accepted his return, like we all did. Including Ajay and his father."

Ajay nodded, still scowling at Lord Durjaya. Rahul was quiet now, as if expecting Rohit to make the final decision.

"Is that why we now have three kings instead of two?" Lord Durjaya retorted. "I wasn't the only one who thought the twin kings were doomed. We hoped that by killing Kartik, Rahul would die of heartbreak, and you'd soon follow suit, since you are so attached to each other. But then you kicked us out of the council and we had to do something. If only my stupid son hadn't interfered..."

"Arjun saved my life," Rahul said. "I will save his. I know he has family..."

"Arranged marriage," Ajay said quickly. "I doubt he ever loved his wife."

"You were the only one who had the one you loved by your side," Rohit told Rahul tenderly. "We married out of duty, and you know where my heart was at the time."

Rahul nodded, serious. The Gallian mercenaries had been killed in border skirmishes throughout the years, Gaia first, then Kenuwee and their men. It was all Amrendrans guarding the borders now.

"Please do take my son to your bed and abuse him as much as you can. He doesn't deserve to hold my family name," Lord Durjaya said with contempt. "I disown him and will pass the family name to his son."

"I'm not taking him to my bed, I only want him to recover from the wound in a safe place," Rahul snapped.

"And you won't have anything to pass on, since you're now stripped of all your titles and belongings," Rohit added. "You, and your accomplices. Please tell us their names and they will be taken care of."

"I will never tell you." Lord Durjaya scowled at them. "And eventually someone will kill you all."

***

Harish saw Arjun stir, thus he went to sit on the edge of the bed, like Rohit had done with him the previous morning.

He hadn't slept much after the arrest of Lord Durjaya, but it wasn't the loss of Kartik that had kept him awake. He had laid down listening to Arjun's breathing and thinking back to the confrontation with Lord Durjaya in the great hall. His lack of a wife had put Rohit in danger as much as himself.

Arjun opened his eyes and focused on him. "Your Majesty..."

"I'm fine," Harish said. "Thank you for risking your life to protect me."

"I was afraid my father would try to force your hand..."

"Your father was arrested. He refuses to tell who his accomplices are. Did he tell you before you came to me? Otherwise Rohit will have him tortured before someone else hires another assassin to kill us."

"Yes, I know their names." Arjun tried to sit, but Harish put a hand on his chest to keep him down.

"Wait here, I'll fetch Rohit. You're still weak, and I'd rather know you're here safe than wandering the corridors of the palace."

Arjun nodded.

Harish went to Rohit's apartment and knocked. His twin was up and still lingered with his wife, but as soon as he saw him, he let her go.

"Did Arjun come to?"

Harish nodded and greeted Laxmi who now looked worried. Rohit quickly kissed her and they headed back for Harish's bedroom. Arjun gave them the names and Rohit frowned. Harish wasn't sure he knew them all, and he didn't care.

"Thank you, Arjun," Rohit said before leaving. "You can go back to your palace, your father has been dispossessed by royal decree."

Harish and Arjun watched him leave. Again Arjun sat, ready to leave, with his bandaged shoulder and naked torso. Harish had never noticed how handsome Arjun was.

"No rush to leave," he said. "You're still weak."

Arjun stood. He was slightly taller than Harish, much like Kartik had been.

"I better go, Your Majesty. Before I do something I might regret."

Harish stared at those brown eyes and recognized what was behind them. His lips slowly curved into a smile.

"I know desire when I see it, Arjun. Please stay."

"I can't take Kartik's place!" Arjun's eyes widened in panic.

"I'm willing to give you a chance," Harish replied. "As long as you call me Harish."

"Harish?" Arjun was puzzled. "Why?"

Harish shrugged. "Let's call it a pet name." He stepped forward and put his arms around Arjun's neck. "Will you stay?"

Arjun opened and closed his mouth. Harish pressed his body against him and felt Arjun's hands on his waist. Arjun couldn't look away, and had trouble breathing.

Harish kissed him. It wasn't Kartik's mouth, but it wasn't a lustful rich man either. Maybe he should marry out of duty like Rohit, Ajay and Arjun himself. And maybe Arjun would come to his bed every now and then. And they could be more than friends and share secrets...

Arjun tasted good. Harish pulled back and smiled at his shocked face.

"Isn't that what you had in mind?" he asked.

Arjun blushed. "Yes, sort of... I wasn't hoping..."

Harish let him go. "We'll have to explore this thing. Do you think I should marry?"

"Not if you don't want to."

"But you did. I can do it too. I know how to sleep with women. As long as I have a handsome man to go back to every now and then..."

Arjun stepped forward and took him in his arms. "You're very tempting, Your Majesty."

"Please, call me Harish..."

***

Rohit slept surprisingly well for the first time in over a month, in spite of having removed three councilors and arrested one of them. Rahul must feel better after the previous day. Things were going to be all right.

Rahul called him to say Arjun was awake and ready to give the names of his father's accomplices, so after hearing the thankfully short list, Rohit went to look for Ajay. They had more arrests to make, and a few trials.

Five lords were involved in the conspiracy to get rid of the twin kings. It took all morning to convict them, and Rahul and Arjun didn't show up. Arjun was wounded and wasn't supposed to attend, but Rahul was surprisingly missing again.

As meal time approached, Rohit excused himself from Ajay and went to check on his brother. He found Rahul asleep in Arjun's arms. Both were naked, except for the bandage on Arjun's shoulder. Rohit smiled. Rahul was definitely recovering from the loss of Kartik.

He sat on the edge of the bed and shook his twin awake.

"Rahul, will you come down to eat?"

"Ah, yes, give me a moment," Rahul answered sleepily, not moving from the warm embrace. Arjun awoke too, but didn't move. "I've been thinking you should find me a wife."

"What? Why?" Rohit asked, puzzled.

"Because it's best for the kingdom. I don't want another conspiracy to get rid of us because I sleep with a man. So if you can find me a suitable wife, I'll dutifully do like you or Arjun."

"I see. And what about Arjun?"

Rahul turned to glance at his lover. "I'm not sure we can keep meeting..."

"Rahul, this palace is big, and so is his. I'm sure you can find places to do what you need to do," Rohit said, trying not to burst out laughing. He looked at Arjun. "You never showed any inclination for me, Arjun."

"You might look the same, but you're not the same," Arjun replied with a half-smile. "He taught me there are other ways besides just doing what your father tells you to do."

"Yes, my twin is a little unruly." Rohit stared fondly at Rahul. "Fine, I will find you a bride. What do you think of Chitrangda? Lord Hitendra's daughter?"

Rahul stared puzzled at Arjun. Of course he had no idea who he was talking about. Arjun nodded.

"She's lovely and she'll look good by your side," he said.

"Fine, if she agrees, I'll have her," Rahul said with a little shrug. "Can you ask her father?"

Rohit smiled. "I will. See you downstairs."

He rose and left. In the antechamber he heard Arjun ask, "Why does he call you Rahul?"

"Hush," Rahul replied. "I told you, that's a pet name for special ones."

Rohit smiled. Kartik, and now Arjun. Rahul still wanted to be called Harish. Rohit wondered if Rahul would ask his wife to call him Harish as well, but he doubted it. Must be some kind of love name for him.

Before heading for the private dining room, he went back to the great hall where people still lingered after the morning trial. Lord Hitendra was still there and had been joined by his wife and daughter, Chitrangda.

Chitrangda had been a good friend of his sister Kareena and had welcomed Laxmi of Lakeshi at the Amrendran court when Rohit had married her. She got along fine also with Nisha of Rajendra, Ajay's wife. She'd be perfect for Rahul.

"A word with you?" Rohit said, stopping by Lord Hitendra. "My brother seems keen on taking a wife after this mess of a conspiracy. I was wondering if Chitrangda would like to marry Rahul." He looked at her lovely face and saw her gasp in surprise.

"Your Majesty... King Rohit has changed his mind?" Lord Hitendra asked, puzzled.

"Obviously the loss of Kartik and the danger he put us all in made him see clearer," Rohit replied. "Chitrangda will have to put up with Arjun, like Laxmi and Nisha put up with the fact that I'm inseparable from my cousin Ajay..."

Of course he didn't sleep with Ajay, but he knew Chitrangda was smart enough to understand what had actually happened.

She smiled. "I will be honored to marry your twin, your majesty," she said with a curtsy.

"Good, this is settled, then! The announcement will be made after the meal."

Rohit headed for the family table feeling elated. Everything was finally all right.

***

"Thank you for agreeing to marry me," Harish said after the betrothal banquet, holding Chitrangda's hands. He had trusted Rohit and Arjun and they had chosen a lovely woman for him. But he felt the need to be completely honest with her, since she was a stranger. "I look forward to getting to know you better. I thought I'd introduce myself to you first..."

"You don't need to say anything," she replied. They sat in a gazebo in the palace gardens and the sun shone on Delen again after the previous days thunderstorms. The garden was still quite wet and the flowers all in bloom after the showers. "I know quite a lot about you."

"From who?" he asked, skeptical.

"Rohit, Ajay, Nisha, Laxmi..." She had a beautiful, impish smile. "And even something from Arjun. We grew up together – not with the foreign princesses, but with Rohit, Ajay and Arjun."

"And what did they tell you about me?" Harish felt amused now. Had Arjun already given away their secret?

"That you truly loved Kartik and were heartbroken when he died. I'm glad you decided to move on. I know you will always miss him and you'll need two people instead of one to fill the void."

"My, aren't we smart, my lady Chitrangda?" He grinned. "Why didn't Rohit or Arjun tell me how smart you are?"

"Because you didn't ask?" she replied with her dazzling smile.

"True." He nodded.

He hadn't asked anything about her, because he trusted his twin. He hadn't asked Arjun, because he didn't think he could learn anything about his prospective bride, and still wanted to keep the two things separate.

Arjun for Harish and Chitrangda for Rahul. Eventually he'd manage to patch up the two, but now it was too early still. He felt empty when he thought about Kartik. His betrothed was right, he'd need two people instead of one from now on, to fill the void Kartik had left behind.

"Do you know why your brother chose me?" she asked. He shook his head. "Because I'm not a princess."

"Right. If we have children, even twins, they won't threaten Ajay and Nisha's position!"

"Exactly. The edict of King Daruka Dahana about this succession still stands."

"Good." He felt relieved. He hadn't thought that his move would hurt Ajay. Obviously Rohit was aware of the problem and had solved it. "You grew up with my twin and my cousin – were you ever interested in either of them?"

"No, but Prince Ajay seduced my elder sister Chandra when Prince Rohit went looking for a bride," she answered, amused. "She had to be content with marrying Lord Balavan's son. You know, Nalini's father?"

Harish only knew he was one of the arrested lords, who had suggested he marry his daughter at Kartik's funeral.

"Is there anything else that you'd like to know about me?" he asked. Rohit or Ajay couldn't have told her everything!

"Actually, yes." She squeezed his fingers. She had never looked repulsed by his malformed hand and was holding it exactly like the other one. "I was wondering if you knew your way around women."

"Ah... yes, I do." He squeezed back. "Didn't Rohit tell you I was a jester?"

"Yes."

"And a prostitute?"

"No, he didn't tell me that part."

"Well, then, Master Zahin started selling my body when I was in my teens. That's what ticked off Kartik and the reason he took me away from the itinerant circus. He had enough of watching me be pimped out to lustful rich men and women."

Her brown eyes had widened in shock at the story, but then she relaxed and smiled again.

"Good. We're all set to live happily ever after, then," she said. "I'll make sure Arjun's wife doesn't bother you with useless jealousy... Although she's wary of other women, she probably wouldn't consider a man her rival..."

"My lady!" He feigned incredulity at her statement, then both burst out laughing.

Harish liked her. He knew how Rohit felt about Laxmi now. Not the passion, but something more permanent.

He took Chitrangda in his arms and kissed her. They'd be all right – all of them.

Acknowledgments

A very special thanks to Camila for her thoughtful comments on the whole story. Sorry I couldn't please you better with The King-God of Arquon!

Thank you Lyn Worthen for the editing.

***

About the author

Barbara G.Tarn had an intense life in the Middle Ages that stuck with her through the centuries. She prefers swords to guns, long gowns to mini-skirts, and even though she buried the warrior woman, she deplores the death of knights in shining chainmail. She likes to think her condo apartment is a medieval castle, unfortunately lacking a dungeon to throw noisy neighbors and naughty colleagues in. Also known as the Lady with the Unicorns, these days she prefers to add a touch of fantasy to all her stories, past and present – when she’s not wandering in her fantasy world of Silvery Earth or in her Star Minds futuristic universe. She’s a writer, sometimes artist, mostly a world-creator and story-teller – stories comprise shorts, novels and graphic novels. Her novella “The Hooded Man” has received an Honorable Mention at the Writers of the Future contest. Used to multiple projects (a graphic novel is always on the side of the prose), she writes, draws, ignores her day job and blogs at: http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com

For more info on the series or other titles of Unicorn Productions, go to http://www.unicornproductionsbooks.com/