Free Laldasa by Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff

with delicate perfumes rose upward to their aerie.
    â€œDon’t concern yourself with them. Only your bhakti, Ana, concerns you. Not theirs ...   What’s wrong, child?”
    Anala barely heard the question. Her entire attention was on a familiar face in the room below. Where had she seen that face, and why did it matter? His clothes didn’t seem right ...  
    She nearly jumped out of her chair. “That man, Jivinta!” She pointed. “The one just crossing the room—no, he’s stopped again, near that small fountain.”
    â€œI’ve never seen him before. What about him bothers you?”
    â€œThat’s one of the thieves who stole my father’s money.”
    Mina didn’t ask if she was certain. Instead, she turned raptor eyes on the man as if to memorize him. “Shall we pursue him?” she asked. “Have him stopped?”
    â€œOn what charge, Jivinta? How can I stop him without revealing myself? Besides, who would believe that a man of such obvious means would steal money from someone like me?”
    â€œWhat is he doing here, I wonder?”
    â€œCould we find out?”
    Mina smiled and rang the service bell.
    Naru appeared almost immediately with a platter of breads, a slight frown in his eyes. “There is something wrong, Rani?”
    â€œNot a thing, Naru,” Mina told him. “Your service is exemplary, as always. But I’ve seen someone I know I should recognize, but cannot match with a name. One of my grandson’s many friends. Is he still there, Ana, dear?”
    â€œJust leaving, Jivinta.” Ana’s voice betrayed none of her desperation.
    Naru took the cue and moved to stand behind Mina’s chair, his eyes on the premiere floor.
    â€œThere,” said Mina, “just passing the first table.”
    Naru squinted, frowned and shook his head. “I’ve seen him before, but I know nothing about him.”
    â€œHe came out of that doorway over there.” Ana pointed to an elegantly decorated portal of only slightly less grandeur than the one they’d entered to reach the Sarojin box.
    â€œHe might be acquainted with someone who has a box in that section. Then again, he might just be a general patron.”
    Anala sighed in frustration. Fate had granted her a gift and she had failed to accept it.
    Naru’s face brightened. “I could give him a message, if I should see him again.”
    â€œOh, no,” said Mina, “that would never do. Then I should have to make the embarrassing admission that I’ve forgotten his name.”
    â€œWell then, I shall ask the other servers if they know him.”
    â€œIf you would be so kind. If I’m going to put the man on my invitation list, I must have his name.” Mina smiled engagingly and Naru bowed his way back to the serving cart, clearly pleased to assist her.
    The meal was wonderful and Anala managed to lose herself in enjoyment of it, though Naru didn’t discover anything about the Nathu Rai Sarojin’s mysterious “friend.” He promised continued attention to the matter as he escorted them to the Sarojin carriage.
    â€œI will find out this man, Rani Sarojin,” he vowed. “You shall have him at your next dinner, I promise you.”
    â€œYes, as the main course,” murmured Mina.
    Naru laughed and bowed as the carriage pulled away from the Kiritan’s front curbing.

— CHAPTER 4 —

    Jaya Sarojin shifted uncomfortably in his seat and tried to concentrate on the petition being read by the Kasi-Nawahr legal representative. Legalese always numbed him; he made an effort to focus on its intent. The KNC document was purposefully obscure, but he caught the intent easily. If it was accepted, the Avasan Guild would be obliterated and its miners reduced to virtual slavery.
    In obscure manner, it set strict percentages on the amount of ore Avasan mines must sell to the Consortium and gave the Consortium