I Shall Rewrite the Stars

Chapter 17

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I look toward Helios, lost for words. His lips fumble without a sound, until finally, he shakes his head.

“No, I—I can’t,” he tries, to which the maharaja chuckles.

“The greatest honor in all the world, is bound to be overwhelming at first. But the shock will soon fade, and you will be alright.”

“Helios!” I hiss, as he stands with hands fisted at his sides.

“I can’t accept your offer, Sire,” he says. “Raja is my friend. I want her to be happy—I can’t accept the thought of forcing her into a marriage that she doesn’t want!”

The maharaja’s smile slips, and the room falls deadly silent. Returning to his seat, the man tilts his head back, the sly look once again glittering in his dark eyes.

“My rajkumari does all I command, when I command it. If I order her to fight, she will take up arms. If I order her to die, she will use her last breaths to ask how she should do so.”

Helios frowns, rage burning in his eyes. “Raja and I have talked a lot since we met. I know she has been a perfect Daughter of Indrira. She’s done all you’ve asked and more!”

“Then-”

“But marriage is sacred in Kemet. The most carefully considered aspect of our lives! I can’t force someone who doesn’t love me, to take my hand as if she were just some reward to be handed out at will. Raja is my friend, Sire. I wish for her happiness—I can’t be the one who takes it away from her!”

“Helios,” Raja whispers.

At the same time, her father purses his lips, and looks to me. “You’ve claimed to seek my guidance, Selene of Kemet. Now, I offer this much without a cost: Indrira sits atop the world. My army is mighty, my rule absolute. To have me as an ally, especially when Kemet is in such a state of peril, may be your only hope to reclaim your homeland.”

“Mother taught me that our bonds of marriage carry the weight of a million lives,” I say. “In times of peace, a million lives may flourish. In times of war, a million lives may be cut short. Thus we should consider the marriage matter, with the utmost caution.”

“I am exceptionally selective toward any who might dare claim the sacred name of Indrira. The offer I have made to your brother, is not a light one. You might advise him to reconsider his declaration, before I change my mind.”

Looking at Helios, I remember the scene that Juba and I came upon. Unlike me, who grew and lived and learned to love through my visions, Helios is still barely a man. His heart is young, childish. Feelings may have bloomed between he and Raja, but they are nowhere near strong enough to warrant marriage.

“As children of Kemet, we are duty-bound to do whatever it takes to protect our homeland,” I say. “But we are also very young, and without parents to speak on our behalf or guide our paths forward. In light of this, I beg of you to forgive Helios’ rash rejection.”

“Selene!” Helios gasps, his incredulous gaze whipping down on me.

“However,” I continue. “The beliefs and cultural rights of Kemet live of inside us, foremost, or else they live in no one at all. Marriage is too sacred a covenant to be agreed upon under these circumstances. Because of that, I have to stand by Helios’ decision.”

“Do you intend to use the wish I’ve granted, to beg my assistance in fighting Roma?” the maharaja asks. “Is that why you neglect the good of your kingdom, for the good of your brother?”

“Our lives must be the examples of how all the people of Kemet should live. Elsewise, our kingdom will lose its way, and become a shadow of itself. With my support of Helios’ wishes, I protect both he and Kemet.”

“You believe you can survive—can take on Gustavian, without my aid, then? Or with just my shallow promise of aid, should I gift it?”

“You are wise among the nations, Esteemed Sire. I could never believe a promise from you to be shallow.”

“You think I will not prioritize my own ambitions and benefits?”

“Our people have been allies for a thousand years. I refuse to believe until proven wrong, that you will betray this friendship through the use of trickery and lies.”

Of all the reactions, the Maharaja bursts into laughter. “For one so young, you are quite formidable with your words!” Relaxing back, he flicks a hand toward Raja. “Would this matter change at all, if I mention that my rajkumari suggested the marriage, herself?”

“What?” Helios gasps, storming forward to take Raja’s hands. “Is that true?”

“R-remember your place!” Raja stutters, glancing toward the guards ringing the room, who have set their hands at their hilts. “Show due respect before His Esteemed Majesty, or else-”

“Raja, did you really offer your hand to me? Really?”

She looks toward the maharaja, who flicks his hand in consent. “It is common custom in Indrira, to offer the hand of an unmarried woman to the man who saves her life. You risked everything to save me.”

“Then you offered your hand out of duty, not love,” Helios stresses. “Your life is precious, Raja. Don’t offer the spot meant for whoever will share it with you, to just anyone-”

“You are not just anyone.”

“We…don’t love one another,” Helios says, after a moment. “And I have nothing to offer you. I’m the second son of a fallen kingdom, who, when it mattered most, couldn’t protect his own mother. I haven’t even the clothes I fled with—I have nothing but my ancestry and myself to give!”

“You believe Indrira in need of anything more?” Raja tsks, a smile lifting her lips. “You may have come before me naked and without so much as a drop of the blood of Kemet. And still, I believe we would have become friends, and that you would have risked your life to save mine.”

“But I don’t even know how to be a man yet, let alone a husband or father.”

“I am still learning much of how to be a woman and mother. So long as we breathe, there is time to grow into it all. Isn’t there? And besides, I find I’ve developed a deep affection for you.” Glancing toward me, Raja’s smile widens. “It is not the same as love, but love can stem from it. Or so I’ve been told.”

For a long while, Helios says nothing. When he does, he takes a knee.

“Please give us time. I meant every word I said about myself. I have nothing to offer right now, but I can and will grow. So please, give me the time to become worthy of Raja’s hand, and for us to decide if we’re truly right for one another.”

“What a show of humility. You may be more mature than I’d fist though.” The maharaja hums. “There is much to know about the responsibilities of being a rajkumar. For example, as I already have an heir, any children you sire will be Heirs Apparent, until the yuvaraja sires his own heirs. They will never hold the same status you were born with, but will bow to their step-brother and his children. Can you accept that?”

“In Kemet, when a man weds a woman with children from a prior marriage, he becomes their father, as if they were his own from birth. I will never seek to take anything from Dasharatha, nor raise his siblings to covet the things that belong to him by birthright.”

“A good answer.” The maharaja nods. “There are many more examples we could discuss, but in a time such as these, every second counts. I will grant you one year to make your decision, for by its end, war should be upon the world. If, at such a time, you have taken my rajkumari’s hand, then I will throw all of Indrira’s support behind Cearion of Kemet.”

“And if we decide we aren’t right for one another?” Helios asks.

The maharaja looks at me. “Will you use your wish to secure my support?”

“Respectfully, Esteemed Sire, I choose to place my faith in seeing the day when Helios and Raja are wedded,” I reply.

He claps his hands twice. “A second gift for you then, for placing such faith in me and my daughter.”

At the click of the door knobs, I glance back as Juba walks in. Seemingly unharmed, he comes to my side and takes a knee.

“Forgive my every disrespect,” he asks. “And thank you for allowing me to come before you again, intact.”

“A kinder gesture than Gustavian would even dream of, I’m sure.” The maharaja huffs a sigh. “Never mind. I will not think of him at such a joyous time. For sparing no expense in the effort to save my heir, I forgive you, Juba of Numidel. You have my gratitude.”

Juba goes stiff, his wide eyes jerked up toward the maharaja.

With a smile, the man says, “Snippets of information flitter across the world, drifting on the wind to these old ears of mine. It should be assumed that I know everything, boy. You should not look so surprised.”

“F-…forgive me,” Juba whispers, dropping his head.

With a nod, the maharaja stands and throws his arms wide. “If all is settled, let the celebrations resume! Rouse the music—bring forth more wine! Let all the world cheer the rejuvenation of my heir and the betrothal of my rajkumari!”

Cheers rise from our onlookers, drowned by the thrum of strings and rattle of tambourines. In front of me, Maharaja Ashoka falls onto his seat with a laugh, while Helios and Raja whisper to one another. Catching my gaze, Juba inches his hand toward me. I take it with a tight squeeze.

“Everything will be alright,” I promise. “No one would dare use the knowledge of your true homeland, against you.”

“But word will get back to Gustavian,” he replies. “It always does. And even if my title of principe remains secret, knowing that I am a survivor of Roma’s invasion, welcomed by the court of the great master of Indrira, could rouse Numedian rebels. Nothing good will come from this revelation.”

As I open my mouth, the maharaja calls my name.

“Tell me your wish,” he commands. “What, of all that Indrira might offer, would you ask of me?”

“There is so little I could dare hope for,” I say. “But word of my brother is of the utmost value to me. Please, Esteemed Sire, have you heard anything of Cearion?”

“Indeed, I have. My men spotted him in the North Desert, bound with ropes atop a camel led by a well-dressed man. They say your brother was relentless with his whining to be freed so that he might return to Kemet. Elsewise, he appeared fine.”

My heart leaps, both with joy and fear. Wherever the traitor Cyrus is headed, so long as Cearion still breathes, I can retain hope.

Clenching my hand, I feel for the marionette bars. In them resonates a strength that urges me to my feet. “Please, let me go after him,” I ask. “Even if alone, let me set out in search of my brother. His life is in grave danger.”

Gaze narrowed upon my hands, the maharaja frowns. “Allow you to trapse my empire unguarded? Impossible. I can, however, provide you an escort. You are acquainted with the chief guard of my rajkumari, aren’t you?”

As if the mere mention of him has summoned Mrunal from thin air, he steps up beside me. Head bowed, he says, “I am at your beck and will, Your Esteemed Majesty.”

“If she is to leave, then please allow me to guard Selene as well,” Juba asks, quickly standing.

“I’ll go too,” Helios declares, but the maharaja shakes his head.

“I’d like to observe you for some time, to ensure that Selene’s healings are permanent. Additionally, you have accepted a year in my court. As such, you may go nowhere without my express permission.”

“But she’s my sister—she’s leaving to search for our brother!”

“Calm yourself, Helios,” I say. “You did agree to His Esteemed Sire’s terms. So stay here, protect Ptolemy, and trust that I will find and rescue Cearion.”

“Take comfort knowing that, even at the cost of my life, I will keep Selene safe,” Mrunal offers.

“I will do all I can, as well,” Juba adds.

Though visibly frustrated, Helios relents. “Fine. But if anything goes wrong, I will find you, and I will save you.”

“I know you will,” I say, smiling as a thought occurs to me. “Did you know that the moon and sea are bonded? If need be, try reaching out to me with your blessing. Moon-bathed sea water seems rather effective for many things. It might just connect us, if you give it a try.”

“Right.”

At his pout, I step forward to take Helios’ hand. “Have faith in me, Heli. I swear to you, I will not die—I will not allow anyone else to die. And before you know it, I will have returned with Cearion, and we shall all be together again.”

“When would you like to set off, Selene?” the maharaja asks.

“As soon as possible,” I say.

“Very well. Mrunal, prepare all that you shall need for the journey. Take gold for lodging and food. Take whatever weapons you deem necessary to assure your safety. No matter what happens, Selene of Kemet will return alive, or else all who fail her shall suffer my wrath.”

“As you wish, Your Esteemed Majesty,” Mrunal says, and heads for the doors.

In his wake, the maharaja nods to me. “All should be ready within the hour. You have my blessing as well as my backing. Use these gifts should the need arise.”

“Only if I must,” I say. “Thank you, Esteemed Sire. There are no words in all the world with which I could properly express my gratitude.”

He smiles, and Raja summons a maid over. With orders to find Juba and I suitable clothing for travel, the maid leads us away.

At the doors, I look back toward Helios and offer a smiling. His lips twitch up, but nothing can banish the worry in his eyes.

With a heavy heart, I look forward only to pause and glance back again. Scanning the room, I look for any sign of my sister, but none is to be found. Somehow, without my noticing, she has disappeared. 

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