Read Online Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson - Free Book Online
Authors: Heather Tomlinson
Tags: Fiction, General, People & Places, Asia, Family, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction, Science Fiction; Fantasy; & Magic, Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9), Love & Romance, Siblings, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Fairy Tales; Folklore & Mythology, India, Blessing and Cursing, Fairy Tales, Stepfamilies, Fairy Tales & Folklore - General, People & Places - Asia, Stepsisters, India - History
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pursuing the matter. "Listen, fellow," he told Gold-trim, "whatever insult you think was offered, the girl will be wearing that bruise for days. How about we fine her family the cost of laundering your coat, and you drop your claim against her."
"Her father's a jeweler?" Diribani's accuser said. "Well, well. So, Mina, what were those little rocks, then?"
The man's oily politeness frightened Diribani more than his bluster had. Like a flock of crows, all Ma Hiral's warnings had descended on her shoulders to peck at her ears. She steeled herself to lower her eyes modestly and keep her mouth shut.
"Rocks?" the overseer said. "What's he talking about?"
66
"I'm sure I don't know, sir," Ma Hiral said.
The soldier grunted. "Doesn't the little cow speak?"
"Careful, man!" the local white-coat warned. "This is Gurath, not Fanjandibad."
"Indeed," a new voice said. Not loudly, but with an unmistakable edge of command.
After an instant of shocked surprise, the people surrounding the pushcart drew back. As one, townsfolk dropped to their knees. A space opened around the disputants so that two men on horseback could approach.
One glance told Diribani that the worst had happened. She, too, knelt in the dirt, tugging Ma Hiral with her. She had seen Governor Alwar once before, at a distance. Up close, the cruel line of his mouth seemed even more pronounced.
His companion was much younger, a man close to Diribani's age, and different in every possible way from Gurath's governor. Lean where the older man was stocky, his expression as curious as Alwar's was disdainful, he wore dusty riding clothes in contrast to the governor's immaculate white coat and trousers. No question that this was Prince Zahid. Tousled black hair curled out from under a steel helmet chased with gold. The horse he rode, a dark bay with prancing hooves, was finer even than Jasmine. A cavalry officer's shield, mace, and bow hung from a saddle worked with gold thread. Jewels ornamented the horse's headstall, crowned by a ruby the size of an apricot.
It occurred to Diribani that Tana would have noticed the ruby first. She peeked out from under her lashes, studying the hawklike features of the one man who could save her from Governor Alwar.
"Easy, Dilawar, my brave one." The prince patted his horse's
67
neck. "Captain Tashrif. Twenty-four hours in Gurath, and we're slaying the local ladies already?"
"Sire." Gold-trim bowed deeply, his face a mask. "She incited these people to riot."
"How's that?" the governor said sharply. One hand touched the hilt of the long sword that hung from his saddle.
"Your Excellency. Your Highness." Ma Hiral prostrated herself on the ground. "It's all a wretched mistake. We're respectable folk. I am a widow and this girl is the support of my old age. Please don't punish her."
"No one shall be judged without a fair hearing," the prince reassured the older woman. "Speak, maiden, in the emperor's name. How do you respond to Captain Tashrif's accusation?"
At the familiar formula, approval rumbled through the crowd. Expectant faces turned toward them as people made themselves comfortable. The emperor's justice could be dispensed anywhere, from his Hall of Public Audience in Lomkha to the deck of a ship at sea. Today, apparently, it pleased his younger son and representative to hear petitioners in the middle of the street.
As before, when Diribani had heard Gulrang screaming, not knowing who it was but certain of the task demanded of her, her body responded before her mind caught up with its intent. She laced her hands open in her lap and raised her chin so the prince could see her face clearly. When she met his inquiring gaze, a thrill chased along her spine. Her back straightened.
"My name is Diribani, sire," she said, tasting marigolds and jasmine with the words. "I only wanted to persuade the captain to let another girl go free from his men's rough treatment. I throw myself on Your Highness's mercy for the trouble that
"Her father's a jeweler?" Diribani's accuser said. "Well, well. So, Mina, what were those little rocks, then?"
The man's oily politeness frightened Diribani more than his bluster had. Like a flock of crows, all Ma Hiral's warnings had descended on her shoulders to peck at her ears. She steeled herself to lower her eyes modestly and keep her mouth shut.
"Rocks?" the overseer said. "What's he talking about?"
66
"I'm sure I don't know, sir," Ma Hiral said.
The soldier grunted. "Doesn't the little cow speak?"
"Careful, man!" the local white-coat warned. "This is Gurath, not Fanjandibad."
"Indeed," a new voice said. Not loudly, but with an unmistakable edge of command.
After an instant of shocked surprise, the people surrounding the pushcart drew back. As one, townsfolk dropped to their knees. A space opened around the disputants so that two men on horseback could approach.
One glance told Diribani that the worst had happened. She, too, knelt in the dirt, tugging Ma Hiral with her. She had seen Governor Alwar once before, at a distance. Up close, the cruel line of his mouth seemed even more pronounced.
His companion was much younger, a man close to Diribani's age, and different in every possible way from Gurath's governor. Lean where the older man was stocky, his expression as curious as Alwar's was disdainful, he wore dusty riding clothes in contrast to the governor's immaculate white coat and trousers. No question that this was Prince Zahid. Tousled black hair curled out from under a steel helmet chased with gold. The horse he rode, a dark bay with prancing hooves, was finer even than Jasmine. A cavalry officer's shield, mace, and bow hung from a saddle worked with gold thread. Jewels ornamented the horse's headstall, crowned by a ruby the size of an apricot.
It occurred to Diribani that Tana would have noticed the ruby first. She peeked out from under her lashes, studying the hawklike features of the one man who could save her from Governor Alwar.
"Easy, Dilawar, my brave one." The prince patted his horse's
67
neck. "Captain Tashrif. Twenty-four hours in Gurath, and we're slaying the local ladies already?"
"Sire." Gold-trim bowed deeply, his face a mask. "She incited these people to riot."
"How's that?" the governor said sharply. One hand touched the hilt of the long sword that hung from his saddle.
"Your Excellency. Your Highness." Ma Hiral prostrated herself on the ground. "It's all a wretched mistake. We're respectable folk. I am a widow and this girl is the support of my old age. Please don't punish her."
"No one shall be judged without a fair hearing," the prince reassured the older woman. "Speak, maiden, in the emperor's name. How do you respond to Captain Tashrif's accusation?"
At the familiar formula, approval rumbled through the crowd. Expectant faces turned toward them as people made themselves comfortable. The emperor's justice could be dispensed anywhere, from his Hall of Public Audience in Lomkha to the deck of a ship at sea. Today, apparently, it pleased his younger son and representative to hear petitioners in the middle of the street.
As before, when Diribani had heard Gulrang screaming, not knowing who it was but certain of the task demanded of her, her body responded before her mind caught up with its intent. She laced her hands open in her lap and raised her chin so the prince could see her face clearly. When she met his inquiring gaze, a thrill chased along her spine. Her back straightened.
"My name is Diribani, sire," she said, tasting marigolds and jasmine with the words. "I only wanted to persuade the captain to let another girl go free from his men's rough treatment. I throw myself on Your Highness's mercy for the trouble that
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