What was Lataa's sentence?
The Empress Dowager was the one to come up with it, and the one to enforce it.
One, Lataa would spend twice the amount of time imprisoned that Inka had, and in the same cell too, and also with the same physical treatment applied every day.
Two, once Lataa was released from the cell, she'd be sent to her apartment and not allowed to leave except for emergencies. How long? Undetermined. Basically, until the Empress Dowager decided it was over, or until the Dowager died and her son decided it was over. During Lataa's confinement, there were certain restrictions.
The first restriction, Lataa's amount of servants would be decreased by three quarters, and her attendant Rahki would be transferred to the Empress Consort's apartment to work as a more ordinary maid. It was assumed that Rahki would be safer there. Anyway, Lahki would have to promote one of her remaining maids as her attendant if she still wanted one.
The second restriction, Lataa's monthly allowance would also be decreased by three quarters. It wouldn't matter how much she begged. She wouldn't be given any more money.
The third restriction, Lataa wouldn't be invited to any major events, not even religious ones.
That little princess was carried off by four guards. Why so many? She'd pitched the nastiest fit. She even tried to attack Rahki, but her own brother shoved her away. She was still kicking, hissing, and shrieking as she was taken away.
Still inside the tent, kneeling before the Empress Dowager, everyone else waited. With a disappointed sigh and perhaps a loosening face, the Dowager turned back to the cloaked Inka. "Little Granddaughter-in-Law, you've been severely wronged. You require compensation. What request do you have? If it's reasonable, I shall fulfill it."
The cloak's long sleeves hung over Inka's hands as they rose against the hidden head, as if she wanted to touch her lips.
Jorun spoke for her again. "My mistress is physically and mentally weak. She wants to recover unhindered, with no visitors unless necessary, but of course she needs regular visits from a doctor."
"Is that all?" the Dowager asked with a gruff yet surprised tone. "Doesn't she want something valuable? A box of gemstones or fabrics? An increase in her allowance?"
"No, Great Dowager." Jorun shook her head and firmly tapped her lap with her hands. "Aside from being left alone, she wants nothing."
All at once, Nitishila's belly felt empty but full. His nasal passages were swollen and his head was throbbing. His fingers trembled vibrated as intensely as drum-skin during a song. His watery eyes tried to focus on his cloaked wife. She was drooping, looking as if she could plunge through the ground and disappear at any minute.
His grandmother's whole body moved with her heavy breath. It wouldn't have been too surprising if her bones had creaked. "This is my decree," she made a low, sweeping gesture here, "unless you, Princess Consort Inka, instruct otherwise, you are not to be disturbed by anyone. You shall have no unnecessary visitors. Now, four of you men, escort Princess Consort Inka and her attendant to her palanquin. Everyone else is dismissed."
But something happened.
As the guards approached Princess Inka, she slid her sleeves down and pulled her hood back.
And her face turned in Nitishila's direction. She'd wanted him to see her, even though she'd wanted to hide before.
Her hair was gone.
Shaved away.
Most of her skin was either blue, purple, yellow, or dark pink. There were also several lines to show where somebody had apparently sliced in.
There was a black eye. Her nose was broken. Her lips were swollen. The fingers on both hands were at horribly disturbing angles.
The Empress Consort screamed. Her husband had to put a hand on her mouth to hush her. The Empress Dowager shook her head and muttered something about how, "She's quiet but still theatrical." Then she left the tent without any more words.
Nitishila moved to step forward. Words tried to come out, but his mother took his arm and shook her head. When Nitishila looked back, Inka was hiding in her cloak again, and she was being escorted away. Jorun was following with outstretched hands, ready in case of a fall.
Inka had known ...
She'd known that she might have to endure such horrible pain, but she'd tried to avoid it. She'd tried to appeal to him. She'd tried to rely on his trust.
But Nitishila hadn't trusted her at that time.
He ran outside the tent and leaned against a tall statue of a rearing horse. As the smooth marble cooled his hot flesh, even through his shirt, he wished rain would come and lightning would strike him down.
His wife, his innocent wife, suffered. The lack of hair on her head wasn't even a problem when compared to the injuries he saw. What else had happened to her body?!
Is that truly how a member of the royal class was treated when suspected of a crime? What happened to the common civilians?!
Nitishila's eyes hardened as he sniffed his sadness into a pocket of his mind. This new distraction did what it needed to do. It kept him from blubbering like a weak little thing. He needed to go to his father.
He waited an hour or so to give the Emperor some room to breathe. Then he requested his time. When he was admitted inside, and when the Emperor was looking down at him with his stern expression, Nitishila asked to have the interrogation methods used in the cells evaluated. Changes would have to be made.
But unfortunately, that distraction didn't last long.
Nitishila was soon back in his apartment, sinking into a low couch and pressing his henna covered hands to his frustrated eyes.
Inka didn't want anyone to visit her.
Which meant she didn't want him to visit her.
She might curse his name in her sleep!
Nitishila's chest panged as he remember how glorious Inka had looked just before he had men take her away. Her face was so rosy and sweet. Her eyes were like rare jewels. Her hair was glorious.
