Pons arrives next, his blowgun wedged in his belt. He is a trained soldier, though his main duty is guarding Indah. He assists her on deck, and the white-bearded man with the trident grabs her up in a hug.
“This is my father,” Indah says proudly, “Admiral Rimba, head of the Lestarian Navy. Father, this is Prince Ashwin and Kindred Kalinda.”
The admiral bows. “Welcome aboard. This is Ambassador Chitt,” he says of the nondescript dressed man beside him. “He’s the standing bhuta emissary.”
“Please, call me Chitt,” the ambassador says. Gray streaks mix into his otherwise coppery hair. He is tall, about my height, but rangier in build. Cords of lean muscle run up his forearms and disappear under his thin tunic. He may be a diplomat, but his hands and arms belong to a man acquainted with labor. Something about his rugged features is . . . familiar.
“Kindred, for a time I was your father’s delegate,” he says. “I accompanied him on several mediation missions.”
“His delegate?” Kali asks.
“Kishan was the previous bhuta emissary,” the ambassador replies. The breast of Chitt’s tunic bears the fire-god’s symbol, a single flame. Admiral Rimba wears the water-goddess’s emblem, a wave, on his collar. Both marks identify them as bhutas.
I exchange a glance with Yatin. The sultan employed bhutas in his military as well. They did not treat us well.
“I’d like to hear more about my father sometime,” Kali says.
Ambassador Chitt’s presence niggles at my memory as he answers, “It would be my pleasure.”
Indah picks up where she left off with introductions, continuing until she ends with me. “And this is Captain Deven Naik.”
“General Naik,” Prince Ashwin corrects.
I flinch at my new title of command. After I accosted the prince, I did not think he would honor his word in promoting me to general. And just who am I the general of? We have no army. The only soldier under my command is Yatin, and my friend would follow me anywhere, regardless of my title. If the prince thinks he can persuade me into liking him, he is dimmer than I thought. My father was the army’s previous general. Under the rajah’s direction, he massacred hundreds of innocent bhutas. Inheriting his seat of command is neither a prize nor honor.
“Good to meet you, General Naik,” Chitt says, examining me as well. “We were told you have another passenger, a member of the Brotherhood?”
“He passed away.” I cut a glare at the prince. Brother Shaan worried himself to death because of him. The thought of the Voider let loose in our world was too much for his old heart to handle. I already miss him.
“Has anyone arrived ahead of us?” Kali asks. Pons has been listening to the wind for messages from my family, but none have arrived. “Deven was separated from his brother and mother. They and two Galers, more of our guards, are supposed to meet us in Lestari.”
I pray they are already there.
“We haven’t seen or heard from them,” replies Admiral Rimba, squashing my hopes. He continues, speaking around his mint chewing. “But they could have arrived after we left this morning. We’ll soon find out. We must leave now to reach the isles by sunset.”
He and Indah direct us to a cabin at the center of the deck. Pons falls in line behind them, his expression sterner than usual. It is strange not seeing him beside Indah. Prince Ashwin and Kali follow next with Chitt, who chats politely about the humid weather.
Ahead of me, Natesa whispers to Yatin, “Does the ambassador look familiar to you?”