“That they are lovers,” Meena said.
Daphne looked at the two of them again, only now seeing the signs. The soldiers stood stricken. Meena looked miserable.
Colton stepped forward, his expression wondering. “You’re like us, then.”
Harris looked him up and down again. “What? Who are you?”
“I’m … I’m Danny’s …” Colton looked at Meena, who finally dropped her gaze. “Lover.”
Again, the captain and the sepoy were struck speechless. Daphne balled her hand into a fist, feeling her heartbeat struggle against her palm.
“I promise to keep any secrets you may have,” Colton said, “but please, help us. Help him. What if he were in danger?” Colton pointed to Partha, who looked away.
“You’re the one he spoke of,” Harris murmured. Shaking his head, the captain took a steadying breath. “If we bring you to Delhi, will you promise not to say anything about Partha and me?”
“I give you my word,” Meena said.
Harris exchanged another helpless look with Partha. “We’ll leave before daybreak.”
“Can’t we go now?” Daphne demanded.
“The major will suspect something. The men will be celebrating the New Year at midnight. If we stay until then and make a show of going to bed, we’ll be in the clear.”
“Don’t worry,” Colton told her. “I’ll make sure they won’t leave without us.” He unceremoniously climbed into the backseat of the auto and locked himself inside, arms crossed.
“Captain, you do promise to take us?” Daphne insisted. “You won’t go back on your word?”
He cast his eyes skyward, as if pleading with the heavens. “Lord help me, but yes, I promise.”
Daphne bent toward the window. Colton met her gaze.
“You’ll be all right here?” He nodded. “We’ll be back soon.”
She glanced at Harris and Partha, urgently whispering to each other. Lovers, she thought with renewed surprise. Before turning away, she looked into the back of the auto, where Harris and Partha had stored their rifles. She supposed it was better to take precautions. There was no telling what they would find in Delhi.
Or who.
As Danny and Akash prowled through the tents, stars began to speckle the sky. In the cantonment, it wasn’t irregular to see soldiers drunk and singing at three in the morning. Since tonight was New Year’s, the soldiers were taking full advantage of having no curfew.
“Huh,” Danny said. “Tomorrow it’ll be 1877.”
“And your queen’s big day. Do you think Dryden has seen your message?” Akash asked as the gas lamps around them flared to life.
“I hope so. He must have the means to speak with Lytton.”
“And if Lytton won’t listen?”
Danny threw his hands in the air. “Then the man will just have to be—” He checked himself, swallowing the word. “Let’s not dwell on that, all right?”
“Danny,” Akash said softly, “why are you doing this, anyway? Whose side are you on?”
“What do you mean?”
“You see how they treat us. You haven’t even seen the worst of it. If I told you some of what I’ve seen and heard …” He shook his head. “I thought you knew this occupation was wrong.”
“Of course it’s wrong,” Danny whispered back. “I don’t want India to be a prize for the Queen. I don’t want our soldiers to humiliate yours. I don’t want a Black Raj.”
“Then why—?”
“Because you know what a second rebellion would do? People would die. Your people, and mine. And we’d be stuck in the middle of it all. Daphne and I might never be able to go home. I might never …”
He might never see Colton again.
“So your answer is to let this oppression continue,” Akash said, voice flat.
“No! That’s—I don’t know. There’s no black and white here. You think one side is the villain and one is the hero, but that’s not the case. It’s more complicated than that.” He paused. “Do you think I’m evil?”
“No, of course not.”
“Good, I don’t think you’re evil, either. Or Meena. What about Daphne? Think she’s evil?”
Akash’s eyes shifted. “No.”
“And yet there are cruel people on both sides of this potential rebellion. Violence will only create more violence. It won’t ever stop, don’t you see that?” Danny rubbed his eyes, exhausted. “Besides, if this plan succeeds, the rebels are going to help Zavier take down more towers. I can’t risk that.”
It was an argument he knew he shouldn’t even take part in, given who he was and where he was from. Akash and his people deserved better than that. In truth, Danny still didn’t know where right or wrong stood, or if he was even within sight of their horizons. Maybe it was enough to constantly be in search of the difference.
And hoping, in the end, he chose the lesser evil.
He dropped his hands and lifted his chin in the direction they’d been walking. “Let’s keep going.”
They studied the tents, looking for a senior officer. But the officers must have all been celebrating elsewhere; Danny and Akash only saw low-ranking soldiers, laughing and popping party crackers. One kept shouting “Happy New Year!” to anyone who passed by.
Danny slowed to a stop when he heard a voice say Lytton. Akash stopped beside him, and Danny motioned them to the tent from where he’d heard the voice. Standing in the shadows, they cocked their ears. The majority of words were in Hindi.
“What are they saying?” Danny whispered.
“I think there are a few rajas inside. They’re complaining about a party the viceroy held a few days ago. The British officers were making fun of the rajas in English, forgetting the rajas know English quite well.”
Danny rolled his eyes. “No one’s ever happy here, are they?” A thought struck him, and he let out a groan. “What if the rajas are in on it, too? What if some of them are rebels?”
Akash nodded reluctantly. “It’s possible.”
“You there!”
They spun around. A British lieutenant was moving in their direction, mustache aquiver.
“What are you two doing, loitering about in the dark?”
“We—We were just—” As Danny hesitated, Akash swayed beside him and leaned against his shoulder. He made a motion like he was doing up his trouser lacings.
“Had to relieve myself, sahib,” Akash slurred. “Haaappy New Year!”
The lieutenant looked him over, disgusted. “For Heaven’s sake, do that away from the rajas’ tents! I’ll have your head on a spike if I catch you at this again. You, there. Make sure this one gets to his tent tonight.”
“Yes, sir.” The lieutenant made to leave, but Danny sprang forward. “Sir? I was wondering what the schedule for tomorrow will be.”
“Your senior officer hasn’t told you?”
“I don’t believe so. Not in any detail.”
“The viceroy will give his speech in the morning. Each regiment has their own place on the parade grounds, so I would suggest asking your senior officer where that is. You lot will be toward the back, I wager. After the viceroy’s speech will be a feu-de-joie, and after the ceremony, you are to go back to your post immediately.”