By morning, the capital had already decided something about Rajula.
It had decided she was interesting.
Cities liked interesting things.
They also liked talking about them.
Rajula stepped into the morning market and immediately noticed the whispers.
A fruit seller nudged another merchant.
"That's her."
"The mountain girl?"
"Yes."
Rajula stopped at a stall selling roasted barley cakes and looked around calmly.
"You know," she said to the vendor, "people in this city stare more than mountain goats."
The vendor grinned.
"Goats are quieter."
Rajula laughed and paid for the food.
The capital market stretched across several streets, climbing slowly toward the hill where the palace stood.
Silks from the west.
Spices from the south.
Wool from the mountains.
The entire world seemed to pass through these roads.
Rajula was studying a row of metal tools when someone suddenly slammed both hands on the stall table.
"YOU."
Rajula blinked.
A man with messy hair and bright eyes leaned across the table, staring at her like she was a puzzle he had waited years to solve.
"You crossed the northern pass, didn't you?"
Rajula slowly finished chewing her barley cake.
"…Yes."
The man turned dramatically toward the surrounding merchants.
"I TOLD YOU!"
A spice seller groaned.
"Oh no."
The man pointed at Rajula proudly.
"Proof! Living proof!"
Rajula looked around.
"…Proof of what?"
The man straightened proudly.
"That the northern trade route still works!"
A nearby cloth merchant shouted back,
"No one said it didn't work!"
The man waved him off.
"You implied it."
Rajula crossed her arms.
"Are you always like this?"
The man grinned.
"Only when I'm awake."
He bowed slightly.
"Kesar. Merchant. Inventor. Occasional genius."
A passing woman muttered,
"Occasional idiot."
Kesar ignored her.
"And you?"
"Rajula."
Kesar leaned closer.
"So… snowstorms?"
Rajula nodded.
"Two."
His eyes sparkled.
"Did you see the frozen ridge near the pass?"
"Yes."
He slapped the table excitedly.
"HA!"
The surrounding merchants groaned again.
Rajula tilted her head.
"…What just happened?"
A spice vendor sighed.
"He's been arguing about that mountain ridge for three months."
Rajula smirked.
"Glad I could help."
Heavy footsteps approached.
The noise of the market didn't stop, but it shifted slightly.
People moved aside.
A tall palace guard walked through the street with slow confidence.
His armor was scratched.
His expression looked permanently unimpressed with the world.
He stopped in front of Rajula.
"…You're the one."
Rajula raised an eyebrow.
"The one what?"
"The one asking about the prince."
Kesar leaned over the stall.
"Oh look, it's Captain Sunshine."
The guard didn't even look at him.
"My name is Bhairav."
Rajula nodded.
"Rajula."
Bhairav studied her for a moment.
"You came alone?"
"Yes."
"You crossed the mountains?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Rajula shrugged.
"Curiosity."
Kesar whispered loudly,
"She says that but it's definitely about the prince."
Bhairav finally looked at him.
"If I wanted commentary, I'd buy a parrot."
Kesar looked offended.
"I would be a very intelligent parrot."
Rajula tried not to laugh.
Bhairav leaned slightly closer to Rajula.
His voice dropped.
"The palace heard about you."
"That was fast."
"This city moves faster than rumors."
He studied her again.
"You don't seem scared."
Rajula shrugged.
"I've met worse things than palace guards."
Kesar grinned.
"See? I like her."
Bhairav straightened.
"Good."
Rajula blinked.
"Good?"
"If you were scared, you'd already be dead in this city."
Kesar sighed dramatically.
"He says motivational things like that all the time."
Across the street, someone quietly watched the entire exchange.
A woman stood beside a tea stall.
Her posture was calm.
Her expression thoughtful.
Her clothing was elegant but practical — the kind worn by someone who traveled far rather than someone who lived in luxury.
The tea seller leaned toward her.
"You've been watching that girl for a while."
The woman nodded slightly.
"Yes."
"Interesting?"
The woman took a slow sip of tea.
"Very."
She placed the cup down and stepped into the street.
Kesar was still arguing with a merchant when the woman approached.
He noticed her first.
And immediately went quiet.
Rajula noticed the change.
She turned.
The woman stopped in front of her and gave a small polite bow.
"Rajula of the mountains."
Rajula blinked.
"You know my name."
"Cities talk."
Kesar leaned close to Rajula and whispered,
"…Careful."
Rajula glanced at him.
"Why?"
Kesar whispered back,
"She's not from here."
The woman smiled slightly.
He wasn't wrong.
Rajula studied her.
"Then where are you from?"
The woman reached into her sleeve and placed a small metal seal ring on the table.
The emblem engraved into it was unmistakable.
The mark of the Gurjara-Pratihara Empire.
The tea seller immediately looked away.
Kesar stopped breathing for a second.
Bhairav narrowed his eyes.
The woman calmly returned the ring to her sleeve.
"My name is Tara."
Rajula tilted her head.
"And you're visiting?"
"For now."
Kesar whispered,
"She's a minister."
Rajula blinked.
"A minister?"
Tara smiled faintly.
"Titles are only useful in boring conversations."
Rajula smirked slightly.
"Good. I prefer interesting ones."
For a moment the two women simply studied each other.
Bhairav watched carefully.
Kesar tried very hard not to interrupt.
Finally Tara spoke again.
"You came very far."
"Yes."
"Across the mountains."
"Yes."
"Just to reach this city."
Rajula shrugged.
"Cities are easy."
Tara's eyes sharpened slightly.
"And the palace?"
Rajula looked up toward the hill where the palace towers rose above the capital.
"That part might be harder."
Tara followed her gaze.
Then she said something casually.
Something that sounded almost like nothing.
"The royal garden is beautiful at night."
Rajula glanced back at her.
Tara gave a small polite bow.
Then turned and walked away into the crowd.
Kesar stared after her.
"…That woman terrifies me."
Bhairav crossed his arms.
"She terrifies everyone."
Rajula looked back toward the palace again.
"The garden, huh?"
Kesar blinked.
"…Wait."
Then his eyes widened.
"Oh no."
Rajula smiled.
"Oh yes."
High above the city, the palace towers caught the evening light.
And somewhere within those walls…
Prince Malushahi stood on a balcony, listening to a court official complain loudly about politics.
He sighed.
He had no idea that the girl who crossed the mountains for him was already standing in his city…
And planning to climb his garden wall.