Bhima did not tell Arnoraja everything that Naikidevi had said.
He told him enough.
They were in the small council room beside the western courtyard the following morning, where the windows had been opened to let in the cooler air. Several reports from the western front were spread across the table, along with the latest accounts of grain and horse fodder being sent toward the army. Arnoraja had been going through them when Bhima entered.
"You spoke to her," Arnoraja said.
"Yes."
"And?"
Bhima pulled out a chair and sat down. "She knew about the object."
Arnoraja stopped reading.
"She told you what it was?"
"No."
"I expected that."
"She knew the man who gave it to her. He was wounded after Kasahrada."
Arnoraja put the report aside.
"What else?"
"He mentioned the boy."
The general's expression became more serious.
"Your mother told you that?"
"Yes."
"Then the dying man was not inventing that part."
"Perhaps."
Arnoraja gave him a look.
