Chapter 1
Malli
Sometimes she still has nightmares.
Sometimes she still sees Governor Buxton glowering at her as she lies on the cold tile floor, riding crop in hand as he snarls “How dare you try to escape again, you little snipe!”. He raises the crop and brings it down—-
She sits up gasping and sweating, the sour taste of fear in her mouth. She buries her face in her hands and lets out a choked sob.
Warm, broad arms wrap around her and she’s pulled into a chest that smells like rain and earth.
Her sōdaruḍu’s voice is soothing like rainfall on a tin roof.
“I’m here, sister. It’s all right.” Bheem whispers.
She sighs, wipes her eyes and cuddles closer. “Thank you, brother. How did you know?”
“I couldn't let my best girl be sad,” he says, pulling her into a hug.
“…I thought Jenny akka was your best girl.”
“Yes, she is, but you’re my second best girl.”
Malli giggles a little. “Okay. Will you tell me a story?”
“All right, how about when Krishna tried to trade grain for mangoes?”