The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Read Free Book Online

need it.” He threw a handful of powder onto a small fire. A thick smoke rose until I couldn't see anything outside the circle.
    “What's that?” I gasped.
    “Curious, too!” His voice was approving. “I made it myself, from resin and neem leaves and a few other select ingredients. It keeps the mosquitoes away.”
    In the smoke, shapes—humanlike, yet not human—rose and fell as though caught in a wind current.
    “What are those?” To my embarrassment, my voice trembled.
    “Ah, that's the other thing the mixture does—call up the spirits. You may ask them your questions.”
    Far within the banyan grove, I heard a jackal howl. Coldness passed over my skin like ghost breath. For the last few days, I'd been longing for this moment. Why, then, did a strange reluctance silence me now? It came to me that I didn't trust the sage enough to reveal to him my secret desires.
    Later I would wonder, was it because of this lack of faith that the spirits answered me so obliquely, in riddles that were more hindrance than help?
    “Scared, princess?” the sage taunted. “Maybe you'd better step out and return to your safe palace—”
    “No!” I cried. “Ask your spirits if I will get what I desire.”
    A smile—feral or condescending?—glinted through the sage's beard. “And do you even know what that is, child?”
    Stung, I retorted, “I'm no child, and I do know what I want! I want to leave a mark on history, as was promised to me at my birth.”
    “Very commendable! But there are other things—perhaps unknown to you—that you crave more. No matter. The spirits will see into your heart and answer accordingly.”
    He clapped his hands and the spirits swirled faster. Yellow whispers came to me through the smoke.
    You will marry the five greatest heroes of your time. You will be queen of queens, envied even by goddesses. You will be a servant maid. You will be mistress of the most magical of palaces and then lose it.
    You will be remembered for causing the greatest war of your time.
    You will bring about the deaths of evil kings—and your children's, and your brother's. A million women will become widows because of you. Yes, indeed, you will leave a mark on history.
    You will be loved, though you will not always recognize who loves you. Despite your five husbands, you will die alone, abandoned at the end—and yet not so.
    After the voices fell silent, I sat stunned. Much of what they said—the part about five husbands, for instance—confused me. The rest filled me with despair.
    “Oh, don't look so dejected,” the sage said. “How many women can claim to be envied by goddesses? Or become queen of queens?”
    “I don't want them if it means the other parts will be true as well. What good is it to own the most wonderful palace in the world if I'll have to lose it? And all those deaths! I refuse to be the cause for them, especially Dhri's.”
    “ You don't have a choice, my dear.”
    “I'll enter a hermitage! I'll never marry— “
    His crooked teeth flashed. “Destiny is strong and swift. You can't trick it so easily. Even if you hadn't come seeking it today, intime it would have found you. But in your case, your own nature is going to speed its process.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Your pride. Your temper. Your vengefulness.”
    I glared at him. “I'm not like that!”
    “Even the wisest don't know what's hidden in the depths of their being. But here's something to console you: Long after you're gone, men will remember you as the most amazing queen this land has seen. Women will chant your name to bring them blessing and luck.”
    “Much good that'll do me when I'm dying alone, tortured by guilt!” I said bitterly. “Men might value fame above all things. But I'd rather be happy.”
    “You'll have happiness, too. Didn't you hear the spirits say you'll be loved? Besides, I have a feeling you'll grow to feel differently about fame!”
    His jocularity angered me, but I controlled myself because I needed