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people, lots of banners and bunting and braziers and fuming censers, all
fluttering or guttering in the cool, thin breeze. The crowd of smiling,
quilted people parted for Langtuhn and me as we made our way up to the
ceremonial platform where three walls of saffron-robed monks looked on and
Suvinder, dressed in his own flower-garlanded robes, stepped down from a
throne on a dais and held out his hands.
'Kathryn. Welcome back.'
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'Thank you,' I said, bowing. I went up to him, took his offered hands, and
kissed him on both cheeks. His hands were dry and. warm. He smelled of
incense. I whispered, 'If the offer still stands, Suvinder, I
accept. The answer is yes.'
I pulled away. He looked confused for a moment. Then his mouth fell slackly
open, before forming itself into a huge smile. His eyes glistened. Flags and
banners snapped around us. A hun-dred faces looked on. Beyond, the prayer
windmill, still bound by ropes and cables, creaked and strained in the wind,
waiting to be free. Suvinder nodded, seemingly unable to speak, and with my
hand in his, led me to the dais at the rear of the platform.
They found another chair for me, so that I could sit at the Prince's side for
the rest of the ceremony.
It was traditional for each guest to offer something to the fire in one of the
braziers. When my turn came, I pulled a couple of shiny discs from my pocket
and threw both of them into the flames.
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