Tana breathed a quiet prayer of gratitude to the twelve that Diribani was safe with the royal party. The governor must have known when Tana was at the temple. She had moved freely around the compound, where multitudes attended to pray or dance or study. Ma Hiral brought Diribani's letters. Pilgrims stayed at the lodging court; children attended lessons. Even white-coats brought sick and injured animals for the priests to treat. Strictly speaking, Prince Zahid had told Tana to leave Gurath. He had also said that the emperor would frown on the civil authorities' interfering in a local religious matter. Sending soldiers to one of Gurath's temples couldn't be hushed up. But a night raid on an artisan village far outside the city gates? Who would know it wasn't bandits attacking Piplia for the gems the workers cut and polished? Shame coiled in Tana's belly. She had underestimated Alwar's hatred for Naghali-ji's gift of snakes. He must have stationed someone to watch for Tana by the temple gate.
