NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Trouble Comes in Threes
The prince got down his horse. Dandakaranya looked foreboding ahead of him. Himmat protested with its signature nickering.
“Himmat,” said Aryaman, patting the horse’s head. “Listen up, bud.”
The horse reluctantly perked its ears up.
“I’m going in alone,” Aryaman continued. “It’s too dense for you, not to mention spooky.”
The horse nodded in agreement. The prince smiled despite himself.
“If I don’t return in two hours,” he said looking at the horse. “Return to the palace and go straight to the king.”
The horse groaned mildly.
“He won’t lecture you,” assured the prince, patting its head once more.
The prince entered the forest and plodded through the thick bushes, moving vines that blocked his sight from time to time. He stopped once he found a tall tree whose canopy seemed higher than others. He climbed it quickly for a vantage point. At some distance, he saw a vertical beam of light in the middle of the forest. Curious, he decided to examine that part of the forest first.
The preta sobbed hard and loud.
“How can you die so quickly?” it wailed, holding onto the unconscious girl on the floor. “I told you this was a bad idea. But no! So stupid and reckless!“
“Who will save me now?” it cried. Its emotional anguish prevented it from sensing the approaching prince.
The prince saw the unconscious girl under the beam of light. The preta and its wails were unseen and unheard. The cave had ceased to be visible.
Aryaman slowly proceeded to the girl, checking his sides surreptitiously and being particularly attentive to any nearby sounds. His right hand grasped the hilt of his sword, ready to pull it out if needed. He reached and looked down at the girl. Her long hair was spread out and she looked weary.
Why is such a young girl in this dangerous forest? he wondered. What happened to her? Was she forced to forage here for her family? Or did she run away?
The prince stood there for a while and climbed another tree and then another. He surveyed the nearby areas in the forest and found nothing out of order.
Was the information misleading? he thought to himself. He was supposed to find demons and possessed corpses hiding in the forest.
In Swarga-loka, Lord Purandhara, the lord of the heavens, sat on his magnificent throne, made of gold and studded with gemstones. His hand rubbed the exquisitely carved tiger head. Two such tiger heads adorned both arms of the throne. A fierce golden lion with a flowing golden mane graced the crest of the throne. Lord Purandhara himself was resplendent; gilded silk clothes, precious ornaments, and a grand crown exalted his divine body. None of these, however, could mask the dismay on his face.
“How could there be no other way?” he asked Lord Vaiswa, his second in command, who was seated on the rightmost seat next to his. The Grand Hall was empty save for himself and Lord Vaiswa.
“She is the only god present on Bhu-loka, right now,” said Lord Vaiswa. Unlike his austere shadow on earth, he was in his usual form, decked in silks and adorned with gold. "You know the protocols."
“But why would she agree to it?” said Lord Purandhara puzzled, it did not make sense to him.
Lord Vaiswa cleared his throat. He would have to handle this matter tactfully.
“I made a deal with her,” he said. “Her weapons and return to Swarga-loka in exchange for her help.”
“No!” said Lord Purandhara. “No!”
Lord Vaiswa bided his time. He waited till Lord Purandhara let out his displeasure.
“How could you?!” continued Lord Purandhara anger flaring up his nostrils, his face distorting. “She is a direct threat if she gets her weapons back! You know...you know what she is capable of! When did you become so openly rebellious?”
“I made a preemptive move, my lord,” said Lord Vaiswa, his voice calm. “We have to consider the situation on Bhu-loka as well. The barrier protecting Bhu-loka from Patala-loka is broken. We do not know who is behind it. The demons can now enter Bhu-loka unimpeded. I have a bad feeling about this. Maybe another war is brewing.”
“Another war?” repeated Lord Purandhara, becoming quiet. “Like the last one?”
Lord Vaiswa nodded his head.
“You think the rakshasas are plotting revenge?” said Lord Purandhara, the implication of the words sinking in. "It can't be. It can't be." Lord Purandhara kept shaking his head in disbelief.
“I do not yet know,” said Lord Vaiswa and looked directly at his lord. “But if they do, would you rather have her, side with us or side with them?”
The King of Dayita kingdom looked down at the empty streets of his capital. His hands were tied to his back and his face bore a grim expression. Light sifted through the perforated screen ahead of him and onto his worn eyes and rugged face. The greys in his mustache and beard caught the soft light and shimmered from time to time.
The guard outside announced the prime minister who entered a moment later and paid his respects.
“The prince escaped, your highness,” he said in a quiet tone. "The royal guards could not stop him. He used the defunct tunnel leading to Dandakaranya."
The king did not react, he had anticipated this outcome. He continued gazing towards the streets.
“We have a bigger problem,” said the prime minister. “I received intel that the Kapala army is heading for the Northern Mines.”
This elicited an immediate reaction from the king. He turned around in surprise.
“If they make the Northern Mines their base,” continued the prime minister. “They can destroy Arang.”
“Where is the General?” said the king.
The prime minister hesitated. “He is yet to return from the military campaign down south,” he said. “I’ve sent a missive to him to return the earliest. But I’m not sure whether he would be able to return in time.”
“Hmm,” the king pondered on the matter.
“I’m also afraid we might have a mole,” continued the prime minister. “The timing of the Kapala army is suspicious. Someone seemed to have tipped them off regarding General Pushya’s campaign.”
“Do you have any suspects?” asked the king.
“No, Your Highness,” said the prime minister. “I’ve checked all our spies and messengers. I think it’s someone higher-up.”
The king closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. “Is there any good news?” he asked rhetorically.
"You won the wager, Your Majesty," said the prime minister as he placed a small jute bag filled with coins on a nearby table.
The underground cave was lit by the sparkle of the giant crystals. The crystals were everywhere; they rose from the ground, from the ceiling, and from the walls. Long back, the nagini had fashioned a dais for herself of these crystals, which stood at the center of the cave, almost like her seat of power. A large mirror stood on a side to this dais. Presently, she was looking at herself in the mirror. Her upper body took human form, her long serpent tail which began from her torso, coiled itself comfortably on the floor. Her eyes glinted as she admired her beautiful form.
A rakshasa appeared in the cave. He bowed to her and paid his respects.
“I bear bad news, my lady,” it said. “The portal in Dandakaranya has been sealed.”
In the mirror, the nagini saw a frown appear on her forehead. This was unexpected.
“Aren’t all the gods in Swarga-loka?” she asked turning to look at him. “Who on Bhu-loka has such power?”
The rakshasa did not know how to answer this. He opened his mouth but no words came out.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” the nagini demanded.
She waved at her mirror and it showed the forest of Dandakaranya. The nagini saw the girl lying unconscious on the forest floor. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“She sealed it?” asked the nagini.
“Yes, my lady,” the rakshasa answered.
“Without any weapons?”
“It seems so, my lady.”
The nagini looked at the mirror once more. The girl’s comatose face appeared in the mirror now. The nagini traced the girl’s face with her long fingernails. Several emotions ran through her face. She was momentarily lost.
“A menace, as always,” she said to herself. “Should I let you live? And see you bloom.” Her eyes gleamed at the thought. “Or should I nip you in the bud?” She smiled, both seemed to give her devious pleasure.
“Summon Raktabheeja,” she told the rakshasa, still looking at the reflection of the girl in the mirror.
Swarga-loka - Heaven
Bhu-loka - Earth
Patala-loka - netherworld/underworld
rakshasas - demons
nagini – a female serpent with magical powers; they usually reside in Patala-loka; they can take human form
Raktabheeja – literal translation – “blood seed”