The Rakshasa demon lifted his head. I staggered slightly, and Ren reached for my elbow.
I pushed him away, not wanting the Rakshasas to see me weakened, and shouted, “My hunters, come to me.”
Ren and Kishan positioned themselves at my side. With a dramatic flourish of my arms, I declared, “Your queen commands you to show this clan your claws.”
Ren tilted his head and Kishan studied me quietly for a second. Then both men morphed into their tiger forms. The Rakshasas who had since stepped into the clearing collectively gasped. Ren growled menacingly and Kishan roared and slashed the air before they began pacing protectively in front of me. A few demons immediately prostrated themselves on the ground. Even the queen stopped struggling and watched us though she lay tied and gagged.
“Lightning,” I continued, “My wish as your new queen is that you hunt the creatures from the cave no more. You will dine only on the flesh of animals found in the forest and you will leave the Phoenix alone.”
“Yes, my queen.”
“The Qilin shall be freed and instead of eating your infirm, you will allow them to heal.” So much for the Prime Directive. Sorry, Captain Picard!
He inclined his head. “As you wish.”
“We shall celebrate with a victory feast.”
The demon stood and smiled. “Yes! We shall eat the former queen!”
“No!” I called out. “You will treat her with respect, but you will no longer bow to her wishes.”
He responded with confusion. “If that is your desire.”
“It is, and I have decided to appoint you, Lightning, the new leader of this clan.”
He hesitated, and then said, “But our clan has had a female leader since the time of my grandfather.”
“You told me that once it was led by a male, correct?”
“That is true.” He paused, then stood taller and shouted. “I will lead. Are there any here that challenge me?”
No one stepped forward. He hissed smugly and then approached me and boldly ran his claws down my arm. “Venomous one, stay here as my queen and rule by my side,” he offered. “Share with me your power, and you shall want for nothing.”
Both tigers growled and crouched to pounce, but he completely ignored them.
I raised my chin haughtily and brushed his arm away. He smiled at my hostility. Brashly, I answered, “I must return to care for my own clan, but I will produce a feast for you before I go.”
I swayed on my feet and sucked in a deep breath. Closing my eyes, I wished for a meat-lover’s feast and was rewarded with suckling pigs, rare beef roasts, and fat turkeys. Dishes appeared all around us, and any of the demons who were still standing knelt on the ground and bowed before me. Only Lightning stood, and he directed the hunters to take the queen and the food back to the camp.
When he looked to me for approval, I smiled at him and promptly collapsed into his arms. I heard a terrible roar from one of the tigers, a variety of hisses and calls of distress from the Rakshasa, the throaty laughter of the bound queen, and then heard nothing more.
qilin
When I finally came to, I blinked and tried to lift my head—only to lower it again carefully when I felt an excruciating pain explode behind my eyeballs.
Kishan knelt next to me and touched his palm lightly to my cheek and neck. “How are you feeling?”
“Like the Kraken chewed me up and spat me out,” I mumbled and tried to rub my aching forehead.
Kishan caught my wrist before I made contact. “Hold on there. You’ve got to be careful with those things. You might put your eye out.”
Confused, I glanced at my hand and groaned softly when I saw that I was still disguised as a Rakshasi queen. My fingers sported deadly black claws dripping with venom. I placed my arm at my side. “Lovely. How long have I been out?”
“A few hours.”
“Where’s Ren?”
“He’s supervising the feast and distracting the warriors while I use my considerable magic to heal you.” Kishan tapped the kamandal at his throat and then readjusted my pillow. “You have no idea how many demons are absolutely enamored with you. He has to keep them at bay, in fact.”
I snorted. “They aren’t interested in me. It’s my power they desire.”
Kishan raised an eyebrow, looked me up and down in my Rakshasa disguise, and then grinned. “I think you may be underestimating your appeal.”
I felt my face go hot at the compliment, and my tattoos flared red. Kishan’s smile widened. He softly traced the outline of the tattoo on my cheek.
“The light flickers under your skin, especially when I touch you.”
Uncomfortable with the attention, I shifted slightly and hissed in pain.
Kishan pulled back to examine my healing shoulder. “Just lie still and let the elixir work until you fully heal. The scratches weren’t mortal wounds. I wonder why they affected you so badly.”
I took the cup of water he offered and sipped while he helped me lift my head. “It was the poison in her claws,” I answered between swallows.
I twitched my dangerous digits and concentrated to retract the claws. Kishan then took my hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss and said, “The most beautiful creatures are often the most deadly. At least the mermaid’s elixir is healing you.”
I closed my eyes and leaned into his broad chest. Kishan massaged the back of my neck to help with my throbbing headache.
A short time later, Ren ducked his head into the tent and frowned. “You are supposed to be healing her, not taking advantage of her weakened state.”
“Her shoulder is healed,” Kishan explained, “but her head still hurts.”
Ren crouched down across from me, and his expression changed to one of concern. The pain was so sharp I had to squint at him though the tent was lit by only firelight.
“What is it?” I asked.
Ren studied me quietly for a moment, and then said, “I won’t be able to hold them back much longer. They want to see the new queen. Apparently, your victory is not complete unless you prove to them that you are alive and well and that Desecration’s venom didn’t kill you.”
I nodded slightly and was grateful that the motion didn’t hurt. “Can you buy me five more minutes?” I asked.
He leaned over and pecked my forehead. “I will. She’s hot, Kishan,” he said as he ducked out of the tent.
“It’s okay,” I explained to Kishan. “Hot is my natural state as a demon.”
He laughed softly and continued massaging my head with his fingertips. “Hot is your natural state all the time, bilauta. Just relax and breathe. Focus on your heartbeat.”
The quiet crackling fire in the tent soothed me. I concentrated on inhaling and exhaling, and little by little the pain diminished. I peacefully drifted in Kishan’s arms until we were disturbed by a clamor outside the tent.
Ren’s voice was raised. “I promise you that she is alive. She has been resting these last few hours.”
“We want to see her!” a demon insisted.
“Let her walk among us,” another shouted.
“You monopolize her. Shut her away from the clan.”
Ren threatened, “She has provided you with a sumptuous feast. She has expended much energy on your behalf. Allow her time to recuperate.”
“Recuperate? What does this word mean?”
The uproar outside drowned out Ren’s reply.
I whispered to Kishan, “They don’t understand him. Their way is to speak spitefully, derisively to one another. They don’t show kindness. They only know weakness and strength. You’d better help me up.”
“Are you sure?”
“I think I can manage.”
I stood on wobbly legs while Kishan took my arm and escorted me outside. A hush fell over the crowd as I made my appearance. Narrowing my eyes at the demons, I hissed, “I trust your feast was satisfactory?”
Several demons murmured, “It was, my queen.”
“Then why have I been disturbed?
” I shouted.
Lightning approached and inclined his head. “We are . . . confused.”
“Perhaps these others with more simple minds are confused, but surely you, Lighting, are not. Please explain this confusion.”
He quirked the side of his mouth in a small smile then explained, “A clan lives for its queen. If the queen is injured, then so are her hunters. They simply wish to reassure themselves that you are well.” As he lustily studied my body, he added, “I can see that you have recovered sufficiently from your wounds.”
Ren and Kishan growled.
“Yes, I have,” I replied.
Lightning smiled suggestively. “Then it is time for you to choose your consort for the night.”
“My consort? Very well. I choose to remain with my warriors.”
“You may not choose them. Another night, yes, but on the night of your victory celebration, you must select a man from our clan.”
“Why?”
“This man will journey to your new clan with you. He will become yours. It is the way of all Rakshasa. Surely you know this.”
The demons murmured quietly at my strange reactions.
Thinking quickly, I laughed mockingly, approached Lightning, and extended my claws again to run them down his arm. “And were you hoping that you would be my choice, newly made king of the Rakshasa clan?”
He grabbed my arm and squeezed, causing me to utter a cry of pain that I somehow managed to turn into a snicker. Lightning smiled and replied, “Of course you would choose me. Who else here is as worthy?”
I looked up into his eyes and licked my lips. His attention moved to my mouth and he growled appreciatively. He ducked his head to kiss me but, before he made contact, I shoved him roughly away and announced, “Any of you who wish to be my consort will have a fair chance to . . . capture my attention. Tonight you will hunt.”
Murmurs of excitement spread through the camp.
“You will not hunt for flesh, however. Tonight you will bring me a,” I paused while I racked my brain trying to think of something, “a white fire flower. The first man to do so may be my companion this evening.”
One by one, the men doused the light of their bodies and slunk off into the woods. Lightning remained behind, studying me.
“Well?” I asked. “I thought you were interested in becoming my consort.”
“I am.” He cocked his head. “I was just wondering why your two warriors didn’t leave with the others to seek your trophy. Have they no interest in pleasing their queen?”
Kishan strode forward boldly, shoved Lightning, and spat, “Do not presume you understand the wishes of our queen.”
I intercepted. “Of course they will hunt. I expect nothing less from them. But first they will escort me to the tree where I will watch for the first hunter to return.”
Ren and Kishan each took an arm and walked me over to a stand of fire trees that were darkened in sleep. I handed Ren a handkerchief that I’d had the Scarf make. He read the embroidered message and handed it to Kishan. Both men changed to tigers and trotted out of camp. Lightning gave me a suspicious look and then dimmed his light and left the camp as well.
Dawn would come soon, and I had a lot to do while everyone was gone. Using the Fruit, I filled a goblet with firefruit juice and drank it down. After two more cups I felt much better.
Renewed, I returned to my tent and gathered the weapons, the Phoenix egg, and our other belongings that had been confiscated from our packs. With Fanindra on my arm and a newly made backpack, I dimmed my light and moved through the darkness until I’d found the corral Lightning had shown me the night before.
Closing my eyes, I sent out a message to the animals I sensed resting not far away. A soft whicker and a clop of hooves was my answer as several of the beasts drew near the fence. The lead Qilin approached me. It nudged my hand and blew a hot burst of air from its nostrils.
You have returned, princess. We have waited for you.
Are you ready to be free once again? I asked the animals.
They stomped their hooves excitedly, which created a shower of different-colored sparks over the ground in the otherwise dark night.
Do you know the way through the cave? I asked.
We do, but many of us will be lost on the journey.
Not if you eat these firefruit, I thought and asked the Golden Fruit to create a mound of firefruits in the Qilin’s corral. They will heal you and help you to stay awake.
Firefruit! These have been lost for generations! It is a precious gift you’ve given us, princess.
The Qilin devoured the fruit noisily, biting through the tough outer skin with their dragon teeth. I made more until they’d all eaten their fill.
We are ready now for our journey.
Please be careful. The hunters are out tonight. Move swiftly to the cave. They are unlikely to follow you inside.
I made my way over to the gate, which was secured by a complicated system of braided ropes. Simply untying them was impossible because they were so tightly knotted.
Taking the Scarf, I tried to use it to loosen the ropes. Threads shot out and touched the cords but after a few attempts, the threads recoiled. Alarming patterns and colors flickered over its surface momentarily before stopping.
Once again I tried to wiggle a section loose. My long fingers were awkward to use and, frustrated, I yanked my index finger free of the section I’d dug into and angrily ripped my Rakshasa claw across the surface of the rope. The knot fell to the ground.
Quickly, I used my claws to cut the other ropes. Curious, I picked up a severed piece of the silky rope.
One of the Qilin explained, The cords are made from the manes and tails of our dead brothers. It is very strong, and the demons know we cannot break it.
I’m sorry that I had to cut them then.
Do not be sorry. They would have been happy that we are freed.
The Qilin directly in front of me snorted and whispered a warning in my mind: Someone comes, princess!
I tensed and crouched in the dark shadows. The dragon-horses were so still, I couldn’t even hear their breathing, though I could feel the presence of the herd behind me. My Rakshasa eyes could just make out the shape of a man carefully walking toward me.
As he neared, I heard his quiet whisper, “Kells?”
“Kishan? Over here,” I whispered back.
He skirted some trees and edged behind some undergrowth until he could grasp my hand. “Are you alright?” he asked.
“Took you long enough to find me,” I said with a smile. “Where’s Ren?”
“We were followed. We had to split up and circle back around.”
Kishan lifted the locking mechanism and pulled the gate open far enough to accommodate the animals shifting excitedly in the dark. As he moved back to me, he said, “I’ve never smelled anything like them in my life. What are they?”
One of the beasts blew out a breath. We’ve never smelled anything like you before either.
I laughed softly. “They are Qilin, and they can communicate with me. I think you’ve slightly offended them.”
“I apologize,” Kishan told the animals. “I only meant that I’d never met a creature such as you.”
“They accept,” I translated, “and we need to move the broken ropes on the ground. They are all that remains of the Qilin that the Rakshasas killed, and the Qilin herd does not want to accidentally trample them.”
Together, Kishan and I crouched down and collected the silky cords. Startled by a touch on my shoulder, I dropped the bunch of ropes I had picked up. Standing abruptly, I jumped back and raised my deadly claws.
“It’s okay. It’s just me, Ren.”
I lowered my arms to retrieve the ropes and let out a shaky breath. “Ren! We’ve been waiting for you. There’s just one more thing to do.”
Wrapping the Scarf around my body, I whispered the words that would return my form to its natural state. When I pulled the Scarf away and tied it around my waist, I ran my han
ds through my hair and quickly secured it with a ribbon. “Now that feels much better,” I mumbled.
Out of the corner of my eye, fire erupted in the darkness.
“Betrayer! You are no Rakshasa queen!”
Lightning strode toward us, his tattoos and hair ablaze with anger.
I put my arm on Kishan’s, knowing he was ready to turn this into a brawl. Directing my comments to Lightning, I said firmly, “I am the same woman you have admired, with the same heart and courage. I just choose to take a different form right now.”
“And do you also choose to free the animals we have rightly captured? You break the Rakshasa law! What have you done?”
I stretched out my arms and rubbed my hands slowly. “Rakshasa law says that whatever you are strong enough to capture is yours. I have taken these creatures from you. It’s true that in this form, it appears as if I am powerless, as if I am prey,” I narrowed my eyes, “but make no mistake, Lightning, I still have the ability to bring harm to you and your clan. I have no desire to do so . . . presently, but if a challenge is presented, then—” I shrugged.
He studied me in my new form as Ren and Kishan tensed next to me. Seeming to come to a decision, Lightning smiled evilly, and said, “This is a test. A test that will cement my claim as leader of the Rakshasa clan forever, and I will not fail.”
He sprung at me, claws extended, and Ren and Kishan switched to tigers and met him in mid-air. While they rolled around on the ground, claws ripping, I encouraged the Qilin to make their escape while they could. I stood out of the way as one by one the large beasts moved silently through the dark trees toward the distant cave, and then I turned to help Ren and Kishan.
Murmuring a few words and touching the Pearl Necklace at my throat, I cause a wet fog to surround the men. Lightning gasped and panted as if he was breathing poison. With a mighty cry, Lightning threw both tigers off of him, doused his light, and escaped into the trees. Ren and Kishan were about to chase after him when I called softly, “Ren, Kishan, let him go. We need to get out of here before he brings the whole clan down on our heads.”
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