by Matt Larkin
Ben was shouting orders at the crew, trying to break away from Rahu’s dhows, but making little headway. More arrows were falling on the deck. Too many of the Jin Laut’s crew lay dead already.
“We’re not going to make it,” Chandi said. She cursed under her breath. “Take me over to one ship. We’ll buy Ben time.”
Naresh shook his head. He looked down for a moment. When he looked up, his eyes glowed like small suns. “We want to scare them off? I have a better idea.”
“Naresh, what …” She lost her voice.
He was hovering off the ground, slightly. Light poured from his eyes and open mouth. She’d seen something like that before. Seen Aji Bidara glowing like the sun as she destroyed the Lunar fleet.
A shadow passed under the Jin Laut, moving toward Rahu’s lead ship. Waves battered both ships as something massive surged out of the water.
Sleek, water shimmering on its blue skin, it leapt more than halfway out of the water. She’d heard of such whales. But this creature, it could be a hundred feet long.
In near silence, in agonizing slowness it fell. Cacophony replaced silence as its enormous weight crashed sideways into the dhow. The ship crunched in on itself like it had been struck down by Chandra himself. And then only driftwood remained.
People were screaming. Chandi realized she’d tried to scream herself. She sounded more like a child who couldn’t catch her breath.
Naresh slumped to the deck, landed on hands and knees.
“Are the Fire-Lances ready?” Bendurana asked. Chandi glanced at him. His expression was as blank as the rest of the crew’s. Someone said they were ready. “Then bring us about.”
Chandi almost didn’t register it as the Fire-Lances splintered another ship. Naresh still sat on his hands and knees. He hissed in pain when she touched his shoulder. Thin puffs of smoke wafted off the Sun Brand.
“Naresh?” She had to stop herself from trying to touch him again.
He nodded, trembling.
One of Rahu’s ships had drawn up beside them. Chandi had to admire their determination. Or their fear of Rahu.
Pohaci and Malin waded among the boarding party. The werecrocodile’s ekor pari opened wicked gashes on the unfortunate Lunars. Malin grabbed one and hurled him back across the gulf between ships. The man struck the mast of his own dhow.
Chandi leapt from the poop deck and joined them. Her toyaks darted in and out in wide circles. Bones shattered under her blows.
A calmness took her. These men knew what Rahu was, and chose to follow him anyway. For once, she had no doubt about what side she was on.
The Fire-Lances roared again, this time on the starboard side. Another of Rahu’s ships began to sink.
The Fire-Lances pounded again and again. And when the smoke cleared, the last of Rahu’s ships was fleeing in the distance.
How many had they killed? How many of her people destroyed?
But no matter what, there would be at least one more.
Rahu would die today.
“Ben,” she said. “Take us to Astral Shore.”
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN
Malin hated this place. If he lived two hundred years, he’d never walk on Astral Shore without the hair on his neck rising. Too much blood had washed these sands. Too many ghosts wandered these shores. Never sent on to the underworld. Never returned to the Wheel of Life.
Rahu’s forces had gathered beneath the cliff. They didn’t attack. After Naresh’s display on the seas, Malin couldn’t blame them. But the former War King himself would be in the Temple. They had to deal with these defenders to reach him.
Naresh had stripped off his baju, charging the Sun Brand.
“Can we wait until nightfall?” Pohaci said.
No. “He has too many Jadian on his side. Our edge in shifting would be overwhelmed by those who still serve him.” Malin turned to Lembu Ampal. “Do you have enough sunlight to carry all of us atop the cliff?”
“Maybe. I’ve never tried to take more than one other person.”
Chandi nodded. “All right. Take me and Naresh and Malin. We’ll finish this.”
“This is my fight, too,” Ben said.
“And you’re not leaving me,” Pohaci added, slipping her arm around Malin.
Damn. Malin cracked his neck. Best get this over with. “Take us halfway, then. We’ll climb.”
Chandi stopped them. “I’m sorry, Ben. Your fight was at sea. We couldn’t have done it without you. But what we’re going into … Even if your leg was well, the rest of us have abilities beyond normal humans.”
Malin grunted. “He knows. He wants to die in that one last heroic stand.”
Chandi and Naresh both gaped at Ben. No doubt they could see he was right. The Serendibian looked away.
“You’ve already made a heroic stand, Ben,” Naresh said. “Leave it to us now. Take the ship, and make sure Tohjaya doesn’t try to leave us behind.”
The captain sighed. “Ah, Naresh. Always trying to upstage my dashing entrances.” He threw up his hands. “Very well.” Then he looked to Malin.
He nodded at the captain. “You’re doing what she would want.”
When Pohaci took his hand he could feel her pulse race through it. Lembu Ampal wanted to get as close to the cliff as possible, so Malin led them away from the shore. Into the rainforest. Rahu’s army remained focused on the other Jadian Malin had brought with him.
Just as well. His people wouldn’t attack unless the enemy tried something. If they did nothing but stall Rahu’s army, it would be a victory.
Malin couldn’t take any pleasure in the forest’s fresh smells or vigor. Beneath the cliff, he pointed at a rock most of the way up. “Take us there. Save some sunlight. We’ll climb the rest of the way.”
“Grab hold of me,” the Guardsman said. He put a hand each on Chandi and Naresh’s shoulders. Malin and Pohaci clasped the Guardsman. Malin’s stomach lurched as the world shifted. They were clutched together, on the rock above the battlefield.
Malin had spotted this place before, but never climbed it. He tested the first handhold. Then he began to pull himself up. At least thirty feet to the top, but it wouldn’t take them long.
The others seemed less certain of their climbing ability. Despite her strength and agility, even Pohaci seemed uneasy. He should have refused to bring her. Rahu would kill the girl. Probably the others, too, though Malin cared nothing for the two Guardsmen.
He reached out to Pohaci and pulled her the rest of the way onto the cliff. The gates behind them stood open. No other Moon Scions raced toward them.
Malin kissed Pohaci, savoring the taste of her.
“Finished?” Naresh said as he passed them.
Chandi ran up behind Naresh, spun him around, and kissed him too.
“Are you?” Malin said.
He walked through the archway to the complex, the others in tow. A pair of Moon Scions intercepted them. Malin killed his in a heartbeat. Blades clanged, and then Naresh had dropped the other.
In the distance, Mahesa walked out from amidst the pillars. He looked like the boy Malin had known. But only Rahu remained.
“You impress me, Malin,” Rahu said. “I wouldn’t have thought even you could live through that fall.”
Malin stalked forward, waving the others to both sides. “I’m going to rip your heart out.”
Rahu scoffed. A rock flew into his hand. Malin threw himself flat as the rock launched itself at him.
Lembu Ampal Sun Strode behind Rahu. The Guardsman thrust his keris at the War King. Rahu twisted out of the way, but it looked like the blade nicked him.
Malin leapt to his feet and ran at the pair. Rahu swept Lembu Ampal’s feet from under him. He punched down at the Guardsman as the man fell. Lembu Ampal vanished from midair just before the crushing blow connected.
He appeared some distance away, lying on the ground.
The others ran at Rahu, too. The War King reached a hand toward a temple, and the capstone flew free. Ten f
eet on a side, at least. The massive rock hurtled through the air at Pohaci. Chandi dove into the girl and skidded them both under the projectile. Shards of rock flew from the ground where it struck.
Malin collided with Rahu, burying his keris in the man’s abdomen. Rahu rolled with it, flung Malin off him. Malin tried to draw his Blessing to shift his gravity, but he wasn’t fast enough with that one. He collided with a pillar and fell to the ground, stunned.
Rahu jerked the keris free from his stomach. Hadn’t hit anything critical. He’d have expected the bastard to at least feel the pain, though. The keris flew from his hand at Naresh, who was charging forward in an awkward stumble.
The Solar appeared behind Rahu.
The War King spun to strike him. Naresh turned the blow and slammed his palm into Rahu’s face. He ducked Rahu’s counterstrike. Lembu Ampal had risen, and Strode behind Rahu.
The War King was turning even as the Solar appeared. His fist slammed into Lembu Ampal’s chest. The Solar flew through the air, colliding with a temple some thirty feet away.
Probably dead.
Malin rose. Maybe Rahu could use his strange power to enhance his blows. Best not let him get a direct hit, then.
Downing Lembu Ampal had cost Rahu, though. Naresh landed a hook that must have ruptured Rahu’s spleen. Rahu stumbled, then vanished.
Shit. Sun Stride?
Naresh lifted off the ground and flew, end over end, and collided with another pillar.
Glamour. Bastard was invisible. Malin sniffed the air. Had to be here somewhere. Close. He spun around. Catch the scent, dammit.
Pohaci gasped as something yanked her off the ground by her hair. She swung the ekor pari wildly, which drove Chandi back when the girl tried to help her.
Malin roared and charged Rahu. Pohaci’s stingray tail slashed him, and blood flew through the air. Rahu appeared, just before he slammed her into the ground.
Malin leapt through the air and landed on Rahu, screaming. He pounded his fists into the man. Pohaci. Pohaci!
Rahu grabbed his wrists and spit blood at him. “Don’t even know who she is, do you?” He flung Malin upward, but Malin flipped back and landed on his feet.
Like Rahu knew anything about Pohaci. Malin rushed toward the War King again.
And then Chandi’s running kick sent Rahu tumbling into one of the metal bowls in the ground.
The ground trembled, then the paved stones exploded beneath their feet. Shards of rock tore hot lances of flame through his skin and clothes, but Malin ran on. He grabbed Pohaci and flung her inside one of the temples, praying she’d forgive him for it. Had to keep Rahu from exploding anything else under her.
Time for the bastard to pay.
A whimper from behind. Malin turned back. Chandi fell to her knees. A shard of rock had pierced her abdomen. A trickle of blood ran down her cheek.
No.
Malin took two steps toward her.
Rahu was climbing out of the bowl. Naresh rose and appeared beside him. Then atop a pillar. He held Rahu by his baju. Then he let go. The War King must have fallen thirty feet from the pillar, plus another ten to the base of the bowl.
A sound like a gong echoed through the Astral Temple as the War King impacted.
Malin looked up at Naresh. The look on his face said he was out of sunlight, and jumping off the pillar would break both his legs.
Instead, Malin ran to Chandi and put a hand on her shoulder. She couldn’t die. He wouldn’t allow it.
The girl looked up at him. “End this.” Her voice was a whisper.
Rahu climbed out of the bowl. The way his leg dragged behind him, it had to be broken. “I’ve already beaten you once,” Rahu said. But one hand was trying in vain to staunch the blood seeping from his stomach.
“You’d be surprised how much Chandi can teach about the Blessings.”
Rahu glowered at him. Raised both hands into a fighting stance. Which meant the blood flowed more freely. Good. Even he would fall if he lost enough blood.
Malin leapt at Rahu. His weight bore the man down. He pounded his fist into the man’s wound. The War King staggered, but only a moment. He grabbed Malin and hurled him into the ground.
After the jarring impact, it was all Malin could do to hold his Blessings. Drop them, even a moment, and he was lost. Rahu’s kick flung him several paces through the air.
Malin landed back in the same bowl Rahu had fallen in before. He rose, chuckling.
“Something amuses you, beast?” Rahu jumped down into the bowl with him.
Malin feinted like he intended to leap out of bowl. Rahu shifted to block his escape. Malin’s palm caught the War King in the throat.
“I killed your supposed brother in this very spot,” Malin said.
Rahu gasped, clutching his throat, flailing his arms. He slammed his hands through the air, like he was slapping a drum. An invisible fist pounded into Malin, flattened him against the bowl.
By the time he’d regained his feet, the War King had lost his. Rahu sat on his knees, trying to suck in air through his crushed windpipe. His face turned purple.
Every step Malin took sent lances of pain through his body. His hook turned Mahesa’s boyish face into a bloody mess. Malin hoped only Rahu could feel this. Hoped Mahesa was dead already. He hefted the War King up to pound him again.
Rahu’s keris bit through Malin’s hip. The pain caught him so off-guard, he lost his Blessings. Malin fell, darkness closing in on him.
His mind retreated from the injuries his body had suffered. But he couldn’t lose himself. Not yet. He shook his head clear. Bit his tongue to focus his mind. There, he caught his Blessings.
Rahu lay in the bowl, twitching.
Malin crawled to the body. He smashed his former master across the face twice more. Until the body lay still. A bloody pulp.
Back to the underworld, bastard.
Malin tried to crawl from the bowl, but his legs wouldn’t work. The wound in his hip turned his attempts to stand into agony. It felt like Rahu had chipped the bone.
Something cold passed through him. Malin continued to crawl. Had to focus on holding his Blessings. Had to stay awake until his body could heal.
The tiger spirit inside him drew back, receded into the depths of his soul. Coldness, freezing hatred was crawling its way up through him. Just the lost blood from his hip. He was going into shock. He’d heal.
Couldn’t get out.
Go down, something said. Yes, into the depths. He could heal there. He started to climb down the ladder, but couldn’t support his weight. He fell to the next level. The impact knocked the wind from him.
Then something seized his chest. Clasped around his heart. Malin shrieked, tore at his skin. The slithering, alien darkness moved up his spine.
His hands stopped responding.
Couldn’t catch his breath. Couldn’t move. Shadows moved before his mind. Something was in him.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT
Daha looked better than it had. Rangguwani had dedicated a great deal of resources to rebuilding the city. Chandi wanted to think of it as home, but she just couldn’t.
Naresh waited in the harbor, not wanting to risk the king’s wrath. Anusapati’s brother now called himself the Ratu Adil. Chandi would have laughed, if she hadn’t thought it would drive her to tears. Rangguwani probably made a better Ratu Adil than Tohjaya would.
Kertajaya and Lang had fought against Rangguwani, but without the support of the Firewalkers, Daha had fallen in days. Some said Lang was dead. No one knew if Kertajaya lived.
Bendurana said nothing as they walked through the city. They couldn’t avoid their business here any longer, but she planned to be gone from this place as soon as they were done. Nothing held them here anymore.
Her memories of Puradvipa were hazy from lost blood. Some things she remembered. Mahesa was dead, that she knew for sure.
“Take the Amrita!” Naresh had shouted at her from somewhere above.
No. Addiction. Lun
acy. Chills swept her and she toppled over.
“Please, Chandi!”
She wouldn’t lose her mind again. Better to die sane.
“Don’t leave me. I swear to Surya I’ll jump down there and feed it to you myself.”
Everything sounded underwater. Someone lifted her head. Had Naresh really jumped down? Would it break his legs? Pohaci? The woman pulled the cork from the vial. Had the vial. How did she have …?
“Just a sip. He wouldn’t want you lunatic. Or dead.”
Milky, sweet. And darkness. Chandra’s sweet smile embraced her. Was she dead? She saw endless stars.
And then Naresh was there. Night had fallen, and he held her. His eyes were red.
“He’s not down there,” Pohaci said, climbing up the ladder. “Only strange devices. Something that looked like a massive astrolabe. I don’t know what else.”
For a day and a night, they’d searched for Malin. The weretiger was just gone. Chandi had combed the depths of the temple herself. In the once-closed room, she found the astrolabe Pohaci had spoken of. At least thirty feet tall.
When that failed, they’d searched the rest of the complex. Lembu Ampal didn’t wake for over a day, but he lived. His voice seemed sluggish. Naresh said he had a concussion, but should recover. Maybe Arun Guard training covered first aid.
What choice had they had? After two days, they’d left Puradvipa. But not Pohaci. The Buaya Jadian swore she would search the entire island. And not Lembu Ampal, who remained with Tohjaya.
Tohjaya would make war for the crown sooner or later. The man still had the Jin Laut, and the Astral Temple. At least he seemed too much a fool to make full use of either.
The two vials of Amrita tucked in her sarong weighed her down like an anchor. Her thumb ran over the cork, before she realized what she was doing.
Such sweet milk. And she was stronger than ever before. She should have died. Instead, after a sip, she’d slept, and awoken almost fully healed. Just one more sip, and her Blessings would be as strong as Malin’s.
She jerked her hand away. Chandra help her.
Chandi couldn’t say whether she hoped Malin had survived or not. He’d murdered her father. But then, he’d killed Rahu and saved them all.