The swelling on Aavu's neck worsened, and the purple turned black. The tiger struggled to breathe, but his words choked out. Another Fang flung its weight against Aavu, and they fell into a ball of vipers. The knot of Fangs went into a frenzy, ripping at Aavu's flesh. Crimson ran from the excited coils, lapping at the shore of the hill.
"A day of blood," Bagheer said as they surrounded Ishku's hut. The band fended off the Fangs proficiently, along with the help of several other warriors who lived in the village.
Writhing snake corpses littered the mound, though more slithered toward them. Behind the hut, Ishku shouted, "Up the branch. There is safety in the trunk."
She fought as fiercely as anyone else, making sure the children and elderly were able to ascend the massive, fallen branch. Sugriva's heart fluttered at the sight. He rushed through the vipers to be beside Ishku.
"Where is Aavu?" she asked. Sugriva was numb. "I see. Labda and Falak?"
"Falak ran, as was his path. He is halfway to Jaya by now. Bagheer said Labda died before the fight began."
"I pray they are given worthy reincarnations in the next life."
"I pray the same for Aavu."
The battle for Mibtha was over. It became a question of how much blood the Fangs needed to spill to conquer the village.
Bajjo stood at the top of the branch, fending off serpents as they wrapped around the trunk and went up to cut off the retreat. He cleared the doorway to the trunk, along with other warriors. Blood splashed down the tree trunk and dyed the waters below. Fangs lapped at the warm blood, then snaked their way up the tree for a fresh taste.
One Fang dropped from the branches and wrapped around Bajjo. It's mouth agape, it covered his head, then fell to the waters where a sea of snakes awaited. Water and snake bits sprayed up from the foaming waters as Fangs overwhelmed Bajjo. The poison, lengthy battle, and unending numbers eventually saw Bajjo immersed in the red water.
Tears poured down Sugriva's cheeks. It was only a matter of time until he and Bagheer were slaughtered. Off in the distance Issi stood tall and proud. His head bobbed side to side as his hood expanded, though the hypnotic display failed to ease Sugriva as it was meant to. The snake had six arms, three on each side, and in each arm he held a weapon: sword, mace, spear, ax, dagger, and shield.
Issi slithered quickly across the waters. Sugriva and Bagheer killed Fangs as fast as they could before the demonic Fang was on the mound. It hissed, "I will skin then eat you. I will wear your flesh as a reminder to General Humbari that he has no hold over this jungle. Sankive belongs to demons like me. I am Ravasha, the schemer. I am no simple Fang, but a demon lord."
Ravasha slithered up the branch like lightning and slaughtered the few Mibtha warriors left. He thrust the spear at Sugriva, and the monkey jumped on the metal shaft. Bagheer retreated, climbing higher for a better vantage point. It was the common routine, though there were usually more warriors to distract the foe.
Sugriva knew Issi was corrupt, but now he was a demon lord? The story of Ravasha wasn't unknown to Surgiva, either. He was a demon used in tales to warn children that scheming would only lead to failure.
The thoughts were interrupted as Ravasha jostled the spear. With Sugriva off balance, the demon swung his sword to cut Sugriva in two. A quick shift from man to monkey put Sugriva well below the strike, and he climbed up the unstable spear shaft.
Ravasha dropped the spear and grabbed the monkey. Sugriva shifted into a man, then used his staff to strike the snake's wrist until the demon let him go. As a monkey again, he climbed around the tree and avoided Ravasha, as the demon gave chase. Sugriva dove toward the water, grabbed the falling spear, and thrust it into Ravasha's coils. The spear penetrated the thick hide over and over. Black blood sprayed out and burned Sugriva's skin.
The serpent's tail thrashed back and forth from the piercings. Sugriva clambered up the tree, past Ravasha, until he was out of range of the snake. Bagheer ambushed Ravasha and slit his throat. Twin daggers stabbed down where arteries would be. But demons were crafty and did not follow snake or man biology.
Ravasha thrust at him with a dagger, but Bagheer avoided the attacks. Bracing his spear, Sugriva thrust into the demon's chest, coaxing a howl from the anathema.
"I am a demon lord, the demon Ravasha, and I have nearly conquered Jaya once before. I won't fail again." He tore Bagheer from his head and tossed him far into the air and onto the mound. Bagheer bounced and slid across the mud. Then Ravasha retreated, so Sugriva was out of range.
"Jaya is on its knees. Today I attacked all your villages, and they will never build again. Any remaining men or janaav will provide us with stock." He shifted so his hands were adders. “But maybe,” he muttered, eyeing Sugriva. One of the adders struck Sugriva in the forehead. Then Ravasha shifted into a vulture with four heads and four wings and escaped.
Sugriva's head was light and his eyes couldn’t focus. He replayed the death of Aavu and Bajjo. Then he created over and over in his head the ways Labda died. Rage exploded in his chest when he thought of Falak's ordered cowardice.
Shifting was impossible to control, as Sugriva flipped between man and monkey. Emotionally he shifted between weeping and roaring.
General Humbari left them for dead. The villages were not meant to survive. His parents abandoned him and did not take him with them when they were outcaste. His uncle beat him when Sugriva turned from the merchant dharma, ashamed his nephew chose the military. Children called him out for being the child of two outcastes. Every nasty thought from his past welled up in his mind and chest.
Then the tree they stood on turned black as an oil covered it. The oil turned into razors and spikes, impaling and cutting through the few villagers left. Ishku dodged a spike, shifted into an otter, and dove into the waters below. Sugriva prayed the remaining Fangs wouldn't get her as she fled.
Bagheer jumped up the tree, away from the oil. He shouted, "Sugriva, come to your senses."
The tree didn't harm Sugriva, even though he knelt mindlessly.
"I will kill everyone," Sugriva whispered, head lulling back and forth. He stabbed down repeatedly on the oil, and soon it formed up into another demon. It looked as a dog, though it had a mouth on its belly with malformed teeth. It had four tails, each barbed.
It charged into the tree trunk, and Bagheer chased after it. Screams filled the air, and soon the demon emerged, bleeding profusely. A dagger was stuck in the side of its head. Bagheer came out in his panther form and clawed and bit at the dog. Black blood filled his mouth, and he spat it out. The ichor slowed him down enough for one of the barbed tails to catch him and toss the panther in front of the demon. Before Bagheer touched the ground, the demon leapt and crushed Bagheer's skull.
Then the demon looked to Sugriva. The monkey roared and charged, but he had no control. He yearned for death and the release of all his pent up anger.
However, the demon shifted so it had a human face, and said, "You aren't that lucky. Ravasha wants you." Then he clubbed Sugriva.
Chapter Eight
The Orrery and Wood Chakram
Age of Finality
A week later, while Sugriva explored the empty portions of the city, he was approached by Han Lou. "Monkey, you have approval to enter the dome."
Sugriva's eyes went wide. Then he hopped up and down, shifted down to a monkey, and hooted.
"Shut up before someone hears you." Lou strode down the street. "Keep up."
When they arrived at the dome it was night. A dozen guards circled around the dome, with all the scholars in a nearby building pondering while they waited for the sun. Sugriva never thought he would rue informing them of the light and shadow.
"Looks hard to get in," he muttered.
Lou shot him a look. "And whose fault is that?" The words were almost spat. "Follow me." They went into a building nearby and down into a basement. Han Lou drew a sigil on a metal wall, which then lit up with a constellation Sugriva was unfamiliar with, though he was unfamiliar with all constella
tions.
"There are other ways in? We never even thought of that."
"And if the scholars discover there are other ways, we’ll hold you responsible. Keep your tongue or we'll sever your head."
Sugriva grunted. "I get it. I messed up."
They traveled through metal tunnels. Built-in lights gave a warm blue color which relaxed Sugriva, despite his corruption. Even his fingernails cleared up. The voice, usually a whisper in the back of his head, was gone. "What is this?"
"Containment. It works to push back chaos. It would cripple a demon, maybe even kill it. If someone who can use chaos walks through here, it would negate their powers and give a nasty headache." Lou touched the light and closed his eyes. "If you touch the light it feels even better."
"What is the light from? It's not like anywhere else."
"Volden," Lou nearly whispered. "You don't know Him, but those who do will be here soon. Heed them and they'll heal you."
They arrived at a dead end, though Sugriva figured it was a door. "Another constellation?"
"More mundane." He removed a key from his pocket. Markings glowed blue along the key. It went into the door, not into a keyhole, but was absorbed by the door. The door opened, consuming the key entirely. Mundane was apparently a very relative term with Lou.
The other side was a dark cellar with brick lining. The bricks were unexpected against all the metal. Casks lined the walls. "Water?" Sugriva asked.
Lou shook his head. "We have a well." He tapped a cask with his knuckles. "They are what you think they are. We drink, too."
The giant dome loomed over them once they ascended the stairs. The inside was dark blue, as if it sucked up the light. Artificial stars glistened, inching across the faux night sky. Metal book shelves wrapped around in circles, leaving gaps so people could go to the center. Ancient tomes rested next to pristine books.
Chairs nestled into nooks, and lights built into the chair arms illuminated the area. People sat in them, glancing at Sugriva suspiciously. Once in the center, it took away Sugriva's breath.
A series of orbs comprised of rare gems on rotating rings orbited a large globe in the center. Men and women moved the rings, and when one ring moved, they all moved. The stars on the ceiling also shifted. A table next to the model was filled with tomes, scrolls, and hastily scribbled notes.
"What are they doing?" Sugriva asked, amazed.
"Learning about the future and studying the past." Lou mostly ignored him, heading straight to the table to look at scribbled notes.
It was difficult to wrap his mind around what that even meant. The future? "But what are the orbs? What are the rings?"
"It's an orrery. It depicts where planets and stars are." The rings moved as a woman nudged a planet. The metal glided over itself and created a pleasing chime.
"So you knew I'd ask if I could come here? The wait was a test?”
Lou laughed and gave Sugriva his attention. "It's not perfect. Usually we know what we're looking for and we look for it. Corruption constantly shifts your future. It keeps you unpredictable."
"Did you know it was a good idea to bring me here?"
"No," Lou whispered, ashamed. "It wasn't clear if this was a good or bad idea, and it didn't move what happened in the future. The few of us here convened and decided to go for it."
The woman moving the orrery cleared her throat, glaring at Sugriva and Lou. "Do you mind? I'm viewing the future—successfully." She gave a hmph, lifted her nose at Lou, and went back to work.
The two walked around the chamber, away from the center. Sugriva ran his fingers across the spines of the books and said, "She doesn't like you."
Lou laughed. "No, she doesn't like many people. She’s one of the few who disagreed with bringing you here."
"Who are you? Not you, but this group. You sound like mortal Ashtadash."
Another laugh. "I like that, though most of the people here aren't familiar with the Ashtadash. I'm usually in the field, but you’re one of my responsibilities, so here I am." They walked a little more, finding a side meeting room. There was no ceiling, so anyone could overhear.
Lou sat down and offered a seat to Sugriva. "You've seen our wonders. Are you satisfied, or are there other questions?"
"Why isn’t there a ceiling? Anyone can hear us."
"They can also look at the orrery and find out what the consequences of the meeting will be." He shrugged. "What's the point?"
It was strange to think of someone having such powerful divination. They spoke of it in Jaya, but it was hit or miss. "Why bring me here?"
"Either way the future didn't change. You'll work with us a lot in the years to come, so might as well get you used to us."
Sugriva's head spun. "Can you cure me of my corruption?"
At that Lou frowned and sighed. "No, Sugriva. We can't. In less than a year there’s a boy who will cure you. It won't make sense if I tell you, but you'll see. You'll already trust him, so me telling you to trust him doesn't matter."
"How?"
"This city was built by Volden for his people. They turned their backs on Him. We are the Seers of Yosheket, the guiding star to men so this world isn't shattered. We don't know exactly what that means, but it doesn't sound good." Lou smirked, and it was contagious. Sugriva smirked along with him.
"No, it doesn't."
THE FOLLOWING DAY IT was as if air spirits made Sugriva light. He could still feel the corruption, but he didn't have to actively fight the voice.
The children playing asked Sugriva to join, but instead he waived them over to a street vendor. "Kheer?" The kids screamed for rice pudding. Sugriva turned to the vendor. "Kheer. Do you have pistachios?" The man nodded. "With pistachios. One for all the children and myself."
The man smiled. "You make me wealthy today, but if any of those kids break the cups, I'm charging you."
"I'm good for it." He placed down a small purse, though coins made the fabric bulge. The vendor's eyes went wide when he opened it.
"Your coin is good here." He slapped the table twice and went to work on the rice pudding. The scent of boiling milk and sugar was pleasurable, and Sugriva shifted into his janaav form to get as much of the aroma as he could.
The boy from the other day sat by him. "You're not done telling me stories, are you?" He already had the pudding.
The next portion of the story made Sugriva smile. "I became a hero after Puncture day." He frowned. "It was built on the bones of my friends, but I still became a hero."
"You killed demons?"
"A lot of them."
Chapter Nine
The Monkey and the Priestess
Age of Men 807
General Humbari stood in front of Sugriva with a self-important smirk. Sugriva didn't understand the smile. Labda, Bajjo, and Bagheer were cremated, their remains returned to the Ganga River to float down to the resting place. It took a month until Sugriva returned to camp, only to find all the patrolled villages were assumed lost. All the other kingdoms pulled their troops from Jaya in fear, reducing Humbari's army by two thirds. Meanwhile, rumors circulated of messengers from Prince Anka recalling the Jayan army. The General wandered off his path, and he would have to answer for it in the next life. However, in the current life it led to low morale.
Humbari puffed out his chest, as if he accomplished something. "We are getting our best together. Sugriva, you are the only one who fought and survived Puncture Day. You are the only one Ravasha revealed himself to."
The Haughty bear needs to be humbled. Open his insides and spread his guts as a message for others who stray from dharma.
"You will leave with seventeen other warriors and infiltrate the back lines. Your mission will be to cut off the supply routes. Take out pits if you can, but don't get yourself killed. If you keep them from the front lines, we can push them back and meet you. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." What else was an injured monkey to say to a rogue bear general?
Meanwhile, the image of the slaughtered village
ran through Sugriva's head repeatedly. He saw Bajjo fall from the tree. He thought of how they had to cut Labda out of a Fang's belly to send him on. Sleep brought the images. Daydreaming brought the images. Sugriva blamed it on leaving his path, though he was sure priests would tell him the demons corrupted him.
"You will leave in a week. Spend that time getting your head straight." The bear cleared his throat. "I understand you saw things no one should see."
"Yes, sir," Sugriva muttered as the general left. Eighteen soldiers behind enemy lines. Groups of four were slaughtered by small groups of the Fangs, and they wanted to send out eighteen. It would be a blood bath, but at least the nightmares would end.
A priestess, Zaina, sat beside Sugriva. "The little monkey," she said, softly. "I heard of the horrors you lived through." No one else sat by Sugriva, so the woman's presence was confusing. Most could smell the corruption emanating from him, even if they couldn't pinpoint what created the unease.
"Why does no one sit by you?" Her dark brows furrowed. Zaina was older, but Sugriva had seen her before.
Sugriva sniffed under his armpit and waved away the scent with his hand. "I've forgotten how to bathe, I think. That's likely why."
The woman laughed. "With that sense of humor, why aren't more sitting by you?"
Somberness overtook Sugriva. "You've heard the stories. I have dreams of what happened, and what will happen. I wake up ready to kill whoever wakes me."
"Oh, who doesn't? A woman woken before she is ready is a sore sight." She took his hand in hers. For a second, she flinched, then moved into Sugriva, shoulders rubbing.
"There is a darkness. Something deep inside you."
She knows. Dispose of her.
Sugriva looked off in the distance at a bonfire. "Yes. There is. I'm not sure what it is."
"War." A delicate hand pressed against Sugriva's chest, and for a moment he could feel the cloud of uncertainty move away from him. "It does it to many, man and woman. They wake up screaming in the night, and I am to comfort them."
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