Ghost Monkey

by Paul R. Davis

  No guards stood by to intervene, and Sugriva's guts sunk. He said, "This is a bad idea. I’ll hurt the kid."

  The boy seemed aware of this. His lips blanched and his body quivered. Divyan went to Amu and put a hand on his son’s shoulder. "Sugriva, train him slowly. Do down strikes first. Then up strikes. You get the idea. Today there is no need for contact. A warrior needs to memorize motions before they can fight an opponent."

  The monkey nodded and stood in front of the boy. "Mirror me." Sugriva did down strikes. He corrected Amu's posture with sharp thwacks of his staff, and the boy winced. It was meditative. It gave purpose. And the voice had no power over the simple exercises.

  Simple strikes turned into simple katas, then complicated katas, and finally they performed paired katas, Sugriva and Amu swinging their staffs and dancing with each other. The chill air went into the rainy season, and they trained to the tears of water spirits. Then it became hot and humid. Finally, fall parted the cloudy skies, so they were beautiful and blue beyond the jungle canopy. After completing, more or less successfully, the most strenuous kata Sugriva knew, both collapsed, panting. "You're good," Sugriva said.

  Amu smiled. "I have a good teacher."

  Divyan came out as the two relaxed. He said, "I think you taught the boy all you can with casual training, Sugriva. Now, spar with him. Go slow. Let him get used to someone jabbing and swiping at him."

  A pit formed in Sugriva's stomach, but he obeyed. Amu paled as he stood with his staff in hand.

  Now is your chance, the chaos called.

  "Come," Sugriva said, ignoring the voice. He motioned the boy to attack. He did and Sugriva parried the strike. "You wind up too much." Another strike. "Too slow." Another. "Remember to snap at the waist. Even if that hit me it wouldn't hurt." The training continued until the sun set.

  When the training was complete, and both sat and drank, General Divyan said, "Sugriva, join us for dinner tonight. I would like you to meet my family, now that you trained my boy. It is only right."

  Chapter Fourteen

  The Scorned Ghost Monkey

  Age of Men 810

  Up the trees, in the tallest canopies, large tree limbs grew together to create nests. The nests were imperfect orbs dotted with holes. Four spheres formed Divyan's home around a thick tree. Sugriva climbed up and found a port in the bottom of the lowest structure. There was a ladder, but in monkey form he didn't need it. He crawled in with Divyan behind him. The general was a hawk, but when he burst through the opening and stopped his ascent, he turned into a man.

  Brilliantly colored jute rugs adorned the floor. Wood seats were carved into the walls, with weapon racks between each of them. Hawks squawked and people shouted orders, as the entire complex was alive. A woman came out, gorgeous and severe in her features. She was adorned in a robe made of feathers from a variety of birds, likely prey from hunts. Sugriva heard of the custom, but it was a ceremonial custom warriors didn't participate in it.

  "My husband, welcome." She kissed him in a way which made Sugriva blush. Then the woman said, "Oh, I didn't see we had company. Where are my manners?" She laughed. "They must have flown out. Please, come and meet our daughter. I was told you have already met our son."

  Divyan said, "This is Sugriva. He helped train Amu in the bow staff. The boy is quite proficient."

  The woman froze for a second, eying Sugriva. "You had Sugriva train our son? You didn't tell me that, but you told me plenty of Sugriva." The personality switch was quick.

  "And a better teacher he couldn't have." He put a hand on her shoulder, and it cooled the embers in her eyes. "He is now a guest in our house. We will feed and care for him, at least for the night."

  She walked to Sugriva. "I have heard your stories, and my heart breaks for you. However, I told my husband he should leave you in your little hut. Then he told me what you did to the soldiers you trained with. I told my husband he should pluck your heart out. You are now in my house. If you threaten my children, there will be no mercy. I will shred you with beak and talons and leave you to hang on this tree." Then she stormed off.

  "Charming," Sugriva muttered. A tingle settled in his guts from her words.

  "Don't mind her," Divyan said. "You're doing well. There is no fighting here, so you will be fine. As long as you can remember your manners." He winked and chuckled, then went up some stairs. "Follow me."

  A girl was in the next structure up. Her skin was fair for a hawk girl, her nose pointed like a beak, and her eyes were yellow. Two tells, he thought. That or they just had unusually pointed noses.

  Divyan said, "This is Prisha. She is my only daughter and a beautiful sight ready for marriage."

  The girl blushed and so did Sugriva. His heart throbbed and guts twisted. Then he looked away.

  Prisha said, "It is a great pleasure to meet you. My father says much about the monkey who survived the snakes."

  Divyan interjected, "Prisha that is impolite." He put a hand on Sugriva's shoulder. "Never mind that. I promise I said only good things. Your training has come a long way.” He fidgeted, then sniffed. “The food is ready."

  The dining room looked more traditional and had a ladder leading up the structure for those not as gifted in flight or climbing. Once in the dining room, the walls were covered in tapestries and banners. Feathers woven into the tapestry told of birds killed in battle or defeated in duels. One banner was left incomplete, a tribute to Divyan and his wife, which would be completed upon their death.

  Sugriva sat at the table. Prisha sat across from him. His heart thumped in his chest, almost painfully. Prisha daintily asked for food, taking from the family plate with her hands. The rest of the family did the same, and when Divyan handed a platter to Sugriva, no utensils were given. Sugriva fought back tears. Outside his squad, it was the first time he shared a meal as if family.

  Amu chattered through dinner, especially in regards to the merits of Sugriva. This surprised the monkey, as the boy was never chatty during training. "The legends of you are incredible, sir. I was honored to train under you. I learned so much. Mom, he is a master of combat. Sometimes he's even nice."

  Divyan snorted with food in his mouth. He cleared his throat. "Amu, that's not how you talk of your master. He is as nice, or not, as he needs to be. If his student is pliable and quick-witted, he can always be kind. If his student is dense as ironwood, then a master must be forceful."

  The wife mumbled, "He hasn't sent you to the hospital. It sounds like he has been restrained in your training." She glared at Divyan, and he had the good sense to avoid her gaze.

  The wife looked at Sugriva and said, "You are welcome to this house under my husband. I will never welcome you. Every day I beseech the spirits to give my husband wisdom, so my family isn't hurt." After several deep breaths, she slammed her hands on the table. Her body shifted to a hawk, and without another word, she flew away.

  "She's overprotective and can't see the full picture. She can't see how important you are to the future of Jaya." Divyan dug into seconds, pecking at the bone of a squirrel. "Everyone needs a family, Sugriva. It gives them balance. I will share my family with you, and you will share your talents with me in battle."

  Amu's eyes went wide. "That is amazing. Yes, he should be here every night." He looked to Sugriva and went to the man. He took Sugriva's hands in his, and said, "Master, I didn't know you don't have a family. I'm honored to be part of it now."

  Sugriva openly sobbed. "I have an uncle who doesn't want me. My parents are outcaste."

  "What happened?" Amu blurted out, as Divyan tried to stop him.

  "They fell off their paths by falling in love with each other. They were different generations, and it contaminated the blood. My uncle took me in to become a merchant, but my parents were warriors. I found myself on their path, not his." There was an extended silence. Amu's brows furrowed when he heard Sugriva's parents were outcaste.

  "The Festival of Colors is soon," Divyan said. The words broke a silence so intense that everyo
ne at the table jumped. "I, for one, am excited to see the vivid display across Jaya." The conversation of the festival continued, as if the questions of Sugriva's history never happened.

  As the Festival of Colors was discussed, Sugriva was enraptured with the beauty of Prisha. His heart exploded at her youthfulness. He admonished himself regularly that it would be a grave sin to court the ideas forming in his mind. Prisha spoke of the colors she loved the most, and it dissolved his weak desire to stay away. Faint smiles at Sugriva's jokes awoke his passion. The monkey tensed his arms and fingers to keep from vaulting across the table and taking what he desired. Instead, as they continued to interact, tranquility formed in his breast, and it was given to him by this girl he had no right to.

  One day, after weeks of dinner together, Sugriva saw Prisha alone in a hallway. There were usually servants around, but this time no one lurked around the corner.

  She kept her face down, and watched Sugriva in the coy manner of a maiden. "Sir," she whispered as they passed, her fingertips touching his forearm. It sent a jolt straight up his elbow and into his shoulder. He made a fist to keep himself from shoving her against a wall and kissing her.

  "Prisha," he said, and they walked past each other. This happened several times when Sugriva visited, like she planned the brief meetings.

  After it went on for a while, as she touched his forearm, there was a voice behind her. "Prisha, that is improper." It was Divyan. "Get ready for dinner."

  When she left, he said, "I'm sorry, Sugriva. That was immensely inappropriate, and I know your reputation is already in such a tenuous situation." He bowed several times. "Again, I'm so sorry."

  Undeterred by Divyan’s warning, Prisha approached Sugriva after dinner. "Meet me on the roof before you leave tonight."

  Monkey's vision went dark, as his heart beat rapidly. He could only nod, leaving her to giggle as she went off to her room. At least he wasn't reading her wrong.

  Sugriva said goodnight to Divyan and Amu. Prisha had excused herself to bed earlier, and the wife never remained long after enduring a few pecks of dinner.

  Once out the door, Sugriva shifted into a monkey and scrambled up to the top of the nest. There was a note.

  Meet me in the canopy.

  Sugriva's mouth opened, and he wanted to howl, but he kept silent. He hopped around a little, then scampered up the tree, darting between the branches. A few hawks hunted under cover of night. A few neared Sugriva, but the monkey easily shooed them off, and they went toward less lively prey.

  Bursting through the canopy, Sugriva glimpsed Prisha in her janaav form, half hawk and half girl. She laughed at the sight of Sugriva. "You came. That's wonderful." She went back to looking at the stars. "Do you ever wonder what's in the heavens? If the Ashtadash are watching us and guiding us? Or if they forgot about us and don't care?"

  "Why say that?" He moved closer to her, though not too close. It could be a clever trap set by her mother, but he hoped for something to happen. Perhaps she just wanted an exotic friend to confide in. It would be a scandal, but it would not constitute stepping off the path.

  She continued, "What if the castes are just to keep us obedient? You seem like someone who would understand that. Your parents, they were of different generations, but that's forbidden. Why? They produced a fine janaav they should be proud of. You even followed them into the warrior caste."

  The subject chafed his heart. "Did it produce a fine janaav? I still can't shift into my form." He sighed. "But I think the Ashtadash are here. Met one who rode a bull and kept the local Fangs at bay. He made a potion to slow my corruption. But one day it didn't help." He wept, flashes of the broken memories coming back to him.

  Prisha moved closer. He wrapped an arm around her, and her muscles flinched before warming to his finger. Sugriva stopped when he felt a rope under her chest. In the darkness it was impossible to see. The rope wrapped around several times and bound her wings. Prisha frowned and looked away, as if this was a shame she hid from Sugriva. He asked, "Why are your wings bound?"

  "I don't know how to fly, so they are bound except for lessons until I learn how to properly use them."

  "What does that mean? Can you or not?"

  Prisha laughed. "A young sparrow can reach the sky. But the hawks are proud, and there is a right and wrong form. My form is juvenile."

  "I never noticed it before." He reached out and caressed her wings. She recoiled at first, then moved into him.

  "As a human, it's just fine rope wrapped around me. Any outfit would hide it." She smirked and flexed the wings a little. "I don't have wings sticking out."

  "That makes sense. If you can fly, why wouldn't you? Just undo the knots and take off."

  "I don't know how to redo them. Do you?"

  His fingers fumbled with the rope, then moved under them, touching her back as he looked for the knots. Then he moved forward, and her breath caught as he went just below her breasts. He looked into her eyes, and his fingers went lower. Stomach muscles went taut at the cool touch, then he felt her back tense as he embraced her. Lips pressed against each other with an appreciative sigh. Her tongue was uncertain as it pushed through his lips. Her mouth opened too wide, as if trying to eat him. Untrained fingers fumbled over Sugriva's body.

  She shook her head, trembling. "No. This is too fast."

  "I'm sorry. I should go."

  "No," she said forcefully and grabbed his hand. Their lips met once more before she pulled back. "Now you can go."

  SUGRIVA AND PRISHA saw each other nearly every day, often through planned accidents, so they could meet in public and not raise too much suspicion. People still whispered on how the two janaav teetered on the edge of their paths, but Divyan dismissed the gossip.

  Sugriva and Prisha bumped into each other at the market. Sugriva had some beets, while Prisha bought a beautiful collar. A warm smile touched Sugriva's lips. "How strange to see you here, Prisha. I see you bought a beautiful neck thing."

  Prisha laughed, cheeks turning red. "Yes. It's a collar made of turquoise. It's supposed to be lucky." She nodded to the beets as she closed the distance. "You are eating beets tonight?"

  "No." Sugriva shook his head. "After you roast them, they look like guts. I use them to scare the children."

  The young woman's jaw dropped as she gasped. "You are a monster, Sugriva. What a horrible mind."

  He walked close enough to whisper, "You should see what I'm thinking of you right now."

  Her cheeks reddened more, followed by a giggle. "I would very much so like to see those thoughts. Maybe you could show me."

  That made Sugriva uncomfortable. At least in public. "Some day. When you fly us away from here." He looked up, the mirth leaving both their eyes.

  "You know I can't, Sugriva. My path. Your path."

  "What happened to the talk of dharma is nothing more than shackles?"

  She looked away, anywhere but into Sugriva's eyes. "I am to be a proud hawk." She paused, pondering the next words carefully. Then she looked straight at Sugriva. "So I can impress my future hawk husband."

  It was an intentional jab, and he knew it, one to kindle jealousy because she disliked of their conversation. When Sugriva recovered, he said, "A worthy husband won't care how you fly."

  Prisha moved out of the market, into a back alleyway. Sugriva followed, until they were away from the din, in between tight buildings, with trees providing cover overhead.

  His hand reached out and laid over hers, and his heart thumped noisily in his ears. She interlaced her fingers with his, and his fear that she didn't feel the same abated.

  "I wonder who that future husband will be." She grinned, her free hand pulling strands of hair back from her face. She leaned closer, and Sugriva met her lips. The first kiss was gentle and restrained. The second kiss was savage; he pressed her hard against a tree.

  Half their clothes laid strewn across the dirt path, and once finished with play, they pulled their belongings together again. Prisha couldn't stop giggling,
and this brought a grin to Sugriva.

  "I should go," she said.

  "Wait." He went to the rope and undid it. She looked mortified, but he put a finger to her lips. "I want to see you fly. I can tie them back up when you're done."

  "But if anyone saw—"

  "I think Divyan will have more issues with us together half-naked than with you flying."

  Temporary horror crossed her face with the realization of what they just did. Sugriva touched her cheek and said, "I'll love you forever. Others live a good life outside the empire. We can, too."

  "We could run away to a quaint village, like the ones you talk about." The smile returned, and the idea took root.

  "Work the land or go fishing. You're a hawk, a natural hunter. We would brave the frontier hand in hand." The more he talked, the more real it was in his mind. He thought of Mibtha and the joy he had in such a simple life.

  However, he could see the thought of laborious living killed the dream on Prisha's face. "Of course—a hunter." The words tapered off into a whisper.

  The idea would grow on her once she had a hunt under her wings. Sugriva knew she would see their life the way he did. "We will make it work. Now, go fly." He patted her bottom, and she blushed with a squeal.

  Wings unfurled, and she jumped. Sugriva lost her in the foliage until she burst up through the canopy, blotting out the stars as a graceful form Sugriva couldn't take his eyes off. When she landed, her chest heaved with the excitement, and she forgot all about banishment. She was wrapped up in Sugriva, and before either of them realized it, they were naked on the jungle floor.

  SUGRIVA EXTENDED HIS arms above his head, saluting the rising sun. Every breath was fresh and crisp, as the monkey practiced his breathing exercises to calm his mind. Metal clashed and wood clacked below from sparring. The tranquility of the rhythmic sparring made Sugriva realize it had been a long time since he felt such peace. Divyan gave him purpose in training his son, while his daughter gave love. Thorough, lengthy love. The thought of her made him smile, disrupting his meditations.