Grinning with mad excitement, Phoenix glanced behind. The smile slipped from his face. Racing toward them were fifty or more Saka warriors, bent low over their horses’ necks, closing the gap rapidly. A dozen of them stood in their stirrups and drew bows, still galloping full tilt.
He swore and ducked, wishing for his long-lost shield as a volley of arrows sailed through the blue sky toward him. Most of them missed. One of them hit Marcus’ packhorse in the rump, making the beast squeal and leap forward.
They plunged down a small embankment and splashed into the shallow river without slowing. It was a dangerous manoeuvre – there could be unseen deep water and holes in the riverbed. The water, cold from the mountains, splashed up, steaming off the hot flanks of the struggling horses. They were almost halfway across the ford before the sound of cursing and neighing from behind told them their pursuers had reached the rivers’ edge.
Phoenix tried watch behind and ahead at the same time, expecting another flight of arrows in his back at any point. They were effectively trapped. There was no way they could escape being mowed down. Why had Cadoc suggested this? It was stupid to try and ride across a river with the enemy right on your heels.
The rain of death didn’t come and he wondered why. The Saka must know by now that Jade’s shield was down. They must know that Nahapana was safe. Why didn’t they just kill everyone else and take Cadoc down when he was alone?
Ahead, Jade cried out something incomprehensible and pointed toward the opposite bank. Phoenix looked up through a spray of water. Lining the levee on the north bank stood rank upon rank of mounted soldiers. Somehow, the Saka army had got across first and waited for them. His heart sank.
Glancing behind, he saw the soldiers on the south bank stop and retreat back to dry land. They shook their drawn weapons and shouted threats across the river; but why? The men ahead simply stared impassively at their counterparts, bows drawn, unmoving.
Jade’s horse was the first to reach land. She spun the mare and the others followed her out of the water. Everyone was, amazingly enough, unharmed.
Cadoc grinned triumphantly over at her, his arm still clamping the boy to his chest. Nahapana blinked, eyes frightened in his small face.
“That must be Guatamiputra’s army,” Cadoc nodded to the row of soldiers standing above them on the riverbank. “We’re safe for now. Let’s go meet Guatamiputra and show him our prize.” He hauled on the reins, turning his horse away from the river.
“Letta!” Jade yelled. The horse whickered in surprise as it stopped in its own tracks. Cadoc slewed around in his saddle and frowned at her.
“What’re you doing? Let’s go.”
“We are not taking an innocent boy into the camp of his father’s worst enemy,” she said. Brynn and Marcus drew their horses alongside hers, silently supporting her.
Phoenix moved his horse into a position between both sides, not really sure which to support.
“But it makes sense to hang on to him for awhile,” Cadoc reasoned. “Guatamiputra will think we’re spies but if we bring the boy he’ll know we’re on his side and he’ll let us go free.”
“You’re probably right,” Jade agreed, “but I’m still not doing it. It was bad enough that we used him as a hostage to get ourselves out of Bhumaka’s camp. I’m not going to put him in any more danger. Set him down.”
“What?” the Player raised his brows in wonder. “You’re going to give up our best bargaining tool and walk into Guatamiputra’s camp with nothing? We’ll end up in exactly the same situation as before.”
“No,” she shook her head. “Bhumaka was acting on behalf of our Quest-enemy. Guatamiputra isn’t.”
“As far as you know,” Cadoc pointed out. “It makes no sense in this game to give away such a big advantage. You’ll lose. Phoenix, tell her.”
“I dunno,” Phoenix shrugged. It was a tricky situation and he wasn’t sure who to back. “You could be right but so could she. It doesn’t seem like the right thing to do.”
“The right thing to do?” The warrior stared at Phoenix in amazement. “That doesn’t matter here. You do what it takes to win, that’s the right thing to do.”
“I don’t care,” Jade said through gritted teeth. “I won’t win by being underhanded.”
“Well then, you’ll lose,” Cadoc stated flatly.
Phoenix glanced back and forth between Jade and Cadoc, not certain what to do. This was one of those situations his father had always tried to coach him for. He had to make the correct choice but what was it? Cadoc was right: if they let Nahapana go, they lost a huge advantage over Bhumaka and a big bargaining chip with Guatamiputra. They could hand the Indian king the key to winning this war. Hadn’t Jade said he was the true king? Wouldn’t it also then be the right thing to help the true ruler win his war and restore the balance of power here? If they gave the boy to Guatamiputra, the war would be over and they could walk right into Pune and finish this level easily. Jade wanted to go home. Surely she couldn’t disagree with a course of action that got her there faster?
On the other hand, surely it was the wrong thing to use a child as a pawn in a war? But wasn’t their survival more important than his?
Phoenix sighed and scraped his long hair back. “I’m probably going to regret this but I agree with Jade. Put the boy down and let him go back across the river to his father.”
Cadoc shook his head and made a sound of disbelief. “You’re mad, Phoenix. This could cost you the level, you know. Well, your call, I guess.” He turned and lowered the boy to the ground.
Jade swung down from her mare, knelt in front of him and laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry we had to use you that way. Thankyou for being so brave. Can you make it back across the river on your own? It’s not very deep.”
Nahapana drew himself up and nodded regally. With a scornful glance at Cadoc, he spun on his heel and marched straight into the cold waters without flinching. Stiff-backed, he pushed through the rushing rapids until he reached his own people. Their leader hauled the boy up on his horse and shook his fist at them before wheeling his mount and galloping away in a cloud of dust.
“I still say you’re insane,” Cadoc shrugged. “After all, Bhumaka didn’t keep his word about not harming us, so why should we keep ours?”
“Actually,” Marcus murmured, “he only promised not to detain us. He never said anything about not harming us.”
Brynn snorted at Cadoc’s look of blank surprise. Phoenix glanced at Jade. She sent him a warm, grateful smile. Suddenly, he felt a small weight lift off his shoulders. Not only had he made the right choice for his team but he’d also been asked by his team to make that choice at the crucial moment. Perhaps they were finally coming to see him as a leader…. and maybe he was finally starting to think like one. He just hoped it really was the right decision.
Without further conversation, they kicked their mounts back into action and rode up the embankment to meet their rescuers.
A tall, handsome Indian man rode forward and bowed his head. His eyes widened briefly at the sight of Jade’s pale skin and white-blonde hair but he managed to hide his reaction quickly enough.
“Greetings from his Majesty, Raj Guatamiputra Satarkani. You will accompany me to express your gratitude to him in person. I am Vasisthiputra Pulamāvi, second son to his Majesty.”
As soon as he heard the translation from Jade, Cadoc kneed his horse forward and inclined his head and gestured for Jade to join him. “Greetings, your highness and thankyou for your timely intervention. I am Cadoc, Prince of the Dobunnic territories, first son of Corio, the King.” He waved at the others. “We accept your invitation to exchange greetings with his Majesty. Pray, lead on.”
Phoenix seethed inwardly. It annoyed him that Cadoc had simply taken over without consulting anyone else. He kept his mouth shut, though, because it was clear that little speech had made a positive impression on the Indian prince. Vasisthiputra gestured to his troop to form a guard around his prisoners but then rode bes
ide Cadoc, keeping his sword sheathed and making polite conversation through Jade as though he were an honoured guest.
It didn’t take long before they reached the outskirts of the kings’ massive army, encamped on the vast, treeless plain north of the river. Phoenix caught Marcus’ faintly impressed expression as they rode in. This army was a far cry from the disorderly hodgepodge of Bhumaka’s camp. Here, he got the instant sense of organisation, efficiency and discipline. Everywhere he looked, Phoenix saw groups of men drilling for war: swordfighting; using spears; archery and formation riding. Huge, wood-and-iron four-wheeled battle-chariots, pulled by four horses and carrying three or four men raced each other on a long track. Nearby, elephants were being made ready for battle – their tusks sharpened and their armour polished. Soldiers looked fit, well-fed and skilled; their dhoti and turbans clean and whole. As well as swords, spears and bows, most carried a katar – a kind of short sword with a horizontal grip that placed the blade over the knuckles and allowed the user to deliver a fatal punch to his opponent.
By the time they reached Guatamiputra’s tent, Phoenix was pretty sure they were dealing with a skilled general. He was glad they had let Nahapana go. This Raj didn’t need to hold a child hostage to win a war.
Vasisthiputra dismounted and politely, but firmly, requested they leave their weapons in the hands of the guards outside. Reluctantly, Phoenix parted with his sword once more. This was happening far too often. Brynn handed over his belt knife then, when the guard eyed him steadily, sighed and added his sling to the pile.
The Indian prince preceded them into the large pavilion. The inside could not have been a more marked contrast to what they had seen in Bhumaka’s camp. Not a silken drape nor gaudy cushion in sight. Straight-backed wooden chairs surrounded a large, rectangular table. Around this sat five older men, all of whom carried themselves with the authority of age and experience. At the head of the table stood a mature version of Vasisthiputra: tall and handsome but with grey touching his temples: Guatamiputra. Beside him slouched a richly-dressed young man about the same age as Vasisthiputra. He wore a disgruntled, irritated expression on his aristocratic face that immediately, and for no real reason, annoyed Phoenix.
The men looked up at their entrance and all rose to their feet as Vasisthiputra explained the situation. Guatamiputra eyed the outlanders thoughtfully, leaning with his knuckles on the table. He looked intelligent but very tired.
“Is this true? Were you truly escaping from my enemy’s camp? Or are you spies sent by him? Where are you from? Who was the child you returned across the river?” He demanded.
Jade translated rapidly in a low undertone, for Cadoc’s sake but Phoenix stepped forward to speak.
He bowed. “My lord, we are travellers from a distant land. We are simply passing through your country, seeking to complete a task that has nothing to do with you or with your enemies. We were captured by Bhumaka and, in seeking to escape, we held his son hostage temporarily. True to our word, we released the boy as soon as we were safely out of Bhumaka’s reach.”
Guatamiputra gazed narrowly at them, one at a time, assessing the truth of the story.
“And this task you must complete,” he asked. “Where must you go for that?”
“To Pune…um…I mean, Punya-Vishaya, my lord,” Phoenix replied.
The Raj straightened. “To Punya-Vishaya? But the town is held by Bhumaka. How do you propose to get in there and complete your task if you have made an enemy of him?”
Phoenix grinned and gave a one-shouldered shrug. “We hadn’t quite worked that one out yet. In fact, our planning didn’t go much past getting over the river. It was just luck that your son and his men happened to be there.”
Guatamiputra raised an eyebrow. “A good general does not rely on luck. Vasi was there because he is a valiant warrior and I sent him there to watch the enemy.” He turned away and caught sight of the other young man, who was staring at Jade with outright greed. Guatimputra sighed.
“My first son, Sopaniputra, however, prefers to recite poetry to women.”
The young man started then glared at his father before schooling his face into blankness.
The Raj turned away and paced over to a low wooden shrine that was set into one corner of the tent. He stood, staring down at it for several moments before moving aside. Phoenix heard Jade gasp and stole a quick look at the shrine. He couldn’t see anything particularly remarkable about it. It was just a decorative niche in which sat a small statue of a man with blue skin and four arms. Each of the hands held something but the details were too small to make out exactly what. He would have to ask her what she had seen, later.
“And your names?” the Raj shot at them.
Phoenix introduced them, this time using their real names. Remembering the effect Cadoc’s princely status had on Vasisthiputra, he added both his and Jade’s titles.
“This is Prince Cadoc, first son of King Corio of the Dobunnic territories.”
Guatamiputra raised his eyebrows and nodded politely.
“And this is her royal highness, Jade gan Eleri, daughter of Arawn, king of the Elves,” Phoenix concluded, hoping for a slightly better result. He wasn’t even sure if Elves were part of Indian mythology but they needed every bit of influence they could get over this man if they were to achieve their goal of returning the Sudarshana to Pune in time for the last night of the old moon. They had already lost two of the six nights Anuket had given them to complete the task.
Guatamiputra’s reaction was everything Phoenix could have wished. He paled then flushed dark, leaning on the table to support himself as if suddenly weakened. His eyes sparkled with excitement, as did those of his advisors.
“It is you, then,” he said softly, staring at Jade in fascination. “You are the Devi, the daughter of the Gods, the Shining One destined to restore my kingdom to me. You have come. I just never expected you to be a woman.”
Jade blinked at him, clearly taken aback. The Raj smiled broadly and threw one arm around Sopaniputra’s shoulders and the other around hers. She flinched at the touch of his leather and iron wristband.
“Come!” the king squeezed them both. “We shall have a banquet to celebrate this special event.”
Phoenix exchanged confused looks with Marcus and Brynn.
“Err…, your majesty?” he asked. “What special event is that?”
The Raj laughed heartily. “The marriage of my son to this Princess of the Elves, of course. With her in our family, my victory is assured!”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“No!” “What!?” Phoenix, Jade, Marcus and Brynn all spoke at once. Marcus stepped up and dragged Jade out from beneath the Raj’s arm. Phoenix and Brynn moved to stand protectively before her. Guatamiputra’s son, Sopaniputra, scowled. Several of the Raj’s advisors jumped to their feet and cast outraged, venomous looks at them. If weapons had been allowed in the room, they would already have come to blows. The tension was thick enough to cut. Vasisthiputra waved them back, frowning at the foreigners.
Guatamiputra drew himself up. “Who do you think you are? She may be a devi but she is still just a woman. She is beautiful and of royal blood – a perfect match for my son and heir. I demand that you give her to me.”
Behind, Phoenix could hear Jade sputtering with indignation. He needed to cool things down before she lost her temper and Commanded the Raj to do something embarrassing. Phoenix held up both hands, trying to placate the man.
“I’m sorry, my lord. In our country, women are not property or slaves. Jade has her own mind. If she wants to marry your son, of course she can but nobody will make her as long as we are around.”
Jade folded her arms and sent the Raj and Sopaniputra a narrow look, as if daring them to try something. Cadoc muttered in her ear, demanding a translation. She flushed pink but gave him a brief synopsis. He grinned.
The Raj stared at them, clearly taken aback. Sopaniputra tugged on his sleeve but Guatamiputra brushed him away. With a sigh, he waved them all to
sit down.
“Sit down, sit down. I’m not going to have you killed for defying me.” He frowned at them. “Not yet, anyway. My wife tells me the tradition of arranging marriages for our daughters is a recent invention, so I suppose I should not be surprised that other cultures do not follow it.”
The groups sat, watching each other warily. Phoenix sent Jade a warning frown and she huffed back at him, unfolding her arms and sitting down with a thump.
“So if she is not to marry my son and bring her Elven kin to save my kingdom, then how is she to fulfil her destiny?” The Raj demanded.
“Um,” Jade put up a hand.
The Raj raised haughty brows at her then sighed again. “Speak then, woman. I suppose I must get used to the idea. I just hope my wife and daughters don’t get to hear of this,” he muttered. Behind him, Vasisthiputra covered his mouth to hide a smile.
“I don’t think my Elven father would come to your rescue, anyway,” Jade admitted. “I don’t know him very well, you see, since I was raised amongst humans. But I am a Spellweaver,” she added, when the Raj looked disappointed. “Maybe we can come to some sort of deal?”
“Deal?” The Raj blinked at her in astonishment. “You want to bargain with me, woman?”
Jade shrugged. “It’s only fair. I’m sure we can come up with a good plan to defeat Bhumaka using the skills we have between us. We help you to regain your kingdom, you help us complete our quest once you’ve retaken Punya-Vishaya. The only condition is that we have just four days to do it. We have to be in Punya-Vishaya by the last night of the moon.”
For a long moment, the Raj looked at her and the rest of the companions. Then he grimaced. “I suppose that will have to do. For a moment I thought I’d found a way to avoid this war altogether. I guess a short one is better than a war that drags on for weeks.”
He stood abruptly and everyone scrambled to their feet. “You are tired. Tonight we will celebrate your long-awaited arrival and tomorrow we will plan the defeat of Bhumaka.” He clapped his hands. Three women scurried into the pavilion, bright sari’s fluttering like butterfly wings.
The Sudarshana Page 9