by Selva, SK
“No, don’t go! Not yet,” shouted Karnan as he watched Sonia and Balaraj, hand in hand, race into the demon village.
“They’re going to get killed,” shouted Hemadri. “We have to help. Onwards, warriors!”
Hemadri and his army of trolls charged into the demon village, not too far behind the leading unicorns. The ogres and orcs raised their clubs violently as they quickly followed.
Samara came flying into view.
“No!” she shouted. “We weren’t supposed to go yet.”
“I’m sorry,” said Karnan. “I couldn’t stop them.”
“They’re going to kill them all.”
“But they’re destroying the land.”
“No,” said Samara. “It’s not them.”
She ran into battle, Karnan close behind. The war continued to rage.
They were only a few steps away when Sonia fell to the ground, a spear protruding from her chest, never to rise again.
“Your cowardice wasted valuable seconds. You could have saved her. She held my hand as we ran in. If you had come then, she would still be alive today,” accused Balaraj.
“That’s a load of bollocks,” Hemadri began, but Karnan stopped him.
“You do not deserve to speak about it,” Balaraj continued. “Forty years I’ve waited. I do not want an apology. I want justice.”
Karnan replayed those final moments of battle, each detail still firmly entrenched in his nightmares. He thought about what Samara had told him and Roshna after the demon tragedy. He thought of all the years he and Roshna had not checked up on Balaraj, choosing to grieve on their own. He thought about his scales and why they were tipping. Maybe the land was in danger.
But from what?
He plucked a thick hair from his mane and whispered to it, asking the land for strength and wisdom. Quick as a flash, it flew off toward Tirakan.
It may have seemed like an eternity, the three warriors sitting in silence, but it was only a few moments. Several dragon scales suddenly zoomed through the village, one for each of the clan leaders.
Balaraj watched, his hope rising for the first time, as two of the scales entered the very room he was in, one in front of each of his battle mates.
“Sammelanam Karoti has been called by the centaur clan. All leaders and their trusted advisors are to meet at Tirakan chamber halls for sunrise.” It was King Nahusha’s voice.
The message did not sound happy.
“Thank you,” whispered Balaraj, standing up.
“Please leave,” said Hemadri. The magnitude of what Karnan just did pierced his very soul. “And get some help.”
Without saying another word, Balaraj left, his footsteps loud enough to echo through the busy night. Hemadri watched through his lone window, making sure his friend had gone.
“He’s mad,” he said, turning back to Karnan, “but if the demon boy is a danger, then maybe it’s for the best.”
“Still,” said Karnan, “Raja is not going to be happy. Maybe I can soften the blow, for Balaraj’s sake.”
“You better. Otherwise, the dragons are going to be in a fury. And no one wants to deal with an angry dragon. Especially if he is our king.”
CHAPTER 1 8
***
A aryav could not stop pacing in his home, careful to avoid Veeran, who lay curled up on the floor. He looked like he was going to be sick. Not the most adept at magical healing, Aaryav did what he thought was best and dumped a bowl of water on his head. This at least caused Veeran to look at him in disbelief.
“Are you kidding me?!” shouted Aaryav.
Thalia grabbed Aaryav by the arm and forced him to sit down as Balaraj’s pounding on the door grew faster, the rhythm matching their own rapid heartbeats.
As Balaraj shouted, Aaryav called back. Thalia shushed him, the momentary lapse in concentration almost dropping her shield on the door. She continued to pray for energy from the land.
The pounding began to slow as the faintest glimmer of hope that they would not have to fight grew a little stronger.
It did not mean the danger was over, though.
“Did Roshna tell you to watch over him too?” whispered Aaryav. “I’m guessing that’s why you’re here.”
“She did,” said Thalia, “but I don’t think I did a good enough job.”
Aaryav peeked behind his tattered curtains. Balaraj was storming away, leaving only Roshna outside. Thalia lowered her guard to let the unicorn leader in.
“Are you all right?” she asked everyone.
Veeran still lay on the floor, his head barely held up and chest heaving. Roshna placed a concerned hand on his forehead. It was drenched in sweat. The amount of energy he had used was more than he had been able to handle. Ilemuria was not so forgiving in returning it.
“Never seen Balaraj so angry,” said Aaryav.
“I have,” said Roshna, “and it’s not a pretty sight.”
“Where do you think he’s going?” asked Thalia.
“Probably to rally others to his cause,” said Roshna.
The night had grown dark, but she knew her villagers were not sleeping. The few candles were barely burning, illuminating the room only enough to see the frightened looks on everyone’s faces.
Veeran had never struggled so hard to sit up, but he forced himself as an overwhelming wave of guilt flowed through him. He had never felt such power before, but it had come at a terrible cost. He had almost killed another creature today, and one so young. If his grandmother saw him now, she would have regretted ever letting him come to Ilemuria.
“No idea how the village is going to react when word gets out,” said Aaryav.
“Don’t be so sure,” said Thalia. “He’s had his supporters.”
“Yes, and I’ll always be one of them, but how are we going to convince them not to lynch him or kick him out of Marutam, let alone stay in Ilemuria? You remember what the king said? What’s going to happen if Veeran causes trouble? We’ll be kicked out of the games. There goes the council seat.”
“I’m sorry,” Veeran mumbled.
Roshna did not immediately answer but took a deep breath. “It’s good that you understand what you did was wrong,” she began, “but other students have lost control before through sheer rage. Balaraj should have known better than to let an untrained creature battle another.”
“It was the fire,” said Veeran. “I felt it.”
Would the land ever trust him after what he did?
“Fire was always so trusting of demons. Not so much unicorns,” said Roshna.
As the candles began to flicker and dance, Veeran remembered Balaraj’s words. Something he had said was different. His ears flicked open as the lonely candle on the table whispered to him.
Poombuhar....
“No,” said Veeran suddenly to everyone in the room. “You all don’t understand.”
They had given everything to protect him, even the potential of losing their clan’s seat on the Council of Elders. It was time he was honest with them.
If whoever is talking to me through the flames is brave enough to use the candles, then I can keep going, thought Veeran.
“What really happened?” asked Veeran boldly.
Roshna eyed him curiously.
“What really happened during the demon tragedy?” he asked again.
Thalia’s mouth opened in shock, and Aaryav nearly fell out of his chair.
“You know we have been forbidden to speak about it,” said Roshna cautiously. “Only the elder creatures of Ilemuria know, and it is only the council that may speak of it to others.”
“Then why is Balaraj allowed to speak of it?” asked Veeran.
“What Balaraj speaks of is not my concern.”
“Should be,” said Veeran, “he’s your villager.”
He was nearing dangerous water with the way he was talking. Roshna stood firmly, but her insides were churning. How she wished Samara was still around for her.
“I’ll ignore your rudeness, even afte
r everything we’ve done for you,” she said, “but I need to know why you want this information all of a sudden.”
Veeran looked at the candles. “Someone is talking to me through the fire,” he said. “I saw you send messages through feathers. Someone is doing the same through fire. There is only one place they can be coming from: Poombuhar.”
If Roshna was expecting any sort of answer, it was not that. Thalia and Aaryav turned to each other, neither knowing what was happening.
“How do you know about Poombuhar?” asked the unicorn leader.
“Because Balaraj mentioned it in his shouts. Also, the fire just whispered it to me. It wants me to go there.”
The candles had gone silent, burning just enough to stay alive.
“What else has it told you?” asked Roshna.
“I don’t understand the words. When we were at Vattapi Arena, it said nahi srambh and saahaayamh.”
Thalia clutched at her chest as Roshna held her arm. Veeran saw the look on Aaryav's face and knew he didn’t understand either.
“That’s ancient Agastya,” explained Thalia, her voice etched with fear. “You wouldn’t have found it in any of the books I showed you.”
“What’s it saying?”
“Help me. Don’t trust them.”
Veeran clenched his fists so tightly, he was losing feeling. Aaryav got up and started pacing again.
“Anything else?” asked Roshna, determined to keep a calm face.
“Yeah,” said Veeran. “Right before I lost control, it said naiva kila and nisedha.”
If anything, this was more curious to Roshna.
“Control yourself. Don’t do it.”
So whoever is talking to me was trying to keep me safe and out of trouble, thought Veeran.
He thought he would be happy to finally know what the fire had been telling him, but instead he was filled with dread and worry. Someone had been trying to help him, and he had not listened.
Roshna gazed at Veeran in a way she had never looked at any other creature, her heart twisted with nerves.
Karnan’s right. Something is happening. Something the land is not ready for.
“All right,” said Roshna. “I will tell you. You deserve to know.”
I’m sorry, Raja.
Aaryav and Thalia leaned forward eagerly as Roshna made sure the door was closed behind her and the windows shut.
“Now remember,” she began, “I am not a warrior, and I never thought I would be. I only trained after the demon tragedy should our clan need protecting as I was made leader.
“Before that, though, we had someone leading us that history could claim as the greatest leader in all of creature-kind. Some say she should have been queen instead of King Nahusha, but because of the law of monarchs only allowing dragons, she was content to lead the unicorns. She was my mentor, and her name was Samara.”
“I’ve heard of her,” said Aaryav. Thalia gave him a look to shush him.
“Samara was incredible,” Roshna continued. “She would give her life for any soul, which is what did happen.
“Ravanan was the leader of the demon tribe, and he was a fine creature in his own right. We never had any issues in our history with the demon tribe. He was powerful. The fire bent at his will. He had a seat on the Council of Elders, and it was said that even King Nahusha was impressed by both of them.
“We lived in great peace. It was glorious. But one day, and I do not know how it started, the land was not trusting. Not only could we not receive any energy, but we felt as though something was happening to our bodies. And then the natural disasters began to strike.
“It was terrible. Tsunamis and tidal waves raged over the merpeople village. Hurricanes and tornadoes swept through Kurunji. The fairy, elf, and pixie villages were met with a massive forest fire that even their magic was struggling to put out.
“Sammelanam Karoti, the ancient Agastya call for an emergency meeting, was ordered by the dragons themselves. They asked for all the leaders to come bring their villagers to Tirakan for safety. The clan leaders and their advisors met in the castle. It was only then they noticed that the demons did not answer the call.
“I was not invited to the meeting, but Samara took her two most trusted advisors with her. A fierce and upcoming young warrior, Balaraj, and the obvious successor to Samara’s chair, Sonia, who just happened to be my sister.”
Thalia gasped as Roshna took a moment to pause. No matter how much time passed, it still tugged at her very soul to talk about her.
“Yes,” she said. “Sonia was the crown jewel of the unicorn clan, and Balaraj was smitten with her. She was young, beautiful, powerful with magic and battles, but kind-hearted. Everything any man would have wanted.
“During the meeting, everyone was shouting, and there was no order. King Nahusha sat back and offered his condolences, but that was not met well. At that moment, several dragons were dragging a barely conscious Ravanan into the room. They were claiming he had been trying to enter and assassinate the king. They said Poombuhar, the demon village, had not been touched by the land and still stood.
“Absolute pandemonium broke loose. It was immediately assumed that the demons were responsible for what happened. Several creatures tried to get at a helpless Ravanan, who lay barely moving before the king. The dragon guards had to fight to hold them back.
“The king, surprisingly calm throughout all this, told the dragons to bring Ravanan closer. Samara argued and shouted at such inhumane treatment. She rushed forward to help him up. In that time, he whispered one word to her.”
“What was it?” asked Aaryav fervently.
“Crawlers.”
It had been only one word. One he did not even understand fully, but the chill that travelled through his body was one Veeran would never forget.
“Yes,” said Roshna. “To this day we still do not know what he meant. The dragons pulled him away and threw his near lifeless body closer to the feet of the king. He told Ravanan to stop the attacks on the land or they would take his village. And here’s the strange part. Ravanan did not say anything, would not even defend himself or his village. He lay there silent. When it was clear that he wouldn’t talk, King Nahusha ordered him to the dungeons in disgust.”
“Why didn’t he say anything?” asked Aaryav.
“I don’t know. I don’t think even Samara knew.
“Raja then turned his attention back to his clan leaders. Three young warriors were selected to lead an army against Poombuhar and the demons: Balaraj, along with the current centaur and troll leaders, Karnan and Hemadri.
“Karnan was hesitant at first, but Hemadri and Balaraj convinced him. Samara then spoke up and said she wanted to go to the village first, alone. She thought she could find out what was happening, peacefully.
“Unfortunately, she had very little support. I thought Sonia would have, but Balaraj had not allowed it. The rest of the leaders were supportive of an initial attack.
“Sonia came and told me everything and that she was going into battle. I admit, I did not handle that well. I did not want to stay behind. I begged to go too. She told me there was no chance. It was only when she said I could stay at Karnan’s chambers — he had just been made leader — that I agreed.
“The army was sent to Poombuhar through a Yonder Gate. Samara told them to wait for her instructions before going in. She needed to take care of something first. I went to Kurunji, the most deserted I had ever seen it, and waited.
“Even with Samara’s clear instructions, Balaraj did not listen and rushed in. Sonia chased after him. Samara and Karnan were just a few minutes late.
“We lost warriors during that battle. The ones that survived talked about the few demons that were left in the village and how they had fought ruthlessly, with no regard for their lives or homes.”
She paused to take another deep breath.
“I thought the demons were a peaceful tribe,” said Thalia.
“We thought so too,” said Roshna.
/> “What happened to the demons that were not in the village?” asked Veeran.
“Ravanan had given instructions to one of them to get as many to leave as possible. She had run bravely through Poombuhar, gathering anyone she could, telling them they had to leave. Some joined her, but a good few chose to stay behind. They were the ones that fought.
“That demon was your grandmother.”
Veeran knew his eyes were starting to water, his fists closed so tight he could feel the sweat trapped in his palms. How he missed her.
“Yes,” said Roshna. “She was a brave soul. She had been able to get most of the villagers away from Poombuhar just before the army arrived.
“Samara got there just after the initial attack. It was the most horrific scene she had ever witnessed. Balaraj was taking on two ferocious demons. One knocked him to the ground, lifting his axe to deal a heavy blow, only to be parried away by Sonia. She turned to make sure he was okay when the other…”
Roshna’s lip began to quaver as she sobbed into her hands, tears dripping between her long fingers, raining down onto the floor. Veeran shifted guiltily in his seat, trying to look anywhere but at his leader as Aaryav kept his head down. Even Thalia could only reach out a shaking hand to place it on Roshna’s shoulder.
“Balaraj and Karnan saw the whole thing,” she said, collecting herself suddenly, wiping away what few tears were left. “Karnan was only a few steps away but was too late to stop the fatal blow. In another fit of rage, Balaraj rose and with no regard for his life began an all-out assault on every demon. It was a bloody battle, but in the end we had the numbers. We were victorious. The demons who fought had all perished. We found the ones that were hiding in the forest and imprisoned them. Samara brought my sister’s body back to me. The land stopped raging at us.”
“I’m so sorry,” said Veeran.
Determined to finish, Roshna continued. “King Nahusha himself came to the demon village once we knew the rest of the land was safe. He closed the Yonder Gate and the entrance to Poombuhar. He gave specific orders that no one was ever to open the gate.
“The trial was short. Ravanan was found guilty of attempting magic beyond his control. He was banished and all demons along with him. They were paraded from the dungeons in Kataragamam Castle and back to the human world. There were cheers from all the creatures watching them leave. He then ordered all their history to be wiped from books and even the Great Vayil. The dragons did a collective spell for this one.”