by Andrea Ring
We just hold one another. Eventually, though, the other three become restless. Manoj clears his throat rudely, and Maja lifts his head.
“Did you have something important to say?” Maja asks him.
“I…yes. Time is short. We should get to the point of our visit.” Maja stares him down. “And we realize that you and Nilaruna would like some time alone.”
I smile up at Maja and pull back. “He’s right. Time is our enemy. And the sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can have a proper reunion.”
Maja nuzzles my cheek with his own and nods. “I apologize for my abrupt arrival. You have returned my beloved to me, and I am grateful. Welcome to my home, Prince Kai and friends. I am Maja, Hermit and Protector of the village of Dabani. I am at your disposal.”
Kai steps forward and bows low. “Thank you, Maja, for the gracious welcome. I apologize for our unannounced arrival and for interrupting your duties, but much is at stake. I would like to share information and agree on a plan of action.”
“Nili, why don’t you inform me of the latest events?” Maja asks. “You know what I know.” And anything you don’t want to share with them, just think to me.
Of course, Maja, I think.
I recount the goings on. I leave out the part about Kai asking for my hand, preferring to break it to Maja in private.
But Manoj foils that plan.
“Shiva was also quite clear about Nilaruna’s role in thwarting the assassination attempt,” Manoj says.
“Wait,” I say. “I’d like to discuss that privately with Maja.”
“I believe it should be discussed in the open,” Manoj says. “We want the situation accurately represented.”
“Manoj,” Kai says, warning him off, and I almost breathe a sigh of relief.
Until I hear Maja’s thoughts. He must be reading Manoj’s mind.
Nili, is this true?
Is what true, exactly?
Shiva says you must marry the prince to save the kingdom?
That is not how I would have put it. Accurate representation, my foot. But I suppose it is one perspective.
There are other options, Maja, but that is one of them.
Twin puffs of smoke spew from Maja’s nostrils.
“Are you two communicating?” Kai asks bluntly. Maja swivels his head to him.
“Anything that passes between me and my Go-Between is sacred,” Maja says. “I do not have to answer your questions.”
“I’m not asking you to,” Kai says. “But I get the impression you now know what Manoj was talking about.”
“You seek to wed Nilaruna to save your own life!” Maja roars. “What kind of coward are you?”
“Maja,” I say, but he doesn’t answer. “Maja!”
He finally looks at me, and I can see fire smoldering in his nose.
“Stand down! Prince Kai is an honorable man trying to do the right thing by his kingdom. I believe that. We must speak about this rationally.”
“There is nothing rational about sacrificing the woman I love for anyone or anything!” he bellows. “You cannot have her.”
“If you’ll just hear me out,” Kai says, but Maja growls, grabs me tenderly in his claws, and rushes out of the cave.
***
“Should we follow them?” Faaris says.
I can hear them clearly.
“No,” Kai says softly. “Let them be. They will return.”
“How do you know?” Manoj asks.
“Because this is Nili. She will make him.”
XXVI. MAJA
I want to fly away, but my launching pad is far and the woman in my arms is in pain. She hides it well, but I know her. Her leg feels like it is about to fall off.
I exit the stone tunnel and set her down gently. I expect a tongue-lashing, but instead, I get a hug.
“Dear Maja, this is not the ending we envisioned, is it?”
I push away from her. “So you’ve already chosen to marry him.”
“No. Whatever happens, it will be our choice together. Prince Kai has given us that courtesy.”
“But you are leaning towards marrying him.”
“I want to be married to you,” Nili says. “You are in my heart. But it’s not that simple.”
She sinks down beneath a pine tree, and I change my form to that of a man. She kisses me soundly.
Then she goes over the entire dilemma in detail.
“So the sticking point is Shiva,” I say. “Shiva wants you to be the one to marry the prince, even though other girls will do. Why?”
“I do not know,” she says. “Maybe it is about you. Maybe Shiva doesn’t want you to be distracted from your duties.”
“There is something I have not told you, Nili.”
“What?”
“If I can make it to the end of this cycle, once I die, I will become a god.”
“A god? How?”
“Anyone worshipped for three hundred cycles gets their godhead. That’s how it works. I have three moons to go.”
Nili raises her good eyebrow. “So someone wants to prevent you from becoming a god?”
I shake my head. “I do not know. It’s just a possibility. In the mean time, I have to find a way to alter this spell. If I could leave, I could protect you.”
“Already done,” she says with a smirk.
“What?”
“That was one of my conditions for marrying the prince,” she says. “He had to get your curse changed to allow you freedom of movement. It is done.”
“How could he do that?” I ask. “I’ve been trying to negotiate with Shiva for three hundred cycles!”
“Maybe he didn’t ask Shiva,” she says. “Or maybe it serves Shiva’s purpose now for you to be free.”
I climb to my feet and pace in front of her.
“Nilaruna, if I knew you were going to be safe, maybe, just maybe, I could agree to this, for the greater good. But I don’t care what Shiva does to me, or to the entire kingdom, for that matter. I will not allow you to go to your death!”
“What if he kills me anyway, just to prove a point?” she asks.
I growl and pull my hair. “Shiva, may the gods damn you, you little bastard!”
And Shiva appears beside Nili. “You called?”
XXVII. NILARUNA
Maja lunges for him.
They scrapple on the ground, kicking and biting (okay, that’s mostly Shiva). Maja gets in one good punch to the jaw, and Shiva reels back.
“What did you do that for?”
Maja stands over him, chest heaving. “I’m done with you playing with me! Take my life, but spare Nilaruna.”
“No, Maja, no! Shiva, don’t listen to him. We will work something out.”
Shiva climbs to his knees and then jumps to his feet. “But this is such an interesting line of thought,” he says. “My pet dragon for the untouchable. What are you offering?”
“Kill me now,” Maja says, bowing his head. “Give Nilaruna a long and happy life with the prince.”
“No!” I yell.
“Hmmm.” Shiva scratches his chin thoughtfully. “I still need a bride to thwart an assassination attempt, and that bride will be mortally wounded. That part of the future, I cannot change. No. As gratifying as that exchange would be, no.”
“You owe me,” Maja whispers. “Three hundred cycles I have served you faithfully. I do not deserve this, and you know it. Nilaruna does not deserve this. Look at her! The most glorious woman, the truest of heart, the bravest of spirit, and what do you do? You continue to torture those who worship you. You do not deserve your godhood.”
Whoa. My heartbeat starts to pound in my ears. Shiva is going to kill him!
The look in Shiva’s eyes is murderous! I pop to my feet, ready to defend Maja to the death.
And then Shiva sinks to the ground before us.
“I’ve changed, Maja. Truly I have. This is not a prank.”
What?
“But whatever it is, you’re playing it like it’s
one. Haven’t you hurt enough people?”
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to prevent!” Shiva yells. “Nilaruna is the key. She must marry the prince!”
“But why must she die?”
Shiva sighs. “There’s a chance she won’t. A small chance. The poison is fast-acting, and there will be little time to save her. But it is possible.”
“How?” Maja says. “Give me the cure.”
“There is no mortal cure,” Shiva says. “A god must save her.”
“Then give me your word, now. I will become a god when I die. I only have three moons to go.”
“Maja, the assassin will arrive before three moons are up,” Shiva says. “I’m sorry, but it will be too late.”
“I can keep her safe for three moons!” Maja yells. “I will find the assassin and lead him away. It doesn’t matter how it’s done, but I will do it. Just give me your word. When I die, I will become a god.”
“You know you will. It’s not something I can stop. Three hundred cycles of worship and you will become a god.”
“Say it!”
“Fine! When you die, you will become a god. Sheesh!”
“Thank you,” Maja bows to him.
Then he grabs the short sword off Shiva’s back. “Your word is law.”
And Maja plunges the sword into his own chest.
XXVIII. PRINCE KAI
Faaris comes running into the cave, panting hard.
“Maja, he’s dead!”
“What?”
The three of us run back out, Faaris keeping pace with me.
“Shiva appeared,” he says. “He said only a god would be able to save Nilaruna from the poison. Maja got him to agree to make him a god when he dies. Then Maja stabbed himself so he could save Nilaruna!”
My mind races. This cannot be!
We finally reach the place where they are gathered. Nilaruna is bent over a man, sobbing her heart out.
“Remake him, Shiva,” she cries. “Remake him. Please.”
“I cannot,” Shiva says wearily. “My sword is final. Maja knew that.”
“Shiva, what is the meaning of this?” I demand.
Shiva pushes to his feet. “I’ve been had. That’s the meaning of this.”
“What do you mean?”
“He tricked me,” he says, pointing at the man, who I presume is Maja. “The arse actually tricked me.” He laughs. “Good for him.”
“What will we do now? We need him to protect the pass, don’t we?” Manoj says.
Shiva waves a hand. “Give him a few moments. He’ll awaken.”
Nili lifts her head at this. “He’s alive?”
“Not exactly,” Shiva says. “I mean, yes, but not in the same way. You won’t be able to marry him, Nilaruna.”
“Why not?” she says, sitting up. “You have lovers. I know you do.”
“Shhh,” Shiva says. “Not so loud. Parvati might be within earshot.”
“And you’re married,” she says. “Why can’t Maja be married?”
“We can only marry another god. Yes, he can be your lover, but I believe you and Kai agreed to be faithful.”
Nilaruna glares at me. I run a hand through my hair. “You haven’t even agreed to marry me yet,” I say to her. “And that was your rule. I do not deserve that stare you are giving me.”
“You’re right,” she whispers. “There are too many unknowns here. Shiva?”
“What?”
“We need you to answer our questions.”
“I’ve said too much already,” he says. “I must away. Good luck.”
“Wait!” I command. I mumble the binding spell under my breath. “Nili is right. We need answers.”
“No. Goodbye.” But Shiva doesn’t move.
“I thought you were leaving,” I say.
“What have you done to me?” he whispers.
I ignore the question. “Why must Nilaruna be the woman I marry?”
“I won’t answer!”
“Then we will be here for a very long time.”
Shiva and I stare at each other. He finally cracks.
“Fine. She’s an untouchable, but is also intelligent and beautiful. An untouchable is needed to rally the kingdom.”
“Rally the kingdom against what?” Nilaruna asks.
“The untouchables, of course.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Manoj shrieks, but Faaris nudges him with an elbow.
“I told you. Ants versus the rats. Ants win.”
“Why would the kingdom need to rally against the untouchables?” she asks.
“The untouchables are massing,” Shiva says. “They are planning a revolution. And they will win unless you take away their reason to fight.”
“I’m afraid I’m the wrong person for the job,” Nilaruna says. “I would join such a revolution. Things do need to change in the kingdom.”
Manoj’s mouth gapes. “You would take up arms against us, Nilaruna? That is treason!”
“I wouldn’t want to fight the three of you,” she says. “I’ve come to care for you, and I believe you are good men. But Manoj, the untouchables deserve better. You know me now. You know the person that I am. Do I deserve to be a pariah among my people because I am scarred?”
“It is engrained in our culture,” Manoj says. “What I believe you deserve does not matter. We cannot change an entire culture in a few short moons.”
“Just answer my question,” she presses. “What do I deserve?”
Manoj huffs a breath and stares at his feet. “To have a good life. To have a good life based upon your deeds and character. You do deserve that, little Nilaruna.”
Nili smiles. “Thank you.”
“So now you understand,” Shiva says. “This has great implications for generations to come.”
Maja coughs then and stirs. Nili bends over him, and we watch the wound on his chest close and his ripped tunic mend itself.
Faaris whistles under his breath.
“Maja? Can you hear me?” Nili asks.
Maja nods and moves to sit up. Nili gives him a boost with a hand on his back.
“There’s going to be a revolution,” Nili says, and Maja frowns.
“I know. I heard everything. Nili, my love, you have to do this.”
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “When I thought you were dead, everything was made clear. Nothing matters but you. We can join the revolution, and we can make a difference, and we can do it together.”
Maja slowly rises to his feet and pulls her up beside him. “I am a god now. I cannot join sides in a war between my people. And as Shiva said, we can never marry.”
Nilaruna stares at him. And then she raises her tiny fists and beats Maja with them.
“You idiot!” she screams. “You complete and utter idiot!”
She raises a knee to kick Maja in the groin, but he sidesteps easily and grabs her shoulders.
“Stop it this instant! I’m not the enemy here!”
She continues to pummel him wherever she can reach. “You ruined it! You ruined everything!”
Faaris looks at me. I give him a small nod.
He grabs the edge of Nili’s tunic and tugs her to him. “Whoa there, my lady. Let’s calm down.”
Nili continues to kick and thrash in Maja’s direction. “I will not! My life is over!”
“It is not,” Maja says. “You are very much alive, and that is all I ever wished for. My life for yours.” Maja bows low. And then he goes down on both knees and presses his forehead into the dirt. “My life for yours,” he repeats.
Nili sobs silently, tears streaking down her cheeks.
Faaris releases her and bows low. Then he gets on his knees and presses his forehead to the dirt. “The ultimate act of bravery,” he says. “I bow to you, sir. You honor us.”
I follow and prostrate myself to Maja. “You honor us,” I say.
Manoj sighs loudly, and I can hear him settle himself low beside me. “A godhead most deserved,” he says.
Shiva swears and kicks his foot into the dust. A fine powder of dirt settles over the three of us.
“Can I go now?”
XXIX. MAJA
I’ve got Nili safely tucked under a blanket on her feather pallet in the far corner of my cave. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell fast asleep.
But not before I took the pain away in her leg.
The three men and I are lounging on cushions and drinking wine, trying to come up with a plan.
But we’ve clearly drunk more than we intended. In fact, I’m fairly sure we’re on our eighth flagon. Or is it ninth?
“So you and Nili were communicating,” Kai says. “Is it magic?”
The wine has loosened my tongue. “It’s a skill I was born with,” I say. “I can talk with any female in our minds, and I can hear the thoughts of anyone.”
All three raise their eyebrows at me and swear. I laugh.
“But it only works when I actively use it,” I say. “I’m not listening to you now.”
“Can you do magic?” Manoj asks. “I mean, before you became a god?”
I nod. “I can transform matter. Anything with similar mass. Say I want food. I can transform an equal amount of dry leaves into anything I want. But I have to be able to see the leaves, or whatever I’m transforming.”
“Whoa,” Faaris says. “That surely comes in handy.”
“And I can start fire, heal non-mortal wounds, change my form into any creature…but it takes a certain amount of energy, sometimes a lot. Do you find it so as well?”
“Do we find what so?” Kai asks me.
“Does your magic tire you quickly? Or have you found ways to overcome it?”
The men exchange a glance. “We cannot do magic, Maja,” Kai says. “No one in the kingdom can.”
“You’re wrong,” I say. “It’s in your blood. All of you can do these things, especially since you were born to powerful families. I’m sure your magic is powerful, as well.”
Faaris laughs. “What I would give for that to be true!”
“It is,” I insist. “Don’t you have certain talents, Faaris?”
“Sure,” he says. “I’m the best swordsman in the kingdom. But I wasn’t born to it. I had to practice.”
