"Don't worry about that," Morokot said, "Sambo is already well informed."
With that said, she turned and left.
"Geez! She always gets on my last mortal nerve!" Tusita said.
"If their minds won't change about the game, I think it's best to earn favors from the other avatars," Tepi said. She turned to Kesar. "Have you seen Vorac and Samudra?"
"Yes, my lady," she said. "When we flew over the encampment, I spotted them still training in the field."
"Then they should be back by dinner time. I have to get to them before Issarak could sway their mind," Tepi said more to herself then she looked back at me. "You can rest now, Nikita. We shall see you at the Throne Hall tonight."
The sun would still be up in the sky for another hour. Kesar and I arrived at the Moonlight Chamber as it was called. The room was spacious and splendid, but I had no wish to stay there any longer.
"I have something to show you, my lady," Kesar suddenly said. I nodded back, not paying much attention. I was thinking of how I could get out of this place and find my way to the south of the city. The spiral must be lying somewhere around this region.
Kesar disappeared and then returned with a stack of clean silk clothes.
"I figured you find no comfort with our common clothing," she said. "So I fetched the materials from the merchants and made you these outfits. I hope they will serve you well."
She was beaming sweetly at me. I looked at the clothes and realized that they were just like the ones I was wearing. The fabric was softer and beautifully sewn with impeccable skills. There were hiking flat soled boots made of cowhide. The handmade classic touch made each material special. Kesar even knew how to tailor the clothes and made them fit me perfectly. I couldn't find the word to thank the maiden. For a moment, it made me wish I could stay.
The sun finally set, turning the air cold. I stepped into my new attire and waited for something to happen. Kesar had stepped out of the chamber, probably meeting with her fellow bird-ladies. I was in my room alone and then a thought popped into my head.
Maybe this was a perfect chance to escape. No one would have seen this coming. Everyone seemed to be busy preparing for the feast. The sooner I acted, the closer I was on my way home.
I got up and snatched my brown bag to shove the clothes that Kesar gave me into it. I felt a pang of guilt for this. I wanted to leave a thank you note, but I wasn't sure how my written language would come out on paper. I could only thank her inside my heart.
I slipped through the chamber door with my pulse pounding in my ears. There were armed guards at the far right side of the building, but none at the left. I decided to take a detour and walked down the opposite hall. If I rounded the corner of the building, I might find another route that could lead me out of the palace.
Soon I found myself walking through a garden. Burning torches lighted the areas. I tried to hide behind the trees and flower bushes. The fragrance of the garden did little to relax me. Soon I was sweating.
After a while, I reached the end of another building. It was high above the ground. I quickly dove behind a pillar when a group of shirtless guards walked past. Suddenly I heard a gate opened and more guards appeared, walking through the garden path.
And faster than a whirlwind, I rushed out of my hiding place and climbed over the railing. Fortunately, a window was left open and I jumped through it. Then I found myself inside another chamber. It was almost twice the size of my own and I could hear a sound of trickling water.
My nose caught a blissful smell. The air was filled with the scent of jasmine flower and lemons. I walked further inside and realized I was in a bath house. There was an indoor square pool filled with flowers floating on the water.
I heard voices coming from the other door. I looked around for some place to hide, but I couldn't find it. When I looked up, I saw the woodwork linking two pillars across the high ceiling. With a rush of adrenaline, I went and started climbing between the gap of the wall and the pillar like a monkey. I was almost there when my satchel slipped off my shoulder and landed behind the base of the pillar. I decided to leave it there as people finally came into the bath house. They were all maidens.
"Hurry up, her royal highness is coming at any moment. Come quick," one of them said as they poured water into the pool from their wooden buckets.
I was sprawling on my stomach on the beam, looking down from the ceiling. It was high enough to keep me out of people's sight.
More maidens walked in, but then a girl my age stepped out through a curtained doorway. The sight of her caused my heart to halt. My breath hitched, and I sort of gasped against my will.
She was wearing a long flowing tunic, folded over by a golden belt. A silk scarf hung from her shoulders down to her thighs. I had never seen anyone this beautiful. She caused a sting of pain in my chest as if my heart was aching and longing for something out of reach.
The maids helped her undress, peeling layers of soft fabrics from her flawless skin. The whole time I could barely breathe as my eyes widened. I forgot all about my plan and even myself.
The maids proceeded to untie her belts and undid a few pieces of jewelry from her delicate form. When the maids released her long black hair from the bun, I watched it flowing over her shoulders like fine black silk.
"You may leave now," her voice was pure music to my ears. "I prefer my bath in solitude tonight."
The maids obeyed her words and bowed humbly away.
When everyone was gone, the young woman started unwrapping the last layer of her silk robe. My cheeks began to burn hot, and I looked away, but I already felt the heat stirring inside my core.
I shut my eyes but it wasn’t long before my curiosity took over and pried my eyes open again. It was a mistake for I was immediately gripped by the sight of her nude beauty. The young maiden had stepped into the water, unaware of my presence. The view of her small arching full breasts held me in a binding spell. A low gasp escaped my lips, surprising even myself. I covered my mouth, fearing the beautiful maiden could hear me.
I tried to tear my gaze away but I couldn’t. Once in a while, she would glance about as if she could sense my shameless stare. I would recoil back, trying to blend in with the shadow and turning my face away.
But it was like a spell-bound lure, and I found myself watching the water rolled off her shimmering naked skin.
All of a sudden, I felt something soft on my forearm. It brought me back to my senses. I turned my head to find a small curious gecko staring back at me.
A foolish cry burst from my chest. I lost my grip of the wood beam and fell. Then all I could hear was the gushing sound of water and the absence of noise as I plunged into the pool.
CHAPTER 11
It took me less than a heartbeat to know I was bewitched, captivated, lost and contained and suffered, all rolled into one when I saw her.
Once I righted myself from the water, I was faced with the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen in my life. Despite the awkwardness, a budding passion inside me intensified.
The young maiden and I stared at each other, both paralyzed with enormous shock. I was more in awe of her divine beauty rather than the unfortunate situation itself. She stood naked and dripping with water.
Her flawless skin glowed. She seemed to glisten like a million sparkling diamonds from the water droplets on her body. My face started to burn as my gaze landed on her nakedness.
I noticed her slender shoulders to her perfectly rounded hips, her small and elegant arch of her back as she turned away from me.
Then the maiden covered her exposed body with her arms, trying to hide those startled rosy nipples. I awoke from my daze again. After the shell-shocked maiden recovered from her surprise, she sharply turned away and rushed out of the water. Her flowing black lock swayed over the ripples.
"Maids!" her siren's voice shook me out of my trance. I gasped.
My arms seemed to act out of sheer instinct. I wrapped her around that petite waist and pulled the s
tunning woman back. She yelped and started splashing water wildly around us. I turned her around to face me.
"No! Please, don't!" I begged in a hissing tone. "Don't call the maids, please!"
"Maids, save me!" the maiden cried in fright, trying to pry my arms off. "Let me go!"
"I'm not here to hurt you!" I tried to calm her down, tightening my hold on her even more. "Please, don't scream."
"Who are you? Get your hands off me this instant!" she cried again, pushing me by the shoulders.
Even in this frantic moment, I found her naked skin soft and smooth against my own. It ignited something in my body. The scent that came off her skin made my heart skip. But she continued to try and wrench herself free. Apart from fearing people coming, I also feared that I would lose her from my arms. I was afraid that she would slip away and disappeared like it was a dream.
I realized the friction of my wet clothes was leaving red bruises on her glistening tender skin.
I was hurting her. I released her from my grip but still kept a firm hold on her arms.
"Please stop! Don't call the maids, I beg you!" I said and pushed the frightened maiden against the edge of the pool. In the process, she slipped with a cry and I steadied her back with my hand under one of her thighs. The maiden herself instinctively wrapped her arms around my neck.
Then there was a silent moment in the room. All actions ceased. I found myself wedge between her legs afterward. She turned her face to mine, and I looked right into her stirring vivid eyes with my mouth ajar. Her eyes were iridescent and twinkling like the stars. A tint of red colored her lovely cheeks. Our chests panted against each other.
"Please," I said in a whisper. "I will leave you alone and unharmed, I promise. Just don't call anyone, okay?"
Her perfectly arched eyebrows furrowed in suspicion, but then she slowly nodded. I loosened my hold around her. But after a few seconds, she opened her mouth and screamed again.
"Maids! Help..."
"No, no...shhh...!" I was panicking, but she wouldn't stop. I just wanted to shut her up. Without thinking, I wrapped my mouth around hers and silenced her screams with my lips and tongue.
The poor maiden's eyes flared open in surprise. Her piercing cries died away as I kissed her deeply. There were butterflies soaring inside my stomach.
The maiden whimpered in my arms, struggling to push me away, but I was lost in the heat of desire. It radiated from my body and could have boiled the water around us. But then she bit my bottom lip. It was almost hard enough to draw blood.
"Ow!" I cried from the sting.
I jerked away from her. With a gasp, I released her from my grip. Her soft plump lips were also flushed bright red. I was embarrassed with what I had done and tried to apologize. But the maiden shoved me by the shoulders hard, I fell into the water again. She climbed out of the pool and quickly covered herself with a silk robe and was gone.
~*~
Kesar opened the chamber door to find me dripping with water.
"Oh Meru gods!" she gasped, staring at my disheveled hair and wet clothes. "What has put you in such a state?"
"I fell," I said.
"You fell?" Her brows rose at me.
"Well, yes...into a po...pond."
"Oh my lady, I was so worried!" Kesar breathed. "Where have you been?"
"Sorry," I mumbled. "I was just out for some fresh air in the garden."
"Please come inside and get yourself changed," she said.
Once we reached the bedroom, I shrugged off my bag. Kesar brought me a dry towel. I dried myself and untangled my messy hair.
"You smelled of familiar fragrance, my lady," Kesar noticed.
"Oh yes, probably from the garden, I guess," I said with an awkward smile.
Kesar simply nodded and came forward to unbutton my shirt. I felt as if the encounter with the mysterious maiden had drained me. I was numb and tired. My mind wandered back to the beautiful maiden inside the bathhouse. I had expected the guards to come and arrest me after that, but no one came. Then I found my way back to the chamber with a hollow heart.
Kesar stole a glance at me.
"Are you well, my lady?" she asked, noticing my silence.
"What? Oh yes, I'm fine," I said, but I had no clues how I was feeling. Everything seemed so hazy in my mind.
"You don't seem so to me," Kesar said.
"How can you tell?" I asked.
"You don't protest my help like you normally do."
"Oh," I said and pulled away from her. "Sorry, Kesar, I can do it."
"Do you need anything? Tea perhaps?"
"Kesar, do you believe in love at first sight?" I found myself asking.
She looked up at me with those big eyes. But then the door of my bedroom burst open. My head lifted from Kesar's face and saw Tepi walking in with Tusita. They looked at me and Kesar.
"Oh good lord! It has come to that, hasn’t it?" Tusita said then grinned at Tepi. "I told you. She is indeed like me regarding our passion for women."
Tepi just rolled her eyes back.
"The feast has started," she simply said to me. "We came here to bring you with us."
"I will be ready soon," I said.
"Take your time." Tusita waved her hand. "I'm sure you will bring quite a delight to the maidens here."
"Ex...excuse me?"
Then we heard a gong in a distance.
"It's time," Tepi said. "Do make haste."
My stomach did a somersault. I had a feeling that something was going to change after tonight.
We marched past the Main Pavilion towards the Throne Hall. In front of the entrance set two large human figures with lion heads kneeling by the foot of the stone staircase. When we stepped inside, the priests appeared and blew their conchs three times. A dozen maidens ushered us to our assigned seats.
The hall was huge with colossal wooden pillars and tall ceiling. The floor was laid in silver tiles.
There were paintings and statues of women everywhere. Burning torches and lanterns illuminated each corner of the palace. At the center, they had a fire hearth that burned within a big bronze lotus-shaped brazier.
I saw an elegant golden throne, which was hard to miss. It rose high up off the silver floor. By the look of it, it was obviously made of pure gold. The seat was covered with fur that looked like white tiger skin. There were two smaller thrones set on both sides. They were probably for the two Queens. A large seven-tier royal umbrella white in color with golden hems hovered over the thrones from the ceiling.
There were separate tables and mats for the ministers and princes placed in rows. Each had its own set of food and drinks. The air was filled with deliciousness.
"Who are they?" I asked Kesar, pointing to a group of men and women with embroidered costumes in the background behind me.
"They are the performers and singers," Kesar told me. "We call them the Mohoris and Mohoras, special entertainers for the gods."
"Do they have wings, too?" I asked.
"No, my lady," Kesar said and lowered her face in embarrassment and then she excused herself.
"Did I offend her?" I said to Tepi as I watched my handmaiden join her group of Kennars. Each of them possessed strange musical instruments. They seemed to be made from bamboo, clay, and bronze. I noticed Kesar had a golden flute in her hands.
"Worry not, Nikita, the Kennars are just shy creatures," Tepi said with a shrug.
A moment later, Atith showed up. His face was red as if he was angry with someone. He dropped himself beside Tepi to the left.
"What's wrong, Atith?" Tepi nudged him.
"Good gods! I hate his guts," Atith hissed, still fuming for some reason. "Who does he think he is?"
"That brat Issarak again?" Tusita said.
"Who else is more arrogant than that fool?" he said. "Just because he's the war god's son doesn't mean he has the authority to command everyone!"
"Is his father really a war god?" I asked.
"Murugan," Tepi said and pointed to the ceil
ing's mural. "The god lives on forested hills. He is fond of hunting, fighting, and an appetite for blood sacrifices. He's young, handsome and a fire-eating, spear-wielding bravo. Issarak worships him above all."
I looked up and saw a vivid battle scene where a young warrior god riding a peacock. I blurted out laughing, causing everyone to stare at me.
"I meant he rides a peacock, seriously?" I said. "No wonder why his son acts like one."
It took them a few seconds to get it. Then they burst out laughing, too.
Then Issarak and Morokot walked it. They each gave us a glare as they passed by. They took their seats on the opposite side. Later came the twin avatars, who trotted in while giggling to each other. They found their places, still nudging and laughing cheekily.
"Where are the others? They should be here by now," Tusita said, gazing back at the entrance.
A moment later, we heard the stomping of feet and chattering people coming from the outside. About four or five other people my age poured into the hall. Each one was greeted by the priests.
I was awestruck by their unique beauty.
I knew that my arrival must have given them quite a gossip. There was a boy with hair that flowed down to his back. He was taller than anyone else. His muscles stuck out of his blue tunic. He had two long golden knives strapped to his waist.
Two other girls walked through the hall with a bunch of maidens behind them. One of them had silvery eyes that looked like a pair of bright moons. The other girl moved swiftly with grace, almost like she was floating. Her long braided hair fell over one shoulder. Her silk robe brushed across the floor like a bridal dress.
When they caught sight of me, they stared back.
"Are they gods' children, too?" I whispered.
"Yes, Samudra, Vorac, and Ravi," Tepi said. "I will introduce you to them later. We have to gain their favor."
"Why?"
"Aside from Tusita, those three are ones of the most powerful avatars born in this age," she said. "I believe Issarak will try to lure them to his side. If you wish to win this game..."
"Hey, I wish to win no game," I said. "I told you I don't want anything to do with this. I just want to go back to my old world."
Daughter of the Naga Page 7
