More Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition)

by Barbara G. Tarn

  "Yes, but we didn't tell Lokesh yet," Kiran answered. "We might soon, though."

  Puzzled, Hrithikesh turned to the blacksmith.

  "My daughter vanished in the palace yesterday," the man told them, running a jerky hand through his graying hair. "I think it's time we got rid of that unworthy governor."

  "I think she's all right," Hrithikesh said. "But I'm going there later, so I will check on her."

  "You're not allowed in Lord Kibriya's apartment, are you?" the blacksmith said sourly.

  Before Hrithikesh could reply, Farhan rushed into the forge, breathless.

  "Uncle! The main square! Quick!"

  They all dashed out and discovered that a crowd was gathering in front of the governor's palace.

  "Some men were forced to build that scaffold early this morning," Farhan explained. "And now they're on it, ready to be hanged!"

  Ten men stood on the scaffold, with their hands tied behind their back and the rope ready around their necks, surrounded by the guards.

  Hrithikesh cursed under his breath.

  "What have they done?" Kiran asked through clenched teeth.

  "Nothing," a woman answered in a low voice.

  Others grumbled around them.

  "Ali is back," Kiran said, elbowing his cousin and pointing with his chin.

  "Why, where was he?"

  "Who knows." Farhan shrugged. "Some errand for Lokesh."

  "I wonder when he'll stop considering you the dumb cousin," Hrithikesh muttered, staring at Lokesh and Ali.

  The two young men stood at the end of the line of guards and were talking to a man in merchant's clothes. Hrithikesh thought his face looked familiar, but he couldn't place it.

  "Who's that man?" he asked.

  Kiran shook his head. "Never seen him before. They're probably checking out the new face in town."

  It looked more like they were talking to him, and both looked worried. Hrithikesh stared at the face of the stranger, trying to remember where he'd seen him. He must be about Kibriya's age and he listened gravely to the two guards without interrupting.

  The murmur of the crowd slowly subsided as the governor came out of the palace and climbed the steps of the scaffold. When silence fell, Kibriya faced the crowd with his feet apart and his hands behind his back. The gem on the hilt of his saber shone in the sun.

  "If you're wondering why these people will die today, it's because they're helping the hooded bandit," he announced. "You all are. You're covering him, helping him, and he hides among you. If he doesn't surrender himself or you don't give him to me, I'm going to hang these men. Ten more people will die tomorrow, and then every day until the damn bastard is in my hands. Is that clear?"

  Son of a bitch! Hrithikesh felt his anger rise almost to boiling point. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, concentrating on keeping control. He glanced at his cousin who looked worried. Farhan was munching his lower lip. Lokesh and Ali were back at their post, both frowning. The blacksmith was glaring, as if he wanted to kill Kibriya with his stare.

  Kibriya is mine. But I'll appreciate the help. Hrithikesh took a deep breath and regained control.

  "You have until sunset to bring me the man, or these people won't see the sun rise tomorrow," Kibriya concluded. He stepped down from the scaffold and sat in the open tent the servants had set up for him. In spite of the hot day, a bonfire burned between the tent and the scaffold.

  The crowd grumbled and shuffled around.

  "I've seen the hooded man in action, but I don't know where he hides," someone grumbled.

  "He could be anyone." That was Farhan, whispering in his ear. Hrithikesh glanced at Kiran who pretended not to listen. "For all we know, there could be more than one."

  "I don't think so," he said through clenched teeth. "You need some skills to do what he does."

  "We all know how to handle a pole-arm," the blacksmith said in a low voice. "I'm not sure this was a good move, Lord Kibriya." He snarled at the governor who was too far to notice.

  "My husband and son are with you," a woman told the blacksmith, pointing at the armed men around the scaffold.

  Hrithikesh noticed even the guards looked a little uncomfortable. Should he lead a revolt? Should he confront the governor alone? Should he send for the king?

  He pursed his lip, torn. He wished he had the abbot's wisdom. His eyes went to the palace windows, and above the tent he saw Lady Babra and Pareevash looking down, unseen by Kibriya and most of the guards.

  "On second thought." Kibriya rose. "This is too boring. I'm going to hang a man every hour. Down with the first."

  He signaled the executioner and one man kicked in vain as the noose tightened around his neck, then was still. A woman screamed and tried to climb the scaffold, but was stopped by the guards. Kibriya sat back, satisfied.

  The sobbing woman was taken away by an elder. Murmurs rose again, cussing both the governor and the hooded man. The avenging spirit didn't save an innocent man, therefore its believers lost faith in him.

  Hrithikesh cursed under his breath. He couldn't take on all the guards by himself, but if the blacksmith armed the other people... He turned around, but Pareevash's father was gone. And so were Kiran and Farhan.

  Damn! Hrithikesh was about to leave and get his weapons when a resounding voice stopped him.

  "I am the hooded man!"

  The blacksmith stood fiercely in front of the governor with a pole-arm similar to Hrithikesh's.

  "Father!" Lokesh protested.

  "Shut up, Lokesh," Kibriya and the blacksmith said at the same time.

  The governor rose and stepped forward to face the bulky man.

  "You say you're the hooded man?" he asked skeptical. Pareevash's father's frame obviously didn't match what he'd seen of the bandit.

  "So am I!"

  More men showed up with pole-arms. They were of all ages and from all walks of life – peasants, artisans, traders. The blacksmith must have distributed the blades to his friends and allies before walking up to the governor. Even Farhan joined his uncle's small army, but where was Kiran?

  "I see." Kibriya scoffed. He snatched the pole-arm from the blacksmith's hand, broke it over his thigh, threw it into the fire and watched it burn. Then he stepped even closer to the blacksmith.

  "Nice try," he said a few inches from the man's face. "The hooded man has a magic weapon," he stepped back and ran his eyes over the other armed men. "Don't try to trick me with fakes. Throw your weapons in the fire."

  The men hesitated. Kibriya called the guards forward, and they lowered their pikes threateningly. It was a standoff, since neither wanted to give up their weapons.

  "So, none of you is the hooded man?" Kibriya asked, scornful. He sat down again. "Good, I'll keep waiting. Put the blacksmith on the scaffold with the others. He just volunteered to be hanged next."

  Lokesh stared aghast as two other guards hauled his father onto the platform. Hrithikesh glanced at the palace window – Pareevash covered her mouth while Lady Babra squeezed her shoulders to keep her quiet.

  His indecision evaporated. He rushed back to his uncle's, feeling the anger mount again inside him.

  His pole-arm was gone.

  "Kiran!" he called, furious and worried. "Shit!"

  He quickly took off his tunic, put on the hood and the scarf, and took the sheath by its shoulder-strap. He grabbed the brass wheel and rushed out again.

  When he reached the main square, Kiran was already standing in front of Kibriya who was throwing the broken pole-arm into the fire. A puff of green smoke showed the dispersion of the spell and Hrithikesh held his breath.

  Kibriya slowly smiled. "Now we're talking."

  "Kiran?" Lokesh couldn't believe his eyes. "Where did you learn to use that weapon?"

  Kiran shrugged. "It's a magic weapon. What skill does one need?"

  That wasn't completely true. And Kiran didn't know how to activate the spell either. Stupid, stupid cousin of mine, you're going to get yourself killed!

>   Kibriya smirked. "You're good with it. Don't be so modest."

  "I'm not. I'm one of many. Kill me and a dozen more will show up." Kiran waved his hand towards the small group of armed civilians. "The hooded man showed the way. He won't die alone."

  Kibriya unsheathed his saber and swung it at the youth. Kiran collapsed, dead before he hit the ground, his throat slashed open by the governor's blade.

  "Kiran!" Pareevash rushed out of the palace to kneel by her fallen childhood friend. "Bastard!" she screamed at Kibriya who looked mildly amused by her sudden appearance. "You killed the wrong man! But he will avenge Kiran and kill you!"

  "Oh really? And where is your hero now?" Kibriya asked, sardonic.

  "I'm here."

  The crowd moved away and Hrithikesh stepped forward, looking the governor in the eyes. He heard Pareevash gasp, but didn't look at her. He glanced at his cousin's bloodied neck and blank stare, and heard her words again. He should avenge Kiran and kill the damn governor!

  Kibriya scoffed. "Your magic weapon is gone."

  Hrithikesh showed the brass wheel. "It's not my only weapon." He spun it around his finger and threw it, cutting the ropes of the ten men waiting to be hanged. The wheel stuck in the last pole as the men sighed with relief.

  Control. I will not let anger guide me.

  "An assassin's weapon." Kibriya swung his still-bloodied blade, coming forward. "Interesting choice. Who trained you?"

  "I'm sick of that question," Hrithikesh answered, unsheathing his saber. "Let's decide now which school is better, yours or mine."

  "I've had the best teachers."

  "So have I." The cold fury was slowly mounting. His cousin's sacrifice weighed on his heart, and even though he wasn't looking at the fallen body, he could see the ugly gash that had taken Kiran's life imprinted behind his eyelids.

  "Some men understand only violence," the abbot's voice said in his head. "Strike them, but don't kill them. Show them the power of Zindagi."

  Kibriya had tasted it – although he hid the scar under his embroidered tunic – and it obviously wasn't enough to stop him. This is really personal. I'm not trying to save people, I'm taking revenge. It's between me and him. Zindagi forgive me.

  And then Kibriya attacked. Again Hrithikesh parried, and the duel became a deadly dance between two sabers. Hrithikesh quickly assessed the surroundings and his opponent's weaknesses and strengths, and stayed calm. He charged with confidence and proved to be more agile than the governor, probably because he was younger. But Kibriya was accurate and determined, and quickly adjusted to his fighting style. They fought, forward and back, jumping and running up and down the staircases of the palace, until they reached the terrace, alone.

  They faced each other, catching their breath under the sun. The blood on Kibriya's blade was still only Kiran's and seeing it made Hrithikesh unleash the animal inside him. But even free, it remained a controlled anger, like the monks had taught him. He channeled his energy in the sword-arm and when he stopped, Kibriya was at his feet with a lethal wound.

  "Who... trained... you?"

  Hrithikesh took down the hood and the scarf.

  "This useless tutor studied at the monastery of Zindagi in Agharek," he snapped. He couldn't say the goddess guided his hand, because she hadn't. His inner demon had done it and taken a life. He'd broken his oath.

  Kibriya smiled weakly. "A fighting... monk..."

  "I was never ordained," he retorted. "And never will be."

  Not after today. Not after taking a life. Would Zindagi ever forgive him?

  Kibriya had lost too much blood and his ragged breath slowly stopped.

  Hrithikesh dropped the saber. His heart pounded so hard, he thought it might explode. His knees gave way and he passed out, barely hearing the voices calling his name.

  ***

  He woke up on a bed in one of the guest rooms of the palace. The first thing he saw was Pareevash's worried face. She sat on the bed, and Lokesh stood next to her with his arms folded and wearing a frown that promised nothing good.

  Hrithikesh sat up and realized he still wore the hooded man's clothes. He also saw that his childhood friends weren't the only people in the room. There was Uncle Raju and Lady Babra and the merchant with the familiar face – all staring at him.

  Pareevash smiled and Uncle Raju sighed in relief at seeing him awake.

  "You won a duel against a master swordsman today," the merchant said. "Not bad for a potter's son."

  With anger issues. And who couldn't protect or save his cousin. He lowered his eyes, unable to look at Uncle Raju who came closer and put a hand on his shoulder.

  "Thank you, Hrithikesh. You opened our eyes and allowed us to start fighting for our rights."

  "But Kiran is dead!" he cried.

  Pareevash squeezed his fingers in sympathy, so he hugged his knees to avoid touching her. Not now. Probably not ever. Surely he'd end up in prison for killing a royal governor.

  "And you avenged him," Uncle Raju said gravely.

  "The king will want my head for what I did." Guilt gnawed at him with sharp pointed teeth.

  "No, he won't." The merchant spoke. "He will commend you for protecting these people."

  Startled, Hrithikesh looked up to meet the man's smiling face. He had the same smile of the king. Prince Yash! Of course! No wonder he had looked familiar to him – who had seen him at the capital – but not to Kiran!

  "Your highness..."

  "You know who I am?" The man looked surprised, and so did Lokesh.

  "Yes, your highness. I grew up at the capital," he answered with a curt bow of his head.

  "After you marked me with your magic weapon, I sent Ali to the king," Lokesh said, massaging his belly over the scar hidden under his tunic. "He came back this morning with the king's official who witnessed everything."

  "The king sent his own brother to investigate?" Hrithikesh couldn't believe his ears.

  "We thought there was something wrong about Leland," the prince answered, as Lokesh gaped at him. Pareevash and Uncle Raju bowed deeply with puzzled expressions. "We already had in mind an unannounced visit when Ali requested an audience. I came to remove Lord Kibriya from his seat – except you did it for me."

  "I've been torn between going back to Agharek to report or staying here to do something about it," Hrithikesh admitted. "Maybe I shouldn't have done the latter."

  "You were wonderful!" Pareevash said. "I never thought it could be you until you showed me your face!"

  He smiled ruefully. "I broke my oath, Pareevash. I've taken a life. Even if the king forgives me, the abbot might not be as lenient. Zindagi will want me to atone for the misuse of my training."

  "That's between you and the temple," the prince said. "I'll give you a letter for the abbot, telling him about the good deeds you've done."

  "You're not coming back to Agharek, your highness?" he asked, puzzled.

  "As I said, I came here to remove Lord Kibriya from his seat. My brother, the king, appointed me as the new governor of Leland. We decided this province is too far from Agharek to leave it in the hands of a stranger. To tighten the bonds within the kingdom, the governor of Leland will be a member of the royal family from now on."

  All bowed to the prince and new governor, but he waved his hand with a dismissive gesture.

  "You're free to go, Hrithikesh. The letter for the abbot will be ready tomorrow. The day is almost over and I don't think you're in such a hurry to leave."

  "Your highness." Hrithikesh stood and bowed at the waist, and then the prince shooed them all out.

  Uncle Raju put one arm around Hrithikesh's shoulder to lead him out of the palace.

  "I'm very proud of you," he whispered. "I wasn't aware of your training and I'm surprised Kiran dared to try to take your place..."

  "He had discovered my secret. And he'd just introduced me to the blacksmith's army..."

  "So he was one of them?" Uncle Raju looked impressed by his own son. "You made a real man out of him!" />
  "If only I could have stopped him." He sighed. "But he stole my pole-arm and surrendered himself before I realized what he was doing."

  He felt Pareevash's hand in his. She walked next to him with her brother by her side.

  "He was very brave," Lokesh said admiringly. "And you... where did you learn to fight like that? I mean, beating Lord Kibriya..."

  "Zindagi's are fighting monks," he replied, amused. "Not really harmless like someone thought." He squeezed Pareevash's hand and glanced at the dimple in her cheek.

  "How was I supposed to know you'd become a fighting monk?" she protested.

  "I was trained by monks, but I'm not a monk," he said, stopping in the middle of the corridor to look her in the eyes. "When asked to choose, I opted for fatherhood. So will you marry me?"

  She giggled. "Yes!" She'd have thrown her arms around his neck if her brother hadn't had his hand on her shoulder.

  "Thank the gods!" Lokesh sighed with relief. "She's going to be your problem now!" he gave Hrithikesh a lopsided grin.

  "My pleasure," he replied gazing into her baby blues.

  It was his uncle who stopped him from kissing her there and then.

  "Let's take care of Kiran's body. We are in mourning right now."

  Reluctantly, Hrithikesh let her go and followed his uncle, still torn between happiness and sorrow.

  ***

  The mourning was more heartfelt for the last two victims than for the governor himself. Prince Yash took the governor's seat and the reins of the city, and then sent for his family. Lady Babra was allowed to stay in her apartment so she could be a lady-in-waiting for Yash's wife.

  Hrithikesh and Pareevash's wedding was a quiet ceremony in Leland's temple, since his family was mourning Kiran. No banquet nor celebration, only a room booked at the inn for the newlyweds, so they could spend the night together before leaving for Agharek. Using Kiran's room for that first night seemed immoral to both of them.

  After a heartfelt good-bye to Uncle Raju, Aunt Jasmine and Farhan, Hrithikesh clasped Lokesh's arm before stealing away his sister, receiving a grin and a wink in return. He touched Pareevash's parents' feet, then took his bride to the inn where they had already brought their few belongings.

  As he closed the bedroom door, Hrithikesh took her in his arms. They were alone at last, and had hours ahead to talk and explore each other. Actually, they had a lifetime together, unless Zindagi punished him with a long reclusion for taking a life.