Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress

by Sarwat Chadda

  Savage half turned to Mayar. “You know it?”

  “Yes, Master.”

  Savage nodded. “Then go.”

  Mayar bowed and went swiftly. Savage addressed Jackie and the spider-woman, Makdi. “Take our two guests and put them somewhere safe, and apart.”

  “But I told you where the aastra is,” said Ash.

  “We shall see.” He took up his tiger-headed cane. “If you’re lying to me, I will be most disappointed. I will feed your sister to my demons and she will die slowly and in agony and you will watch. You have my word on that as, well…” he smiled, “… as a gentleman.”

  akdi snapped her fingers once Savage had gone.

  “Come,” she said.

  Ash rose. He moved mechanically, just following orders. Lucky sniffed, trying to be brave, but her eyes were so wide with terror the whites were visible all round the pupils. Jackie still rested her hands on her shoulders, and the jackal demon’s nails were thick enough to slice Lucky to the bone.

  “I’ll come and get you, Lucks,” Ash said. “I… I promise. I will.”

  Jackie chuckled.

  Ash stopped and faced his sister. “You believe me, don’t you?”

  They looked at each other, and Lucky’s hopelessness cut his soul. She knew there was nothing he could do. They both knew it. But Lucky nodded.

  “Yes, Ash.” Her voice almost broke.

  She doesn’t believe me. Why should she?

  I can’t do anything.

  Makdi led him to a small, heavy door set deep in a wall recess. She lit an old-fashioned brass oil lamp and pushed Ash down a narrow spiral staircase. The air became more humid the deeper they descended, still and stale. Down and down they went.

  “Where are you taking me?” Ash asked.

  “Somewhere safe.”

  The steps opened into a small chamber with a domed ceiling, barely high enough to stand up in. Mouldy straw covered the floor and the room was empty but for a bucket with a long length of frayed rope attached to the handle. The woman scraped back the straw, revealing a large iron grille. The bars were thicker than Ash’s fingers and rusty, but solid. Peering through the grille Ash could make out a large pit. He had seen one of these chambers in the Tower of London. It was called an oubliette. Prisoners were put in them to be forgotten.

  “No,” said Ash. He backed up, trying to get on to the steps, but Makdi blocked him. Ash grabbed her arm and tried to pull her aside.

  A lump moved under her sleeve, and a pair of spindly, hairy legs touched the bare skin of her wrist. Then another pair of long legs protruded, followed by the bloated black body of an enormous spider. It crept over her hand and Ash let go. The spider jumped and scuttled up his arm.

  “Don’t scream,” whispered the woman. “You might startle Charlotte.”

  Charlotte the spider perched herself on Ash’s collar, tapping her front legs on his bare neck. Ash didn’t scream. He didn’t breathe. Only his eyes moved, looking sideways at the black monstrosity.

  “No, please, I won’t cause any trouble.” Anything but putting him down there. The spider crept higher, and Ash felt the individual hairs of its legs tickle his throat. He stood perfectly still.

  Makdi lifted up one side of the heavy iron grille. The hinges screamed and flakes of rust shook loose from the bars.

  She stood in front of Ash.

  “Bye bye.”

  She pushed Ash backwards. Ash dropped a few metres then hit the ground, landing awkwardly. He tried to get back up, but cried out in pain as he put his weight on his left foot. His ankle throbbed.

  “Please, don’t leave me!” he shouted.

  Makdi crouched at the edge of the pit, looking down at him with sullen indifference, like he was some kind of science experiment. Was that how rakshasas saw humans? She held out her hand.

  Charlotte, sitting a metre or so from Ash, ran to the wall of the pit and through the grille. It crept on to Makdi’s palm. She stroked it before tucking the spider into her pocket. The grille slammed down and the light faded until it was the barest glow. Then that too disappeared, and Ash was abandoned in the bowels of the Savage Fortress.

  Time stopped down there in the dark. It could only be measured by Ash’s thudding heartbeat, too fast and too loud. He sat with his knees tucked under his chin, arms wrapped around himself, and didn’t let go. If he did, he would dissolve into the blackness. Eyes closed, eyes open, it didn’t make any difference.

  No escape. No escape.

  He didn’t even try. What was the point? Savage had Lucky.

  Ash groaned, shivering there in the lowest dungeons of the fortress. Water plonked into a small puddle somewhere else in the cell.

  Scritch scritch scritch.

  Something ran over his feet. Ash slapped at it and there was a wet squelch. His hand came away covered in a web of sticky goo and bits of insect carapace.

  Things scuttled over the bare stone. The sound of their scurrying made Ash’s skin crawl. He heard the sharp, eager squeak of rats and recoiled as a long, leathery tail brushed his hand. A tongue licked his ankle.

  Ash wept, great rib-shaking sobs that echoed off the walls so it seemed the cell itself was crying.

  I can’t do this.

  But he could, he had to. He got up and, arms outstretched, limped to the edge of the cell. Water dripped down from somewhere and the walls felt spotted with spongy moss. There were crevasses in the rock, and for a second Ash thought they might lead out of the cell, but none went deeper or wider than his arm.

  He tried to climb the walls, but it was hopeless; the stone was too slick.

  Here, alone, with time going nowhere, Ash was in perfect hell.

  “Please…”

  He knelt down and leaned forward until his forehead touched the ground, praying Savage would take pity on him and let him go. But Savage and the rest of the world had forgotten him.

  Ash curled up. He buried his head against his chest, covering it with his arms. There he lay.

  And there he stayed.

  he sharp, hot bite woke him. Needle-pointed teeth dug into the swollen flesh of his ankle and a slimy tongue lapped at the wound.

  Ash snapped his other foot into the rat. The rodent squealed and thumped against the wall. Ash pressed his hand down on the bite, warm blood covering his foot. It burned worse than the sprained ankle.

  Then Ash cried as the animal sank its teeth deep into his fingers before scurrying away, pulling off skin as it ran. It wasn’t scared of Ash.

  Ash glared around, but it was still utterly dark. He wasn’t sure if he was awake or dreaming.

  The rat darted at him again and Ash kicked out wildly, but the vermin still managed to bite his toe, hanging on for an extra second or two before fleeing. More rodent feet skittered along the flagstones, splashing in and out of the puddles. How many were there?

  A loud hiss rose from somewhere in the cell, followed by a sharp squeak. Claws scrabbled on the floor as the rat fought frantically, its cries rising in fear.

  Then bones crunched and all was silent.

  Ash backed away, pressing himself against the wall. What else was down here?

  A weak, orange glow spread across the chamber above his cell. A silhouette appeared, standing on the grille and peering down. In one hand was a silver-topped cane, in the other a lamp.

  “Making new friends?” asked Savage.

  Ash stared. Was he about to be set free? Did Savage have the aastra? He swallowed a bitter lump of dread.

  “Where’s Lucky?”

  “Quite safe. For now.”

  For now? How much time had passed?

  “Please let me out. I won’t do anything.”

  Savage smiled. A thread of blood ran down his cheek and fell. The bead of red splashed on Ash’s shoulder, staining the white material with a crimson spot. “I know you won’t. Down there.”

  “If you’re not going to free me, why did you come?” There was iron in Ash’s voice. He didn’t know where it had come from. Maybe he
had found his dormant anger because he had nothing left to lose. “Surely you’re not afraid of me?”

  “Afraid? Why should I be afraid of you?”

  “You tell me.”

  Ash had stolen the aastra. He’d hidden from Savage for weeks. He’d killed Jat. Savage had had to resort to threatening a ten-year-old girl to get what he wanted, to beat Ash. Ash met the man’s gaze and, he didn’t know why, smiled.

  “You’re just a boy,” snapped Savage. “And this is the real world. In this world, children lose. Always.”

  The lamp clattered on the floor and the footsteps retreated back up the steps and away. Ash stood staring up at the amber light spilling some weak illumination down into the pit.

  “What a windbag.”

  Ash turned. Someone had spoken. Someone in the cell with him.

  “Hello?” he asked.

  “Savage always did love the sound of his own voice.”

  “Who’s there?” he asked, brow furrowed as he peered into the gloom around him. He was sure the voice had come from somewhere to his left. And it sounded familiar.

  Impossible. I’m going insane.

  Ash gave a harsh, cracked laugh. Insane. It hadn’t taken long.

  “I’m glad you find all of this so funny,” said Parvati as she stepped out of the darkness. She gazed up at the grille above them.

  “Parvati?” Ash whispered. He stared, not daring to blink in case she vanished. She looked like she was dressed in a skintight suit of shimmering green and black scales, but then he realised it was her skin; she was halfway between human and serpent. “What are you doing here?”

  Parvati flexed her long, elegant fingers, cracking each one methodically.

  “Saving the day,” she said. “As usual.”

  arvati looked dangerously demonic in the semi-darkness, just like in his dream: the daughter of Ravana, ready for battle. The scales formed a high collar round her neck, but a few rose to her face, flecking her cheeks with pale green. Her eyes were long sloping slits, larger than a human’s and bisected by her irises. She brushed her fingers through her hair, shaking it loose. As she did so, her face subtly transformed, becoming more round, more human.

  “Good to see you too,” she said.

  Ash blinked and forced a smile. “I’m sorry. I’m in a state of shock.”

  “Get over it.”

  He grabbed her arm. “Where’s Lucky?”

  Parvati frowned. “I’ve just spent half the night wriggling through the rocks beneath the fortress to find you. She’s not down here in the dungeons, that’s for sure.”

  “Then where is she?” Ash looked up.

  “First things first. Let’s get out of here and grab the aastra before Savage does something stupid with it.”

  “Like free Ravana.”

  Parvati turned quickly. “What?” She paused, trying to make sense of his words, then shook her head. “Ravana’s dead. I saw him die.”

  “And he’s coming back. Savage intends to free him. That’s why Savage wants the aastra. It’s the key to unlocking your father’s tomb.”

  “I… I don’t believe you,” said Parvati. But she didn’t sound too sure.

  “Let’s get out and I’ll tell you.” Ash pointed at the grille. “Anyway, he doesn’t have it yet. But he knows where it is.”

  “How?” said Parvati. “You had one simple job: keep the aastra safe. Have you any idea what will happen if Savage gets his hands on it?” She slapped her forehead. “What is it about you mortals? Are your lives so short you don’t worry about the long-term consequences of your actions?”

  “I’m thirteen. I’m not meant to think long term about anything.” Ash threw his hands up. “They were going to kill Lucky. What else could I do?”

  “Your job was to protect the aastra. I don’t care about your sister.”

  “No. But that’s because you’re a monster.”

  He stared back hard, unflinching. Daring her.

  Her gaze lingered on his. “One disaster at a time,” she said. She drew her hands over her head, moulding her skull smooth. Her black hair sank under the skin and she lowered herself to the floor. She pressed her arms to her side and, legs together, transformed back into a cobra. It took just a few seconds.

  She slithered into a crack in the rock. Ash watched the tail flick sharply before it too vanished into the hole.

  A minute later the grille creaked and began to rise. Parvati, human again but scaled, tossed down the end of a rope.

  Ash took it. Three metres to climb. Once, not long ago, there wouldn’t have been a hope in hell he could have done it, not even standing on the shoulders of his classmates in the gym. Then he’d have complained and sweated and dangled like a fool. The teacher would have despaired, given up on him and sent him off to the showers.

  That’s what Savage was trying to do, get him to give up.

  “Children always lose.”

  Not this time, Savage.

  Ash used his feet as well as his hands. The rope swung and he struggled to hang on, but eventually he got steady and, hand over hand, worked his way up. Breathing hard, he ignored the sharp pain shooting up his left leg from the injured ankle. He was not going to be left down here.

  He hooked one elbow then the other over the pit edge, so his legs dangled in the air. Then Parvati grabbed his collar and hauled him out.

  “Come on,” she said. “We’re leaving.”

  “No. We’re going to find my sister first.”

  “Be sensible, Ash. The palace is crawling with Savage’s servants.” She checked the stairs leading back up. “We’ve got to get the aastra.”

  “We’ve got to find Lucky.”

  “Listen to me…” But Ash wasn’t moving. Parvati gave up. “Fine. Whatever.”

  Ash tore his sleeve off and used it to bandage his ankle, double-knotting the fabric and pulling it as tight as he could. Then he put his weight on it. The pain was a dull pulse rather than like someone was shoving broken glass into his flesh. It would do for now.

  Parvati led the way up the spiral stairs. Every few steps she stopped and Ash held his breath, his ears straining for any slight sound. Then she’d nod and they’d continue up.

  “You know the layout?” asked Ash.

  “I have been here before.” Parvati stopped at the closed door at the top of the stairs. “But it was a while ago. The old maharajah had a harem built, women’s quarters, where his queens lived. Lucky may well be there.”

  “Is it near?”

  “No.”

  Parvati pushed open the door. They were back on the battlements overlooking the river. The tide was in, so the water lapped at the walls.

  He’d been in the dungeon for at least one day. The moon was high, its reflection shivering on the oil-black waters.

  Parvati pointed to the opposite side of the fortress. “The harem.”

  Ash almost missed it. It sat in the shadow of the main building, flickering candles illuminating the lattice windows from within. Someone was inside.

  They crept along the high walls. Ash’s heart was triple-timing. Any second now he expected to bump into one of Savage’s demons. But the night was quiet; no one seemed to be stirring in the palace. Was that a good or bad sign? His nerves were shredded after his imprisonment. The cool wind, charged with the promise of rain and thunder, brought him out in goosebumps. He had to clench his teeth to stop them from chattering.

  “Why didn’t you bring help?” he asked. Even if Rishi wasn’t around, there was Ujba, Hakim even. They would love all this ninja stuff, wouldn’t they?

  Parvati scoffed. “After your idiotic stunt? Why would anyone risk their necks because of your stupidity? You were told to stay at the Lalgur.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  She flicked her head. “Because I thought you had the aastra. Don’t mistake this for anything sentimental or heroic. As you said, I am a monster. Monsters can’t be heroes, can they?”

  If she could have seen him, she’d know he wa
s blushing. Parvati was saving him and he could at least be grateful. But he couldn’t find a way of saying it. He’d thank her once they’d found Lucky.

  What was it about Parvati? He was distracted by the way her skin shone in the moonlight, by the sleekness of her limbs, the raven-wing blackness of her hair. He couldn’t help but look at her. She crept under his skin.

  Stairs took them down to the central courtyard. The last time Ash had been here the space had been covered with tents and filled with guests, food and music. Now the only sounds were the cicadas chirping in the lone tree in the corner and the distant rumble of thunder.

  Ash saw the corridor that led down to the water gate and the river. Parvati looked at it.

  She’s thinking about going through it. To the river and freedom.

  Why not? He didn’t have the aastra. She could take a boat and be back in Varanasi in an hour. But Parvati turned away from the corridor and carried on, to help him save his sister.

  “Thanks,” said Ash.

  Parvati was startled. She stared at him as though he’d just suffered some mental breakdown. Then she softened. “My pleasure.”

  They skirted the edge of the courtyard. If they stuck to the shadows under the balcony, they could reach the harem without being in the open.

  “I thought Savage would take better care of his home.” Parvati brushed a thick curtain of cobwebs aside with her arm. “Maybe he can’t get the staff.”

  A nest of spiders poured out of a cranny in the ceiling. The webs around them fluttered as more and more spiders scuttled down.

  Ash glanced ahead. Through the darkness he saw were the curved trunks of the elephant statues that guarded the doorway leading into the main fortress building.

  “Wait,” he said.

  “Just look at my hair.” Parvati picked at the strands of cobweb that had tied themselves to her long black locks.

  The spiders were an army now. They fell off the ceiling like a black waterfall, dozens, even hundreds of them, just dropping to the ground.

  “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Ash said.

  Parvati hissed and her deadly fangs extended, ready to attack.