Page 220 of Tomb of the Sun King

“Sorry, Aai,” she admitted awkwardly.

Padma set down her tea before straightening regally. “The Brahmastra is perhaps the most powerful weapon of our Hindu legends and histories. It was used, among other things, by Lord Rama to overcome the demon king Ravana when he stole away Rama’s beloved wife, Sita.”

“Of course!” Ellie exclaimed. “You’re talking about the Ramayana—one of the great Hindu epics. But… isn’t Rama’s weapon described as being unimaginably destructive?”

“A ball of fire that makes the mountains shatter,” Padma confirmed flatly. “Where it burns, not a single blade of grass will ever grow again—not for thirty-two trillion years.” She cast a serious gaze over the four of them. “And certain reputable sources back in India have informed me that the power to invoke it is at very real risk of falling into the wrong hands.”

Ellie felt a thrill of danger… and a whisper of excitement.

She glanced at Adam. There was a knowing light in his eyes as he gazed back at her.

Neil, on the other hand, looked confused… until his face abruptly blanched. “Hold on. Are you asking us to go toIndia?”

Padma wore a deceptively benign look as she took another sip of her tea. “I am not sure ‘asking’ is precisely the right word.”

Constance brightened. “Aai, do you mean that we would be going to see Uncle Vijay?”

“Who else do you think told me about the trouble?” Padma replied.

“Uncle Vijay is Aai’s nephew—my mother’s cousin.” Constance practically bounced in her seat with excitement. “He’s the Maharaja of Nandapur and the most terribly dashing and interesting person. He has fought in duels, and once wrestled a tiger, and there was the most scandalous story about a Sikh princess… Oh, Aai! You can’t really mean it!”

“I have taken the liberty of asking Mr. Mahjoud to make the arrangements,” Padma said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “We will leave out of Port Said on Tuesday morning. I do hope that will give you sufficient time to pack?”

She addressed the latter question to Ellie, Adam, and Neil.

Neil looked pale and a little dizzy. “And you are saying that it is real,” he pressed uncomfortably, “this weapon that can raze mountains and turn the land into desert. As real as… that other object of interest we just encountered.”

“Do you doubt me, Dr. Fairfax?” Padma’s eyes glinted like steel.

Neil rubbed a tired hand over his face. “No,” he admitted with a wince. “No, I do not.”

Constance studied Neil with a thoughtful frown. Padma saw it—and the smallest little smile crossed her lips as she took another sip of her tea.

“I’ll do it,” Neil replied firmly, then immediately wavered. “Though I haven’t the foggiest idea what sort of use I’ll be. My education is all in Egyptology and the classics. I barely know anything about Indian history.”

“I am sure you will be a quick study,” Padma cheerfully assured him—and cast a pointed glance over at her granddaughter.

Adam coughed suspiciously into fist, his blue eyes twinkling.

“Jhia?” Padma prompted, looking to Ellie.

Ellie felt as though she stood on the edge of a precipice. A new unknown sprawled out before her, promising untold threats—and wild adventure.

A conspiracy in India. The world-destroying power of a god on the line.

She raised her eyes to Adam.

“I’m game if you are,” he declared, strong and steady at her side.

Ellie drew in a breath. She met Padma’s patient, steel-hard gaze—and gave her answer.

“We should be happy to be of service,” she vowed purposefully. “Auntie.”

?

Before Ellie quite knew what was happening, Mr. Mahjoud had deposited the four of them in the hall outside Padma’s suite, which fronted onto one of the balconies overlooking the courtyard.

“Would it be too much for me to request that younotget into any more trouble between now and Tuesday?” He gave each of them—but particularly Constance—a pointed look.

---