Page 43 of Lost and Stolen Gods
We passed the platform and hurried down the path and into the complex with all its twists, turns, stairs, and arches.
“Can we get a map of this place?” Joe asked.
“You have me,” his drohi said.
Urgh. By the time we got to the arena, I was feeling sorry for myself and hating myself for allowing it.
Stop it, Leela. Glass half full, remember? But boy was it hard to maintain that philosophy after everything that had happened to get me here.
Something Nani used to say popped into my mind.Life is what you make it, beti, and death will come regardless, so why worry?Then she would kiss me and make me my favorite dishes for supper, and all would be well. As a child, her words had been comforting, but now, thinking on it now as an adult…like, what the fuck, Nani? Gosh, kid me was such a weirdo.
We exited the gloomy complex and stepped out into warm buttery sunlight. The arena was empty this morning, but the platform above it was filled with spectators.
“Looks like we have an audience,” Remi said.
“The seasoned demigods,” Keyton explained. “They’ve all taken at least one pareekshan. It’scustomary for them to watch induction training with the new potentials.”
“Great,” Dharma drawled. “They want to watch us make asses of ourselves.”
“You won’t,” Chaya said. “Remember what I told you.”
What was I missing? I wanted to ask, but it felt intrusive. Luckily for me, Priti liked to share knowledge, and my expression promoted her to fill me in. “Keyton and Chaya say that we’re probably coming into our strength, so this session is always about finding our limits.”
“There have been amusing mishaps in the past,” Chaya said.
“And dangerous ones,” Keyton added.
Great, and we’d have no idea until we tested ourselves. I glanced up at the platform above, at the faces of the mortal demigods who’d come before, and was relieved to see a few smiles of encouragement. Things might not be so bad after all.
As we walked farther into the arena, the bench area that we’d hung out at yesterday came into view. Today, it was occupied by several guys that all had intense dark eyes and sprinters’ bodies. The way they stood or crouched gave the impression of active stillness, as if they were ready to pounce at any given moment.
There was one larger than the rest, with brown close-cropped hair and hunter’s eyes. He had the kind of sharp features that were almost feral. He must havesensed me staring because he looked right at me for a beat. My pulse skipped, prey in a predator’s sights, and his nostrils flared. Could he smell me across the arena? No, that was ridiculous, of course.
“Don’t look at them,” Chaya said under her breath. “They’re like scavengers.”
“What are they?” Dharma asked.
“Rakshasa surveying the possibilities,” Keyton said. “They have appetites. So steer clear.”
Before I could ask what he meant byappetites, Pashim and Guru Chandra materialized in front of our group.
Joe let out a yelp, hand going to his chest, and Eve snickered, earning a stern look from her drohi.
Guru Chandra and Pashim were both dressed in black armor uniform, hair neatly pulled back from their stern faces. Pashim crossed his arms and looked us over, double-taking when he landed on me. “Where is your drohi?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” Please just drop it now.
He looked as if he wanted to say more, but Guru Chandra spoke. “We will begin with a test of your natural ability.” Pashim frowned at Guru Chandra, who ignored him. “Drohi, please step aside. Potentials, find a sparring partner.”
We were an odd number, and I was left without a partner. Pashim took a step toward me, but Guru Chandra beat him to it by materializing a couple of feet in front of me. “You can work with me,” he said.
Great. Just fucking great. I was going to make an ass of myself in front of the head of all training who also happened to be a regent.
Fabulous.
He smiled with his eyes. “It’s all right. There is no need to worry. This is merely an opportunity for you to test your strength. Luckily for you, when paired with me, you won’t need to hold back.”
Around me, the others had taken their places, awaiting instructions.
