Page 68 of Lost and Stolen Gods
“Here we are,” Chaya said. “I’ve always wanted to see inside.”
“You’ve never been?” Dharma said.
“Vidya is not for drohi. We are only permitted entry with our demigod, but we are provided with storybooks for our enjoyment, and there is a small library in the complex for our use.”
Dharma and I locked gazes, and I was sure she was thinking what I was. That knowledge was power, another thing that the drohi were denied.
“Well, you can come with me anytime,” Dharma said to Chaya.
The gates swung open to admit us onto the neatly clipped grounds awash with color. Someone had a green thumb.
Double doors opened, and a woman dressed in black pants and an emerald tunic appeared. Her hair was shorn short, but she had the strong features to pull it off.
“Welcome.” She smiled warmly at us. “My name is Bhoomika, and I’ve been hoping for visitors.”
The insideof the tower was warm and spacious, cream and brown décor adding to the cozy vibe, and several neat tables piled with books and lined with chairs created a scholarly, academic aesthetic.
Two staircases curved up from either side of the room, meeting in a balcony that cut across the back wall that was one huge bookcase with a rolling ladder attached to it. Twin arches sat on opposite ends of the balcony, probably leading to smaller towers.
“We’re doing a little cataloging today,” Bhoomika said, leading us to the staircase on the left. “Books come in and go out a couple of times a month.”
“Demigods can check out books?” Dharma asked.
“Yes, there is a selection of approved texts.”
Approved? “Why approved?”
“Some texts are too delicate, some too dangerous to be loaned out. There is a reference section for those that wish to browse, but most texts are written in the old tongue, one which only a handful of Asura and sages can read. And then there are texts that were made only for the eyes of a Deva.”
“What about the drohi?” I watched carefully for her reaction when I asked. “Can they borrow books?”
Her sharp blink told me she was surprised by my question. “The drohi have a curated selection of fiction that is held in the library at Prashikshan.”
“So that’s a no then.”
We entered a small passageway and took a narrow flight of steps into another tower with a ceiling so high I could barely see the top. Books made up the walls, and ladders and staircases connected balconies creating three levels.
“I’m afraid I don’t make the rules.” Bhoomika’s gazeflicked to Chaya, who stood with her head tipped back, a rapt look on her handsome face as she took in the many shelves loaded with colorful spines.
Was that pity in the sage’s eyes?
It was gone too soon for me to be certain.
“Our main collection is held here,” Bhoomika continued. “Come sit.” She showed us to a cozy seating area near a hearth with a fire burning low. “I’m sure you have questions.”
I sat forward in my seat. “I wanted to know a little about the history of your world. About the domains and the drohi.”
“Those are very general questions. Our world is old, and there is much history here.”
“All right, tell me about Aakaash and the domains here. Umbra mentioned Guru Chandra was a regent. I’ve gathered there’s a royal domain for the Asura, but why is the Danava domain off limits?”
“It’s a sad tale,” she said. “One of betrayal and death.” She sighed as if recalling that time. “There were two royal houses once—the Asura and the Danava. Although they did not see eye to eye, the larger threat of the devouring force gave them no recourse but to work together. There were small civil unrests back and forth, but nothing unsurmountable. There were even rumors that…” She trailed off and shook her head. “Never mind.”
“Oh, you can’t do that,” Dharma said. “That’s just mean. Tell us.”
She glanced around, then sat forward in her seat. “There were rumors of a blood alliance. They’ve since been proven to be untrue, of course.”
Blood alliance? “What kind of blood alliance?”
