Page 72 of Lost and Stolen Gods
“You think she lied?” Dharma frowned.
Hadn’t she felt it? “The binding, for one. I don’t think it’s as clear cut as she makes out, and my dreams. I got the feeling she knew more.”
“But why?” Dharma asked. “Why would she lie?”
“I think there was an ankh in the room at one point.”
Chaya’s frown deepened. “How can you know that?”
“I saw it, I mean, a shimmer in the air.”
“I didn’t see anything,” Dharma said.
“Because no one should be able to see an ankh,” Chaya said, studying me with a strange expression. “Don’t tell anyone else you can. Keep it to yourself.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s unnatural, and unnatural things are feared, and fear…Fear leads to violence."
"But we can find out more," Dharma said. “Maybewe can go back to see her and hope no ankh are about?”
I’d come here hoping for answers, and all I’d gotten were more questions. It was frustrating as hell.
I hoisted my bag onto my shoulder. “Come on, let’s grab some food and get to class. I feel the need to hit something.”
“Ah,” Chaya said. “A wholesome plan indeed.”
Chapter 25
AND NOW THEY WANT A PIECE OF MY SOUL?
We were expecting Guru Mihir and more dummy gauntlet training, but instead we got Pashim and an array of weapons and targets.
Araz didn’t show, and after the altercation we’d had earlier in our quarters, I wasn’t surprised, and if I was honest with myself, I was relieved for the extended reprieve from his presence. Despite my stoicism when faced with his harsh words, I wasn’t unaffected by them. He’d hurt me more than I cared to admit, and a little time to lick my wounds was much appreciated.
The main arena was set up with huge target boards and wooden mannequins. A rack of weapons, unlike any I’d seen before, was set up by one wall.
Pashim stood beside the rack, waiting for us to gather around. “These are theshastrathat you will bearmed with. You will learn to wield them all. But we do not choose our weapon, it chooses us, and on the eve of the labyrinth, your weapon will choose you. If you ascend, that weapon will be imbued with divine power and become an astra.”
“What does that mean?” Joe asked.
“It means that a simple mace will deliver a blow equivalent to the force of a hundred elephants.” Stunned silence ensued. Pashim smiled wryly. “The battlefield is a vicious, bloody place, and the devouring force grows daily.” His expression sobered. “So we fight. And we use all the power that we can muster to beat back the threat.” He lightly touched a strange weapon that looked like a ball on a stick, except the ball had a pointy bit on it. “Gada, or mace as you might call it. Very powerful when wielded correctly.” Next, he touched a curved sword with a hilt that sported an ornate handguard. “This is akhadga, and if you are chosen by one, it will reform to fit you. Next, we have a couple ofparashu. These axes need two hands to wield them.” He moved on to the spear-like weapons.
Some looked like javelins and others like tridents.
“These are calledshula,” he said. “Once again, varied but effective in keeping a mass of revenants at bay. And finally, we have the ranged weapons.” He indicated an ornate bow. “Thedhanushandshararequires precision and stillness in battle. But once the arrows have been dispensed, they will not return to your bow unless you have ascended and the weaponhas become an astra. Same with the chakra.” He picked up a flat disc with serrated edges. “Once thrown, it is lost to a demigod, but it will return to an ascended. Now step forward and pick a weapon to start working with.”
The last thing I needed was a weapon that forced me to show my strength. I was struggling to hold back my blows as it was, so I decided to go for a weapon of precision, a skill that I needed to practice, and picked the bow.
Pashim smiled at me with his eyes. “Good choice. Now let’s get to work.”
We weremid supper when Umbra entered the kitchens. The room fell silent at her arrival, but she waited several beats before speaking.
“As many of you know, there was an attack at one of our western settlements last night. Although we were able to beat back the threat, several Asura lost their lives. Asura who worked hard to ascend. Some of our brightest and most promising were cut down, reducing our numbers once more.” Her gaze traveled over us. “But thereisa way to prevent a final death. One which we have petitioned the Shakti for before and been declined, but after last night, they have finally agreed to the process.”
Okay, this sounded ominous, and from the looks on my fellow potentials’ faces, I wasn’t the only one who was feeling a little wary. Like, what more were they going to do to us?
Umbra answered my question a moment later.
