Page 76 of Tiger's Dream
“There’s a knife, clothing, supplies, and…and the phoenix egg.”
“You mean the one from my room?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you put that in the bag?”
“Because it’s time for you to unveil the truth, Kishan.”
“The truth?” When I’d been given the egg, the phoenix warned me that it would never hatch a phoenix, but would instead become a truth stone. As far as I knew, it didn’t do a blessed thing. I’d tried several times to peer into it, to ask it questions, hoping it would grant me the wisdom the phoenix promised. Eventually, I gave up. Supposedly, the heart of a phoenix rested inside. But no light, not even Durga’s magic, was ever able to penetrate the jeweled shell. I assumed it just wasn’t responding tome.
Kadam put his hand on my arm. “There’s one jug full of firefruit juice. It was the only thing I could bring you. Use it sparingly. Since you are mortal now, you can be injured or even killed. Be careful, son.”
“I will.”
“And bring her back.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“See that you do.” He squeezed my upper arm, his eyes bright and piercing. I sensed that he wanted to say more but he purposefully held back. He stroked Fanindra’s head. “You must hurry before her power fails. She will take you to her mistress. Good luck and farewell.”
Before I could answer him, he clutched the amulet at his neck and disappeared.
“Well,” I said to Fanindra. “I guess it’s just you and me now.”
The golden cobra twisted her head to look up at me, her tongue flicking in and out. Gold flaked away from her body and dropped to the grass. Trembling with effort, she turned and opened her hood. Her body swayed back and forth, back and forth, like she was dancing to the music of a charmer. My skin erupted in gooseflesh as cold air settled on my body. It felt like death had wrapped me in his icy hands. Trees whispered as the leaves rustled overhead and their heavy branches creaked in the wind.
Between the trees the sun cast a pillar of light but the rays weren’t warm or soothing. Almost in a trance, I followed Fanindra’s bobbing head as she angled herself to the light. My breath rasped in my lungs and the snake’s normally warm skin was cold to the touch. When I stepped into the light, we were sucked into a vacuum. I thought I screamed but there was no sound.
One moment I was in a bright space with nothing around me but painful white light, and the next, I stumbled on a rocky path. I caught myself before I fell but still spilled Fanindra from my arms. The backpack landed with a thump alongside her.
“Fanindra!” I cried and crouched down to see if she was okay. If she looked bad before, she was much worse now. Desperate, I pulled the flagon of firefruit juice out of the pack and dribbled a few drops into her open mouth, making sure it didn’t drip out onto the ground beneath her. After a moment, she revived a bit but her body was still as white as death. She managed to turn herself into jewelry though and I picked her up and put her in the bag.
A familiar estate sat atop a hill in the distance and I recognized Ana’s home. Hefting my bag, I made my way toward it. As peaceful as the place looked from afar, I quickly realized that something had disturbed the peace the closer I got to the home. Servants ran from building to building and men were gathering at the stables. Mounts were being brought out, and before I could get close, a horn sounded, signaling the men. They raised their voices along with their swords and headed off on a dirt road away from the house, leaving the elderly and the women wringing their hands and sobbing.
“Good woman,” I said when I reached a stooped lady working in the garden, “what has happened here?”
As she turned to look at me, fat dears dripped down her wrinkled cheeks and wet her dusty blouse. “They’ve taken my precious girl.”
“Who?” I shook her shoulder lightly. “Did someone take Ana?” My heart went cold as she just shook her head, her keening cry ululating as she bent back to her work.
I headed toward the house, unable to swallow the lump in my throat, and was distracted by a rustling coming from the side of the barn. The neigh of an irritated horse was followed by a curse. I caught the worddurbalaand smiled. Anamika had insulted me with that word once. Rounding the corner, I expected to find her, but instead found her twin brother, Sunil, trying vainly to mount an irascible pony.
“Hold still!” he yelled, one foot caught in the stirrup. He danced on the ground as his mount turned, barely able to keep upright.
“Need some help?” I asked, taking the reins.
“Thank you,” he said as he quickly scrambled atop his pony. It shook its head, trying to break away from my grip, but I held it steady. “Hey,” he said, recognizing my face. “You’re the one who disappeared two months ago.”
Two months? Apparently, Fanindra was unable to bring me back to the precise moment we left. Poor snake. I hoisted my bag. At least we were in the right place, if not the exact time. It would have to do.
“Yes,” I replied. “That’s me. How is your sister?” I asked, trying to feign nonchalance. “Did she recover?”
“Anamika woke up right after you left. She couldn’t remember you or the woman who’d been with you or even fainting at all.”
“Really?”
“My father was really mad when you disappeared.”
