Page 191 of Tiger's Dream
As Lokesh, face turning purple, threatened Ren, I thought about Yesubai. Now I knew firsthand what Ren had suffered at Lokesh’s hands. But what had she suffered? Ren had only been trapped with Lokesh for a few months, but Yesubai had lived with him for sixteen years.
“So be it,” Lokesh said and pulled a knife from his robe. He whispered words as he twirled a medallion, conjuring the blood spell to make Ren his slave.
As he worked, I noticed something I didn’t see before. Light grew around Ren and Lokesh as the spell progressed, but Yesubai was also glowing.
Do you see it, Ana? I asked.
The tiger stone carved from the egg of the phoenix shows us the truth, Ana answered.
It would seem I no longer needed to touch a piece of the truth stone to see into the hearts of others. I could see it through Ana’s eyes. Yesubai’s whole body seemed to shine with a golden luster that reminded me of Ana when she was in goddess form. I walked over to Ana where she watched quietly, her back to a pillar.
What’s happening to her? I asked just as my former self leapt from the dais to attack Lokesh.
Yesubai stood and her aura grew until she looked like a small sun about to explode.
It is a gift, I think, Ana said, her arms folded across her chest. She closed her eyes.Yes.When Lokesh killed Yesubai’s mother, Yuvakshi, she made a dying wish, one born of love.Her final plea echoes in my thoughts even now.”
What was it? I asked.
It was the simple wish of a mother.That her baby would know she was loved and that she would be protected from the threat of her father.Yuvakshi’s plea was heard and the universe granted her request.Yesubai has manifested two gifts because of this.To hide from her father, she has developed the gift of invisibility.”
You mean she can phase out of time like we do?
Ana pondered this.No.I believe it is simply a form of camouflage, like that of animals blending into their environment.
Then she could have left him at any time.
Ah, but young Yesubai loves her nurse and has often sent pleas to the gods on her behalf.She would never leave her nurse behind.Her father made sure the nurse was always nearby so his daughter would do as he asked.
Then what was the second gift?
It is the miracle of healing, both for herself and for others.It is this gift she gives you now.
What? What do you—
Ana took my arm and turned me back to the scene. Lokesh was grappling with my younger self while Ren struggled to get to his knees. At the same time, Yesubai, arms raised, was chanting, whispering a plea for divine intervention. Ana and I watched as the power lifted from Yesubai’s body in a golden cloud. It split in two, half of it shooting toward Ren and the other half to my former self. The princes’ wounds instantly began to heal.
You mean that’s why we can heal?I’d always thought it had to do with the amulet or with the tiger itself.
Ana shook her head.The healing was always a gift from Yesubai.
A sweet feeling of deep gratitude filled me.How often had I taken for granted our ability to heal? Ren and I would have died several times over if not for her sacrifice.
I glanced back at the girl, but Yesubai disappeared before my eyes. Ana pointed and I could just make out her ghostly form as she picked up a forgotten knife. She plunged the weapon into Lokesh’s back, but the strike wasn’t enough to kill him.
The brave girl, her cloak of invisibility falling away, then leapt in front of my old self to protect him as Lokesh came in for the kill. He used the power of the air and the earth to strike her a blow hard enough to lift her petite frame high into the air.
She came down and tears filled my eyes when I heard her head hit the edge of the dais with an unmistakable crack. Even if I hadn’t already known what happened next, both Ana and I had enough experience to recognize a killing blow when we saw it. Time froze.
Ana put her hand on my arm. “I will go to her now,” she said, hesitating, as if asking my permission.
I nodded and Ana used her power to transform into the goddess but without the extra arms. That had not surprised me but Iwassurprised to see Fanindra had joined her. The snake peered over at Lokesh and hissed, jaws opening. “Not yet, my pet,” Ana said to Fanindra and then unfroze time around Yesubai. I could see she was channeling just enough energy to postpone the girl’s death. Ana knelt beside Yesubai and took her hand. “Hello, Yesubai,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to meet you.”
Yesubai tried to say something but only a breath stirred the air. Ana smiled softly and used her power to help. “You may speak if you wish,” she said.
“Who…who are you?” Yesubai asked. “What’s happening?”
“I am the goddess Durga.”
