Page 119 of Tiger's Destiny
She stared at him for a brief moment, as if asking a silent question, and then shook her head. “These men belong to me. I will care for them. Perhaps you could have helped earlier but instead you ran off to placate our little sister after another one of her temper tantrums.”
“Now wait just a minute,” I started.
Ren held up his hand. “You aren’t angry with her, Anamika. You’re mad at me.” He stepped closer to her and put his hand on her arm. “You believe that I abandoned you, but I was only gone for a short time. The men were out of danger, and there are many able bodies to help. Besides, Kelsey is just the first of many who need rescue tonight. You would do the same for your brother, would you not?”
I’m just the first of many? Does he think of me as his sister now? What happened to ripping me away from the arms of any man?
Anamika sighed softly and nodded. “I would.”
At that moment I was scooped up into some very muscular arms and cuddled against a broad chest.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?” Kishan asked.
“If she is hurt at all, it is likely due to the over attentiveness the both of you lavish upon her,” Anamika responded testily. “There is much work here to do.”
“I’m afraid that work will have to be delegated to others,” a voice from behind me said.
“Phet! You made it back.”
“Kishan found me and was kind enough to escort me to camp.”
Ren shook Phet’s hand and happily clapped his thin back. “We are happy to have you. Welcome.”
Ren locked eyes with mine briefly. Kishan stepped between the two of us and faced his brother with a tight expression. Phet detected the tension between them the same time I did.
Patting both of them noisily on their cheeks, he said, “Come, tigers. It is time for two worthy sons of India to fulfill their life’s calling.”
“Teacher?” I heard a soft feminine voice query.
We stood aside as Phet moved forward. “Anamika, it is good to see you.”
The future goddess cried out and ran to the little monk, wrapping him gently in her arms. “I never thought I’d see you again. You didn’t tell us you were leaving. How did you come here after all these years have passed?”
I held up a hand, “Wait just a second. Teacher? Years have passed? Phet, would you mind telling us what’s going on? I thought you were the humble servant of the goddess.”
“And so I am. Come. We have much to discuss. Bring all the weapons and gifts of Durga. We will need them tonight.”
The wiry shaman slowly shuffled off in the darkness.
Anamika nodded vigorously and left to retrieve the bag of weapons while Ren put a few men in charge of seeing that the remaining troops drank from the barrel that Anamika spiked with the mermaid’s elixir.
Then the five of us—two tigers, a goddess, a dubious old monk, and a very confused and out of place girl from Oregon—headed off in search of our destiny.
We walked west, away from Mount Kailash and the devastation that happened there. None of us spoke. The sounds of my feet moving seemed loud, especially because no nocturnal animals were rustling in the brush. It felt unnatural. Strange.
Finally, Phet stopped at a trickling stream and scooped some water into his mouth. “My, that’s cold.”
Anamika stepped forward. “Forgive me, teacher.” She took the Divine Scarf from the bag and held it in her open hands. “Scarf, create a warm cloak and protection for his feet and hands.”
Wisps of thread flew into the air like silken cobwebs and streamed toward Phet as they wove their magic. In the space of a few seconds he was encased in a warm coat, thick gloves, and boots.
“I am so sorry I didn’t think of your comfort sooner.” The goddess genuflected humbly.
“Think nothing of it, my dear. The small irritations of the flesh are for but a passing moment. Still,” he pulled his coat closer, “it’s nice to feel warm too. Kahl-see, perhaps you could—”
“Oh, of course,” I sputtered.
Soon the air around us was warm and balmy as I radiated heat in a circle.
