Page 52 of Tiger's Destiny
“What is your reason for seeking this?”
“We want to end our quest, bring Durga her prize, and regain our humanity,” Kishan answered.
“To enter my realm, you must make a sacrifice to prove you are worthy.”
“Tell us what to do, and we will see to it,” Ren pledged.
A peal of soft laughter echoed around us. “This sacrifice is not yours to offer, white tiger. No, the sacrifice I require is that of a Sati wife. There is only one person here who is able to fulfill my request.”
Ren and Kishan both leapt forward in front of me, lifted their weapons, and shouted, “No! You will not take her!”
Confused, I peered between their broad shoulders and was soon captivated by the bright eyes of the Phoenix.
sati wife
Ren and Kishan barred my way, keeping a safe distance between the Phoenix and me.
“Why are you two acting this way?” I asked, trying to get past. “We’re here to negotiate, aren’t we? We have plenty of things we can sacrifice. I can summon fruit or golden cloth or whatever it wants.”
Kishan lowered hischakram, but kept his eyes on the bird. “The Phoenix doesn’t want just any sacrifice, Kells. It wants a Sati wife.”
“And what does that mean?”
Ren tightened his jaw and glanced at me in a way I’d never seen before. His bright eyes filled with the deepest of sorrows. He shook his head, refusing to answer me, tightened his grip on his weapons, and took a step forward, angling his body so he stood between me and the bird.
I turned to Kishan and spoke softly, “Tell me.”
In a deadened tone, Kishan replied, “In ancient times, women were taught to devote themselves, body and soul, to their husbands. A Sati wife is a widow. She is stricken with such overwhelming grief at the death of her husband that she will not be separated from him. When his body is cremated, she throws herself onto his funeral pyre to show her dedication and love in this final, flatal act.”
Ren added with disgust, “It’s been outlawed in India for some time, and my parents had forbidden the ceremony in our kingdom.”
I whispered quietly, “I see.”
I turned to face the Phoenix and felt Ren’s lips brush my ear.
“Iadala, we willnotgive you up.”
I placed my hand on his rock-hard forearm and squeezed it lightly. Then I gripped Kishan’s wrist with my other hand and asked the Phoenix with as much bravery as I could muster, “What is it you want from me?”
The bird tilted its head to study me and replied, “You said you seek the Rope of Fire. Only those who are worthy may pass through my mountains to find it. To deem your worthiness, I ask a sacrifice.”
“If I offered myself up for this, would I die?”
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. The true test of a Sati wife lies in her heart, not in her flesh. If your heart is pure and your love is true then your flesh will not burn. If your heart deceives, then your body cannot pass through the flame.”
My gut clenched as my heart beat double time. I registered Kishan protesting softly beside me, saying we’d find another way, but a part of me already knew that there was no other way. My mind flashed back to conversations I’d had with Mr. Kadam. I could almost hear his voice whispering in my mind.
“Do not fear the flame, Miss Kelsey, for if you are prepared, it will not hurt you.”
But what if I die?
His voice came to me again.“Reincarnation is an old spirit giving rise to a new one, like a dying flame igniting a new candle. The two candles are different but the flame comes from those who have gone before.”
But I don’t believe in reincarnation.My eyes filled with tears that spilled over onto my cheeks despite the dryness of my surroundings, and memories of another conversation with Mr. Kadam flickered to mind.“What if your child was trapped in a house of burning flame?”
“I would run in and save him.”
I knew then what my answer to the Phoenix must be. I lifted my head and said softly, “I will be the sacrifice.”
