Page 78 of Tiger's Destiny
“The good news is the guards don’t appear to be very well trained,” Kishan commented.
“How can you tell?” I asked. “They’re all muscle.”
Kishan rubbed his jaw. “Having muscle doesn’t mean they have the fighting skills of a warrior. The guards had spears, but they didn’t carry them at the ready. Their manner spoke of comfort.”
Ren nodded silently as Kishan went on with his assessment.
“Besides, there doesn’t seem to be any warfare here. The Rakshasa are far enough away not to cause too much trouble, and I don’t see any divisive factions among the citizens.”
“He’s right,” Ren stated. “They seem to be a peaceful people. Still, it’s best not to take chances or underestimate them. You are staying here tomorrow, Kells.”
“What? Why? Haven’t I proved myself in battle enough for you? Let’s not forget who saved the two of you when the Rakshasa took you prisoner.”
“She has a point, Ren.”
Ren seemed to wage an inner battle before acquiescing. “Alright, but stay close to us.”
I saluted him. “Yes, sir, general, sir. Cadet Kelsey Hayes, reporting for duty as assigned,” I teased.
Ren grinned and threw a newly made pillow at my head. “Get some shut-eye,PrivateHayes.”
I punched the pillow a few times and lay down. “Where on Earth did you learn the wordshut-eye?”
Ren laughed. “Good night, Kells.”
Giggling, I rolled over to find a quiet Kishan watching me. He was brooding. He had his could-tempt-any-girl-to-run-away-with-him lost expression on his handsome face. I smiled, but he just looked away and folded the Divine Scarf. I watched him as he moved silently in the tent, preparing to keep first watch. He positioned himself at the tent door.
Bunching my fist under my cheek, I studied his strong back and wide shoulders and could almost sense Kishan’s disappointment with me. I’d been aloof with him since my experience with the Phoenix, and I knew he could sense it. We’d have to talk, and soon, but for the moment, I didn’t want anything to distract us from our goal.
lords of the flame
Disguised once again as citizens of Bodha, we made our way to the temple. The townspeople had long since dispersed to their homes, and the city streets were quiet. We’d slept only a few hours, wanting to be up with the sun so as not to miss the goings on in the city.
I did not think it was possible, but the temple was even more dazzling in the predawn hour. We walked in without any fanfare, and the guards completely ignored us until Ren leapt onto the temple staircase. Kishan lifted me up to Ren, and by the time the three of us were standing on the first terrace of the temple, we were surrounded.
“Why have you come here?” a guard interrogated. “Why do you disturb our leaders at this most sacrosanct time?”
Ren lifted an eyebrow, but I jumped in before he could say anything.
“Brave warriors, we did not mean to cause alarm. We have been traveling and have news of the Rakshasa queen. We believe that the information is important enough to justify this intrusion.
“The Rakshasa queen has worked a terrible magic upon us. She tried to prevent us from warning your people.”
Ren added a personal story of the Rakshasa queen torturing him. I assumed that it had really happened, and it wasn’t a stretch for me to murmur sympathetically and take his hand. I dropped my head sadly and managed to squeeze out a tear.
This seemed to convince the guards that we were sincere.
“Come with us,” a warrior ordered.
We followed two of the guards up the temple staircase while the others resumed their positions. At a terrace halfway up, we turned into a marble hallway and descended a crystal staircase that led to the center of the structure. The sides of the pyramid stretched upward until they met at a peak high above us. From this vantage point, the facets of the crystal looked like sparkling windows set at multiple angles.
Like the hallway, the floor of the temple’s inner chamber was ivory marble streaked with gold. Fire trees stretched their leafy fingers to the top of the pyramid and framed a pair of statues depicting the Lords of the Flame seated on golden thrones. Life-sized Qilin, a likeness of the Phoenix, and other beasts were carved out of gleaming stone and served as the centerpieces for assorted fountains that flowed with bright reddish-orange lava. Warm steam rose from the fountains.
As we walked past, Ren and Kishan gingerly touched the hot liquid and said it felt refreshing.
The guard led us to a new section of the temple that was more beautiful than what I’d already seen. There were more statues, including a towering ivory marble carving of a lovely woman kneeling. Long hair swept past her waist and fire flowers were braided through her tresses. Her chiseled lips were full and lush, and the folds of her draped gown pooled onto the smooth floor. Fresh flowers were strewn around her. This lovely girl could be none other than the beloved Lawala.
The guard pulled back a sheer curtain, and I saw the Lords of the Flame reclining comfortably near the young woman from the lava lake. The two men fed her tidbits and filled her goblet as they murmured to her softly. A woman was brushing the girl’s long brown tresses while another rubbed cream onto her skin.
