Page 15 of The Burning Mountain
“You have access to texts and various manuscripts, right?” Sakaala continued at Shota’s nod. “I don’t have the patience to sift through and search for the information I seek. So, I need you to find everything you can about thenagamani. Specifically, about aspatika linga, a quartz stone said to render certain magical objects useless.”
“Thenagamani, sire?” questioned a puzzled Shota.
“Yes. It is a stone revered by the snakes.” He frowned. “Are you even from Thianvelli? This is basic stuff,” said Sakaala suspiciously.
Shota backtracked and murmured some excuse, which seemed to allay the advisor’s misgivings. Or perhaps he was just harried enough to let it ride. Either way, it meant more work for him.
He really needed to put in a request for an additional lamp, thought Shota, rubbing his tired eyes.
7
ILAVU’S HELP
Veer’s consciousness flew through the eyes of birds. Fragmented images filtered into his brain from distant corners of the capital city. He hopped from one bird to the next, his presence registering for so little time that the animal hardly felt it.
Veer could glean a lot of information this way. Over the years, he had gotten proficient at finding information if he was running short on time and needed to know something urgently.
Unfortunately, he didn’t get what he was hoping to find.
The wind blew gently, fluttering the small fire burning in thehomamhe had erected near an anthill in a wooded area on the outskirts of Thianvelli. The presence of the anthill ensured some protection from the animals when he went into a trance.
He sighed and withdrew back into his own self. This was the fifth time he had gone on an excursion like this, hoping to find where Aditya was imprisoned. All Veer learned was where he wasn’t.
He searched all the important and high security prisons and found no traces of Aditya. He was starting to doubt if the royal family had even captured the prince.
Veer tapped his fingers on his thigh absently. He really didn’t want to go for the next option, but it seemed like he had no choice.
“Ilavu.”
“You called?” said the being, instantly at the forefront of his brain. He could feel the demon’s power filling his left arm. The demon’s presence in his arm always made it powerful but giving him additional room in his brain made it even more so.
“Can you help me with what I seek?” asked Veer.
Ilavasura’s amusement came clear through their connection. “What’s the matter, Prince Veer? Did Vihari abandon you that you had to call me for help?”
“Don’t you worry about Vihari,” Veer snapped. “Help me with what I seek.”
“And why should I do that?”
Veer thought for a while, trying to figure out a way to twist his arm, perhaps literally. “It’s the least you could do after the fiasco at Dandakaranya,” he said.
The demon went silent for a while. After the incident at Dandakaranya, although Ilavu spoke very little except to apologize for what happened, Veer could tell it had bothered him immensely. He didn’t know the reason why the demon was exiled and banned from setting foot in the enchanted forest, but Veer knew it was deeply humiliating and personal.
“Good point. Very well, I’ll help you,” said the demon. “This time.”
“I don’t seewhy you don’t use rats and other ground animals in your search,” said Ilavu, several hours later. “They’re agreat deal thorough at getting into cramped spaces and finding information.”
“I’ve already told you the reason. It’s because my affinity is with the avian kind,” said Veer with exaggerated patience, like he was explaining to a toddler. “I have greater control over winged species. I can control four-legged beasts all right for a short time. And the less evolved or less intelligent a beast is, the greater I need to struggle to control them. They’re easily distracted by their instincts for food, safety, and…other things that have to do with procreation.”
Ilavu smirked. “I believe the word you are looking for issex, Veer. When did you turn into a prude?”
“If you know what I mean, then why do I need to say it?” said Veer, grinding his back teeth.
“Why are you so touchy about this topic? Didn’t the princess take pity on you yet?”
Veer scowled and pointedly ignored his question. “Well, now you know why I prefer birds.”
Thankfully Ilavu seemed to be done teasing Veer, because his tone became serious. “I might help you expand your senses. I know you said it’s difficult to control rodents and the like, but I think I can help you there.”
