Page 89 of The Burning Mountain
“I’m here.” Virat’s gruff voice was accompanied by clacking sounds of the staff striking the wood, as he emerged from the shadows.
A flurry of increased shouts drew their attention once again and they found the Makara had coiled its tail around one of the masts of thePrahari. Wood creaked and splintered as the long pole came crashing into the ocean, leaving the sails hanging off.
Some of the men ended up in the water and Shota joined the crew in throwing rope ladders out over the railing, so they could climb up. If the situation were different, they could have sent out rescue boats. As it was, they needed all hands on deck.
“Aim for the eyes,” shouted the captain of theGajagamini. “Do not let it get you on the port side. Keep it to the right.” The helmsman frantically tried to follow his instructions. TheGajagaminimaneuvered itself, so it stood between the monster and the other ship, forcing the monster to relinquish its hold. Harpoons fired but bounced off harmlessly from the tough scales of the Makara.
It opened its snout-like mouth, revealing tiny, pointy teeth arranged in rows. Its eyes were pure white and feline-shaped; the pupils a slitted, dark blue.
Prince Bhupathi rolled up his sleeves, he had already drawn the magical mark of his ancestor on his forehead in battle readiness. Veer wondered what choice of weapon he would bring forth. Chandra had always preferred the bow and arrow, but as she was fond of lamenting, her brother was stronger, and he had the full range of powers provided by the goddess they worshipped.
To his surprise, though, Bhupathi didn’t take out a weapon. He walked, instead, to where the deckhands were manning the harpoons. TheGajagaminiwas a war vessel, and its entire starboard side was studded with catapult machines.
Bhupathi scored his palm and drew a symbol on each of the harpoons. Veer sensed Virat’s rapt attention and curiosity on whatever Bhupathi was doing.
Shouts drew Veer’s focus elsewhere, where a blue-green tail came over the railing, seeking purchase. The Makara had gotten hold of one of the masts and coiled around it like a serpent, attempting to do the same thing it did to thePrahari.
But the reinforced wood of theGajagaminiheld. The ironwood bottom kept the ballast afloat.
One of the deckhands heaved an axe and hacked at the monster’s tail, leaving deep gouge marks. It let go of the mast with a high-pitched shriek and retreated.
The massive head of the Makara swung around and came dangerously close to the side railing where the captain stood with his first mate at the helm. Its impressive jaws opened wide,intending to swallow them whole while the helmsman worked frantically to reverse and move the ship out of harm’s way.
Veer had an up-close view of the impressive rows of fangs that lined its maw. Some of the saliva that dripped had a blue-green tinge to it.Great, he thought,not only was this monster enormous but also poisonous. The odds didn’t seem too much in their favor and the battle had barely begun.
A harpoon sailed through the air and embedded itself into the Makara’s neck with a sickening scrunch. The monster recoiled viciously, its scream filled with pain and rage. Veer recognized one of the symbols emblazoned on the shaft. It was one of the magical seed words, thebija akshara, that Chandra would recite before letting loose her arrows.
Golden lines spread from the point of entry, traveling a short distance through the monster’s body.
More magical harpoons fired, carrying Bhupathi’s symbol. They turned golden mid-flight, and just like Chandra’s arrows, were deadly too. The spears struck into the monster, shaving off its flesh in spots, exposing the red muscle inside. Blood sprayed into the sea.
And yet, the Makara still moved, its body massive enough to withstand such an attack.
It seemed to realize, finally, that they intended to hunt it down and plunged into the ocean, its serpentine body disappearing into the current without a trace. It rose again a distance from the ship.
“It’s running away. Unfurl the sails. Full speed ahead. We need to give chase,” shouted the captain.
TheGajagaminiwas the fastest ship among Sumedh’s and Vivismati’s fleets combined. Its streamline design and magical gems inlaid into its structure allowed it to cut through waters with ease. But still, it was no match for a mythical monster thatmade the ocean its home. The dusk sky was clear, and the gusts of wind were not enough to fill the sails.
“Virat! We need you,” shouted Veer.
Virat was calm, amid the havoc on the ship. He stood with his feet apart, eyes closed as if in a trance, the staff dead center. He had opened his eyes at Veer’s shout. The four shrunken skulls near the top of his staff glowed with an eerie green light, their jaws unhinged. He lifted the staff and pointed to the sky.
A dark tornado cloud appeared immediately above them. Wind picked up, stronger gusts leading to wild squalls. His magic whipped the ocean into a frenzy.
Dark clouds burst with thunder and lightning rolled so quickly that the usual weather-savvy sea merchants were taken aback by the abrupt change. The serene evening darkened into a wild night. Wind rose to a gale, and the sea churned in the throes of a thunderstorm.
A bolt of lightning skewered down and struck the monster. The screech it gave was earsplitting.
Bhupathi’s magic-infused harpoons were still stuck to its body, where it was bleeding steadily.
“Veer. Call Vihari,” shouted Virat, his voice loud and carrying through the gales.
“What? How can Vihari help? He’s a bird. If you’re thinking I’m going to abandon you and fly away, you can think again.”
“Kites and snakes are natural enemies,” he shouted back. “Vihari is no ordinary bird. Listen to me and call him.”
Veer gave a grim nod of understanding. His vision split as he merged with his kite.
