Page 8 of The Burning Mountain
Ketuvahana shrugged and poured himself a goblet, thankfully with water instead of wine. Nandiketu felt a pang of jealousy toward Ketuvahana. To have the freedom to be so untroubled about other people’s opinions. But then, his brother had always been given more leeway by his father. No matter how much he tried, Nandiketu never engendered the same level of indulgence.
“Wait,” said Nandiketu slowly, frowning as he thought about Ketuvahana’s words. “Are you saying there’s no way to kill Prince Aditya until the wizard tells us how to remove the snake stone?”
“Yes.” Ketuvahana managed an impressive smirk despite his tired visage. “That’s what I was saying.”
Nandiketu suppressed the urge to smack him. “How well do you trust the wizard?”
“About as much as you trust me, Brother,” said Ketuvahana with a tired but calculating smile.
“You are the one who suggested him. That advisor, who seems to have your ear these days, found him,” accused Nandiketu. “You even went so far as to give the wizard the troops he requested before he even delivered any results. And what came of it? He attacked the temple city to steal some useless idol and failed. The best thing about the whole incident is that he left no evidence that could lead back to us. Are you sure he wasn’t manipulating you the entire time?”
“Not this again,” groaned Ketuvahana. “I would know if I were being manipulated. It’s a singularly unpleasant experience. You’ve seen how powerful he is. And he gave us results. He got us Prince Aditya when none of us could see neither hide nor hair of him.”
Nandiketu scoffed, throwing up his hands. “What benefit is it having Aditya in our clutches if we can’t kill him? Do you know why the wizard has done that? Why did he protect him with the snake stone? What could his motives be?”
Ketuvahana shrugged once again.
Nandiketu turned away, his brother’s unconcern grating over his stretched nerves. “I don’t trust this wizard and I’m dreading his return, to be honest. He makes my skin crawl, and the last time he stepped foot in the kingdom he brought a storm that resulted in a flood, causing the early crops to perish, launching our present famine. As if we don’t have enough troubles.”
“Don’t worry about Aditya, Brother,” said Ketuvahana standing up, swaying slightly. “I’ve found a way to get rid of the snake stone on his wrist. All I need is aspatika linga.” He walked away, albeit listing a little.
Nandiketu observed him with a slight frown, wondering what on earth aspatika lingawas, but didn’t voice his question aloud for fear of inviting more ridicule. Of his two brothers, Ketuvahana was the more dangerous tormentor. His good looks hid his dissolute nature and a cruel streak. He was a drunk who enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh too much. But there was no doubt his reputation struck fear in their enemies. In the battlefield, he was an asset, and no matter how much of a liability he was at other times, their father would never cast him out.
Nandiketu was aware of his own shortcomings. He wasn’t as strong as Ketuvahana or as capable as his other brother, Nagadhar. He knew people thought of him as a coward who saw conspiracies everywhere. His father only made him the crown prince was because he was the oldest and therefore, the closest in age to Namata Devi, although she was still older by a good two years. His only benefit to the family was his suitability to marry a woman well past her prime.
And that’s why it was imperative that Namata Devi married him and no one else. Even if he had absolutely no interest in it. His position as the crown prince of Thianvelli depended on it.
He’d have to post more of his people around her so she couldn’t get any second thoughts about their marriage.
4
THE ABDUCTION
“This is the trinket we’re searching for,” said Veer as he slid the drawing on the rickety table. The man across from him traced the lines of the drawing with a calloused, tobacco-stained finger. Shota had given Veer a rough drawing of the weirdly shaped key piece. Instead of a regular, perfectly symmetrical teardrop, it appeared like a sheared crescent.
“Looks odd,” observed the man, his gravelly voice barely audible in the background cacophony of the market. He tilted the scrap of drawing, making noises and commenting on how it was getting harder to obtain any kind of genuine information.
They were hidden behind a couple of colorful scarves in a small corner space between two market stalls. A place for dumping refuse was catty-corner to them.
Veer put an end to his mumblings when he pushed a bag of coins toward the man.
The man’s eyes lit up with greed. He reached in to pick up a coin and expertly turned it over his fingers. He hefted the bag in his palm and seemed satisfied. Veer knew he was probably overpaying him if the man didn’t even deign to bargain for thesum. But he didn’t care. They needed answers, the sooner the better.
“You shall meet me here in exactly two days with answers. Be on time,” said Veer.
“What is this piece exactly, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“The extra money in that purse is to silence your curiosity, Jallaba,” said Veer.
The man leaned back warily when Veer spoke his real name. Without another word, he pocketed the piece of paper and briefly nodded before disappearing into the throng of people that inundated the weekly market.
Veer watched his turbaned head until it vanished into the crowd. Shota had carefully chosen this man to get results. Now all he had to do was wait for the trap they had sprung.
Veer had reconnected with Shota and the rest of their men a few days ago, when they had reached Thanepur and met up with them at a predetermined spot—an inn. Billadev and Shota had been relieved to see them after their disappearance into the magical forest.
Veer had been pleased to note that his friends were doing well. Billadev had later told him that once Veer and Chandra had disappeared, a disembodied voice had asked them to go toward Thianvelli and wait.
Not content to just cool their heels, they had instead tried to gather information. Shota had, Veer learned, found himself a minor position in the royal court as the apprentice of a judge and had collected information regarding the royal family—both the current and the previous ones. Billadev had managed to find employment disguised as a eunuch in the royal harem—he had to bribe his way in to avoid the mandatory inspection.
