Page 95 of The Burning Mountain
“We may not have cold, hard evidence, but we have more than enough on you to deliver judgment,” said Veer, his voice deadly soft. “The situation you are in, is one of your own making. Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. Those are my grandfather’s rules. I’m the crown prince of Rajgarh, and I will uphold the tenets by which our society runs. Irrespective of your relationship with me.”
Virat burst out laughing. It sounded like an old man’s cackle and there was a forced quality to it, as if the one laughing didn’t really experience mirth. “Equal? When have you ever been equal, Veer? You condemn me for my actions, for using my magic, but what have you been doing when you force the animals under your control? Isn’t that the same thing as subjugating the will of another living being? And you have no call to speak of ethics when you have the literal soul of a rakshasa attached to your arm.”
“I don’t force my control on them, unlike you,” said Veer with a clenched jaw, ignoring the part about Ilavu, unsurprised at Virat’s knowledge about the demon.
“How self-righteous of you.” Virat’s words were mocking but his inflection was muted. “Don’t tell me you ask for permission to take over the mind of an insect. They don’t have that kind of capacity to comprehend anything like that, so this argument is moot. In your case, the rules don’t apply because they are lesser beings, but in my case, they do, because humans are more evolved? Forgive me, but I don’t agree.”
“Have you always felt this way, and I’ve never noticed?” A slow curl of anger began in Veer at Virat’s words. They pricked all the more because they contained a kernel of truth.
“Of course. But back then, I was better at hiding it, and I thought you had the same opinion as me.”
Veer’s eyes narrowed as realization struck him, as he went through Virat’s words. “You remember everything, don’t you? You lied about forgetting your past.”
Virat shrugged. The mask fell from his face. “Lying about memories seemed the most expedient way to stop you from asking too many questions. And a bit rich coming for you, Veer. When you invited me to come on this voyage, I thought you trusted me, but now it turns out you’ve been stringing me along.”
“I never lied to you!”
“No, you just let me form my own conclusions. I see your penchant for deviousness hasn’t left you.”
“Everything Chandra said is true then,” growled Veer. His fists clenched and his vision divided as he called on his bond with Vihari. “You tried to kill her and her pregnant friend. Your own offspring! How could you do that?”
The sky above darkened as Virat, too, seemed to summon his powers. The trees twisted in the sudden wind and daylight faded rapidly under the cover of lightning clouds.
Everyone paused their work, curiosity warring with an instinctual need to flee the impending battle. Some of Veer’s men unsheathed their swords. The squawks and whistles of the shorebirds fell silent as Veer felt his vision splinter into several different perspectives. He knew his irises would be showing a multihued patchwork of different colors—reflecting his control over the nearby birds.
“I did all of that,” admitted Virat, a glint in his eye. “And more. Right under your nose. You only know about some of my crimes.” Virat’s face stirred, not into laughter but a twistedmix of loathing and sadistic enjoyment. “Does it make you feel helpless, Veer? Impotent with rage? To know that I was able to perpetrate all that because of the statusyougave me?”
Shota coughed suddenly, and Veer’s anger receded at the timely reminder. Virat was provoking him deliberately. There were too many people here—prime targets for him to manipulate.
Their only advantage was that Veer was immune to Virat’s powers. Shota, too, to an extent. And Virat had to be tired, after the recent use of magic.
“You have no idea how many times I’ve thought about ending your wife’s life over the years,” continued Virat, an unnatural smile twisting his face. “But I held back because it was so much more satisfying to seeyoupunish her. I couldn’t have done a better job. Death is too easy for people like her, who consider it an honor to die for others.”
Veer couldn’t stop the spasm of black rage that took over him. In all his years as an animal mage, this was the closest he felt like a beast of prey whose mate was threatened. Rows of various shorebirds stood battle ready, perched on the railing of the ship towering over them, holding unnaturally still.
“Ah, I see. I seem to have touched a nerve,” said Virat, his gaze flicking toward the birds now under Veer’s control. “Have you developedfeelingsfor her? You should hide it more, Veer. Rajgarh has so many enemies and you just painted her as your vulnerability. If I were you, I’d keep a close eye on her. There is nothing stopping me from going after her now.”
Veer tried desperately to get his temper under control but knew he had failed because Virat spoke again, taunting him. “Maybe I’ll kill her maid instead, the one for whom she sacrificed so much, or maybe the brat she bore. Even better, make them my slaves. That wayshe’llsuffer, and so will you, seeing her pain.”
Veer’s fists clenched in fury. The red light of Ilavu’s power enveloped his arm without his volition.
Virat was wheezing for breath, using his magic staff to stay upright. He was obviously tired. It was so tempting to finish him when he was this weak.
But Veer didn’t want to have to fight his friends or innocent bystanders, and Virat was sure to use them as human shields.
He had proven himself a traitor, so everything he had said so far was suspect, including any information about his powers. Seven years ago, he was able to control only one person at a time, but now? Who knew?
“Why aren’t you attacking me, Veer? Do you really want me to go after your wife?”
Vihari suddenly left Veer’s shoulder and soared into the air, wings outstretched. His screech coincided with the sudden burst of flames. A circle of fire sprouted on the ground almost enclosing Virat.
Virat jumped back just in time from the unexpected attack. Veer glimpsed the raw fear in his eyes before Virat smothered the panic. Rain started to fall with a sudden intensity, extinguishing the flames.
Virat didn’t seem as confident as before, and Veer noticed his hesitancy and desire to be away from here.
Shota spoke, his voice loud and carrying. “Virat, the trial is concluded, I condemn you as a criminal. With the power of the judiciary amulet, I hereby pronounce you guilty of crimes against Kalpana and Princess Chandrasena. You are no longer allowed to step on Rajgarh’s soil on pain of death.”
The amulet rose to the air, and in a burst of light, sealed the ruling, then returned to Shota’s hand.
