37

The sky was so low that it gave the appearance of the river splashing into it, in an attempt to submerge the sun. Turning often in his saddle, Saahas waved at Tathakim and Nirmohi, and even after they had receded from his view, he could still faintly discern a shock of red hair beside silvery tresses.

The sun sank like a copper coin in a lake, signalling the wind to blow. Saahas looked around, noticing a low crag jutting out over the beach.

‘We should stop here for the night,’ he said to Bhuma. ‘Camp under those rocks and start at the break of dawn.’

The servant quickly made arrangements for a meal, a plump fish leaping out of the water, offering itself up generously to his outstretched hands.

They fell asleep almost as soon as they lay down, one dreaming of fantastic adventures and the other floating on a wave of light. Slowly the wind turned into a stiff gale, carrying a sobbing lament from the river to the campsite. It tugged at the covers and Bhuma snuggled deeper, covering his face. But Saahas awoke, instantly alert. Grasping his sword, he was on his feet in one fluid leap, and walked into the deep blue darkness beyond Rrum’s firelight. The lament grew louder, animal howls of grief frightening the waves into stillness.

They hovered just above the ground, the bones of their feet shining white in the moonlight, two grotesque creatures waving their skeletal hands pathetically. Of the same height, they clutched at their tattered clothes, suddenly conscious of their hideous forms. Maggot infested entrails spilled out of their threadbare shirts and one half of their faces was torn away, as if mauled by a vicious beast, their teeth bared in a permanent grin. A foul stench emanated from them and Saahas fell back, his grasp tightening on the hilt of the khanda.

The creatures noticed and cried out, ‘He can see us! At last we are visible, after centuries. Praise the lord—’

‘Who are you?’ Saahas interrupted their incoherent chatter, his gentle tone taking the sting away.

‘A long time ago, we too were men, princes,’ answered one. ‘Princes of a wonderful realm.’

‘Then our misdeeds turned us into invisible phantoms,’ spoke the other, voice echoing in a hollow chest. ‘We have been roaming here, beside Mahanadi for centuries, praying for our deliverance.’

Saahas’s mouth went dry, a certainty knocking at his heart. ‘You were princes you say. Of which realm?’

Both spoke together, their breath a pale blue mist, ‘Aum.’

‘Vilas and Preyas. Yajatha’s sons,’ he enunciated each word with great deliberation. ‘With you began the destruction of Aum.’ His voice dropped. ‘So, one wheel comes full circle.’

The apparitions crumpled at his feet, sobbing, ‘You know all about our despicable past. Have mercy on our wretched souls.’

He gazed down at their terrible faces, remembering Yajatha’s sorrow, the guilt confessed to Shami. Compassion swept over him, taking him by surprise. ‘Your father was as much at fault as you were, but his remorse and right actions released him from his sin. How can I be of help to you?’

They looked at him, nervously anxious, then at each other. After a long moment, one of them ventured to speak, his voice an uncontrollable quaver, ‘Only a citizen of Aum can end our suffering, one who, as the founding fathers had hoped, has become one with it.’

Saahas nodded. ‘Yes, I fulfil the conditions. Tell me, what must I do?’

Fresh tears overwhelmed the brothers, and blubbering their gratitude, they led him to the edge of the river. ‘Please sprinkle a little of her water over us.’

‘Is that all?’ Saahas instantly plunged his hands into the river lapping his feet.

The ghastly forms sizzled, quickly dissolving into white vapour, a fragrance replacing the repulsive odour. Saahas caught a glimpse of the two princes as they must have been a long time ago, handsome and whole. But he couldn’t be sure. All too soon, the mist melted into the clean, pure air, leaving behind only the faint scent of roses.

Two flashes arced the midnight sky, briefly flaring before fading away. Dyaut rose from his bed, a soft smile tugging the corner of his mouth. ‘Ah! You are on your way back. It will be a sweet reunion. You, me and Rabeera.’

The journey to the palace seemed longer this time, Saahas’s eagerness to meet Dyaut stretching the days. When he at last sighted the pink palace shining like a polished mirror, he could not contain himself and jumping out from the palanquin, ran up the wide steps to be met halfway by the king.

Bending down to touch the older man’s feet, Saahas beamed, ‘I have found the celestial weapon, Your Majesty. It destroyed my ignorance.’

Dyaut embraced him warmly. ‘I knew you would, son. Look at you.’ He held Saahas, appraising him. ‘You are glowing with the inner light. Come,’ he gestured towards the palace, ‘there is someone you have to meet.’

Ushered into a large room in the eastern wing of the palace, Saahas looked around, an exclamation of delight bursting from his lips. The room was completely bare, save for a column of sunshine that poured in from a round skylight in the centre of the high dome-shaped ceiling and extended all the way to the middle of the pale wooden floor. In this pillar of light stood a life-sized wooden image, its colour a bright peacock-blue.

‘Now do you understand why my soldiers and the Ugr forces thought you were Rabeera?’ Dyaut slid a glance at Saahas. ‘Smeared with the blue sap, you looked so much like him.’

Removing his shoes, Dyaut stepped reverently close to the image. Saahas followed suit, coming to stand beside his host. ‘Rabeera,’ Dyaut called out in a voice filled with tenderness, ‘our guest is here, sweet one. Please bless him.’

Saahas held his breath, a thrill surging up his spine. He looked up at the wiry figure and beheld a God. With the left leg bent slightly at the knee, Rabeera had his head cocked to one side, a half-smile playing on his crimson lips. The almond eyes sparkling like two gems met Saahas’s gaze, warm laughter in their depths. ‘Serenity in strength,’ Saahas whispered, observing the muscles that seemed completely at rest, yet ready to spring into action.

Dyaut murmured in his ear, ‘Do you see what I see?’

Saahas gazed and in the twinkling of an eye, Rabeera towered over them, standing in a war chariot, his head almost touching the ceiling. The silk dhoti and shirt vanished, replaced by heavy armour, the two arms multiplying into six. Every hand grasped a weapon except for the one that held the reins of five plunging horses, controlling them with elegant ease.

Saahas sank to his knees, ‘Is Rabeera telling me something?’

Dyaut nodded, ‘He is blessing you for the war that you are going to wage.’ The vision began to fade and once again only the wooden image remained, shining blue in the yellow beam. Dyaut turned to Saahas, ‘My entire force awaits your marching orders. Tell me when you wish to leave.’