DRISHYA SMELLED THE MADNESS in the demon elephant’s blood and sweat and knew that the creature was in torment. He reached out a hand, not actually touching its hide but making a gentle stroking movement to show he meant it no harm.
“I know you,” he said softly. “Your true name is Kuvalone. You were reborn in this form against your will to serve Tyrak. Your rage and violent temperament stem from your desire to be killed quickly and be rid of this chore you did not desire.”
The elephant listened with suspicion in its eyes.
“He treats you cruelly, so that you may treat his enemies cruelly as well. That is a tyrant’s way, the urrkh way. Even though you are an urrkh now, you were not one always. You resent being forced to enact this violent behavior. You seek to return to your old peaceful way of life. Like an elephant in the wild, you are not violent in spirit and wish only to feed and love and live out your life in serenity. I can free you from this cycle of misery. I can liberate your soul so you will return to the great grasslands of your true home. Is this what you desire?”
The elephant had raised his trunk and curled it, reaching out toward Drishya’s face. It snuffed at Drishya, pushing out a blast of rancid breath. Drishya didn’t wince or grimace, even though the smell was awful. He understood that this was Eredon’s way of replying in the affirmative.
“Then rise up and attack me one last time so that you may die with honor in this life. Attack me with all your might and prepare to be liberated from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth forever.”
At once, the great white bull rose up, standing on all fours as if his injury did not matter, and attacked Drishya.
Drishya permitted the beast to strike at him several times, then, when the opportune moment came, he raised the elephant’s own broken tusk and stabbed it beneath the forelegs, hard enough to punch through the tough hide and formidable breastplate, piercing its aging heart. The animal released a sigh of deep relief, then sank to the ground, blood spreading from its fatal wound and dampening the dust. It lay on its side and died in moments, eyes turned to Drishya in baleful apology.
“I understand,” Drishya said. “You are forgiven for all the lives you destroyed. Now go. Take liberation from this form and be free eternally.”
The elephant’s trunk curled around Drishya’s wrist weakly, releasing one final puff of rancid air. Then it lay still.
Drishya rose to his feet and began walking past the dead elephant, toward the place where the walled-in road opened to reveal a great wide field. This was where the wrestling tournament was being held. This was the reason why he had come to Arrgodi.
Time for Tyrak to face his Slayer.
He felt inside his mind for his sibling spirit.
Krush? It is time. I go now to face the Childslayer and end his tyranny.
But there was no answer.