“You won’t be alone.”
A warm wind blew over them, rustling the reeds.
“Am I still attractive in this future vision of me?” Jandu asked with a grin.
Keshan’s eyes remained closed, but his mouth curved into a lazy smile. “Very. Although you are going to go gray prematurely.”
Jandu sighed. “Well, at least I’ll still have hair. What about you?”
Keshan laughed. “I still look magnificent.”
“It wouldn’t matter you know. I’d still love you even if you were bald and fat and wrinkled.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
The two of them lay on the bank of the lake and stared upwards. A smile played across Keshan’s mouth, and he lazily closed his eyes and nuzzled his face into Jandu’s neck.
Just then, a large sarus crane flew overhead. He blocked out the sun with his massive white wings, his red and black head looking down at Jandu and Keshan with vague interest. And with sudden, resounding volume, the crane sang out. From a distance, other cranes called back and the air was filled with music.
Jandu stroked Keshan’s face, and the beauty of this moment, it became eternal. Death and life, the dejection of the spirit and the courage to triumph—all these timeless experiences and emotions, like pigment in oil, were encapsulated, preserved forever, in this one second of a life.
He was alive. Keshan was alive. And now they could begin.
CHARACTERS
Abiyar Lokesh: Third and youngest son of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi.
Ajani Alamar: Wife of Keshan Adaru
Anant Sarkumar: Commander in the Dragewan army
Azari: Pseudonym of Suraya Paria while hiding in Afadi
Baldur Tanaraf: Lord of the State of Penemar
Bandruban: Prophet of the Shentari faith
Baram Param: Second son of King Shandarvan by his first wife Kari;brother of Yudar and Jandu; husband of Suraya Paria
Bir Soridashen: Lord of the State of Jagu Mali
Bodan: Pseudonym of Baram Paran while hiding in Afadi
Chezek: Keshan Adaru’s charioteer and servant
Darvad Uru:Son of King Shandarvan by his second wife Farashi; half-brother of Yudar, Baram, and Jandu
Druv Majeo: Lord of the State of Pagdesh
Esalas: Pseudonym of Yudar Paran while hiding in Afadi
Eshau: Abiyar Lokesh’s weapons master
Farashi Uru: Second wife of King Shandarvan; mother of Darvad Uru
Firdaus Trinat: Lord of the State of Chandamar; brother of Hanu; father of Ishad
Hanu Trinat: Chandamar Ambassador in the State of Afadi; brother of Firdaus
Harami: Prophet of the Shentari faith
Indarel Lokesh: Lord of the State of Afadi; husband of Shali Amain; father of Ramad, Parik, Vaisha, and Abiyar
Inaud Adaru: Uncle of Iyestar and Keshan Adaru
Ishad Trinat: Lord of the State of Chandamar; son of Firdaus
Iyestar Adaru: Lord of the State of Tiwari; brother of Keshan Adaru
Janali: Pseudonym of Jandu Paran while hiding in Afadi
Jandu Paran: Third son of King Shandarvan by his first wide Kari; youngest brother of Yudar and Baram; husband of Suraya Paria
Kadal Kardef: Lord of the State of Marshav
Kari Paran: First wife of King Shandarvan; mother of Yudar, Baram, and Jandu
Keshan Adaru: Younger brother of Iyestar Adaru, Lord of Tiwari; husband of Ajani Alamar; cousin of the Parans
Koraz: Yashva demon of the forest
Laiu: Tarek Amia’s servant
Lazro Arundan: Son of Tamarus Arundan; friend of Keshan Adaru
Linaz: Mother of Lord Iyestar and Keshan Adaru
Mazar Hamdi: Regent of Marhavad; weapons master to the princes of Marhavad
Mendraz: King of the Yashvas
Nadaru Paria: Lord of the State of Karuna; father of Rishak and Suraya
Ohendru: Chaya soldier in the Uru army
Olan Osasu:
Lord of the State of Bandari
Onshu:
High priest of Marhavad
Parik Lokesh:
Second son of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi
Ramad Lokesh:
Eldest son of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi
Rani:
Servant in the Afadi palace; Janali’s roommate
Rishak Paria:
Son of Nadaru Paria, Lord of Karuna; brother of Suraya; brother-in-law of the Parans
Sadeshar:
Prophet of the Shentari faith
Sahdin Ori:
Lord of the State of Jezza
Satish: Tarek Amia’s charioteer
Shali Amain:
Wife of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi; mother of Ramad, Parik, Vaisha and Abiyar
Shandarvan:
Former King of Marhavad; father of Darvad Uru, and Yudar, Baram, and Jandu Paran
Suraya Paria:
Daughter of Nadaru Paria, Lord of Karuna; sister of Rishak; wife of Yudar, Baram, and Jandu Paran
Taivo:
Prophet of the Shentari faith
Tamarus Arundan:
Chaya spiritual leader and friend of Keshan Adaru
Tarek Amia:
Lord of the State of Dragewan
Tarhandi:
Prophet of the Shentari faith
Umia:
Yashva demon consort of Mendraz, King of the Yashvas; aunt of Iyestar and Keshan Adaru
Vaisha Lokesh:
Daughter of Indarel, Lord of Afadi
Warash: Chaya
soldier in the Uru army
Yudar Paran:
First son of King Shandarvan by his first wife Kari; brother of Jandu and Baram; husband of Suraya Paria; Royal Judge
Zandi:
Yashva demon and Jandu’s bow
TERMS
Adri Mountain: Mountain in Pagdesh: location of holy retreat
Ajadusharta:
Magical weapon; repels other weapons
Alazsharta:
Magical weapon; knocks enemy unconscious
Ashari Forest:
Forest outside Prasta; home to Yashva demon Koraz
Barunazsharta:
Magical weapon; brilliant light
Chaya:
Unskilled labor and servant caste of Marhavad; lowest caste
Dejaru:
Long piece of cloth worn by men, either secured under a belt and sash and made into loose trousers, or tucked loosely and left long like a sarong
Draya:
Priestly caste of Marhavad; second-highest caste
Fazsharta:
Magical weapon; arrow with endless range
Hafedsharta:
Magical weapon; freezes opponent
Harafa:
Long piece of cloth worn either as a scarf or wrapped across the upper torso
Hedravan tree:
Magical Yashva tree that grows in the Ashari Forest
Jegora:
Untouchable caste of Marhavad; casteless
Korazsharta:
Magical weapon; spear of unfailing accuracy
Manarisharta:
Magical weapon; burst of electricity
Pezarisharta:
Magical weapon; sets fire to the sky
Prasta:
Capitol city of Marhavad
Rajiwasharta:
Magical weapon; creates a sucking vortex
Rebo:
Three stringed musical instrument
Sharta:
Magical weapon; form of a Yashva demon in the human world
Shentari:
Primary religion of Marhavad
Suya:
Merchant and skilled labor caste of Marhavad; third-highest caste
Tarhisharta:
Magical weapon; explosive wall of force
Terashu Field:
Traditional battleground of Marvad kings
Triya:
Warrior and king caste of Marhavad; highest caste
Tunufisharta:
Magical weapon; burns any individual to ash
Yashva:
Immortal demon from the Yashva Kingdom
Zahari:
a blouse and long piece of fabric wrapped around the body to form a woman’s dress
Zandisharta:
Magical weapon; any instrument or tool of metal
Characters
Abiyar Lokesh: Third and youngest son of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi.
Ajani Alamar: Wife of Keshan Adaru
Anant Sarkumar: Commander in the Dragewan army
Azari: Pseudonym of Suraya Paria while hiding in Afadi
Baldur Tanaraf: Lord of the State of Penemar
Bandruban: Prophet of the Shentari faith
Baram Param: Second son of King Shandarvan by his first wife Kari;brother of Yudar and Jandu; husband of Suraya Paria
Bir Soridashen: Lord of the State of Jagu Mali
Bodan: Pseudonym of Baram Paran while hiding in Afadi
Chezek: Keshan Adaru’s charioteer and servant
Darvad Uru:Son of King Shandarvan by his second wife Farashi; half-brother of Yudar, Baram, and Jandu
Druv Majeo: Lord of the State of Pagdesh
Esalas: Pseudonym of Yudar Paran while hiding in Afadi
Eshau: Abiyar Lokesh’s weapons master
Farashi Uru: Second wife of King Shandarvan; mother of Darvad Uru
Firdaus Trinat: Lord of the State of Chandamar; brother of Hanu; father of Ishad
Hanu Trinat: Chandamar Ambassador in the State of Afadi;Firdaus’s brother
Harami: Prophet of the Shentari faith
Indarel Lokesh: Lord of the State of Afadi; husband of Shali Amain; father of Ramad, Parik, Vaisha, and Abiyar
Inaud Adaru: Uncle of Iyestar and Keshan Adaru
Ishad Trinat: Lord of the State of Chandamar; son of Firdaus
Iyestar Adaru: Lord of the State of Tiwari; brother of Keshan Adaru
Janali: Pseudonym of Jandu Paran while hiding in Afadi
Jandu Paran: Third son of King Shandarvan by his first wide Kari; youngest brother of Yudar and Baram; husband of Suraya Paria
Kadal Kardef: Lord of the State of Marshav
Kari Paran: First wife of King Shandarvan; mother of Yudar, Baram, and Jandu
Keshan Adaru: Younger brother of Iyestar Adaru, Lord of Tiwari; husband of Ajani Alamar; cousin of the Parans
Koraz: Yashva demon of the forest
Laiu: Tarek Amia’s servant
Lazro Arundan: Son of Tamarus Arundan; friend of Keshan Adaru
Linaz: Mother of Lord Iyestar and Keshan Adaru
Mazar Hamdi: Regent of Marhavad; weapons master to the princes of Marhavad
Mendraz: King of the Yashvas
Nadaru Paria: Lord of the State of Karuna; father of Rishak and Suraya
Ohendru: Chaya soldier in the Uru army
Olan Osasu: Lord of the State of Bandari
Onshu: High priest of Marhavad
Parik Lokesh: Second son of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi
Ramad Lokesh: Eldest son of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi
Rani: Servant in the Afadi palace; Janali’s roommate
Rishak Paria: Son of Nadaru Paria, Lord of Karuna; brother of Suraya; brother-in-law of the Parans
Sadeshar: Prophet of the Shentari faith
Sahdin Ori: Lord of the State of Jezza
Satish: Tarek Amia’s charioteer
Shali Amain: Wife of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi; mother of Ramad, Parik, Vaisha and Abiyar
Shandarvan: Former King of Marhavad; father of Darvad Uru, and Yudar, Baram, and Jandu Paran
Suraya Paria: Daughter of Nadaru Paria, Lord of Karuna; sister of Rishak; wife of Yudar, Baram, and Jandu Paran
Taivo: Prophet of the Shentari faith
Tamarus Arundan: Chaya spiritual leader and friend of Keshan Adaru
Tarek Amia: Lord of the State of Dragewan
Tarhandi: Prophet of the Shentari faith
Umia: Yashva demon consort of Mendraz, King of the Yashvas; aunt of Iyestar and Keshan Adaru
Vaisha Lokesh: Daughter of Indarel, Lord of Afadi
Warash: Chaya soldier in the Uru army
Yudar Paran: First son of King Shandarvan by his first wife Kari; brother of Jandu and Baram; husband of Suraya Paria; Royal Judge
Zandi: Yashva demon and Jandu’s bow
Glossary of Terms
Adri Mountain: Mountain in Pagdesh: location of holy retreat
Ajadusharta: Magical weapon; repels other weapons
Alazsharta: Magical weapon; knocks enemy unconscious
Ashari Forest: Forest outside Prasta; home to Yashva demon Koraz
Barunazsharta: Magical weapon; brilliant light
Chaya: Unskilled labor and servant caste of Marhavad; lowest caste
Dejaru: Long piece of cloth worn by men, either secured under a belt and sash and made into loose trousers, or tucked loosely and left long like a sarong
Draya: Priestly caste of Marhavad; second-highest caste
Fazsharta: Magical weapon; arrow with endless range
Hafedsharta: Magical weapon; freezes opponent
Harafa: Long piece of cloth worn either as a scarf or wrapped across the upper torso
Hedravan tree: Magical Yashva tree that grows in the Ashari Forest
Jegora: Untouchable caste of Marhavad; casteless
Korazsharta: Magical weapon; spear of unfailing accuracy
Manarisharta: Magical weapon; burst of electricity
Pezarisharta: Magical weapon; sets fire to the sky
Prasta: Capitol city of Marhavad
Rajiwasharta: Magical weapon; creates a sucking vortex
Rebo: Three stringed musical instrument
Sharta: Magical weapon; form of a Yashva demon in the human world
Shentari: Primary religion of Marhavad
Suya: Merchant and skilled labor caste of Marhavad; third-highest caste
Tarhisharta: Magical weapon; explosive wall of force
Terashu Field: Traditional battleground of Marvad kings
Triya: Warrior and king caste of Marhavad; highest caste
Tunufisharta: Magical weapon; burns any individual to ash
Yashva: Immortal demon from the Yashva Kingdom
Zahari: a blouse and long piece of fabric wrapped around the body to form a woman’s dress
Zandisharta: Magical weapon; any instrument or tool of metal