The Guardians of the Halahala (16 page)

“Can't the process be speeded up then?” the king looked at Dhanavantri hopefully. “Maybe you could increase the potency or something...”

“Perhaps,” the physician was noncommittal. “But first we have to see if there's a recurrence of what happened tonight. Till we know for sure, everything would be guesswork.”

***

Vararuchi had barely stretched himself on his bed with the intention of retiring for the night when there was a knock on the door.

Heaving a weary sigh, he propped himself up. “Who is it?” he demanded.

The door to his bedroom opened to admit light from the passage outside. A palace attendant stood in the lit doorway.

“A rider insists on seeing you, your honor,” the attendant said apologetically. “He says he brings an urgent message from the south.”

Vararuchi was up like a bolt. “Allow him in,” he commanded.

Swinging his feet off the bed, he went to a corner of the room, where a small lamp burned in a recess. Picking the lamp up, Vararuchi was in the process of lighting a larger one with five wicks when the rider presented himself. Vararuchi could see that the man had ridden hard in the rain, his clothes wet and streaked with mud.

“Salutations, your honor,” he said.

“To you too, soldier. Now tell me...” Vararuchi paused impatiently.

“Your honor, some bizarre reports are emerging from the south, suggesting strange disturbances...”

“From
where
in the south?” Vararuchi interrupted sharply. “I mean in which parts of southern Avanti are the disturbances happening?”

The rider paused doubtfully for a moment. “Not in Avanti, your honor,” he spoke at last. “The reports are coming from the kingdom of Heheya.”

Vararuchi stared at the rider for a moment, nonplussed. “Heheya?”

“Yes, your honor. You had asked for all reports coming from the south, so my captain decided that even this should be brought to your notice. Because of its...
strangeness
.”

Vararuchi nodded. “What do the reports from Heheya say?”

“It appears there have been a series of attacks in Heheya since morning, your honor. A couple of garrisons were ruthlessly stormed, and two or three villages have been entirely destroyed. The unconfirmed death toll is close to three hundred.”

“Who are the people conducting these attacks ? ” Vararuchi stared at the rider in shock and incomprehension.

“That's the funny bit, your honor,” the rider continued. “According to the reports, the attackers aren't men... but strange
beasts
that came out of the Dandaka Forest. One report even said that the attackers were an army of demonic pishachas.”

“What?”

“Yes, your honor. The report says that some survivors also spoke of the pishachas being led by a giant, demonlike creature that was a cross between a goat and a man. It seems this creature is blind, but kills without mercy...”

“Wait, wait, wait...” Vararuchi's expression was suddenly tense. “This creature is supposed to be
blind?”

“According to one report,” the rider nodded in mystification.

A sightless evil that is heading northward...

Vararuchi strode over to a shelf above a large table. Reaching up, he took down a roll of blue silk, which he unfurled and spread over the table. He then beckoned the rider to his side.

“Do we have any idea where the attacks took place?”

The rider looked down at the map of Sindhuvarta and nodded. “The first attack was reported at the garrison of Payoshni, your honor,” he said, pointing a finger at the Payoshni Pass. “The next attack was at this village here, then the one here. In the afternoon, a second garrison was attacked at this point...”

As the rider traced the route of the attacks in Heheya, Vararuchi virtually stopped breathing. The rider's finger was marking a straight path north across Heheya – and if the finger continued following the path further north into Avanti, it would inevitably reach Ujjayini.

...heading northward to bring terror upon Ujjayini...

Fall

T
he sky was still pitch dark over Mahishmati, the heavy clouds blotting out the faint light of predawn in the east. Strong gusts of wind whipped through the city, driving the rain hard, herding the soldiers patrolling the palace walls and the streets below deeper and deeper into doorways in search of dryness and warmth. Occasionally, one or two of them would thrust their heads out from under the eaves and scan the darkness before ducking back into shelter.

For all the rain and the dark, the unease in the soldiers' manner was palpable, the way they huddled suggesting that they sought protection from more than just the wind and rain. Where torchlight fell on their faces, fear and uncertainty crisscrossed their eyes.

“Don't we have any more news yet?” King Harihara demanded a trifle querulously. “I had asked for reports every quarter of an hour. It's nearly three-quarters of an hour since the last report – what's happening?”

The king was standing by a south-facing window high above ground level, looking out into the wet blackness that surrounded his palace. In his hands he held a map of Heheya, embroidered in purple silk, which he kept folding and wringing absentmindedly. His old face was pinched, dark circles forming under his tired, sleep-deprived eyes.

“The next report should be here any moment, your honor,” a minister replied without conviction. The minister then turned to an attendant and spoke in an undertone, “Check if anything has come in. Quick.”

Harihara turned away from the window and faced his council of ministers. “Are we certain that the southern and eastern walls of Mahishmati are fully fortified?”

“Yes, your honor.” It was the turn of another of the ministers to answer. “We have placed many contingents of archers and swordsmen to the south and east, and have barricaded all four gates.”

“So there's absolutely no way the... these pishachas can enter the city, right?”

There was a worrisome pause before the first minister spoke. “We have done what we can, your honor,” he said nervously. “Anyway, we have also deployed more soldiers throughout the city... in case...”

As the minister's words tapered off ominously, Harihara sighed and turned back to the window, his fingers fidgeting with the map. While he would have liked his council to reassure him, the king was acutely aware that there was not a soul in Heheya who knew how to deal with the menace that was wreaking havoc across his kingdom. Two garrisons and four villages completely destroyed; the dead numbering close to five hundred.

A shudder ran through Harihara as he thought of what might happen if the gates of Mahishmati were to be breached.

“What do these pishachas want?” he asked, although it was clear that the question wasn't addressed to anyone in particular. Turning back, he looked at his ministers, the strain showing in his face. “And why Heheya – what harm have
we
done them?”

The ministers looked at one another, clearly as much at a loss for answers. But before any of them could hazard a response, the door to the chamber opened to admit the attendant, followed by a rider. From their appearance, it was evident that they had brought some news of import.

“Your honor, a report has come...” the attendant began.

“What's the news?” Harihara asked, stepping toward the rider anxiously. “Do hurry up.”

“Your honor, the threat has passed Mahishmati.”

The stunned silence was so complete that for a short while, the chamber was filled with the eerie keening of the wind and the splattering of rain on the palace walls.

“What do you mean, soldier?” one of the ministers demanded, the relief plain in his voice despite the sharpness of the tone.

“Sir, the pishacha army crossed Mahishmati a few miles to the east, but instead of turning toward the city, it continued going northward.”

“Northward?” The king unfurled the silken map on a table and pulled a lamp close as he summoned the rider. “Show me what you mean.”

As the ministers gathered around, the rider pointed to the map. “The beasts passed Mahishmati at this point, but instead of changing course and making for the city, they continued in a straight line.”

“Really?” asked Harihara in a quavering whisper, as if fearful of bursting the bubble of good fortune that seemed to have magically enveloped this capital.

“Yes, your honor. Your commanders had some men follow the pishachas, just to be sure. It's clear the beasts are not coming this way. They are heading straight for the hills that lie between us and the kingdom of Avanti.”

Harihara looked around at his ministers in bewilderment. “But there's nothing in those barren hills... So, what do these beasts really want?”

***

Amara Simha bounded up the stairs leading to the roof of the fort, two steps at a time.

Although the stairway was steep and winding – and despite his heavy build – the councilor displayed no signs of breathlessness, and when he emerged on to the fort's wide, flat roof, the only evidence of the strenuous climb was a mild flush on his big, bearded face.

“Are there any new updates from Sristhali?” he demanded, striding toward a small group of soldiers gathered at one corner of the roof, which afforded an unobstructed view of Udaypuri on all four sides.

The soldiers stood around a
suryayantra,
a large contraption full of levers and cogwheels and mechanical arms, to which were fitted tin alloy mirrors of various sizes. In the group were Ghatakarpara and Atulyateja, while a little to the left of the soldiers two figures hovered uncertainly – Governor Satyaveda and his lackey Chirayu, both patently out of their depth with respect to what the military men were doing.

“None sir,” answered Atulyateja, turning to the councilor.

“Hmmm...” Amara Simha grimaced as he joined the men around the
suryayantra.
Placing his hands on his hips, he squinted at a hill located to the west of the fort, at the edge of the bustling town. Next, he raised his eyes and studied the patchy clouds floating north across the early morning sky.

“What do we know for certain about this Huna scout?” he asked at length.

“We know that he was captured by our troops somewhere near the border town of Sristhali last night,” said Atulyateja. “He has been confined to a cell and is being kept under guard at the command center at Sristhali. We also know that he has somehow broken his right leg, and that he appears to be delirious and in considerable pain.”

“Not to forget, so far, he has resisted all efforts at interrogation,” Ghatakarpara butted in. “Either due to the delirium, or because he doesn't understand us or is pretending not to.”

“If he's a scout, it's unlikely that he
doesn't
understand what we're saying,” muttered Amara Simha grimly. “Scouts everywhere undergo basic language training. And even the delirium could be just a sham.”

“Absolutely correct,” interjected Satyaveda, who had sidled up to Amara Simha. “I have always said that these Hunas are not to be trusted in the least bit.”

Amara Simha stared blankly at the governor for a moment, debating whether the inane statement merited any response. Deciding against it, he turned back to Atulyateja with a shake of his head.

“Anyway... have they got a translator at the Sristhali command center?”

“We don't know, sir,” the garrison commander shrugged.

At that moment, a series of dull flashes of light began emitting from the hill to the west. The men on the roof immediately focused their attention on the flashes. After a couple of minutes, the flashes ceased.

“What does the message say?” Amara Simha demanded impatiently of a soldier who was busy decoding the signals on a strip of palm leaf.

“Sir... it says... they can't escort the prisoner to Udaypuri... for some reason...” the soldier spoke haltingly as he made sense of what was on the palm leaf. “The message was not clear, because the sun probably went behind the clouds while they were transmitting.”

“Brilliant invention by Varahamihira, but on days like this, it's completely unreliable,” Amara Simha glared at the
suryayantra
on the roof in frustration.

“Ask them to resend the message,” ordered Atulyateja.

A soldier began operating a lever on the heliotrope on the roof, but he was stopped by Amara Simha's voice.

“No, we'll only end up wasting more time before the sun gets fully blocked out.” The councilor looked up at the sky once again, noting the steady buildup of clouds. “If they can't escort the Huna scout here,
we
shall go there.”

Amara Simha addressed the soldier operating the
suryayantra.
“Let the Sristhali command center know that I am coming to interview the prisoner. Inform them to keep the scout under heavy protection – and keep him in a condition fit for interrogation.” As the soldier began calibrating the levers to align the various mirrors to catch and reflect the rays of the sun, the councilor added, “Also tell them to have a good translator at hand. And make sure the message reaches Sristhali at any cost.”

The machine began transmitting Amara Simha's message to the hill, where another group of soldiers were operating another heliotrope on a mobile platform. The solar signals would then be relayed further and further south, till the message was finally delivered to its destination.

“I want you to take charge of things here till I'm back, commander,” Amara Simha spoke to Atulyateja. “I expect to be back in two days.”

“Very good, sir.”

“And you...” Amara Simha addressed Ghatakarpara. “You will accompany me to Sristhali.”

“I can?” The prince's face lit up at this unexpected offer.

“Yes, of course,” the councilor replied as he began marching off the roof. “It's time you saw a little more of the frontier.”

Amara Simha was halfway to the door when he heard the quick shuffle of feet behind him. Almost immediately, he was addressed by a wheedling voice.

“If you don't mind, can I have a quick word with you?”

The councilor stopped and turned to see Satyaveda trotting up to him. “Yes, governor?”

“I would very much like to accompany you and the prince to Sristhali...” said Satyaveda, hastily adding, “With your permission, of course.”

Amara Simha's eyebrows rose in surprise. “What for? I mean... why would you want to go to Sristhali?”

“I am due to visit the town on routine inspection anyway,” the governor wrung his hands together as if he were washing them. “Also, I would like to see this culprit we have apprehended. This Huna scout...”

The councilor looked around vaguely, unsure about what to say, wondering how he would deal with concentrated doses of Satyaveda's stupidity and cloying formality for two full days. At last, unable to find a good enough excuse to turn the governor down, he nodded.

“You may come if you wish to. But I'd appreciate it if you could hurry up a bit. I want to leave as soon as possible and be in Sristhali before sundown.”

***

“Your honor, the stable master says he can't give us more than three hundred and thirty fresh horses.”

“What does he mean he
can't
give us?” Vararuchi demanded, turning his horse around to glare at the young captain who had addressed him. “I didn't ask him for a favor. Tell him it's an order – we need at least one thousand fresh horses.”

“I did tell him, your honor. But... he says it's not possible.”

“Who is this fool?” Vararuchi snapped, his eyes flaming with indignation. “Ask him to present himself...”

However, before Vararuchi could finish, Kalidasa raised a restraining hand and spoke in a calm voice. “I shall talk to him and see what the problem is, brother.” Getting off his horse, the giant addressed the captain. “Lead me to the stable master.”

As Kalidasa and the captain walked away, Vararuchi shook his head irritably and turned back to survey the southern horizon. The rain had ceased three hours ago, but the sky was still overcast, though there was a promise of sunlight in the thinning of the clouds to the west.

Vararuchi, Kalidasa and Varahamihira had left Ujjayini just before daybreak, leading a force of fifteen hundred horsemen and ten chariots south toward the Avanti-Heheya border. On the basis of the reports that had come from Heheya, everyone agreed that the demonic army heading north was likely to cross into Avanti near the village of Trehi sometime later that afternoon, and that it was best to confront it as close to the border – and as far away from human habitation – as possible.

The samrat and his councilors had also concluded that in the interest of speed, the force should consist solely of cavalrymen – so the infantry and archer units had been jettisoned in favor of a larger contingent of horsemen. However, at the insistence of Varahamihira, the ten chariots that he had engineered for the Imperial Army not long ago were also included into the division. In hindsight, though, that looked like a bad idea – the heavy chariots were proving to be unwieldy and cumbersome in the wet, mud-soaked terrain.