Doubt crept in. He was right, wasn’t he? Veer tensed when the female kinnari raised her hand. Chandra vanished from the island.
She appeared a minute later at his side.
“I was afraid you were never going to get it right. Didn’t think the answer would be so simple.” She sighed in relief.
“On the contrary, we thought he’d have figured out the answer way before now. Guess we had too high of hopes on him,” said the kinnara couple. The mirth was back in their voices. “We had no intention of keeping her here. We know she’s needed elsewhere.”
“Then what was the purpose of all this?” growled Veer. He wasn’t surprised when the kinnara and kinnari only smiled mysteriously instead.
“Well, we’ve had our fun. Let’s go back, my husband.” The female kinnari glided across the lake to disappear into the mists on the far side.
The male kinnara followed shortly, but not before bowing deeply to Chandra. “Until the next time we meet, Princess.”
Chapter 43: Flight on Vihari
Chandra and Veer stood on the high ledge of a cliff face. The yaksha had dropped them off right at the edge of the Dandakaranya and they had found Vihari waiting, just like he had said. The kite flew to them and alighted on Veer’s shoulder, whose eyes glowed amber as they renewed their connection.
A regular forest lay before them and judging by the size, it would take them days to get out of the Tapovan.
Chandra glanced back toward where the yaksha had disappeared.
“Princess, the way forward is this way,” called out Veer.
“I know. It’s just…I think I’ll miss Makhadeva and the other beings in the magical forest,” she said. “Even though we haven’t been in the Dandakaranya for long.”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t you miss them?” said Veer sardonically. “They treated you like royalty the entire time you were there. One would think they were letting go of a beloved relative the way they were saying goodbye.”
“Is that jealousy I hear?” she asked archly.
Veer’s eyes shifted away. “I don’t like the way they always seem to talk in riddles. As if they know you better.”
“Right, I forgot. Makhadeva spoke to you for a while before we left. What did he say that I couldn’t be privy to?” she asked, curious.
Veer compressed his lips and remained stubbornly silent. Chandra sighed. Ever since her revelation about his friend, Veer seemed more remote and reserved in his interactions with her. Like he was determined to keep a distance between them. He stopped being so sarcastic all the time and, perversely, Chandra missed their banter and wished things would go back to the way they were before.
Veer caressed Vihari and gazed contemplatively at the vista before them.
“There’s something the yaksha said that has been on my mind lately. Do you remember what we saw when we fixed the key piece to the lotus key?”
Chandra nodded. “The image wasn’t clear. That’s the first time that happened. So far, the location of the next key piece has been crystal clear. But this next image was a blur, alternating between a weirdly shaped pendant and a strangely sculpted throne.”
“Yes. The yaksha seemed puzzled by it as well, but he was confident the next key piece was in both those locations we saw.”
“How could one key piece be in both those locations?” she asked, keeping a wary eye out on Vihari, who was giving her a piercing look as usual.
“It could. If it’s been sheared into two,” said Veer evenly, stroking the top of Vihari’s head with long fingers.
Chandra gaped at him. “Split in half? But…why?”
“Who knows, Princess? I’m anxious to see our men. The yaksha told me he had them transported safely past the forest and advised them to wait for us in Thianvelli. If what he said was true, then they ought to have more information. Do you mind, Chandra, if we took a shortcut?”
“Of course not, but I’m curious. Can there be a shortcut through such dense foliage?”
“I don’t mean through the forest. I meant, over it.” He pointed toward Vihari, who had taken to air. The kite burst into flames, eking an involuntary cry from Chandra. But he seemed unaffected, and when the flames disappeared, a giant bird hovered in the air in front of them.
“It’s all right,” said Veer. “This is his original form. He is one of the divine mountain birds. He has magic of his own and can change his size. We’re going to fly.”
“What?! No! In case it escaped your notice, that bird hates me.” She wiggled her fingers at Veer. Fingers that Vihari had taken a bite of earlier when they were at the temple city. “Who’s to say he won’t throw me off mid-flight? No, I won’t climb on him. Let’s go the usual way.”
