Yama's Lieutenant and The Stone Witch Read online

  He could hear the sound of running water and wondered if the silver goddess was close. His heart lifted at the thought and he picked up the pace as they plunged further into the old growth, where the trails narrowed to the point where only the slimmer breeds of snakes would have found the going easy. Dense and thorny patches of scrub and the shadows that hung over everything made it harder to forge a passage, and it persisted in being difficult till the woods finally gave way to reveal a muddy stream, choked with weeds and thistles.

  The stranger had halted. He hovered over an outcropping of rock and Agni eased himself on to it as well. Long moments passed but there was no sign of the silver goddess. Agni tried not to dwell on his disappointment. It was bloody annoying how much the higher powers enjoyed yanking his chain. Ghouls, the fricking lot of them! he thought.

  ‘You surprise me, Agni Prakash! Nine out of ten men would not have been able to stop themselves from asking after my business. But you have made the choice to cast yourself adrift on a sea of arbitrariness, not entirely happy about it but with the knowledge that it has to be so, for that is the way of an ephemeral existence.’

  Agni held his tongue, nobly resisting the urge to tell this stranger exactly what he thought of those convoluted statements. His companion frowned ever so lightly. It was one of those looks that tended to make the recipient feel like he was made of cellophane.

  ‘Who are you?’ Agni asked. ‘And what do you want with me?’

  ‘I have run out of time,’ came the reply, ‘but you have not. And I am here to ask for your help. And help you must. For there is too much at stake.’

  Agni said nothing to that. His heart was beating at a faster rhythm and suddenly he wished he were back in bed being plagued by nightmares.

  ‘As to your other question. My name is Mara and I am the agrima of the kimkaras.’

  ‘Mara . . .’ Hesitant though he sounded, Agni could feel the power in that name. And, if he was not mistaken, there was something about the kimkaras in Varu’s book. They were the lord of death’s representatives who did his dirty work on earth. Fierce and committed, they were treated with respect and reverence among the celestials. They were among the few who could move freely between the three worlds.

  ‘Yes, that is who I was!’ The apparition flickered ever so briefly. Mara seemed to gather himself and his voice boomed, ‘The Order of the Kimkaras has been completely annihilated. What you see of me is all that remains. And I am here to tell you that it cannot be allowed to come to pass. The events that led to our destruction must be reversed. For more ages than it is possible to count, we have served selflessly. We are the truth seekers and guardians of a higher moral order. It has fallen to us to oversee the doings of the mortals and guide them so that they remain true to all that is noble and virtuous and steer clear of the dark passages brightened by the pleasures afforded by evil.’

  Agni could hold his tongue no longer, and not only because the kimkaras had clearly been making a thorough mess of their responsibilities. The words rushed out, shaking with the depth of his angst, ‘Let me see if I have understood you correctly. You and the rest of the truth lovers are the invigilators appointed by Yama himself? You are the only thing standing between the humans and their allotted places in one of the umpteen hells of Yama? You all are the eyes in the sky that see every damn thing, from a man’s bathroom habits and sexual peccadilloes to the darkest secrets in his soul?’

  Agni knew he should stop and hold his tongue before this revered personage. But he remembered the endless, hopeless days he and Mino had done battle, completely and utterly inadequate to meet the demands of the job, which had nearly killed Dharami and resulted in Nitara, the precious child he would have gladly died for, ending up on the wrong side of the Rodhana. He remembered the terrible loneliness he had fought constantly and the battle without an end he had been enlisted for.

  Agni would not scream and shout, but his voice dripped with disrespect, ‘Do me the kindness of explaining a few things to me. Where were you when the necromancer unleashed the narakamayas and his army of hatakas? What were you doing when they laid waste to the planet and inflicted so much misery the world will never recover from?’

  ‘That is enough!’ Mara’s eyes flashed fire and Agni drew back, reeling as though from a punch. Blood flooded his mouth and he swallowed the bitter medicine that was his punishment for his ill grace and lapse of judgement.

  When Mara spoke again, his voice was surprisingly kind, ‘I have heard good things about Yama’s lieutenant. If the old adage that says righteous anger is the disguise worn by a good heart is true, then you don’t truly deserve to have that unruly tongue ripped out. But remember, it is also important to channelize all of that for the right cause at the right time.

  ‘As to the rest of the queries you hurled at me, it is inconceivable that after all the things you have seen and done you are still blinded by a raging ego. Are you arrogant enough to think that your actions alone, of all the countless souls in the three worlds, steer the course of destiny? How are you different from every other misguided imbecile out there who believes that the universe exists solely for his or her pleasure?’

  Agni had to admit that when put like that he came across as a whiny dork, but his mother had not said that his stubbornness would be the death of him for nothing. ‘The fact remains that you had a team with resources, whereas Mino and I had to blunder through on our own. There were times when we were so lost that we did not know if we would ever find our way back again.’

  ‘Your solitude has been a choice of your own making, even though you do not see it that way. You asked me what I was doing while you fought Naganara and worked with the kritya to restore the Rodhana. My answer is that it is no concern of yours, and all you need to know is that the necromancer is unfortunately not the only villain out there and you certainly aren’t the only hero. In fact, some of them even do what is asked of them without ever complaining.

  ‘In the meantime, the kimkaras were busy gathering intelligence on the goings-on of mortals while simultaneously finding a way to hold back the apocalypse that is too close for anyone’s comfort, and the humans went on doing the things they do while fighting their personal demons. Who is to say which is of more consequence in the overall scheme of things?’

  Agni would have liked to come up with a biting rejoinder but found himself not up to the task. He decided he liked the silver goddess better, but if truth be told, the agrima was less of a jerk than Agni himself. ‘I am sorry for lashing out like that. Especially after you told me that the rest of your order has been decimated. Please accept my apologies and, for what it is worth, I offer you my services.’ Not that I have much choice in these matters, the sardonic voice in Agni’s head added, refusing to be quelled.

  Mara nodded and Agni caught a glint of impatience in those piercing eyes. ‘It must be so. Some would say that I took a foolish gamble in placing the fate of the kimkaras in the hands of Yama’s lieutenant, who is brash and bold, plagued by too much self-doubt and uncertainty for his own good, but the deed is done and one way or another you will prove me right, because you must!’

  Agni did not say it aloud but it seemed perfectly obvious to him that Mara had indeed been foolish. What exactly was he expected to do about the lamentable fate of the kimkaras, transform into Superman and do whatever he had done to turn back time?

  The agrima continued, his visage dark and foreboding, ‘You must search for the samayakalas, the keepers of time. And keep on searching till you find them. There are three of them—Vela, Pari and Vasana. Their tasks were allotted to them by the Divine Mother in a bygone age, and they answer only to her and no one else. None among the mortals and immortals have ever laid eyes on the samayakalas. The nature of their work is of such exceeding importance that it is forbidden to make contact with them. The decree was passed by an ancient power and must be obeyed at all costs.

  ‘Attempting to find them is a crime punishable by a fate far worse than death, disgrace and damnation. Those who seek to tamper with the inexorable workings of time and tide, on whose currents the fate of the greatest and meanest in all of creation is determined, will be hunted down by the wrath of the dreaded goddess whose name cannot be uttered. And her vengeance will be a terrible one.’

  Mara, the last of the kimkaras, paused, and something shifted in his eyes before they darkened to the point where they were almost opaque. Agni wanted to say a lot of things but he held his tongue and stayed the waves of doubt and panic that swirled in a mad frenzy inside his head. It made him want to turn and run. No part of him wanted this. Ironically, he had been told that if he set off on this mission that he had no choice but to accept, he would still be forced to take to his heels, although this time he would be pursued by an avenging Fury.

  Agni did not speak or run. Instead, he waited till Mara spoke again, his deep bass somehow quieting the unsettling tumult in his head. ‘You must find your way to the samayakalas. The passing of the kimkaras has upset the delicate balance of power, and if this is to be remedied, the combined might of your magic and theirs is needed. Each must be made to part with a talisman. Vela, Pari and Vasana must believe in you unanimously and part with an integral part of themselves if the magic is to be potent and binding. The three can help you navigate the tortuous path that is Nayima’s past so that her present and future will not damn us all. Remember at all times that they cannot be forced but may allow themselves to be gently persuaded if you impress upon them the desperate need of the three worlds.’

  Unable to hold his tongue any longer and beset with misgivings, Agni interrupted, ‘I am sorry but this entire enterprise is a colossal mistake. The things you ask of me are beyond my power to give. You yourself said that it is forbidden to seek out these timekeepers, yet you ask it of me, assuming that it is my wish to spend eternity being tortured by some vengeful goddess.’

  He paused to take a breath. What was the point of arguing? For a brief moment, he considered persuading Mara to dump this ridiculous quest on Mino’s lap. Surely a kritya born to Earth Magic was a better choice than him? Agni shook his head and tried not to detest himself.

  ‘If I do agree to be a part of this, how can I impress your need on those horologists when I don’t believe in it myself? My apologies in case you think me insensitive or rude, but while it is truly unfortunate that your order no longer exists, why is it so imperative that time be turned back so that they and you may survive? Death comes for all of us. What makes the kimkaras so special? Why should I go after them when I cannot go after Varu? To me, at least, she is worth . . .’

  Agni could not go on. Even after all this time, it hurt so much worse than he could bear. Forcing himself to regain his composure, he turned his attention back to the agrima, who surprisingly did not seem mad so much as sad. ‘If you are looking for answers that will lay your doubts and fears to rest, once and for all, then you are doomed to disappointment because they simply do not exist. As to why you can’t go after your sister, the answer to that one at least is simple. She made her choices and disappeared into her destiny, which, though you are too blind to see, does include you, only not in the way you would prefer.

  ‘You may think you have a hard life but I say what of it? Everybody feels the same way, even the ones who ostensibly do not have a care in the world. But that does not excuse being wrapped up in your problems to the detriment of all else. In that case, you would be no different from the worst of your species who ignore the dying or fail to offer aid to those in need, simply because they are myopic enough to think that the suffering of others need not detract from their own enjoyment of life or the plight of another has no bearing on their ultimate fate.’

  Mara’s eyes shone with intensity. Dead or not, this current form of Mara was the sum of the larger-than-life figure he had been in life. When he spoke again his voice rang with determination and Yama’s lieutenant felt himself respond to it. ‘Listen to me, Agni Prakash, and listen well. The fall of the kimkaras marks the beginning of the end. Nayima will not rest till she has razed our world to the ground. She fancies herself to be a great champion, a radical thinker and a harbinger of positive change.

  ‘Nayima has taken pains to conceal her plans but there is no hiding from the kimkaras. We divined her intentions through what was revealed by the elements. The keepers of the sacred flames saw traces of the dark stone-magic that has come to define her, the wind chasers saw the worst of her acts, the water watchers bore witness to the detritus of evil she had created and dumped into their depths, the light sifters gleaned her thoughts when she sent her tarakshas and mirugadasas after innocents in her greedy quest for the sarvaratnas and, finally, the adepts of our order, the ones who can read the secrets carried in the heart, have unearthed her blackest desires.

  ‘And, as you know, Nayima saw fit to decimate the entire order because she knew that we would stop at nothing to get her. But what she does not know is that we remain committed, even after death, and will not stand by so that her dream and our nightmare can see the light of day.’

  Agni shook his head in a futile bid to clear it. The questions had made a headlong dash to the tip of his tongue, jostling and crowding each other out in a desperate bid to be given voice. What were the ‘sarvaratnas’? Why was this sorceress so determined to have them all? More importantly, if the elements revealed all the secrets in the universe to the kimkaras, how come they had not known about their own destruction and taken steps to prevent it? Surely that was simpler than expecting him to go back in time to save them? But he held his peace, fully aware that the agrima would not be rushed and would insist on having his say without interruptions.

  Besides, though he was not a veritable genius at sniffing out unsavoury secrets, Agni could still anticipate this Nayima person’s plan. It would no doubt involve mass killing and a bona fide end-of-the-world crisis.

  Mara continued, ‘Nayima believes that humans have gone too far in their passionate pursuit of science, and the damage to Mother Earth is irreversible. Extreme pollution of the air and acid precipitation has befouled the air and has destroyed forests and crops. Sweet water is scarce thanks to greedy consumption, the heedless waste of a limited resource and the endless dumping of waste into waterbodies. Too much of arable land on the planet has been degraded, leaving it unfit to grow anything. The loss of forests as well as umpteen plant and animal species has far-ranging effects that threaten life as we know it. Finally, the planet’s resources as well as its ability to regrow them and provide energy and sustenance are finite, whereas the ability of the human race to breed and multiply has pushed the planet to its furthest limit.

  ‘The sorceress believes that the unworthy should no longer be allowed to survive and that a culling of the human species is in order. This is why she is gathering the sarvaratnas as well as the pancharatnas, which we refer to as the “heavenly five”, feeding their energies and marshalling their powers so that they may be used in a deadly strike that will wipe out the ones she deems as lower life-forms, while simultaneously accelerating a meteoric evolution of her chosen ones. On the blood and bones of this world, she seeks to build another, meant to be peopled exclusively by her creatures. It is mad and inconceivable that such an improbable scheme is close to fruition, but that is the way of it . . .’

  He fell silent then and Agni was glad. Mara had given him a lot of information to process and he still wasn’t past the stage where he genuinely believed that this was all a bad dream and it was only a matter of time before he woke up and traipsed off to track down the things he saw in his visions. Agni supposed he was being childish but there was no help for that. He did not fancy being yanked out of his awful existence and plunged into an even worse one.

  ‘Could you tell me more about those gems the sorceress is collecting?’ he said. Varu had been passionate about diamonds and just about anything sparkly. She had loved her collection of pendants, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, bangles, anklets and rings, making it a point to give him broad hints and potential gift ideas to supplement her treasury.

  ‘What do women and crows have in common?’ he’d ask her, ignoring the look of withering scorn she shot him. ‘Both are drawn to shiny things!’ And he’d laugh raucously at his own joke. Apparently, Nayima liked bright objects too, except, in her case, these were certainly not harmless and had far more serious consequences than compulsive shopping.

  ‘There were many among us who believed that stone magic and its lore was all foolish talk. But others believed that gemstones were a gift from Mother Earth, kept safely cradled in her rocky depths every time she bore witness to the cataclysmic expenditure of destructive power when war and calamities claimed the lives of innocents. They say that the gemstones were forged from the remains of her deceased children in the hope that their power may some day be used for good.’

  Mara paused, lost in his thoughts for a few long moments. Once again he saw the sorceress and the crimson stone she had charged with the intensity of her rage and hatred before unleashing it, annihilating the entire Order of the Kimkaras. An order that had survived the passing of the ages had been wiped out in the blink of an eye.

  ‘Practitioners of stone magic claim that their craft is as old as time, and that if the energies in the gemstones are properly harnessed, using the arcane rituals and knowledge perfected over aeons, then there is nothing the magic cannot do. It all started out with good intentions, when the power of the gemstones was supposed to be used as a part of an organic process that allied and merged with the universe’s flow, resulting in healing and a better quality of life. However, owing to their monetary worth, the stones invite unbridled greed and a lust for possession. And too many of these stones had emerged from blood, ill will, misuse and colossal damage to life and property. Consequently, they bred more of the same with the end result and now history is littered with examples of the transformative power of the stones and the wars it has fuelled.’