Chapter 7 #2
It was Chandra that answered. “Firstly, the precedences can only be unlocked by the true heir, but the people may not believe that. Secondly, the public knows that I cannot be controlled.” His jaw flexed, and he looked away.
“They know that the Authority works on a closed vote, and some may push the narrative that I have been outvoted. That you are the perfect candidate to play puppet.” He raked a hand through his hair, obviously pissed.
I shook my head. “But the affinity ceremony…Everyone saw the pillars light up.”
Another Asura stepped forward. “Yes, we have that in our favor, but I fear it may not be enough.”
Chandra pinched the bridge of his nose. “No. It will have to be enough.”
“Liege Chandra, you are a reasonable Asura. You know what we speak is a true scenario. One we must endeavor to avoid.”
“I appreciate that, but no. It’s much too dangerous right now.”
Chandra knew what they wanted, and I was done with being the only one not in the loop. “What are you asking me to do?”
All eyes turned to me, but it was Rajni that spoke. “We want you to help us prevent unrest by participating in a show of power, a task that only a royal blood would succeed in completing.”
“Leela, you will be crowned on the equinox regardless,” another Asura said. “But if you do not show the people that you are worthy before you take the throne, it could cause unnecessary unrest afterward.”
“This is preposterous,” Chandra said.
I ignored him and asked again, “What exactly do you want me to do?”
“There is a mountain, the inside of which only a royal can navigate. It contains a rare kind of gem not found anywhere else, but it is guarded by a fearsome creature called the Vasuki, a flying serpent that chose not to retreat to Patala with the nagafolk when they sealed off the doorways to their realm. He refused to leave his mountain home. If you can retrieve a gem from the center of the cavern, it will be proof enough. Vasuki will hunt and kill anyone that enters his mountain dwelling, but he will not harm a royal.”
It was another roadblock, for sure, but why put it in my way if they were going to crown me anyway, unless…
Unless they didn’t expect me to survive.
But if the creature wouldn’t hurt a royal then… “What aren’t you telling me?”
It was Chandra who replied. “What they’re not saying is that there may be other terrors in those caverns that would not have any reservations about hurting you. And the journey there is fraught with its own challenges. A vortex will only take us partway. The rest must be on foot.”
And there it was. This was a last-ditch attempt to take me out of the picture. With me gone, Chandra would be next in line for the throne. With me gone, the throne would accept him.
I met Chandra’s gaze and saw my conclusion reflected in his eyes. He shook his head slightly, his expression grim.
I could say no. I could walk away from this test and take the throne, but if they were telling the truth, if there was already unrest, which, based on what I already knew about the factions formed here, was probably the case, then taking this final trial was the right thing to do.
My goal was to free the beings that the Asura had enslaved in contracts and blood oaths, and I couldn’t do that during civil unrest spawned by whether I had the right to rule or not.
I would not give the factions who were against the monarchy any leverage.
If the Authority had ascended me already, then my twin axes would be astras—powerful weapons that could take down any threat. Perfect for navigating dangerous caverns. But my ascension wouldn’t happen until the equinox, so I’d have to make do with what I had.
I was strong, even without divinely powerful weapons. I’d find a way to survive this trial.
“I’ll do it.”
“Leela!” Chandra stepped foward, brows snapping together. “No.”
“Thank you, Leela,” Asura Jogyan said. “Vasuki resides on the red mountain in the valley called Puranee Ghaatee. You cannot miss it.”
“Okay, but what about the inside of the mountain? I’ll need a map of the best route to take to get to this gem.”
“I’m afraid there is no map,” Rajni said.
What the fuck? “You want me to go into a mountain filled with goodness knows what kind of threat to find a gem, but you have no map? Even though you say that royals have navigated it safely before?”
“I’m afraid so,” Rajni said. “No map was ever drawn. But we have faith in you. You have proven yourself to be resourceful thus far.” It sounded like a dig, and it probably was, but he continued before I could point that out. “You will be given the utmost protection for your journey there and back.”
“You’re right, she will,” Chandra said. “Because I’m going with her.”
Stunned silence followed his declaration.
“Asura Chandra, you must remain in Aakash Sansaar. The primordial evil—”
“Is free. It’s out there. And I will not risk my kin to it.”
His kin…Not the monarch to be. Not the channel to the throne’s power. But his kin…
“You cannot leave,” Rajni said, his tone sharp with the kind of authority that made my teeth ache. “The bylaws are clear. The liege does not leave the sky domain. You will be forcefully detained if you attempt to do so.”
Chandra’s eyes narrowed, fists clenching tight, and it hit me that he was a prisoner here. Being liege wasn’t a privilege; it was a leash.
“This is wrong,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion. “And you all know it.”
A woman stepped into the light on the balcony above, midnight hair piled high on her head, her slender face drawn in stern lines. “I offer protection.”
“Danava Arpita, that will not be necessary,” Asura Rajni said quickly.
“Nonetheless, I pledge it,” she said. “You will have my protection on your journey.” She looked across at Rajni. “It is my prerogative, as Authority official, is it not?”
Asura Rajni smiled thinly, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“It is indeed, and how fortuitous to have Danava protection on your journey.” He turned his attention back to me.
“It is settled then. You will leave for Puranee Ghaatee four days before the equinox. Plenty of time to get there and back. The Authority thanks you for your cooperation.”
The balcony went dark.
It looked like we’d been dismissed.