CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Phoenix looked over quickly at Jade. She paled, clutching her chair with white fingers.
“How?” Her voice was low and strained.
If Guatamiputra thought it was an odd question, he didn’t say so. He simply nodded slowly and stood up.
“Rumours had reached us that Manasa devi had been killed in a fight with a treasure-hunter,” he mused. “Clearly she either wasn’t killed or she has simply taken a new avatar. Either way, she is a force to be reckoned with and one we must factor into our plans. Luckily, we have our own devi.” He bowed toward Jade, who stared back with wide, horror-filled eyes.
“Come gentlemen,” the Raj continued more confidently, “we have plans and preparations to make. This is a setback but nothing we can’t handle.”
Phoenix, however, was watching Jad
