Daughter of the Naga

Chapter 15

Kesar opened the chamber door to find me dripping with water.

"Oh Meru gods!" she gasped, staring at my disheveled hair and wet clothes. "What has put you in such a state?"

"I fell," I said.

"You fell?" Her brows rose at me.

"Well, yes...into a po...pond."

"Oh my lady, I was so worried!" Kesar breathed. "Where have you been?"

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I was just out for some fresh air in the garden."

"Please come inside and get yourself changed," she said.

Once we reached the bedroom, I shrugged off my bag. Kesar brought me a dry towel. I dried myself and untangled my messy hair.

"You smelled of familiar fragrance, my lady," Kesar noticed.

"Oh yes, probably from the garden, I guess," I said with an awkward smile.

Kesar simply nodded and came forward to unbutton my shirt. I felt as if the encounter with the mysterious maiden had drained me. I was numb and tired. My mind wandered back to the beautiful maiden inside the bathhouse. I had expected the guards to come and arrest me after that, but no one came. Then I found my way back to the chamber with a hollow heart.

Kesar stole a glance at me.

"Are you well, my lady?" she asked, noticing my silence.

"What? Oh yes, I'm fine," I said, but I had no clues how I was feeling. Everything seemed so hazy in my mind.

"You don't seem so to me," Kesar said.

"How can you tell?" I asked.

"You don't protest my help as you normally do."

"Oh," I said and pulled away from her. "Sorry, Kesar, I can do it."

"Do you need anything? Tea perhaps?"

"Kesar, do you believe in love at first sight?" I found myself asking.

She looked up at me with those big eyes. But then the door of my bedroom burst open. My head lifted from Kesar's face and saw Tepi walking in with Tusita. They looked at me and Kesar.

"Oh good lord! It has come to that, hasn't it?" Tusita said then grinned at Tepi. "I told you. She is indeed like me regarding our passion for women."

Tepi just rolled her eyes back.

"The feast has started," she simply said to me. "We came here to bring you with us."

"I will be ready soon," I said.

"Take your time." Tusita waved her hand. "I'm sure you will bring quite a delight to the maidens here."

"Ex...excuse me?"

Then we heard a gong in a distance.

"It's time," Tepi said. "Do make haste."

My stomach did a somersault. I had a feeling that something was going to change after tonight.

We marched past the Main Pavilion towards the Throne Hall. In front of the entrance set two large human figures with lion heads kneeling by the foot of the stone staircase. When we stepped inside, the priests appeared and blew their conchs three times. A dozen maidens ushered us to our assigned seats.

The hall was huge with colossal wooden pillars and tall ceiling. The floor was laid in silver tiles.

There were paintings and statues of women everywhere. Burning torches and lanterns illuminated each corner of the palace. At the center, they had a fire hearth that burned within a big bronze lotus-shaped brazier.

I saw an elegant golden throne, which was hard to miss. It rose high up off the silver floor. By the look of it, it was obviously made of pure gold. The seat was covered with fur that looked like white tiger skin. There were two smaller thrones set on both sides. They were probably for the two Queens. A large seven-tier royal umbrella white in color with golden hems hovered over the thrones from the ceiling.

There were separate tables and mats for the ministers and princes placed in rows. Each had its own set of food and drinks. The air was filled with deliciousness.

"Who are they?" I asked Kesar, pointing to a group of men and women with embroidered costumes in the background behind me.

"They are the performers and singers," Kesar told me. "We call them the Mohoris and Mohoras, special entertainers for the gods."

"Do they have wings, too?" I asked.

"No, my lady," Kesar said and lowered her face in embarrassment and then she excused herself.

"Did I offend her?" I said to Tepi as I watched my handmaiden join her group of Kennars. Each of them possessed strange musical instruments. They seemed to be made from bamboo, clay, and bronze. I noticed Kesar had a golden flute in her hands.

"Worry not, Nikita, the Kennars are just shy creatures," Tepi said with a shrug.

A moment later, Atith showed up. His face was red as if he was angry with someone. He dropped himself beside Tepi to the left.

"What's wrong, Atith?" Tepi nudged him.

"Good gods! I hate his guts," Atith hissed, still fuming for some reason. "Who does he think he is?"

"That brat Issarak again?" Tusita said.

"Who else is more arrogant than that fool?" he said. "Just because he's the war god's son doesn't mean he has the authority to command everyone!"

"Is his father really a war god?" I asked.

"Murugan," Tepi said and pointed to the ceiling's mural. "The god lives on forested hills. He is fond of hunting, fighting, and an appetite for blood sacrifices. He's young, handsome and a fire-eating, spear-wielding bravo. Issarak worships him above all."

I looked up and saw a vivid battle scene where a young warrior god riding a peacock. I blurted out laughing, causing everyone to stare at me.

"I meant he rides a peacock, seriously?" I said. "No wonder why his son acts like one."

It took them a few seconds to get it. Then they burst out laughing, too.

Then Issarak and Morokot walked it. They each gave us a glare as they passed by. They took their seats on the opposite side. Later came the twin avatars, who trotted in while giggling to each other. They found their places, still nudging and laughing cheekily.

"Where are the others? They should be here by now," Tusita said, gazing back at the entrance.

A moment later, we heard the stomping of feet and chattering people coming from the outside. About four or five other people my age poured into the hall. Each one was greeted by the priests.

I was awestruck by their unique beauty.

I knew that my arrival must have given them quite a gossip. There was a boy with hair that flowed down to his back. He was taller than anyone else. His muscles stuck out of his blue tunic. He had two long golden knives strapped to his waist.

Two other girls walked through the hall with a bunch of maidens behind them. One of them had silvery eyes that looked like a pair of bright moons. The other girl moved swiftly with grace, almost like she was floating. Her long braided hair fell over one shoulder. Her silk robe brushed across the floor like a bridal dress.

When they caught sight of me, they stared back.

"Are they gods' children, too?" I whispered.

"Yes, Samudra, Vorac, and Ravi," Tepi said. "I will introduce you to them later. We have to gain their favor."

"Why?"

"Aside from Tusita, those three are ones of the most powerful avatars born in this age," she said. "I believe Issarak will try to lure them to his side. If you wish to win this game..."

"Hey, I wish to win no game," I said. "I told you I don't want anything to do with this. I just want to go back to my old world."

"This is your world now," Tusita said. "You are here as the fate has planned, and you must stay here until the end."

"You are our only hope, Nikita," Atith added. "If the prophecy is right, you shall undoubtedly save us from our doom."

"Nikita," Tepi said, putting her hand on my shoulder. "I understand you're quite agitated by the prospect. But we're here to ensure that you will fulfill the prophecy, and other people too need to know it."

Another conch shell's sound later, the King and Queens appeared along with other royals and their guards. Everyone in the hall bowed until the monarchs settled in at their seats. The King had his own table on a raised platform before the mighty thrones.

I glanced at Queen Jayara. She still reminded me of my mother in all aspects. When her gaze met mine, a brilliant smile followed. I returned the gesture as best as I could.

The Hora walked in with the strangest man I'd ever seen. He had a flabby body with pot-like belly and short stocky limbs. Instead of a normal human head, his head was of an elephant's. His large ears flapped and his trunk swayed as he walked.

"That is Sambo, our Guru," Tepi whispered to me as I was still staring with my gaping mouth. "He's the avatar of Lord Genesh, the God of Wisdom."

"Am I hallucinating or does he actually have an elephant head?" I said.

Tepi laughed. "Actually, Sambo takes after Lord Genesh, who was born with a human head, but at the time of his birth, his father, Lord Shiva, was not present. Genesh was guarding the chamber of Shiva's wife, Uma, and forbade his father from entering. So Shiva beheaded him, not knowing that Genesh was his own son."

"Aw," I said in surprise. "That must be awful!"

"Yes, but Uma pleaded with her husband to spare Genesh's life, so Lord Shiva gave his son the head of the first creature he encountered, which was an elephant."

"If he was born from Genesh, that makes him a grandson of Shiva," I said.

"Yes, same as Issarak, except one is smart while the other is stupid," Tusita chimed in with a grimace.

As soon as everyone was settled, the King rose from his golden seat and raised his golden cup with a welcoming smile.

"May the gods bless our holy land," he said and everyone repeated in chorus. "My honor to have your divine company tonight. The kingdom has been at peace because of your devotion. Today is a special day, may I welcome you with a royal performance of my beloved daughter."

A loud applause issued around the hall. Everyone was smiling in anticipation.

"Meru gods help me," Atith whined. "Here comes the love of my poor underserved heart."

"And mine," Tusita said, looking rather excited herself. Then she turned to me. "You are lucky. The King's daughter only dances on special occasions. Once the princess moves, the whole world comes to a halt, the ocean calms, fishermen would forget their boats and nets, even the fishes would sit on their tails, watching the princess of this jewel kingdom dance."

The Kennars started playing the music as the Mohoris and Mohoras started singing in verses, telling a story of five angels. Then the Apsara women floated into the hall, circling the burning hearth like descending swans.

That was when I saw her.

All the functions in my body froze. Everyone breathed in awe at the sight of the maiden. Dressing in sparkling white and gold costume, she was beautiful beyond words.

The princess kneeled on the floor and raised her hands, slowly and gracefully moving to the music. She began to form various hand gestures, speaking in a beautiful body language. Her head tilted this way and that, her ankles moved back and forth as her hips swayed in slow melodious rhythms.

The Mohoris sang of a green garden, of a grove of trees and a mirror-like lake. They sang of the flying nymphs and all the light above their heads. The princess danced to the story, slowly portraying the song with her stunning grace.

Never in my life had I seen anyone so perfect and elegant in every which way she turned.

The whole time I watched, my breath was held up in my chest. How delicate her posture was and how brightly her eyes shone. The other Apsaras circled her, but none could hold a candle to her beauty.

For a long moment, I was captivated along with the others until the music stopped and the song ended. Probably by some divine miracle, as the princess stood up and was ready to leave the hall, her huge brilliant eyes caught mine.

When our gazes entwined, my heart leaped. She looked surprised to find me there. Of course, the royal maiden had not expected my presence. Then her surprise turned into embarrassment and anger all at once.

Yet, she did not know how ecstatic I was to see her, how I tried to contain myself from bolting out and holding her in my arms again. The urge made my insides tingle and my heart swell.

So great was my excitement that I smiled right back at her.