PAST the arch, onto a wide street, were columns of coralwood surfacing from the sides like great pillars. And these trees with their outspread boughs bent toward the heart of the city where shone the great palace seated beneath the great banyan. The city was terraced in its concentric fashion, with wooden cylindrial buildings plotted neatly across like they were seeds ploughed into the soil. Flowers grew alongside the stone path and like creepers grew along the sides of the trees and hung from the branches like vines.
And all around them, were the Mrigūhvha of various forms and likeness; some looking very human (save for horns or antlers) and others looking almost like bulls or deer. A very strange mixture of creatures, yet altogether welcoming. Adorned in white and blue robes, they went about their business, giving smiles and gestures to the group as they passed by. Many worked on the gardens that were spread across the rooftops and very few guards or soldiers could be seen on their path. Some even went so far as to pet Vrihkhaḥ. One could only would wonder why they were not scared by a predator that would eat their lower kin.
They followed behind Bahṛigfar who had a wide smile on his face. The procession of animals also kept to following them while giving their cries and shouts in a harmony. Passersby surprisingly did not find it at all annoying and even gave way to them with either smiles or light laughs.
The path began to curve and though they were still en route toward the palace, it seemed they were heading in a completely different way. Having now passed by many levels, the trees on the sides began to thicken. Their canopies and trunks blocked any sight forward. And not long after they noticed the path begin to ascend. The stone was slowly replaced by roots and wood and they could feel a light breeze blow underneath and to the sides. Peering between the trunks they could see they were rising and were now above the city. And they could see themselves moving closer to the tree.
“Where is it we are going, Bahṛigfar?” asked Feyūnhaḥ. “I thought we were to go to the palace first.”
“We shall take a slight detour to the tree, for there is something I wish to show you there first.”
“What is it?” asked Tūmbṃār.
“Well you will just have to wait for me to show,” he said with a finger to his lips. “Words can scarce describe it.”
After spiraling for a long time in their ascension, they reached the end. The enclosure had slowly widened until it was so high and wide, that the group wondered if they had taken the same path. An enormous opening lay before them, and Bahṛigfar and his party of animals gaily made their way inside calling the others to follow.
They found themselves in a large lit space, where self-illuminating flowers filled the interior in multiple rings. There were many Mrigūhvha walking about, but they seemed different from the others. They held a much more resolute bearing and their robes were adorned in various symbols. And many of them dressed with fhorlia like the prince, with much jewellery along their arms and handing from their antlers and horns.
They greeted the prince with folded hands and the prince told them of the group’s coming. They conversed for awhile and in the meantime the group saw a light seeping from underneath, toward the center of that hall. They made toward it, wondering what it was that could glow so brightly, and when they looked down, they saw a powerful light issuing from the very bottom, alighting the walls like golden sheets. And though its effulgence was strong, its mesmerizing beauty captivated them. Bubbles of light danced from beneath and flew like dandelions high above toward an opening not too far away.
“My! This is beautiful!” said Iḷēhaḥ. “Is this what it is you wished to show us, prince? What is it that glows so brightly at the bottom?”
“There is a golden river that flows through the tree,” said Bahṛigfar as he gave his farewells to the other Mrigūhvha, “and it along with the light that comes from above makes the interior shine like a thousand suns. But there is something even more beautiful that awaits at the top of the canopy! The likes of which I am certain you have never beheld. Some say it is even to the likeness of an area in the Heavens. Let us make our way there now!”
They followed him into a room that ran into the wall and walking down the corridor they eventually came to a large platform. When all were atop it, the platform began to glow and of its own accord, it ascended fast along the wall.
The lining of the bark sped by like slithering snakes and looking above they could see a dot of light expand into a great opening. And as they arose closer and closer, they could feel the warmth of the forest bask them until at last they came to a halt and the light became overbearing.
When they opened their eyes and slowly adjusted to the light, a vast field of flowers and hills stretched before them. Streams of white nectar flowed all about with a very familiar aroma. Great kine grazed the fields, many standing as tall as thirty feet. Clouds could be seen level with them and passing through them cold and wet yet gentle to the touch.
The animals then scattered from Bahṛigfar and he beckoned the group to follow him. They made haste after him, even though they tried to take in as much of the sights. After a while of walking through the soft dirt path, through the hills, they came upon some rather small streams. Following these streams, they noticed them becoming wider, and they began to suspect a familiarity. When they halted in their path having not taken their eyes from their surrounding, Bahṛigfar called to them to look in front.
And when they did so, it was as if a rush of sensations came hurtling their way, absorbed directly into their person. The sound of rushing waterfalls drowned out all other sounds, the golden light before them blanketed all in their view, and the smell of Svyamhaḥ and milk rushed up their noses, and salivated their tongues to the point where it felt they could taste it. The streams that had before seemed like small puddles had turned into roaring waterfalls, and the water that rushed down scattered into droplets that spread as mist in the air. The sky turned from a deep blue at the edges into a golden white above and even Iḷēhaḥ felt the Heavens to be in sight.
“Am I back home?” asked Iḷēhaḥ with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.
Bahṛigfar laughed and said, “Nay! but it very much feels like the Heavens does it not? This is one of the five great trees of Ārhmanhaḥ that not many can behold. Only those whose presence is allowed near it can see it in its full form! Yet I say this is the smallest of them; we stand a few miles off from the ground but some of the trees range even higher, one that even pierces the sky to the depths of space.”
“I’ve heard of these,” said Feyūnhaḥ, “they’re known as the five world trees, the Fañcārhmahthavāḥṃ! But I had thought they had been felled ages ago. Wasn’t it said that the Demons had cut them down to amass great weapons upon their side? The bark of such trees is as hard as diamond and could easily shatter steel.”
“I have never heard of them,” said Aiṛth, “there was naught a mention of such thing within any recorded history.”
“And for good reason!” said Feyūnhaḥ. “If people were to find out such beings existed, they would no doubt try to fell them and take it for all it had. Even the Mānuzhhaḥn nowadays have taken to sacking their own groves and rivers if it would mean more space for them, and more wealth to come their way.”
“I should think the Servants would protect them!” said Aiṛth, feeling insulted. “These beings are like Gods in their own right, and I would be sure regardless of the Mānuzhhaḥn or the Daivhaḥhō, that such sites would be protected and maintained.”
“Yet unfortunate it is that it shouldn’t be held true now,” said Feyūnhaḥ, looking toward the ground with a melancholy face; “the Servants are beginning to fail in their duties! Already has a high priest summoned a demon in Viprūtaram!”
“Feyūnhaḥ! Why do you speak of this now?” said Iḷēhaḥ. “Did we wish to ail her with more troubles!”
“No more should it be kept secret now, Iḷēhaḥ! More troubles shall continue to come our way, and we can’t keep brushing them aside.” She turned to Aiṛth who looked stunned. “Before we had arrived in Trdsyḷūr, we were en route to find Iḷēhaḥ, who had at the time left us to go to the mountains. Me, Tūmbṃār, Nakthaḥm, and Vrihkhaḥ arrived there a week after Iḷēhaḥ had left but bigger problems came our way as we became embroiled in a plot setup by the high priest of the town.
“He had been kidnapping individuals to use in a sacrifice to summon a great demon from the Lower Realms but of course we put a stop to his plots. Nonetheless this caused problems in the town, and the Lord of the town would have even executed him had it not been for Tūmbṃār and the Lord’s daughter. He now remains in chains confined to the palace. I wouldn’t be surprised if news has already spread about it.”
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he priestess hung her head low feeling ashamed as if she had been part of the scheme.
Feyūnhaḥ held onto her shoulders and put her face close, and said, “You needn’t feel sorry for such things. I had thought that it was an exception, but when you told us of how the high priest of Trdsyḷūr had turned his back on you, even though he full well knew your mission and task, I began to have doubts. We can no more rely on the Servants to do what is right. And I should think things will only become worse as the ages pass.”
Aiṛth remained silent awhile and it seemed the joyful atmosphere and rush of sensations had become greatly dulled as if the world had become dark and bleary from their state.
She then sighed and said, “My gratitude to you for telling me. I had hoped that such things would not come to pass in my lifetime, but a fool’s dream it was. The order of the varna seems to already be failing, I had thought it had been corrected during Levāñyhaḥ’s time but alas! that the Servants should once more abuse their power. Even Rṭyāshphaḥ’s behavior might be indicative of the changing of the times. Perhaps even the order of statesmen will begin to fall.”
“Don’t be so sad,” said Sanyhaḥmān, “were we not talking about ‘trees’ before? We can think on such depressing matters later, besides shouldn’t it be happy news to you, that Lūshhaḥ came to Tūmbṃār! It’ll be only a matter of time before Nakthaḥm once again awakes—and is done with that dreadful groaning of his.”
“I suppose you are right,” she said, looking to Nakthaḥm sleeping on his board. “Yes, forgive me my friends for becoming sullen. I should hold some hope that things will be made aright! It has been before and it shall do so again. And I should become very happy when Nakthaḥm awakes.” She looked to Tūmbṃār who gave a wide smile in return. “I am sorry Bahṛigfar would you continue with what you were saying?”
“Certainly! It is true that they were cut down, Feyūnhaḥ, but Lūshhaḥ themselves, whenever they appeared in awakened or descended form planted a sapling within the hollow of the stump. This tree happened to be the last and was planted by Levāñyhaḥ after she had left the unified kingdom. And she bade us to tend to it in these parts, but I should wonder what will happen to it now.”
“Why?” asked Aiṛth. “I would think these wonderful trees would be able to persist by themselves quite well.”
“I do not know the full details concerning the matter,” said Bahṛigfar, “but I have heard that the goddess Ārhmanhaḥ is slowly pulling her influence as the powers slowly recede. With the waning of her powers, such forms will be unable to hold themselves. There is also the matter that the Daivhaḥhō are slowly migrating from Ārhmanhaḥ to take to other abodes in the deeps of space. And in similar likeness we shall venture out as well.”
“Wait! When’re you leaving?” Tūmbṃār asked, suddenly seeming to think Bahṛigfar was going to leave soon.
“Be calm friend, I shall be here for some time,” he said tapping Tūmbṃār’s shoulders. “The Daivhaḥhō at large do not plan to leave until the issue with the Demons is dealt with once and for all. We have as much to lose as the Mānuzhhaḥn were they to overrun the foremother.”
Tūmbṃār breathed a sigh of relief.
“Bahṛigfar,” called Feyūnhaḥ, “do you happen to know if a council is to held between the Daivhaḥhō?”
He thought for a bit and shook his head. “Not that I know, but I would think it should be held at some point before the Yavhaḥṃār come. Though we have all been informed by this point, by none other than the Laukṣhramās, we have yet to hear from the others whether we should convene. As it would so happen, my parents do not seem so keen in corresponding with the Daivhaḥhō and seek to fight the Demons on their own terms. I should you hope you can convince them to join your cause, seeing as you are the Agents. Even they must acknowledge the decision of the Dehaḥṃār.”
Iḷēhaḥ became worried over those words. She had hoped conversing with the remaining rulers would prove easy and convincing them trivial. She turned from the others and bit her lip and gave a low groan, mulling on what she should say. The rest of the group decided to rest in the open for some time and eat lunch.
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The sun that before had been shining brightly from above was now setting behind them. The effulgent light of gold was slowly replaced by a gentle but dim light of silver shining rays that cut through the dark blue night.
The group had eaten quite their fill, exhausting all that they had in stock, whether food and alcohol and even went so far to drink from the golden white rivers. And to their surprise it was water that looked and tasted like Svyamhaḥ.
In other places milk instead flowed and the taste was even richer with a sweetness that not even a dessert packed with sugar could match, yet was also much lighter with traces of water mixed, that from as far as they could tell, did not seem to affect the flavor at all. When Iḷēhaḥ had tasted both of them she had mentioned that it was not all that different from what could be had in the Heavens, save that the richness was just slightly lacking, which to her was expected.
Now having packed their things they made their way back to the platform. Along the path they could see many animals resting in the fields and shrubbery with many Mrigūhvha children having snuggled next to them. From what Bahṛigfar had related to them, even he used to sleep up here along with many of his friends. And as for the maiden’s earlier concern—relating to their animal’s cleanliness—they noticed the fur of the animals had been cleaned so thoroughly that it shined under the light of the moon, stars, and the silver rays. The moon also had seemed to have grown brighter.
Clouds in the distance moved about the realm as if to skirt around it; and by that effect there seemed a gaping hole in the cloud cover.
When they had reached the platform they each inhaled deeply the air, thinking it would be there first and last time there, and when they had all done so they each stepped onto the platform very slowly; they had misgivings of having to leave so soon, having now had a taste of the Higher Realms that Iḷēhaḥ had spoken so much about. When all were atop the platform they descended.
As the last sliver of that serene land quickly cut off their view, Sanyhaḥmān shed tears, with Feyūnhaḥ, Iḷēhaḥ, and Vrihkhaḥ consoling him. Bahṛigfar and Tūmbṃār looking upon their pathetic display could not help but laugh.
After they had reached the upper level from where they ascended, they made quickly to the other side where another series of entryways led to even more platforms. They descended along one of them, and after what felt like a very long time, they reached the bottom. Exiting from the bottom room, they emerged into a vast garden with many waterways cutting through it.
Trees of Sandalwood, Peepal, Asoka, and Mango dotted the area. The wind was calm that night, and everything seemed still save for the flowing waters. They walked through the stone-laden path, and as they walked farther and looked back, they could see the massive base of the tree that ascended high above them. There were holes and structures lining the surface of the bark and many of them spiraled up together until they were far out of sight. Likewise was it for the branching paths that ended at various points along the trunk.
They continued along the path for many miles until they came to the front most area of where stood that large silver palace. There was a wide moat surrounding its base and the entrance was some few hundred feet above with an ascending path of root and wood reaching the front entrance. They took to that path and continued on hoping this would be the last long walk they would have to take for the rest of the day. As they climbed they looked down to see the water ways across the city flowing into the moat.
As they moved closer to the entrance they noticed that the water ascended along its walls, resting as it were on a flat level before once more rushing up. Along each of these upper levels were lotuses and fish and some of these seemed to be have been carried en masse along some of the waterways during the day. They along with the water swam up, toward a point they did not know, but suspected to be at the very top of the palace.
The entrance was left clear of gates and guard, and they passed through the high arch. Many columns lined their sides with open walls leading to pools of water where a small number of lotus and fish rested while the others passed on by into the rush of the ascending streams. The water could barely be heard flowing as if it tried to keep itself quiet so as to not disturb the others.
When they had passed the hall there were three paths, one continuing toward what looked to be a massive chamber, and the other two descending on either side below with gently sloped ramps. The walk was not yet over, and their energy by that point felt spent. Yet ever so, they continued onward, following their lead, who showed not the slightest trace of having become weary. Even Tūmbṃār for all that energy he had, was slowing down in his pace.
Bahṛigfar led them down the right path, and they circled around the stone interior for what felt like an age, until they at last emerged before a circular hall of many high columns holding a high dome with many exits all around. A great oculus was at the top and it gently lit the space below, evading the dome that was completely darkened in their view. They went toward the exit that was directly opposite them, and were led into a dark passage where they could see little if anything. Yet this leg of the journey proved much shorter, and the wait to their destination had well been worth all the walking.
Before them was the golden light, spreading within a stream that forked along the plot set for a tree that rested alone under the night sky. The stream seemed to fall off the edge where a stone balustrade and balcony were set.
The light was dimmed, no more overbearing in its effulgence, yet still held to the warmth that had comforted the rest of the domain. The rays of silver shined upon the tree that, when they took a closer look, was but a sapling. When they stepped into the plot they felt the turf to be strange, but in a pleasant manner: it was soft as silk and the ground felt very warm.
A drowsiness seemed to over come them as they laid upon the grass and no sooner had they wished to speak on it, did they all quickly fall asleep. Bahṛigfar was immune to the effects but still yawned and went to sleep beside them. This would be their chambers for the night and the group was glad for it.
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A whisper came into the boy’s ear and he awoke. He looked around himself and saw the others asleep. And turning around he saw that at the far end, past the river, was a figure of white standing next to a balustrade upon a balcony. The streams flowed out to the side.
Walking closer to the man, Tūmbṃār could see rushing waterfalls and several large palaces erected on the farther end. The lake below was covered by the mist of the falls and yet for all this, the rush of the water could not be heard. All was silent except for the trickling stream and the light breeze that swayed in the air.
The man turned to face Tūmbṃār, and when Tūmbṃār saw that gentle smile upon his ashen face he recognized at once who it was.
Lūshhaḥ had at last come.