WHEN the group had exited the forest, they could see the sun high overhead, and knew then that it was mid-day. They made quickly to the roof of the palace, passing by the smouldering steps of the city and the many persons who were attendent to reconstruction. Many bodies had been laid neatly around the perimeter of the city and each was taken individually down toward the garden to be buried beside the flowers.
Though Bahṛigfar did not mention it, the Mrigūhvha were not keen on burning the dead, for the flames that are kindled and stroked agitate the forest and the surroundings. And it is only within the heart of the city where rests their Fiyukthi and temple that they attend to such things. While much better it would be for the bodies to be burnt, and the wavering souls left behind extricated of all attachment, they would have to make do with their current situation.
And so the priests gathered at each grave site performed rites and sang the Prayer for the Dead almost as if it were like a mantra, so as to appease those souls. The group itself could not tell whether such a display worked, and even Aiṛth had to concede that such prayers even by full devotion and attention did not yield much in the way of discernable results, save for what happened in the massacred village. Much of the time it was thought to be done as a show of good will, but perhaps the Mrigūhvha Servants had ways of making such things work to the benefit of the Ārhmaht.
They took the elevators and ascended to the pinnacle, and when having reached it, they once more exited upon the bridge and made their swiftly to the king and queen. Every step they took was hurried and flustered, and it was if great tension arose within them, for while they were sure that the regents would be pleased with the deed, they were not so sure whether any good will would be sent their way.
Yet it was not as if they could shirk their duties and run away.
They had yet to confront on the matter of seeking aid against the Yavhaḥṃār, and Iḷēhaḥ out of all the others could tell that convincing them would not be easy. Indeed it would be very difficult. And the reason for such would soon present itself.
They ascended the steps, and now stodd before the regents. All bowed before the two.
Nakthaḥm then stepped forward and said, “The deed has been done, our enemies have either been slain or have fled, and no more shall they assail your city or domain. Though one remains at large, he is sure to scurry away from here with haste, and should we see him on our travels then will his demise be met with swiftly. Now regents! as for the issue concerning the return of my kin, will you now give leave for us to speak on that matter, and allow us to plead for aid? For we very much desire, nay, need of it. If not from you, at least from your people.”
He seated himself on his knees and thereupon prostrated.
King Tı̄ṛvana stood holding his staff, and walking down slowly from the steps with light taps that were barely audible, he said, “You have done as was asked, and for that I am glad!” And Nakthaḥm looked up smiling but he saw the King’s face was still solemn. “But do not think to yourself that I have faith and trust in you and your party, for more you will have to do to prove to me that you have the might to stand against those whose power very well exceeds yours.”
“Father!” called Bahṛigfar, going to Nakthaḥm’s side. “He has done what has been asked, and no less have these people been sent by the Dehaḥṃār. Should we not at least converse with them on the matter before putting them to test? They have well proven their might in this deed against those foes who lurked the forest and slayed the Mānuzhhaḥn. What more would you have them do to display their strength?”
“My ignorant son, do you truly think that dispensing away with such lowly foes, as those that marked our forests, is enough to guarantee their strength against the towering figures that dwell in the Hells?”
And Bahṛigfar hung his head low, for he had forgotten how strong the Demons truly were as was related in the tales of old, and he began to doubt that Nakthaḥm and even the whole of the group had the power to stop such terror.
Tūmbṃār came to Nakthaḥm’s other side at that moment, and scrounging around in his bag, he reproduced the Dvhaḥṣhtro and held it aloft for all to see. “Would this be enough to defeat them?”
And the King for the first time since their meeting him, showed a face of wonder and great surprise. “A divine weapon! That luster, I know what this is: you carry the Natjhṛsa of Dusdrahaḥ. Tell me, child, do you know how to invoke this?”
He nodded and said, “Yes, Dusdrahaḥ gave the mantra to me, but I can’t speak it, I can only recite it in my mind. But I’ve made sure to never do so with intent of using it—at least not yet.”
“And best you keep it as such!” said the King now pondering.
Bahṛigfar and Zvarañt were both surprised themselves having thought such an errand, while not impossible, at least difficult enough that they would not acquire it anytime soon.
“I venture to guess that the Lord of Cedars helped you in retrieving it. The test that held this weapon is not one that can easily be passed, and I am sure none of you had at the time or even now as I can see it, the potential to have passed it, not without some outside aid.”
“Athruyam didn’t help us there, but he did train us,” and then a large smile spread over the boy’s face and he said, “Lūshhaḥ helped us get to the hall where this thing rested as a conch!”
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The King stood silent, as did all others, and the eyes of the Bull-King grew wide. And he then cried, “The Light of That One has returned?”
And Tūmbṃār nodded his head with the smile not having left a bit. The king paced about and even a smile came over his face, and he began to nod and shake his head as he thought to himself. Bahṛigfar looked to his mother and he could see that she too had a smile on her face, a very gentle one that eased all those who met her gaze.
“No,” said the king, facing Tūmbṃār. “Child, in what form has the Light come? Does he assume the prophesied body of frailness or did he appear to you in another way?”
“He comes to me, I think, in a form of a spirit,” said the boy. “He only seems to show himself to me regularly with a few others having seen him like, Nakthaḥm and Zvarañt.”
Tūmbṃār brought his hand toward them and the King looked their way, now seeming very critical as he glared.
“Tell me you two, is what the boy declares true? Have the two of you truly seen him who was said to have been lost to even the Gods themselves.”
“It is as the boy says, King Tı̄ṛvana,” said Zvarañt, bowing. “Though it was only for but a moment in our fight, indeed he had shown himself. I apologize for not having mentioned it when I first came to you, but I had to move in haste to find the Demons.”
“I have known the Light for long, O regent, but he too was lost to me, until some months ago, when I had met Tūmbṃār. I had presumed he had left on some mysterious errand that required attention separate from the doings in the spheres of this world.”
“Ho! and how long is it that you have known him demon,” said the king, asking him to rise.
Nakthaḥm stood, and bowing, said, “Indeed very long, but it is a matter that I cannot speak of, not yet at least.”
And the king became suspicious, and said, “Fine, be silent! While it is good to know that more favorable news can come our way, I still very much doubt even with the appearance of the Light, that you have the means to defeat those wretched beings.”
Nakthaḥm and the others, could say no more, for even if they begged it seemed the Bull-King would not budge from his position and perhaps his temper would fall short.
Yet they did not need to think over such things for he then said, “But I shall give you all a chance nonetheless to prove yourselves.”
Hope and joy filled them and Nakthaḥm bowed as deeply as he could.
“Out of you all, one must face a series of trials that I shall prepare, seven days’ time. If that person can pass them all, then I shall be willing to give aid, but if they should fail, then shall all of you be banished from this realm to not enter again! Only the fates can help you at that time, of whether I should appear to aid or not, but I suppose you would not wish to count on luck. Understand this.”
The group looked to him more resolute than before.
“That even if these Demons should cover the whole of Ārhmanhaḥ, never shall they be able to conquer this domain! I could care less what happens outside the forest, but never shall they be able to enter hither. The penance I have collected shall prove their undoing, and while it may not be enough to fell their lot, enough it would be to keep safe our home. Were it in my power, I would have felled those Demons that had concealed themselves here, but my duty rests upon this place, where scarcely I can leave. By this power is the valley maintained and many years I have spent, as have my forbears, in collecting that power. And as the last of our line of whom can transfer such power by will of their own, Bahṛigfar, you shall be one to inherit it. I pray that this power can yet be given to you and that we may be able to leave when the time presents itself.”
“Yes father!” said Bahṛigfar, bowing.
But he did not feel a lot of confidence behind those words. His father’s face while still holding a smile seemed forlorn, as if he did not believe in his own words. Bahṛigfar desired to greatly help the others, as they did for him and his people, yet he could not understand why his father would remain so obstinate, despite knowing of the return of the Light. This would prove most difficult to overcome and he was afraid that he could offer little in the way to aid them. He also knew in heart what his father had planned for the trials, but looking to his father with innocent eyes, he could tell without his father’s saying a word, that he should not dispense of it to the others. And this seemed cruel and unfair to him, but he could not disregard the determination of one who stood higher than him and so silently he assented, unbeknownst to the others.
“Now choose among you who should face these trials, for they shall be designed to test your strength to the uttermost extent and long shall that day be when they are to commence. You shall have to be ready in mind, body, and soul if you wish to conquer them and I can see among you only one who can perhaps meet such a challenge.”
And his eyes scanned among them until it at last rested upon Tūmbṃār, who himself was surprised for he was sure that Nakthaḥm would be chosen.
“King! why do you choose me?” asked Tūmbṃār. “Nakthaḥm should be stronger than me!”
“Yea, that would be the case were it not for the fact that his powers do wane. And no less because of his absistence and shackles that cover his heart.” The King glanced over to Iḷēhaḥ who quickly hung her head down. “I can say with confidence that were you to fight with full might, Tūmbṃār, that you would fell this creature then and there, perhaps at a little cost to your life, but still nonetheless able to fell him.”
Tūmbṃār looked between Nakthaḥm, the others, and the King, and seeing as they would not dispute the recommendation, he sighed and said, “Fine, I’ll do it! While I like fighting, I wish there was less stress behind this.”
“A foolish thing to desire!” said the King, suddenly laughing to the surprise of everyone. “But I suppose given that you are still very much a child like my son, you would wish more for play than for challenges. I say, set aside such thoughts, and lay your focus upon the task at hand, for I have made my words clear and resolute. Do well to earn my trust.”
The king thereon turned from them and took his seat by the queen and meditated.
Bahṛigfar went center and prostrated to his parents. “My gratitude to you, father and mother for speaking with us. We shall now take our leave.”
Before he stood up, the queen held her hand with an open palm facing them and said, “Do well to guide them, my son. Though ever do I wish to embrace you and dispense as much blessings as can be done, I cannot leave this spot and must continue to meditate till the time of our departure comes. Much have you suffered these years, and ever do I feel of having failed as a parent to you. I hope you can forgive me.”
“Speak not as such, mother!” said Bahṛigfar. “Do as you must, I shall not hold you back. I will do my best to make both of you proud as the current of our line who shall lead the Mrigūhvha. I pray for your blessings.” And he bowed before them and they both held their hands and shouted, “Haḥsvyan! Haḥsvyan!”
The guards struck their weapons against the floor and bowed to the prince. Bahṛigfar looked about himself, and now feeling some resolve, he turned from them and with the group made down the stairs.