WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 15: Lord Phaninath

The three looked at the closed eyes of Mahapitha. He seemed to have gone into a trance. Atma and Bakula exchanged a glance, there were not sure whether it is time for them to leave, the old Warlock had not spoken since a long time. Bakula wanted to try once more before leaving.

“Mahapitha, we - we have something to tell you.” Bakula spoken very hesitantly after a long silence, he was not sure whether he would get an answer for that, all the same they waited eagerly.

“Go ahead my boy.” Slowly Mahapitha opened his eyes and looked very kindly at Bakula.

“We - we saw the hiding place of Mountain Witches.” Bakula tried to keep his voice as low as possible. He knew Vasundari did not know anything about this.

“When? Where?” Vasundari was once at her feet, she was too surprised.

“Not now Vasundari.” Atma looked at her sternly; he knew she would become definitely angry for not taking her to confidence, but that did not matter now.

“But it is of no use Bakula.” That did not surprise Mahapitha as he said in a very casual tone.

“May be you - you could defeat them Mahapitha, but they are guarded by all sorts of wild animals.” Bakula tried to convince the old Warlock, he was eager to end it all at once.

“Aha! They are only illusions, not real animals.” Mahapitha closed his eyes again and said after a moment.

“Then why don’t you do something before anything bad happens, Mahapitha?” Atma was also not convinced about leaving the things to happen in the first place.

“I cannot do anything, for I have promised someone that I will never fight or kill a Witch.” Mahapitha said slowly, he knew the kids would not budge until they know the facts, so he gave them the facts, but in a small amount. He too knew if he wanted he could have killed the Mountains Witches easily, but a promise is a promise, he can never do that. He also did not wanted the kids to know in detail about his promise and the people involved in it; that would not help them in anyway. At least presently.

“What if we tell what we saw to our King or our father? They might be able to do something?” Bakula persisted.

“Please don’t do that mistake dear boy. That would only do more harm. Take my word, and do nothing presently.” Suddenly Mahapitha said in a sharp voice that surprised all.  

Atma and Bakula looked once at each other and understood that the meeting is over; it is time for them to return before their father returns home. They motioned Vasundari to move and quietly said good bye to the old Warlock.

**

Chitrakshi walked towards the window. It was a cool evening; she began to remember her friends and their message. She wondered whether she would be able to meet them again. She felt very depressed, even the King and Queen could not understand how lonely she is in the Palace. Mani tried to amuse her whenever possible, but all she needed was friends of her own age.

Chitrakshi looked at the evening stars. How lovely it would be if she can sit on the stars! She thought with awe. Again her thought began to wander back to her friends. Vasundari! How lucky she is to be with her brothers, only if she had be Vasundari instead of Princess, she began to think bitterly.

“Oh! My Princess, what are you doing?” Mani was instantly alert, she was ordered to keep the Princess in happy mood always.

“I am looking at the stars.” Chitrakshi answered without turning back.

“Princess, King has ordered special forces and extra guards for your protection.” Mani whispered. She wanted Chitrakshi to know what is happening in the Palace, least she should not be surprised by anything.

“Is it? That means there is danger.” Chitrakshi tuned back sharply. She understood at once something is going to happen.

“Yes, and you are never to go out.” Mani hated to tell this to her, nonetheless she has to. She did not want to keep the Princess in total darkness. Being alert would always help her, Mani thought in her mind very sadly.

“I haven’t done anything bad, I - I was always good, isn’t it Mani?” Chitrakshi began to sob; this was going from bad to worse. First she was deprived of meeting her friends and now she is confined to the Palace walls.

“Oh! You are best Princess I ever seen.” Mani hugged her at once and began to sooth her.

“Then, why all these bad things are happening to me?” Chitrakshi buried her face in Mani’s bosom and cried softly.

“You should not cry Princess. It is the game of fate.” Mani could only say that, for she was utterly helpless as well.

“Am I going to die, Mani?” Suddenly Chitrakshi stared her in the eyes; she wanted to know the truth.

“You will not. You are going to live happily for hundred years.”

“But - but the Witches of Mountain.”

“Our brave King is going to protect you; more over you have wonderful friends who would do anything to protect you.” Mani tried to cajole her with her own way. She too always thought highly of Atma, Vasundari and Bakula. She knew in her heart that they would do something although they were still very young for that matter.

“But they are just teenagers like me. How I wish to meet them all once.” Chitrakshi signed deeply.

**

Rukma walked behind Gorma looking all around her. The place seemed to have air of death hanging all around it. There were all types of snakes crawling in and out of the place. Some snakes were smaller, some bigger and some were giants. There was constant sound of hissing

and the snakes took no notice of the two women since Gorma has charmed them.

The underground path was leading to a big Palace. Rukma looked at the Palace top, there was a big statue of a half human and half serpent hang at the top of the Palace. Indeed, it was the statue of Lord Phaninath himself. Rukma barely remembered being here before, although she had been before when she was just a kid. They came near the Palace which was guarded by two snakes with human head.

Gorma went near them and began to hiss, Rukma was spell bounded! She did not know that her sister could speak the language of snakes. The Snake with the human head hissed back saying something which she could not understand. Gorma smiled at her sister and said in an undertone, “Lord Phaninath is going to see us.”

Soon they were escorted by the snake guards with human head, although he had a human head, he never spoke just as she did, he only hissed. They silently passed many dungeons like rooms. Rukma felt as if they have been circling the Palace, sometimes they moved to the left and sometimes they moved to right, it was just like zigzagging like a typical snake. After a long walk the guard brought them to a closed door and hissed them to go in.           

Gorma hissed something back to the guard and looked happily at her surprised sister; she knew it would be a great experience for Rukma, perhaps this all might teach her to control her fear and she will be able to learn many secrets of dark magic. Slowly Gorma pushed the door and stepped inside motioning her sister to follow her immediately.

Rukma stepped in and was astonished at the sight she saw. The whole chamber seemed to be made of yellow metal. Even the walls were made of yellow metal as it illuminated with a shining yellow color. There was two huge bowl placed on either side of a King sized thrown at the center of the hall. The huge bowl was filled with blue potions. What could it be! Rukma wondered, and on the thrown was a giant thing! Rather a serpent with human head and torso. He had hands and arms just like her and was wearing a crown of yellow metal. His upper body was completely covered with different designs of yellow metals. Even his tail had a sting of yellow lace which glowed every now and then to the dark light inside.           

“With all due respect, I bow to you Lord Phaninath.” Gorma bowed to him and spoke in human language to the surprise of Rukma. Rukma hurried followed her and bowed to the Lord Phaninath as well. Lord Phaninath had two big bulging eyes and a very sharp nose. He had two lips just like humans, but only his tongue was snake like. His face was all scaled up, he had no facial hairs.

“I wonder what has brought the famous Mountain Witches to me.” Lord Phaninath spoke after a long silence. Rukma saw him smiling and she began to think he was quiet handsome for a snake.

“We are seeking your help.” Gorma replied without showing any emotions, she was very good at that and she knew exactly how to talk to this dangerous King of the underworld.

“What can I, a mere Serpent, do?” Lord Phaninath squinted his eyes and hissed softly before answering.

“You can do a lot Lord Phaninath, and you know that very well.” Gorma looked deep into his eyes.

“Hiss!” Lord Phaninath suddenly raised his hood, rather his head in alarm and began to move it left to right, after some moments he said in harsh tone, “But, why should I?”

“Because you owe us one, Lord Phaninath.” Gorma smiled mysteriously. Rukma began to admire her sister’s gut and intelligence. She was so stronger and so cruel and she never feared, rather never showed her fear outward.

“How so?” Lord Phaninath hissed again before asking.  

“Perhaps, it is time for me to remind you something. Long way back, it was our mother who showed the path to your father to this very Underworld.” Gorma walked a step towards him and stared deep into his eyes, for a moment Rukma was taken aback at Gorma’s guts.

“Aha! I do remember that now.” Suddenly Lord Phaninath relaxed and sat back on his thrown in a wave motion and closed his eyes.

“Then, then you will help us, isn’t it?” Rukma could not contain her anxiety as she spoke for the first time.

“Hiss!” Lord Phaninath opened and his eyes and turned it sharply on Rukma for the first time and moved his head close to her; he studied her features for what seemed to be a long moment and replied in a soft tone, “Your sister is too anxious. However, I see a rare beauty in her.”

“I am flattered, Lord Phaninath.” Rukma suddenly flushed and noticed a sudden change in her own attitude without knowing herself. She began to feel more comfortable with his presence now and in a way she began to admire him greatly.

Gorma was taken aback for a moment, she had underestimated her sister. Her mind began to work fast. Perhaps her sister was not at all bad, only she did not had the opportunity to show her real skills, she thought wonderingly. If only she could continue charming him, things would definitely work out better for them.

“Perhaps, if you help us, we could think of an alliance.” Gorma began to fish him with her own sister as bait.

“That’s an interesting offer. I shall help you only after you agree for my second wish. ” Lord Phaninath smiled and stopped abruptly.

“Second wish?” Gorma and Rukma said in the same instant.

****