WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 32: The First Lesson

Saba turned around sharply. He had heard some faint noise behind his back. They had been continuously walking since a day. But yet, they had not reached the first mountain. Saba, motioned his brother to be very quiet and both sniffed air. Yes, it is certainly a cheetah. Instantly once they understood that it is lingering somewhere nearby.

Baba gripped his spear hard; he knew it could be any moment now. They waited looking at all directions carefully without making any noise. Saba was the one saw it first, it was a black panther. It was sitting on the branch of the thickly bushed tree nearby. It was directly looking at Saba with his golden colored blazing eyes.

“BA, on the tree.” Saba whispered to Baba in urgency. He noted that it could spring on them any moment. Saba slowly turned his head towards it and the Black Panther began to snarl at Saba and instant, it sprang at him, indeed it was long leap. Saba jumped out of its way just a fraction of second before. That time was enough for Baba. He threw his spear at the Black Panther with such force that the spear pierced the chest of the Black Panther and struck to the ground with it.

“Ah! Well done Baba - that was some throw.” Saba exclaimed in delight. Baba smiled at him affectionately and began to remove his spear from the heart of dead panther.

“You owe one to me now,” Baba was all smiles; he always enjoyed this game of owing. Since they were the great wanderers of the forest, time and again they needed the help of one another.

“You are wrong, you still owe one to me BA, last time it was two, but now it is one.” Saba began to remember their last encounter with the cobra.

“You cunning fellow, how could you follow the numbers so correctly?” Baba patted him on the back.

“But BA, is this an omen?” Saba knew omens always played a very important part in their life. He was also very keen on seeing it since they have started on a deadly venture now. He always thought omens helped him in analyzing the things beforehand. 

“Indeed it is one, but a black one. Black always denote danger SA, let us be more careful henceforth.” 

“You are right BA; we shall be placing our legs on the first mountain very soon.” Saba looked at the peak of the first mountain, it looked very tall. He was also worried about the curse of lord Trilochana as well.    

“Let us be all ears and eyes SA. I think it is best to rest here for the night, we could start early in the morning.”

“So be it BA, we need that badly.” Saba sat down on the ground at once. 

**

“It is your fault Rukma; I cannot believe you could be so foolish.” Gorma murmured for the hundredth time. They have had a very narrow escape.

On the other hand Rukma was crying with the pain. Her face was swollen and become red. She was extremely angry at the Priest for trashing her several times so violently.

“But but - I didn’t know he was my father at that time.” She expressed herself between her sobs.

“First of all he isn’t your father Rukma, he is Vasundari’s father, and you should have hidden yourself once you saw him.” Gorma was very disappointed at the incident. She had never expected him to visit the old Warlock at that hour. Now certainly this would alert all of them, including the old Warlock, Gorma thought very bitterly.

“I tried to escape from him many times, but he was much stronger than that dirty girl’s body, I think you should have changed me to my own body as soon he caught hold of my arms.” Rukma began to point out her sister’s fault.

“But I did not have the body changing potion with me that time Rukma. If you had been more alert, you could have noticed him before and that would have given enough time to hide yourself from him - then, everything would have gone as per the plan.” Gorma badly wanted the Blue Sapphire, without that she felt very helpless.

“It is no good arguing now, plan something else Gorma, next time I will do my best.” Rukma at last accepted her defeat. However, secretly she began to plan her revenge against the Priest. She should do something to him; he had hurt her physically.

“Hmm, since we have alerted everyone we should make our move carefully Rukma, now let me think of something else, by that time, here; take this potion and drink it. It will ease your pain and help in relaxing your facial muscles a bit.”  Gorma gave her a blue potion and began to pace.

**

Atma and Bakula were eagerly waiting for Vasundari near the river bank. It was already evening and she was taking too much time to come here for a secret meeting. Atma knew it would be difficult for her to join hands with them in their so called secret meetings. Champaka, their mother, had been strictly instructed to keep a strong eye on her by their father.

At last to their delight they saw the tiny figure walking. Atma and Bakula looked at the hurrying Vasundari and smiled at each other.

“Oh! Poor Vasu, I thought you would not come today.” Bakula teased her, he was very much impatient. He knew they had very little time left.

“Don’t you poor me again! I had great difficulty in sneaking away from the home; now let’s start to plan the things. Of course I don’t have much time left; I need to hurry back before mother notices that I am missing.” Vasundari replied rapidly looking both at her brothers.

“Fine, since the blue Sapphire has chosen us as the bearers, we are to go the seven mountains. Since it is a dangerous task, we all have to learn to use the weapons as quickly as possible.” Atma said in a hurried tone.

“But who is going to teach us that?” Vasundari reasoned immediately.

“We have to learn by ourselves, no other way.” Bakula pointed out. He knew Atma was good at weapons and he had proved it several times. So it was him and Vasundari who have to learn rather than Atma.

“But we need weapons, Only Atma has one spear.” Vasundari reflected the problem. Suddenly there was a buzz in the air and an arrow struck the ground hard near the feet of Vasundari. Vasundari jumped up at once in horror. Before Bakula could react, there was another buzz in the air and another arrow landed near Bakula’s feet this time.

The three horrified kids began to look here and there for the source. Slowly a long shadow rose behind the nearby tree. The three looked at it with awe, whoever it was! Was he trying to attack them? Was he trying to kill them?

Atma was the one who smiled first, he recognized the long beard. It was Mahapitha! The old Warlock. They waited for the old Man to come to them. Indeed, this was a great surprise; they have not expected him to come here.      

“I suppose you are not good enough in self-defense,” The old Warlock smiled as he approached them.

“We are Mahapitha, but you took us by surprise.” Atma smiled at his with enormous respect.

“Indeed, and that is my first lesson to you all. Never ever be surprised by anything, anticipate things beforehand. You all need to be more cautious in your great venture.” Mahapitha replied with an air of superiority. He also gestured Bakula and Vasundari to take the arrows from the ground.

Vasundari found it rather hard. With great difficulty she removed it from the ground and looked at its sharp edge with awe. Mahapitha smiled at her watching her move intently.

“I think you are not comfortable using it.”

“Rather lifting it.” Bakula teased her at once, he never let go the opportunity in doing that.

Vasundari became all red in an instant, “I can learn it Mahapitha, I assure you, I - I will work hard and use all my power.” Least Vasundari did not want that factor to decide against her. She did certainly not want to give her rightful place from the deadly venture.

“More than power you need accuracy, my darling.” Mahapitha removed a fine and strong looking bow from his back and handed it over to Vasundari. Vasundari took it with her trembling hands; she had not seen a bow at so close. She touched it’s both ends with her tiny fingers and tested the string. It was too tight, and it made a sharp wheezing noise as she pulled the string.

“My dear boy! I guess you need one weapon apart from your holy Vedic Mantras. Here grab it.” Mahapitha threw a hard wooded boomerang at Bakula. Bakula grabbed it with uttermost eager.

“I strongly advise you all to practice it as much as possible before you start your venture.” Mahapitha removed a leather arrow quiver with twenty five arrows in it and handed it to Vasundari.

“But when are we leaving? And what about the lessons you were supposed to teach us?” Vasundari took it proudly and started to wear it on her back while not forgetting to shower her questions to the old Warlock.  

“Well, you shall be leaving after the third day from now. Meanwhile, I shall teach you crucial lessons in that short time; of course it is a very different kind of lessons, not entirely related to weapons.” He only wished they would be able to learn all the lessons in the short duration.

“And meanwhile practice the weapons hard while you can, also I suggest you to acquire few protecting armors and short swords from your own source. I shall be coming here, to the river bank, twice a day and teach you all the needed lessons.” Mahapitha looked at each enthusiastic faces and smiled to himself. He knew they may start with all the enthusiasm, nonetheless once they are in the mountains they would just have to learn to keep up their motivation.

“So then, we have roughly about twenty days of time to go and bring back the ‘JEEVE,’ the savior plant, isn’t it Mahapitha?” Bakula knew it would not be easy to cross the seven mountains in that short time.

“Yes, that is right Bakula. As I go on teaching lessons to you, you will all understand many things. For now, hide these weapons safely on top of that big branch of the tree and go home.” Mahapitha pointed his hand towards a tall tree with thick branches. Once Atma climbed the tree, Mahapitha singed heavily. He had no choice now; he had involved the kids and himself in the venture.               

“Mahapitha, Mani, the maid has promised to supply the armors and short weapons; we shall send a message to her to bring it by tomorrow. What time shall we meet again here tomorrow?” Bakula provided him the information hurriedly; he knew it was almost time for them to be in their home.

“Good to know that my dear boy; and about meeting, I think early morning are always best for the lessons, so once your father leaves to the temple, gather here and of course, you will find me waiting here.” Mahapitha smiled and started to walk back.

****