WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 33: A Warning!

Saba and Baba woke up very early and finished their morning chores near the small pond. They knew it is always best to start early. After eating some roots and fruits they set themselves to walk ahead. After a hard walk of an hour they reached to the beginning of the first mountain. The first of seven mountains were higher than others save the seventh one. Although they had climbed many mountains in forest for several years, the range of deadly seven mountains still scared them. They had heard of many tragic tales and facts about it.

Once they cross the first mountain, they would be mostly in thick forest again. They had heard about the mystery rivers and concealed paths as well. Now they are going to explore all these things for real and that brought an excitement in their very minds. Both looked at each other and smiled, for they could easily understand the thoughts of one another. As they began to climb the first mountain, Saba stopped abruptly holding his head. He felt as if someone is pounding it with a hammer. He sat down immediately holding his head in his both hands. 

“What happened SA?” Baba knelt down anxiously. Soon he too began to feel the sharp pain in his very head.

“It my head BA, I feel as if I have a big bug inside, do you feel same too?” Saba explained while still holding his head.

Baba too began to feel the pain strongly now. He sat down beside his brother and began to think of a reason for their headaches.

“It is too severe in my head, Ah! Someone is screaming BA, oh! I can’t bear it anymore!” Baba exclaimed in utter horror, he felt as if someone is screaming some unrecognizable words in his head.

Saba concentrated hard and immediately understood it. Yes! It has to be call! The great call of lord Trilochana. Many people who had earlier ventured had told the similar tales. So it is lord Trilochana! Who is trying to stop them from enter the first mountain.

Saba began to think of a way to communicate to the great saint about their noble purpose, they were certainly not here looking for the treasure, they have to transmit their thoughts to the great saint. Saba now feeling the strong pain in the head looked at his agonized brother, he had fallen down on the ground holding his head and had started to scream in extreme pain.

“Oh! lord, listen to my plea!” Saba cried out very loudly, there was no other way he can communicate to the great saint. He repeated his words several times aloud. To his amazement he found that his pain in the head was diminishing but ironically he observed that his brother Baba seemed to be still in much greater pain. He was screaming with all his might, soon he saw thick blood oozing from his brother’s nose. Tears began to flow down Saba’s cheeks, he did not want to lose his brother this way, and he knelt down at once beside him and began to sooth him with words. 

It was no use, blood continued to ooze out from Baba’s nose and mouth. He was in no state to listen to anything now, he was continuously screaming with the terrible pain in his head. To Saba’s surprise he had no pain in his head whatsoever. It all looked very strange to him. Suddenly he heard a voice and looked back.

“I am hereby forbidding you - I am hereby forbidding you - I am hereby forbidding you.” The voice repeated three times. Saba looked everywhere but could not see anyone. Slowly he began to understand that the voice he heard came from his own head. He sat down making himself calmer, yes the great saint was speaking to him, and he has to talk to him in the same way.

“Go back from here before your brother breaths his last.”  He heard the voice threaten again.

“We are here on a noble cause oh! Great Saint, we wish to cross the mountains with your permission - please let us go, do not harm us.” Saba said loudly imaging the great Saint in front of his eyes.

“I cannot, I myself have cursed and I shall not be able to take it back at any cost. Hence you have to go back or sacrifice your dear life.” Saba heard the strong voice again.

“Oh! Great Saint, we are here to save a life, saving a life is indeed a godly deed and as per your curse we know that it cannot harm us.”   

“Why do you think so?” The strong voice said in his head.

“Could you please spell out your curse?” Saba requested aloud. He knew he was successfully communicating with the great saint and for the first time he felt very confident.

“NO MEN OR WOMEN CAN EVER CROSS THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS.” Said the voice in his head.    

“We are neither Men nor Women oh! Great Saint – we are the human of intersex gender. We may have testicle and look like a man from outside, yet we are not men. We may have ovary, but we are not women either.” Saba replied loudly hoping the great saint could understand their unnatural gender.

“In that case, I permit you to cross the mountains, however; I think you will not be successful in getting the savior plant you wish to possess.” The voice in their head replied.

“Oh Great saint! May I know the reason? Aren’t our cause noble enough?” Saba said aloud with surprise.

“Indeed it is! But I see that you both are not the bearer of Blue Sapphire. I shall permit you to cross the seven mountains though. Mind you, the same may risk your very lives – BEWEAR!” The voice stopped at once. Saba tried to ask further questions but to his astonishment there were no further replies. He understood at once that the Great Saint is done talking to them.

He looked at his brother Baba and surprisingly saw his bleeding has come to a stop now.

“Are you all right BA,” Saba enquired.

“I am, and in fact I heard all your conversation with the great saint. My pain is gone too, I am happy we are permitted.” Baba smiled at Saba.

“I guess me too. But we have to get hold of the Blue Sapphire before we reach the Seventh Mountain – so let’s keep our eyes sharp and open BA.” Saba said picking up their belongings.

“Sure thing SA. We will find the Blue Sapphire.” Baba said wiping out the traces of blood from his nose and mouth from a leaf.

****