WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 8: Hunting Gone Wrong!

Young Prince Maheepati loved to hunt; especially deer, it was his favorite. He never went out to hunt with soldiers like other Kings did. He wanted to hunt alone; he believed that’s where his hunting skills would come into account. He was in love with this forest; this was always full of animals. It was a great challenge to hunt. Today he has left early in the morning.

Maheepati loved the waiting and anticipation of hunting. He knew patience is the key to hunt. He always waited until he was sure of getting the prey, he didn’t like to waste his arrows. He had spent all morning chasing what looked like a golden deer. It had tricked him several times. Stubbornly he followed it into the deeper forest. He knew he has to be close enough to get a good aim before shooting the arrow. Patiently he moved step by step trying not to make any sound.      

When each time the deer came to his arrow range, it somehow felt his presence and moved away. He should approach this time carefully; he mentally made a note and started to move towards the big rock for cover. This time the deer did not seem to notice his presence, it began to gaze with a l**t of hunger. It was in his arrow range; Prince Maheepati smiled as felt he would get it this time. Very slowly he removed an arrow without making any noise and aimed. The deer was indeed very close; he knew there was no chance of failure this time.

He closed his one eye, and pulled the string of bow to maximum, he wanted it to be dead and not hurt. He smiled as he held the arrow for final realize and whispered, “You are mine, now.”

He was about to release the arrow when he heard the rustle of some leaves behind him. Surprised Maheepati slowly turned his head back. He at once felt the shock of his life. Standing just five pace away was a huge ferocious lion! Looking directly at him!

He started to perspire heavily, he at once understood, being so close to the lion he cannot do anything. The Lion could easily spring on him in no time; it was too close to shoot and probably he would not have any time even to aim. Unaware of himself, he turned back and crouched on his legs on the edge of the rock. The Lion seemed to have lot of time; it licked its mouth with its enormous tongue once.      

Prince Maheepati was utterly in pathetic condition and he understood it at once. There was no escaping, this is it, and this is his death. It was certain and written all over his forehead, he thought very miserably. He thought of his father and mother, King and Queen of Swarnapuri. They were very eager to crown him the next King, but Alas! He is to die before it. Slowly tears began to drop down his cheeks. He at once understood why his father, King of Swarnapuri, always insisted him to take soldiers while going hunting.

Slowly he started to fill in the details of the ferocious Lion standing in front. It seemed to have all the time as it just kept staring at him directly without making any move. He looked at its huge silky mane, god! This Lion was huge. Its paws looked as strong as iron and its claws as sharp as the tip of a sword. He was too shaken to do any movements now. His mind slowly stopped working; unknowingly he had dropped his bow and arrow.

The Lion suddenly took a step forward and roared with fury. Prince Maheepati began to shake violently. He knew his final moments have come. It was just four paces away now. Prince Maheepati was known for his bravery and hence he still breathed. Other people would have died easily by now because of the fear. The Lion shook its body once and took one more step. He understood at once, next moment it is going to spring on him. Prince Maheepati closed his eyes as he heard the ferocious Lion roar again.

**

He opened his eyes again after hearing a strange sound and what he saw astonished him! The Lion was no more in front of him, it was in the air! Higher, much higher than he could imagine and a moment later it fell away at a distance making a huge noise. King Maheepati looked to his right at once, he saw a white old man standing with what looked like a long stick and he was holding it up.

The Lion at once sprang up with a vengeance, and roared with fury looking at Prince Maheepati. The old man lifted his tall stick once again. To the astonishment of Prince Maheepati the Lion floated high in the air again. The white old man banished his tall stick to his right and the Lion floated in that direction and fell down again with a thud.    

What was this! A magic! Maheepati could not understand at once. The old man has controlled the Lion with his stick. Literally he had thrown it in the air twice at ease. It took some time for Prince Maheepati to take all this in. Slowly he began to rub his numb fingers and tried to get up. The old white man came forward and offered his hand.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes – yes - why? Thank you, you - you saved my life.” Maheepati stood up and stammered in excitement.

“I did; yes I did that seeing a long life ahead of you.” The white old man smiled at him mischievously. Prince Maheepati began to observe the old man. He noticed his long white beard falling until his chest. The old man had the kindest eyes that Maheepati had ever seen. He had a pair of very thick white eye brows and his white moustache was well merged with the long beard. Maheepati was extremely curious to know about this old man.

“Who are you? You seem to be having magical powers.”

The old man bowed his head at once in salutation, “I am called Mahapitha, Oh! King of future. People do call me a Warlock, but as you see I am just a crooked old man.”

Prince Maheepati bowed in return and smiled at the old man, he started to like him, he offered his hand to the white old man and said “Very interesting, our Swarnapuri need old people like you, would you accept Palace’s friendship?”

The white old man smiled very kindly and placed his old hand on Prince Maheepati’s hand “Indeed, my future King, indeed. I am at your service.”

**

Chitrakshi looked at her father with wide eyes; she was completely taken in by the story. She was very happy about the white old man who saved her father from the ferocious Lion.

Maheepati enjoyed her astonishment and said, “Hence I call him a friend.”

“Does he know magic?” Chitrakshi was eager to know more.

“It seems so, but I like him for his wiseness and not because he is a Warlock.” Maheepati patted her back beckoning her to get up from his lap.

“Where does he live?” Chitrakshi was very reluctant to let him go.

“He lives in a small hut in the West.” King Maheepati smiled at his queen who was observing them with a mischievous grin.

“Father, please take me to him once, I love to meet him.” Chitrakshi took his hand and began to plead him.

“You shall my angel, you shall some time.”

 Chitrakshi satisfied with the answer and ran and hugged her mother, “Now I know why people call him the old Warlock of the West.”

**

Gorma was watching the sun rise, she had been thinking deeply. She wanted to forget the failures. Failures always pulled you back. Gorma hated the pain the failures caused. It torments people day and night and makes them weak and that results in more failure. She had her share of success too. But it was the failures that always bothered her. She was happy that her magic was working very well now. She had to wait twenty long years to make it work. But now when her magic is working, she should be careful enough to plan her moves, she didn’t need another failure.

“Gorma, I think we need to learn more skills.” Rukma was intently looking at her.

“Why you old fool, what’s wrong with our skills now?” Gorma showed her irritation.

“You see, none of our tricks are working.” She too has observed that Rukma is losing her patience. Rukma loved to have immediate results.

“It will work, it will work very soon.” Gorma assured her.

“But how Gorma?” Rukma persisted.

“How? How? Yes, we need to have that.” Gorma started to pace here and there thinking deeply. Yes, that would certainly help them in gaining more power. She always wanted to have that.

“What we need to have Gorma? Are you gone mad?” Rukma could no longer contain her anger.

“Ha ha not me, it is those people who are going to be mad as soon as I have that.” Gorma laughed heartily with her imagination.

“Ha ha ha”, Rukma mimicked Gorma’s laugh scornfully, “What?”

Gorma closed her eyes and ignored her sister’s ironic expression and imagined it in her mind’s eye. Glow! That’s what it could do. It would glow every moment and give strength to their magic skills. Slowly she opened her eyes and smiled at her staring younger sister.

“Sapphire - the Blue Sapphire.”

“Blue Sapphire! Where is it? How are we going to get it?” Rukma was all questions again.

Gorma knew where it is now. Earlier it was in Sampada’s ‘Kajana’, but now it has changed hands, she has sensed it. Slowly she pointed her hands towards west, “It is in the possession of old Warlock.

Rukma suddenly began to change her color, she feared the old Warlock of west. “Oh! He - he is much stronger than us, I - I am not going to come with you this time.”

Gorma hated to see her younger sister go weak. She was the one who couldn’t control her fears when it mattered. Time and again she had given away because of her fear. Gorma knew Rukma’s weakness, and the moment she feared she would show her original yellow color like other weak Witches did. It was Gorma who had mastered the art of controlling fear. She wanted to think, she looked angrily at her younger sister and said, “You silly witch, why can’t you keep you fear under control? I need time to think, now leave me alone.”

****