WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 24: The Curse of Lord Trilochana

“Behind the Seven Mountains!”  King Maheepati repeated the words with his eyes wide open. He knew all about the seven mountains, it was a cursed range of mountains. He had heard all its tales when he was a kid.

“Yes my lord! Behind seven mountains.” Hakim Ajmal Sahib repeated his words again.

“But no one has dared to cross that, isn’t it?” Maheepati looked for the confirmation about the tales he had heard.

“Yes, but, very few have attempted it though and the saint I met was one among those.” Ajmal sahib filled in the information.

“Oh God!” King Maheepati examined as he understood what that means.

“Let us send people to search the plant at once.” Keertidevi walked towards the King, she wanted to do all they can at the earliest. She was one among the many ignorant who had least information about the cursed Seven Mountains.

“No my dear Queen, no, for they can’t bring it.” King Maheepati shook his head in despair. He hated to admit his weakness once again. He knew very well that even being a King could not help them.

“Why can’t they?” Queen Keertidevi began to persist strongly.

“For it is the virtual hell of earth, the Seven Mountains are filled with treacherous and gruesome creatures.” Hakim now took the charge and looked at her with utter sympathy.

“We could send a brave army, they could fight them.” Keertidevi began to reason other opportunities.

“They can’t cross, the great mountains are filled with mysteries and puzzled ways, and moreover it is cursed. Perhaps, the old Warlock would be the better person to explain all about that to you.” Hakim Ajmal Sahib strongly opposed her, for he knew a big army would be no good at all.

“Yes, he is right my dear Queen. I too have heard a lot about that.” King Maheepati began to confirm the harsh words of the Hakim.

Hakim knew there was least he could do now, he started to walk away, but stood for a moment and turned towards the King and uttered his last words.

“WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, COURAGE and YOUTH put together could only save the Princess.”

**

Atma and Bakula had been eagerly waiting for the evening. The things were going from bad to worse. Atma wanted to read the stars again. As soon as the sun began to go down all the three had walked towards the river eagerly. Atma knew to amend his star reading skills this time. Primarily he had a clear question and there were no confusions in his mind like last time.   

He looked at the sky and closed his eyes slowly. He began to frame his single question and tried to obtain the calmness to open his inner mind. Soon he pointed his hands towards the stars.

“What does it say Atma?” Vasundari showed her eagerness at once.

“Let him read it.” Bakula nudged her showing his irritation.

Atma opened his eyes slowly and looked at the numbers of stars at where his pointing hands stood.

“I am confused; as per my reading, it says Princess is not to die.” Atma muttered to himself at last.

“How?” Vasundari was seeking explanation.

“Those four stars represent life.” Atma pointed out his hands over the four stars and began to explain others.

“But, how does it work?” Vasundari wanted to know in detail.

“First, I asked myself a question and closed my eyes to open my inner mind, when I opened my eyes I saw the signs through number of stars.” Atma explained again with patience.

“How many stars did you see last time?” Bakula opened his mouth for the first time.

“Two; two represents a war, also an ill fate as told by Mahapitha.” Atma remembered Mahapitha’s prediction.

“This all is so confusing, let us consult Mahapitha once again.” Bakula was also not convinced with that. He wanted to make it certain.

“Yes, I agree with you.” Vasundari chimed at once. She still had numerous unanswered questions for the old Warlock.

“So be it.” Atma agreed with Vasundari, at the same time he had something else in him mind as well.

**

“Alas! My ill fate,” Rukma began to weep hard. For a moment Gorma was too surprised, she could not understand at once what made her sister to cry so hard.

“My dear, now - now why are you crying?” Gorma began to sooth her.

“I can’t see him, anymore,” Rukma continued her long wailing.

“See who Rukma?”

“Lord Phaninath, the path has been sealed Alas! How I wish to meet him again!” Rukma began to explain her woes to her elder sister.

“Ah! My dear sister, worry not. I still think there is a way.” Gorma sat beside her as numerous thoughts began to dance in her mind.

“Way! You mean it is still possible.” Rukma was delighted to hear that. Lord Phaninath has been causing her sweet pain since she met him for the first time.

“Yes, only if we could get that Blue Sapphire.”

“But - but you said it is with the old Warlock.” Rukma feared him most.

“Yes, indeed. But we have to take it from him.”

“But how?” Rukma was at once very curious to know.

“We need make a plan, a plan which can help us in stealing it from the old Warlock.” Gorma began to pace giving work to her intelligent mind.

**

The King Maheepati and his Chief Minister Yamil walked inside the hut of the old Warlock. Maheepati had serious thoughts of sending an army to the Seven Mountains. There seemed to be no other way. All the other doors were closed on him. The old Warlock nodded at them to come in and looked at the King questioningly, although he knew the King was seeking his advice again.

“I need your help, my dear old friend.” King Maheepati bowed him with respect.

“What can this old man do?” Mahapitha chuckled at once, however he was very proud of their friendship.

“A lot Warlock, a lot, for you are the wisest man on this earth.” Yamil took a step forward and initiated the matter. He too knew if anyone could save the Princess, it has to be the old Warlock.

“Hakim Ajmal Sahib could not cure her. Though, he confirmed that Lord Phaninath himself has poisoned her.” Maheepati added with a sad face, he was very disappointed to know that, he had full hopes on Hakim Ajmal Sahib.

“How sad!” Mahapitha closed his eyes deciding not to comment anything on Hakim Ajmal Sahib. He knew he was one of the greatest Snake Charmers who lived on earth.

 “But, he believes a Savior plant could bring her back to life.” Yamil added eagerly. Like Queen Keertidevi he too was very keen on sending a big army and has forced the King in making a decision.

“Yes, the plant is located behind the great Seven Mountains.” King Maheepati added and waited for the response of the old Warlock.

“What are your thoughts, oh King?” Mahapitha opened his eyes and looked at Maheepati; he wanted to know the King’s view first.

“Hakim Sahib has told me about the danger, but I need your advice. I am thinking to send a huge army.” Maheepati carefully mentioned his thoughts. Initially he did not want to send anyone to certain death. He knew from his childhood tales that crossing the Seven Mountains is referred as certain death.

Queen Keertidevi and his minister Yamil were adamant in suggesting sending a huge army as soon as possible. They did not want to sit and wait for the Princess to die. They were willing to sacrifice life of an army for their lovable Princess. But Maheepati being a King has to think differently and hence he wanted to know the wise advice of the old Warlock.

“That’s doesn’t help, they cannot cross the Seven Mountains.” Mahapitha began to shake his head. He was very certain of that. He knew a great deal more about the great mountains than anyone else. He also knew that fact that a big army, however strong they may be, will not able to cross the great mountains. It was just like sacrificing them for a fruitless cause.

“What if I lead them from front?” King Maheepati took a step forward and looked deep into the eyes of the old Warlock. He wanted the old Man to understand his desperateness; he was ready to take any risk, even his own life in order to bring that Savior plant.

“That doesn’t help either; you too cannot cross it, oh King.” Mahapitha said in a hard tone.

“Then who can Oh! Warlock?” Yamil was very eager to know that.

“No men or women can cross it, for the Seven Mountains are cursed by he who has three eyes.” Mahapitha filled in the fact for them. He wanted to discourage all their plans of sending a huge army, no matter whether it led by the King himself or not. 

“What does that mean, Warlock?” Yamil was surprised by this new information, he was among one who had least knowledge of the great mountains.

“I mean the lord of Seven Mountains, the lord of scared Savior plant, the lord of all living things on Seven Mountains; lord Trilochana, has cursed it.” Mahapitha explained them with patience.

“However, I wish to go there myself.” King tried to announce his decision.

“DON’T DARE TO IGNORE MY WARNING - for you shall not RETURN BACK.” For the first time King and his minister were astonished at the tone of old Warlock, it had a very sharp edge and seemed to carry a huge amount of fire. 

****