The night before the war, Hanuman showed himself to me. I thought he had left us after defeating Rahu.
"My lord, why are you not leaving?" I asked.
"O Fated one, I come to give you my strength," he spoke. "In the battlefield, none shall see me, but I will be with you. You must wield this power and make the most of it. May the gods protect you."
Then he came and placed his hand on my head. I looked into his eyes. They were large and brown, gleaming with compassion as they rested on my face. A moment later, his form dissolved into shimmering light and disappeared.
The morning of the war found me itching with anticipation. The avatars helped me arm. Greaves, gauntlets, and a leather cuirass. I would have no more of that. It seemed like a hindrance rather than a protection. I needed my han
