Sword of Slaughter by Kalki R Krishnamurthy

Author:Kalki R Krishnamurthy [Krishnamurthy, Kalki R]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789387894334
Publisher: Westland Publications
Published: 2019-01-06T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Return to Consciousness

Vanathi fainted again; her eyes closed gently.

Consciousness returned by slow degrees; so did memory, and along with it realisation that her wedding to the prince in Nagalokham or Devalokham was just an elaborate hallucination. The terrifying news about his drowning—Vanathi’s frantic run towards the banks—the vertigo which tumbled her into the stream—she remembered it all.

Disappointment shook her at the recollection; despair so sharp and intense that she felt her heart seize as though she had taken a spear to her breast.

She tried to pry her eyes open, but in vain; they would not even flutter. Her rescuer—who could it have been? Ilaiya Piratti, of a certainty; Kundhavai Devi had been in a boat upon the stream, after all. The question was: why? Couldn’t she have let me drown; lost to the waters? I’m going to quarrel with her when I can open my eyes and gather strength to speak: Why did you save me? Is this all the love you bear your beloved brother . . . ?

But hark; she speaks, now—but what, and to whom? I may as well listen.

“ . . . she’s lost her senses; babbling—ah, a miracle that she’s survived! If the boat had even been a little away—we couldn’t have seen her fall, could we? The very thought makes me quail—”

“—or we’d have been rendering thanks for not seeing it, which would’ve been a blessing in disguise; this young lady’s life would have ended peacefully. But she’s alive now, and one cannot but wonder at the Kodumbalur princess’s future sufferings, thanks to your interference—”

Why, who is it that talks of me with such empathy—ah, yes, that young man; the one I’d seen in the astrologer’s home, and upon the banks of Arisilaaru! He must have been the one to bring news of the prince as well —and what’re they going to say? Listen, Vanathi—your eyes may not open, but there’s nothing wrong with your ears, after all.

“These cruel, cruel words without a hint of compassion—how could you?” came Ilaiya Piratti’s startled voice. “Or is this perhaps true of men—are they all malicious and heartless?”

“What’ve I said, pray, that marks my heart as stone?”

“What of your wish, just now, that death would be a better fate for this young woman? Isn’t that proof of your heartlessness, if proof indeed was required? If you only had some inkling of my extraordinary efforts to nurture her—”

“Your pardon, Ammani, but did you even listen to her insane rambling?”

“What did you discern?”

“Something about wedding the prince . . .”

“Indeed—heart’s craving finds a way to her lips even when she’s unconscious; so deeply has that desire taken root in her.”

“A desire that will bode her no good; that road will lead to nothing but endless despair and disappointment.”

“What—why would you even say such a thing? Who else could be a fitting bride, pray than this highborn maiden? Surely you must know the illustrious, ancient Kodumbalur clan’s valourous lineage—”

“I’m not exactly unaware of their prominence, true—but we’re talking at cross-purposes, here.

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