The Anzu's Egg 2 by J F Mehentee

Author:J F Mehentee [Mehentee, J F]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781912402250
Publisher: P in C Publishing
Published: 2020-03-25T22:00:00+00:00

Utsmani had introduced his daughter before we’d taken our seats for a lunch of salad and cold meats. Cubchick had calmed down, and after Biyu had fed it three slices of chicken—the anzu didn’t care much for the ham or the goat’s meat sausage—it had gone back to sleep in the holdall. Of the five of us, Cubchick ate as if it were the hungriest.

‘I’m sorry,’ Utsmani said, dabbing at his mouth with a napkin. ‘Introducing you to the yakshini first was rude and improper. The Leyakians’ increasing interest in magical relics makes it difficult to trust anyone nowadays. When it comes to the sceptre, I let the yakshini decide for me.’

The demoness telling the Leyakians about the anzu’s egg suggested she might also use them to get the sceptre. With the governor aware of the Leyakian threat, perhaps she’d sent Biyu and me in their place. But, had she known about Utsmani’s tests and how the yakshini would react to us?

He needs to know about the demoness, I told Biyu.

Biyu put down her fork.

Good idea, brainiac. He’s relieved we’re not Leyakian, and now you want to tell him we’re worse, because the last person who should have the sceptre sent us here to get it.

If I told him, the governor’s hospitality would come to an abrupt end.

It’s not like Toojan to advise us to do something that would do more harm than good. And Tarigan wouldn’t have bought us those air tickets if he thought us getting ahold of the sceptre would put the archipelago in danger. There’s a bigger scheme in play. I don’t think we’ll know what it is, discover the missing pieces, if we withhold something so important as who sent us here.

Biyu sunk in her chair. She eyed her surroundings, searching for ways of escape.

I trust the little monk, she said. But I’m not taking chances. If things go pear-shaped, take Cubchick and run for the door behind you.

When she put it like that, I wasn’t sure if being open with Utsmani was the right thing to do.

‘Is there a problem?’ the governor said. ‘You both look preoccupied.’

Biyu nodded once, and so I told Utsmani about this morning’s encounter with the demoness and why we were here.

Utsmani lifted his napkin from his lap and placed it next to his plate. He stared at his daughter as if to share an unspoken word. Damini straightened. Lunch was over.

‘There are two reasons for wanting the sceptre,’ Utsmani said. ‘To use it to unseal a hellmouth, or to destroy it. Mr Tarigan speaks highly of you both. While the demoness sent you here for the first reason, I believe you will do the right thing and destroy it.’

I sucked in my cheeks to stop myself smiling. Toojan’s guidance, our being here, began to make sense.

‘How do we destroy the sceptre?’ I said, aware that to do that would incur the demoness’s wrath.

Utsmani faced Damini who reached behind and pulled out a rod. She handed the rod to her father, who reached across and offered it to Biyu.

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