The Mists of Brahma by Christopher C. Doyle

Author:Christopher C. Doyle [Doyle, Christopher C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-13T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixty-four

Overwhelmed

Near the Entrance to the Hall of Archives

Jignesh and Usha, with their band of students, struggled to free themselves from the onslaught of the pisachas and pretas so they could focus on the vikritis.

They had just two Kshatriyas—Varun and Tanveer—between the two groups, and Tanveer was handicapped by the close combat conditions that reduced the effectiveness of his bow and arrows.

But they had to break free—they were the first line of defence against the vikritis, since the other two groups had only two Rishis between them.

Varun and Tanveer fought back-to-back, slicing and slashing at the pisachas, who kept up the assault relentlessly. Tanveer had resorted to grasping two arrows, one in each hand, wielding them much as one would wield knives. He used the sharp edges of the arrowheads to decapitate the pisachas as they got close to him.

The vikritis stopped their headlong rush and paused to hurl flaming spheres at their opponents. Jignesh and Usha, with one accord, raised their brahmadandas to counter the attack and absorb the energy of the missiles, which flew fast and furious at them.

Unknown to the defenders, three other bands of vikritis had circled around and were now positioning themselves to attack the groups led by Kanakpratap and Parth.

In the Skies above the Bhimbetka Caves

Maya watched with horror as three groups of vikritis—nine in all—sprinted around the frontline of defence mounted by Jignesh and Usha, and took up positions to attack the other two groups of defenders.

She realised the peril the six defenders were in. They had only two Rishis, and the enemy attack would be mounted from three directions. They would be defenceless on one flank. While the Kshatriyas were useful in despatching the pisachas, the vikritis had to be neutralised by the Rishis before the Kshatriyas could be effective against them. That was the reason the Sangha and Gana fought in complementary pairs.

As she watched the vikritis hurl fireballs at the defenders led by Jignesh and Usha, she realised the enormity of the danger they were in. She had seen the explosive power of these fireballs earlier tonight. Jignesh and Usha were using their brahmadandas to good effect, but they were fully occupied with the two groups of vikritis they were battling along with the pisachas and pretas that were still swarming around them. They were in no position to aid the others.

What Kanakpratap and Parth needed was a third Rishi with a brahmadanda, who could effectively help neutralise the vikritis that were now preparing to attack them.

Maya felt helpless. Even if she were to return to the Gurukul and reappear with her brahmadanda, it would be of no use, since she had no idea how to use it. Without the necessary mantras and siddhis to operate it, it would be no more than an ordinary piece of wood.

She made up her mind.

There was only one course of action available to her.

She knew it would mean discovery of her presence here and a severe reprimand, perhaps even punishment for disobeying her guru’s instructions, but it didn’t matter.

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