Winds Of The North- Part 6 [Surya]

Surya followed Vidyut down the winding stairs to the dungeons that lay beneath the Guild hall. Rays from the afternoon sun spilled in through the tiny windows carved in the wall and washed the high, narrow steps of the staircase. Surya descended with care, guiding himself with one hand on the wall. A single miss-step, and… Surya imagined the crack of a skull and pictured the cup in the Guild master's chamber. 

"You must take me to your apprentices when you have some time to spare. I believe they are well." Surya glanced at the back of Vidyut's head. His curly black hair looked a light shade of brown in the passing sunlight. 

"They are doing well, and the guild is aware of the royal family's assistance to our trainees. Once you….get settled in, the trainees can come, visit you, and tell you in their own words how deeply grateful they are." For once, Vidyut's words sounded frank, without his usual mocking.

"You must tell little Tilak I brought sweets from Kundali." 

Vidyut chuckled softly but remained quiet. He was descending at a slow pace, possibly so Surya did not fall behind.

"Your apprentice, Alok, can he use the golden hand for tantra?" 

Vidyut shook his head. "I do not know, yet. Tantra can only weave around the fibres of the body. But you mustn't concern yourself. They are mine to worry about." 

  Surya knew what Vidyut left unsaid. "You must know why I am here."

"I have no interest in what you are here for, my prince, outside of any command from the Guild."

Vidyut's right cheek lit up for a moment under a stray sunlight streaming in through a window. It was unsual for a man of the north to have dark skin. It shone like polished bronze under the sun.

"I do not see men of your color in the north. Are you from another kingdom?" 

Vidyut looked back sharply at Surya that almost made the prince trip over the step. The tantric then turned around and continued to descend the stairs. "The Guild Master says the treatment will begin tomorrow." His voice had an edge again.

"So, it will." Surya wanted to kick himself. "Could you shed some light on what the process is?" Surya asked with all the sweetness he could muster.

Vidyut stayed quiet for several moments. 

"My prince, there is very little I could tell you that would be of help. I do not know much regarding your affliction." 

"You would not tie me to a pole and whip me, would you? That is what they say in the south, what the tantrics do here in the guild. But it sounds egregious." 

"We are almost here. Watch the last step." Vidyut issued a word of warning to the prince as they entered the underground dungeon.

It was cold and damp, poorly lit but not entirely dark, with few torches sitting on the rough flint walls. A thick musty smell filled the air, stronger than before. Vidyut picked up the lantern hanging near the entrance, and onward they marched. It lurched in his hand as they passed each cell, making the shadows of the prison bars dance eerily back and forth on the walls and the ground of the dungeon. Surya thought the place was entirely noiseless until he heard breathings that were neither his nor Vidyut's. They did not even sound human. 

On instinct, Surya placed his hand on Vidyut's back, which caused the tantric to halt his steps all of a sudden. Abashed, Surya quickly removed his unguarded hand, and the two continued to walk further down the aisle. They reached the very end of the dungeon when Vidyut stopped and turned his lantern towards the cell on the right.

"Here he is." The tantric pointed.

Inside the cell, was a man, no greater in height and weight than an ordinary person, sitting silently on the floor, with his legs crossed and his hands on his knees. Prince Surya took the lantern from Vidyut's hand and walked up to the prison bars. The man had his eyes closed.

"Praying would not absolve you of your sins, himasura. You hunted but not for food. I am here to know why. Why would you chase down a troupe of innocent men and slaughter them?" Surya kept his emotions away from his voice, but anger was growing inside him.

"….."

"You will be held in this prison as long as it is needed. You will be chained up and whipped. Your eyes will be gouged out, and your skin will be scorched. And if you die, we will find your herd. We would not stop until we find the truth." Surya spoke firmly, but his heart was thumping. He hoped the disturbing words shocked the himasura into submission, but the rakshasa's silence meant he saw through Surya's empty threats. 

"..." 

"What was it? Pleasure? Gold coins from our enemies? A thirst for revenge? Which one?" Surya raged this time, raising his voice.

"...."

The prince and the tantric exchanged a knowing glance in the dim light of the lantern, and Surya gave him a nod. They turned and started to walk back to the door when a voice called out.

"My people died too." 

Surya spun back towards the cell. It was the rakshasa in the human form. He had opened his eyes at last that were ablaze with fury.

  "What did you do then? Do you remember? When they were suffering, dying from the scourge? You want to torment my herd? I have no herd. Do you remember why? You mustn't. If you did, you would not stand here and show me your traitorous face." 

Surya was so stunned he almost dropped the lantern that he was holding. Vidyut must have sensed it as he quickly put a hand on Surya's back. 

"You do not remember a thing, do you?" The rakshasa gave a snort and then said darkly, "I will wait till you remember. When you do, it will be your turn." Once he said his piece, the monster closed his eyes and resumed his silence. 

Surya's steps turned heavy as he and Vidyut started walking back. He was breathing heavily, and his heart was beating like a drum. There was a thumping noise in his ears as water came unbidden to his eyes. Vidyut grasped the lantern with one hand and held Surya's elbow with the other. Surya's vision was rapidly fading as he began to have that sinking feeling in his chest again, like the many times when he fell in his dreams. He walked a few more steps before his legs gave out, and the last thing he remembered was a pair of arms holding him up.

------XXX-----XXX------XXX-----