Ghost Monkey, стр. 27

The monkey nodded. "I won't go into a rage today, priestess." He smirked and winked to hide his uncertainty. The vials weren't working as long as they used to. In a half year, he doubled the dose of elixir.

"You are not fighting alone. We are with you."

"We have a live one," someone shouted. Madhav pushed the crowd of warriors back and seized the injured Fang.

"Where are you coming from?" He lifted the serpent up by the throat. "Tell us and we will make your death quicker than you deserve."

The Fang spilled the information. He told them how many days, which paths to take, which paths were decoys, and where the traps were. There was some torture involved, including the loss of his fangs and cutting out his poison sacks, but all in all Sugriva was surprised at the ease of the interrogation.

"Do you believe it?" he whispered to Zaina. "That seemed easy."

"The Ashtadash award one by their dharma. We will see how well our leader walks his path."

Sugriva blurted out. "The potions aren't working as well."

Zaina gave a sidelong glance, then laughed. "I know. I do pay attention to you, Sugriva. You’re worth paying attention to."

"Why haven't you said anything?"

"Why should I? Madhav wants you dead, but you haven't finished serving this life."

Warmth spread through Sugriva, settling as a pleasant stirring in his guts. Tears flowed and he embraced his friend. "Thank you. Too bad when we get home we can't see each other."

"Dharma is not as strict as you think it is." She winked. "I'll make sure we still see each other from time to time."

THEY MARCHED FOR A month with little rest to reach the pit they were told about. The temperatures were frigid and the trees looked strange, shifting from the trees of the jungle to something more hardy. The winds were chilly and the humidity dropped.

Zaina watched the changes with wonderment. "We don't know of this place. They could be sending us north to freeze to death." All of the warriors shivered, fear setting in that the priestess could be right.

The warriors killed wolves with thick pelts, as well as other animals who were adjusted to the cold. The janaav often stayed in their animal forms to afford a little extra protection from the elements, as man had no protection to the cold. Off in the distance, when climbing the trees, Sugriva could make out a seemingly endless mountain to the north.

The party was only a mile or so south of where the supposed pit rested. Madhav shifted to a man and said, "Scouts, fly ahead and find the pit. Return before sunset." The scouts flew off into the air. Sugriva couldn't imagine the bitter cold with how high and fast they moved.

"Strategists, meet with me. Everyone else, start foraging in case we need to spend the night."

Nearby, the soldiers found a small cave to stay in. The sun set, but the scouts didn't return. Madhav spoke with his unit before they went to bed. "Assume the scouts are dead. The lead is good, whether intentionally or not. We will have half our men awake, and half asleep while camping. Do not let your guard down. Do not be afraid to sound the alarm. I would rather us all wake up in the middle of the night to deal with shadows, than to die in our sleep. Dismissed."

That night, while Sugriva slept, he had a dream. Something slithered up to him, but the Fang didn't consume him. Instead, he whispered, "You are mine. You will kill my forces, but I will claim your soul." Then a long nail dug into the flesh of Sugriva's forehead. It pierced the skin, and burrowed through his skull. When it touched inside his mind, Sugriva bolted up from his head, breathing heavily.

Fangs surrounded him, his comrades all dead.

This is it, the nearly forgotten voice said. The potion had kept the voice a distant nag until now. Your friends are dead, the demons rise up, kill them all.

Sugriva howled, pulled out his staff, and shed blood until his fur was matted with blood.