Ghost Monkey, стр. 28
Sugriva pulled on the chains, then looked back to Divyan. "How bad?"
"Two children went to the physician. One has a bruised spine. The physician is realigning his energies. The other has a dislocated shoulder and broken rib. That requires more effort. One child is an orphan and no one cares what happened. The other, his mother is furious. His father fought with you and says you should have a caretaker. He even offered to be the caretaker."
"What did Humbari say?"
"The man was a human. If you threw a fit you would kill him. You knocked out five guards, and it took another six to subdue you. That was brought up, too."
Sugriva laughed. The despair was overwhelming. "At the very least I can be free of the pain." He looked to Divyan, brows knit. "I was almost sane. Jaya would have burned for it, but I would be sane." He rattled the chains. "This is my reward for saving Jaya."
"Your dharma is unfair." Divyan stood up and touched Sugriva's forehead with a thumb, then walked away.
THERE WAS A HALL NEAR the orrery which had an extensive foyer. Thrones sat on the back wall, towering over the common floor. Seats lined the other walls with an elevated view. When the scholars first saw it, they thought it would be perfect for courtly proceedings. Generals, princes, and wise men loomed over Sugriva from those seats, scowling. They whispered among themselves, though everyone knew what they discussed: Execution. Sugriva welcomed a release from his sins and guilt.
Elephant janaav trumpeted that court was in session, and a herald walked forward, his boisterous voice filling the room. "The presiding prince, Prince Anka, shall now address the people in regards to crimes committed by the warrior Sugriva."
Prince Anka stood. "Sugriva, you are aware of all crimes brought against you in their entirety?" Sugriva nodded and the prince continued. "We are debating what your punishment should be for striking two children. You are corrupted, and we fear the corruption is incurable. What do you have to say?"
There is only one cure, the voice retorted.
Sugriva snorted at the morbid humor. "There is always a cure."
"Oh?" The prince raised a brow.
"Severing my head should purify me." He lowered his head, showing the back of his neck. "Please."
The gusto of the room was sucked out, though that was not Sugriva's goal. "Please," he said again.
Prince Anka nodded, and his haughty features softened. "I understand." The words were barely whispered, and Sugriva wondered if everyone could hear the prince. The prince didn't understand, but he was given a glimpse the day Jaya fell.
"You saved our people, even if you couldn't save our home. You have a cycle of sinning against yourself, us, and the Ashtadash, then redeeming yourself spectacularly. Surrendering yourself now, when you know you can't find the path, is honorable. We will help you move on, so you can have a positive balance upon your soul in the next life."
Horns blew in the distance. The room erupted in commotion, and soon a messenger entered.
"Who is it?" General Humbari bellowed at the panting men.
"The people from the south are here. I don't know how, but they traveled weeks in a couple days. Or our scouts were drunk."
"I will check." General Divyan shifted into a hawk and took flight. Soldiers and people scattered in the main court. Those not on the warrior's path went to their homes. Those who followed the dharma of war went to the southern walls where the horns sounded. In a few moments General Divyan returned. "The messenger is right. The desert rats are here. The boy with oil skin leads them. As earlier reports say, ten thousand sounds about right."
Prince Anka's eyes darted around the room, before they landed on Sugriva. "Dress up two servants so they look important. Their dharma will be on them. Send Sugriva to lead them. Also dress him as we would a prince. His dharma is already fallen. Sugriva, you will negotiate with the boy and see what they want. If they kill you, then the Ashtadash wanted blood. If they spare you, then the Ashtadash spared you."
IN THE DISTANCE A CLOUD of dust raised up behind the massive army of refugees. The masses went on until the land blended into the sky, and they were as wide as Sugriva could see. The monkey shuddered and looked to the servants who were shaking so badly their knees knocked together as if a cadence to welcome the...invaders.
They are invaders. Bahimatt will become infested by their malcontent. The thrones were warmed for them. Fear them, Sugriva.
The voice rattled, and Sugriva wasn't sure if that meant he should be terrified or relieved. Either way, the voice was right on one thing: The locusts were going to overrun the Jayans in Bahimatt just as the Jayans first populated the empty space and claimed it as theirs. Then the host stopped and the little black man came forward. He was around four feet tall and his skin shimmered under the sun. His head was bald. He wore a wool robe and held a staff of pale wood with a knob on the top. His skin looked chapped in places. Large chunks curled up or fell away to expose raw, red mucus.
The little black man spoke with the voice of an adult, which startled Sugriva. "Hello," he said. "I am Dameneh, prophet of the One True God. We were led here for shelter and to bolster the city."
"Bolster it against what?" Sugriva tilted his head, squinting.
One of the servants passed out, which confused Sugriva. The little boy-man in front of them was comforting, an easy presence in a very tumultuous day. The execution would likely be very public, though after they made the new visitors feel welcomed or unwelcomed.
"The One tells me you aren't well.