Ghost Monkey, стр. 52

lost centuries ago. Roofs appeared as mounds, showing dirt buried the buildings long ago. They were the only hint as to how large the city once was. In the center there was a large temple which reached out of the earth as best it could. There were signs of digging, showing that the temple was routinely cleared. The temple was off to the east of a courtyard. Spires reached to the sky from the four corners and the center of the temple, the tops looking like buds of stone. A walkway went off to the south into a building the earth swallowed.

A cauldron sat between the temple and a stone-lined pond to the west. Green moss tinged the color of the stone. Broken pillars surrounded the courtyard and pond, some of them still showing the carvings of different spirits.

A pressure set on Sugriva's chest and the voice increased. Flee. This is a bad place. We can thrive out in the jungle. Do not go here.

The desperation was a good sign.

"When do you heal me?" he asked.

"When you are ready. There is a lot we need to do, but we can at least keep the corruption from spreading."

"What is the healing? I need it now."

"I heal through fire. If you aren't immune you’ll burn to a crisp. If I wanted you dead, I would have cooked you in Kanpir as an example to any who deal with demons."

Any other words seemed dangerous, so Sugriva kept to himself.

They walked up the temple steps, and inside there were countless beautiful carvings. The paintings were kept fresh, so either Ishva or her companions were proficient in the arts. He supposed they did have centuries to perfect those skills. Several shrines revealed different spirits, each one with small trinkets as homage. Then they reached a shrine that had nothing on it but a painting.

Ishva.

There were two others which had no tribute, and Sugriva assumed those would be the other two Ashtadash: water and earth. Water was fortuitous, since it meant they had an actual healer. Sugriva never saw healing by fire before, and from what he saw in the city square, he assumed it was painful.

A clay statue in the shape of a woman gazed down another hallway. Clay was unusual for large sculptures, especially those that were the size of people. It was also very smooth. Her form was naked, though she lacked details. Her eyes were two sapphire orbs boring into Sugriva. Strange to put the jewel in before finishing the sculpture. Then he went up to her and touched her. She jumped, and Sugriva shifted into a monkey and fled into a nearby room.

The woman's voice was thick and deep. "It's inappropriate to touch people when they don't give you permission," she shouted. "Why is a janaav—Ishva, why is there a janaav here? By Paanee." She sighed, then went into the room where Sugriva fled.

"Are you coming out? If I have to come get you, I will make you pay for it two fold. Touching my divine form and obstructing my morning?" She tittered.

Sugriva shifted into a man, and the earth woman gasped. "Oh, that is not a good look." She shouted again, "Ishva, are we killing this one?" Her left hand shifted into a giant mallet.

Ishva darted into the room. "No killing, sister. This is Sugriva. If we can't heal him, the fire will deal with him."

The sapphires grew wider. "Exciting. It's been a while." She grinned like a child, and her left arm shifted back into a hand so she could clap. "Sugriva, did you see her heal?" He nodded, swallowing hard. "Fantastic. Then you know it'll hurt."

Ishva glared at her sister. "Sugriva, this is Taro Taro. She is enthusiastic."

"About killing demons," she chimed in, sing song. "We love hunting. I think that's where Wazi is."

"Are there a lot?" His brow fell. "Were there always a lot?"

"Yes," Ishva said. "Not like there are now. They prepare for war, and we will help stall that war as long as possible."

Sugriva looked to the dirty ground and brushed his toe back and forth, creating a rut in the grime. "Will they attack Jaya?"

There was a long silence, then Ishva said, "Ravasha will. If he topples Jaya, the rest of Sankive falls with it. Though, he’s not the only demon lord. Not even the most powerful. Just the most ambitious."

The name struck Sugriva like a bolt of lightning through the chest. He staggered backward and took a knee. "I know him. He killed all my friends. He slaughtered villages and used the Fangs as cover for his acts."

Taro Taro said, "He loved those serpents, and we couldn't figure out why. Wait—" Her eyes went wide, and she squealed. "You're the Feral Monkey, aren't you? You're the one who went ape—or monkey, whatever—on them?" She fervently hugged him. The monkey blushed, as her body was soft like a woman's.

"Saw some of your kills. They were magnificent. You are magnificent. If you ever want to have a baby with a spirit, let me know, because I'm open to the idea."

The thought of Pankatav twisted his insides. He thought of his son and how the boy was doing after a few months.

Taro backed up. "Sore spot. No spirit babies? No babies?"

"Taro, quit it." Ishva glared at the earth spirit.

"Later. Will pry later. Obviously." She laughed nervously, then stepped behind Ishva. "All yours, sister."

"We need to teach and train you, Sugriva. You need to be able to shift into your janaav form. Does this sound agreeable?"

Sugriva nodded. "Just tell me what to do." The life was sapped out of his voice, as his thoughts went to that infernal water spirit. He would kill her when his training was done. He swore in his heart over his parents and Prisha, he would end Pankatav's life. And Ravasha's.

"Wait, we're teaching him the janaav form," Taro Taro broke in. "That's my specialty. I get to play with him?" Her smile was unsettling, like she wanted to eat him.

"I will supervise