Chapter 28: Chapter 28: A Hundred Miles Away from Home
The monk packed all his belongings with a spell and stuffed it into a small satchel. Everything shrunk to fit inside it. Akira, Mitra and Li Juan reached the spot just then. Seeing the monk, they bowed down with respect.
"What queer place are you taking me to, Alex, where people bow down to their cook?"
"Maybe they respect the food a lot, 'Lay'?" Alek emphasised on the pseudonym.
The others were puzzled but they joined the two of them on the journey back.
"It does feel like a royal welcome. Didn't know I was so intimidating that eight people had to come to call me." Lay chuckled.
"Eight?" Li Juan was bewildered.
"Actually, I sensed something," Akira said, adjusting his glasses.
Alek frowned as he stepped forward and took a sheet of paper from his pocket. He whispered something into it and threw it eastwards.
"Argh!" Several cries could be heard.
Mitra rushed to the spot and found the Four tangled in creepers.
"Why are you here?" Mitra asked.
"Why do you hide things from us?" Leia retorted.
"It's better that some things are kept within a smaller group. Use your brain, next time. Come on, get up." Mitra offered his hand but Leia ignored it and she magically cut off all the creepers.
The four came out from the bushes, not meeting anybody's eyes.
Alek's face was unreadable. Juan and Akira looked half-embarrassed and half-concerned. Only Lay seemed jovial.
"With the ladies here, the journey to your castle seems less cumbersome."
He started humming a song which left the group bewildered:
"Lord, I'm one, Lord, I'm two,
Lord, I'm three, Lord, I'm four
Lord, I'm five hundred miles away from home"
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
.
"Did you find them?" Ananda asked as Aniruddha came back to the room, panting heavily.
"I chased them for an hour but I lost them little over the old temple in the outskirts. They separated and took different routes so it became difficult. But I've placed a Fulu talisman on one of their backs. If they ever come near us, we'd know."
"The more I think, the more I feel it'd be better to head back to the castle. This is too risky."
"Maybe.. We could make a temporary residence outside the castle, because like you said, our energies would be curbed with the wards. I have a place in mind."
"Let me guess... Behind Mirabilis?"
Aniruddha smiled.
* * * * * * * * * *
On reaching the castle grounds, Alek ordered the girls to go in first and pretend that they were out on a walk. When they entered, Anaya was sitting with Vasik and playing a game of chess. They hardly noticed anybody coming in. Soon, Akira and Li Juan returned. They headed back to their rooms. By the time Mitra, Alek and Lay came home, the game was over.
"Whom do we have here?" King Vasik asked in his sonorous voice.
"A new chef for the place has been sent. His name is Lay. We were expecting one when Anaya and guru came, and then it somehow got delayed." Mitra responded.
"Aha! Delicious food is in order, then."
Anaya quietly observed without uttering anything.
Mitra led Lay to his room as the castle can be confusing for a first-timer.
Alek went and took a seat beside Vasik. Anaya excused herself.
"That was real quick, Aleksandr." Vasik remarked.
"We do not have much time at hand, after all."
"That god left urgently a while back, something is up."
"I heard, on the way back, that Ananda was attacked while staying at one of the monasteries. Word has its way around in places such as those."
"Hmm. Be wary, dear friend. Be very, very careful of your surroundings. This place isn't your home anymore."
A distant look wandered on Alek's face ; there was something on his mind.
* * * * * * * * * * *
When Lord Fuxi came back to the castle, a young baldheaded boy was making tea in the kitchen. He wore a long white T-shirt and black denims. Fuxi gazed for a while at the newcomer.
"Who are you, by the way?"
Only when he asked the question did the boy realise his presence.
"Oh, hello, my Lord. I'm the new cook cum butler in this house. My name is Lay. I've been sent to take care of everyone here."
"Ah, I did hear they were sending someone. Right, right. Send a cup of tea to my room."
"Yes, my lord." The boy bowed as Fuxi left and nonchalantly continued what he was doing.
Once finished, he carried the tea to Lord Fuxi's room, to find someone waiting in the hallway.
"Give it to me, I'll take it to the Lord." Nyx said.
Lay handed over the tea tray without hesitation.
Nyx knocked and entered Lord Fuxi's room.
"Come, I've been waiting", he said.
Nyx placed the tray down and made tea for the god.
"One teaspoon sugar, one teaspoon honey, am I right?"
"Of course. I'm surprised you remember. After all these years, I mean."
Nyx looked up and smirked.
"Well, who am I, after all?"
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