"Well, it's about time that you got here." Suman's dry voice spoke from above her.

Savitri got up briskly and brushed her dust-covered arms and clothes. Without looking at where she was, she glared at Suman.

"It's called assessing the situation," she snapped. "I doubt that you'd understand it. You're quite impulsive."

Suman shrugged. "And you think too much," he said. "You're okay, right?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Savitri answered. "Just a bit surprised that it worked, that's all. It felt like I was going down a slide."

"It did," Suman agreed. "But hey, at least we are all in one piece, right?"

"That's true." Savitri nodded. "Now where...whoa..."

Suman followed her gaze, grinning. "I know, right?" He put his arm around her. "It's like we're in heaven!"

Savitri snorted. "Naga heaven, maybe," she said, mentally scolding herself for letting an undignified expression of amusement come out of her nose out of all places. She brushed her clothes again and threw her odhni around her shoulder. How in the world is there a cave in the middle of the forest? And where would they...how...never mind. "Let's keep going. We have to find Takshaka."

"I wonder what he has to help us with this mission," Suman said. "Did Indra say?"

"No. He just said to find Takshaka," Savitri said. "You know, he did a lot of explaining while you were busy playing with the flowers."

"Hey, I'm allowed to admire beauty," Suman defended. "You should try it sometime. I think it would help with your snappy mood."

"I'm not snappy, I'm just putting my priorities on top of my schedule," Savitri responded, her tone lacking its usual assertiveness.

Suman observed her out of the corner of his eye. He immediately noticed her mood change, and that wasn't the only thing that was different about her. When she walked, she slumped. Black semi-circles colored the skin underneath her eyes like make-up, but reflected from her eyelids. Even her arguments were soft.

"Are you okay?" He asked quietly, twiddling with his bow.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"You're too quiet," Suman replied. "It's not like you to be so...subdued."

Savitri gave him a rueful smile. "I'm just a bit tired," she said, covering her yawn. "It's not everyday that you witness two deaths in one week, or, err, a near-death."

"I suppose so," Suman agreed. Through the cave that they were walking through, Takshaka's kingdom became clearer and clearer as they neared the exit. Suman was going to mention the fascinating design of the sand-like houses that towered over one main road, but something about Savitri's explanation made him pause.

"Savitri?"

"Yes?"

"Were you...worried about me?" Suman couldn't hide the humor in his voice. Or rather, he didn't bother to hide it.

"Don't think that you're some god," Savitri replied dryly. She avoided his gaze. "But yes, as incredulous as it may seem, I was worried about you, Suman."

"Why?"

"Why?" She was appalled. "Why not? You're my responsibility, Suman. Sage Agastya ensured your safety with me."

"I'm pretty sure that it's the other way around," Suman grinned. "But okay, I can see that being true. Sage Agastya is frightening when he's angry."

"I didn't mean it like that," Savitri said. She wiped the side of her face and chewed on her bottom lip. Would she regret what she was going to say? She fixed her odhni again and sighed. "I am afraid of Sage Agastya's wrath, that much is true, but also..." she hesitated. "I'm not good at protecting myself. You saw with Kandrat, and the demon who created the Satyavan illusion. I need your help, Suman, and I was wrong to refuse you in the beginning."

Suman stopped picking his bow. He let Savitri's words sink into him; his brain, his heart, his soul. He smiled.

"Thank you," he said, his voice barely above a murmur. He laughed a little and brushed his hair behind his ear. "Thank you for needing me."

"Oh, um, sure?" Savitri wasn't sure how to respond to that, but Suman turned his head away before she could continue, so she didn't say anything. His side profile seemed straighter, though, she noticed.

I wonder what that meant, she thought. Wiping some water from her mouth, Savitri suddenly realized that she hadn't drunk anything in a while, and with that realization, her throat contracted roughly. She felt like sandpaper had been rubbed through her windpipe and she hastily turned her head to the side to cough.

"Thirsty?" Suman asked.

Savitri nodded. "Parched," she said with a shake of her head. "I completely forgot about eating and drinking."

"I don't blame you," Suman said. "I did too." He ran his hand over the muddy cave walls and sifted his fingers through the dirt and damp rocks that collected on his palm. Apart from their voices, the only sounds that filtered through the cave were the drips of water from the dirt ceiling above them.

"Well, we're almost into the Naga Realm," Savitri said. She craned her neck over a protruding boulder to see the large, flame-lit sand city that they were approaching. "Although, I never would have thought that we'd have to pass through a cave to get to it."

"They're snakes." Suman shrugged by way of explanation. "Caves are kind of their thing, you know?"

"And sand, apparently," sighed Savitri. "Come, let us hurry. The sooner we meet Takshaka, the sooner we can continue our journey." She began to walk faster.

"And the sooner we can eat!" Suman added, running after her.

~***~

Savitri would have liked to say that she and Suman kept their mission in their minds and walked straight to Takshaka's palace, but that would have been lying. She couldn't blame herself, though, because the Naga Kingdom was amazing!

A system of roads made by large pebbles snaked through the towers and towers of large, magnificent sand buildings. Some stood straight, others careened to the side, but most of them were built in a zig-zag shape, held together by what Savitri assumed were buckets and buckets of wet mud and sand.

"I wonder where all of the shops are," Suman said. He walked close to her side, his hand constantly brushing the back of hers with all of his uncontained excitement. "Wouldn't they have stalls?"

"Maybe they're inside," Savitri suggested while simultaneously batting his hand aside. She smirked, but her smug grin faltered when she noticed two nagas - a male and what she guessed to be his daughter - appearing from under the sand of a nearby house. The man carried a woven basket of goods with him and turned briefly to hand the woman that appeared behind him a few gray coins.

"Well..." Suman nearly dropped his bow. "That explains it, I suppose."

"That's interesting," Savitri murmured. "They have their shops underground..."

Suman hummed. "They are snakes," he said.

"Half-snakes."

"Whatever."

"Savitri! Suman!"

A tall, ruggedly handsome naga slithered towards them, calling out their names in a voice that made sand trickle from the buildings around them. From the crown on his head, Savitri deduced that he was Takshaka.

"Bow." She hissed at Suman. They both dropped to their knees and bent their heads, keeping down until Takshaka stopped in front of them, granting their blessings.

"Rise," he ordered gently, giving Savitri an opportunity to get a better look at him. He was handsome, in an older sort of way. He had soft wrinkles on his forehead and cheeks and dimples when he smiled, just like Suman. His eyes were gold with a dark blck iris in the middle, and his chest was muscular and bare save for two rows of blue and gold scales climbing up his sides and the gold necklaces and arm bands that he wore. A marble-like crown sat on top of his head, which was covered in graying black hair. His tale, which rattled whenever he moved, was also gold and blue.

Apart from the two, identical guards behind him, Takshaka was also accompanied by a younger, beautiful nagani. She had her father's dimples and dark hair, plaited much cleaner than Savitri's was. Her body was slim and covered with dripping jewelry and a cropped pink blouse with gold trim. Her eyes were narrow and a dark blue color. Unlike her father, her scales and tail were blue and green - from her mother, Savitri guessed.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, your highness," Savitri said politely. She nudged Suman, provoking him to speak.

"Um, yes, it is quite an honor," Suman stammered. Savitri held back a sigh at his small, awkward laugh.

"It is our honor to have you here," the female nagani purred. She slithered past Savitri and towards Suman as her tail nudged his chin, tipping it upwards. Savitri could hear Suman audibly gulp, and her eye ticked.

Wonderful. She thought, but if Takshaka seemed disgruntled at his daughter's overt affection, he didn't show it. Instead, he laughed and offered Savitri his arm.

"Lord Indra told me to anticipate your arrival," he said and began to slither once Savitri's hand was nestled in the crook of his elbow. "We owe you so many thanks for saving my son."

"He is resting now," the girl murmured, clinging delightfully to a very stiff and uncomfortable Suman. Savitri expected him to ask her to let him go, but he suffered silently, nodding and giving strained smiles to whatever it was that she was telling him.

Clingy snake, she thought, the amount of contempt in her inner voice startling her. Why was she so irritated? Suman could handle himself - why wasn't he saying anything? It was so obvious that he was uncomfortable with the princess's touchyness.

"My daughter, Ulupi." Takshaka gestured to her with his chin. "Will be the Queen soon. I hope you don't mind me bringing her with us."

"No, not at all," Savitri said. "A future queen should know her kingdom, after all." But maybe not all of her people...

"I'm glad that you agree." Takshaka beamed. He stopped in front of a large stone gate that opened to an enormous sandcastle draped with so many colorful jewels that Savitri felt herself growing dizzy.

"He's extremely rich, isn't he?" Suman whispered in her ear.

"Quite," Savitri agreed. He seemed to have gotten out of Ulupi's hold for the moment, as her father was busy explaining something to her.

"What do you think about Ulupi?" She asked suddenly, making sure to keep her voice low so that the guards that stood nearby wouldn't be able to hear.

"Who?

"The princess." Savitri rolled her eyes.

"Oh, she's okay." Suman shrugged and tucked his hair behind his ear again. He gazed down at Savitri with a frown. "A bit touchy, if you ask me, but it doesn't bother me too much."

"Surprising," Savitri muttered. "Then again, you don't have a very good gauge on personal space either."

Instead of pouting like she expected him to, Suman smirked. "Would you like me to step away, then?" He offered, leaning down so his face was close to hers. "I don't want to interfere in your personal space."

"Funny, very funny," Savitri deadpanned. Using her pointer finger, she pushed Suman's face away from hers by pushing the tip of his nose.

He snickered. "It's just a joke," he said while adjusting his sword strap.

"I know," Savitri said. "You and your mediocre jokes."

"Hey! My jokes are not mediocre."

"Says you."

"Says anyone who's ever heard my jokes." Suman pouted, eliciting a giggle and snort out of Savitri.

"Stop that!" She scolded, covering her nose. "You're making me snort!"

"Thus proving that I am funny," Suman said, pulling her hand down. "And so what? You won't express your laughter because of some silly dignity rule?" He tsked and shook his head. "That's just plain silly."

"It's not silly to be dignified," Savitri scoffed. "It's called having respect, not only for yourself, but also for others."

"And hiding your feelings," Suman muttered, but it was too soft for Savitri to hear so she ignored him.

Takshaka returned to the two travelers with a wide smile and open arms. Ulupi trailed behind him, looking a bit subdued, but perking up when she saw Suman.

"Come, let us eat," he said, leading Suman and Savitri into the palace as the gates soundlessly opened. "I believe that you both have much to tell me about this journey of yours."

~***~

The dining hall that Takshaka led them to was an open, empty space with only a large dining table, pillows, banners hanging on the walls, and fire pots placed in each corner of the room.

Takshaka took his place at the head of the table. He curled his tail around his body to sit down, minding the poisonous barbs that covered the tip of his tail. Savitri sat next to him, and Suman sat across from her. Ulupi then took her place beside Suman, smiling coyly at him. Savitri covered a small snicker when he just barely smiled back at her but seemed to be utterly in love when the plates of food came consistently through the door. One by one they were placed on the low table and each server bowed before they excused themselves, leaving the four to enjoy their meal.

"Begin!" Takshaka announced after the Brahmarpanam was said around the table. Suman practically propelled himself across the table to grab the food and he quickly amassed a mountain of an assortment of fruits and vegetables on his plate. Ulupi and Savitri both took time to take a few pieces of each dish and organize them carefully on their plates. Once in a white, Ulupi's hand would brush against Savitri's, and instead of mirroring Savitri's apologetic grin, she'd turn her nose up and huff and snatch the food away from her.

How rude, Savitri thought with a scowl, eyeing the way that Ulupi eyed Suman, as though she were planning for him to be her next meal.

"You must be exhausted," her overly sultry voice murmured as she watched him eat. Savitri watched Ulupi with a carefully guarded expression as the nagani princess twirled her long finger on Suman's chest. God bless oblivious Suman, she thought. He paid zero attention to Ulupi's charms and focused on what seemed to be his one true love - food.

"We are - famished, in fact," Savitri answered for him and relished the scowl that twisted on Ulupi's curly lips. Yes, I'm here too, Princess...wait, what am I saying? She shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut. Stop it, Savitri. Jealousy is no proper trait for a princess. Keep it in.

Jealous of what, though? She thought. Ulupi's affection? She shuddered. Absolutely not. Suman can have her, if he wants.

Evidently, he didn't, though. The princess gave Savitri another dirty look before continuing to unsuccessfully flirt with Suman. The poor boy was stiff, Savitri could see, but he was so enamored with the overflowing plate before him that all he did was nod and hum at her words.

"So, what brings you to this part of the forest?" Takshaka asked, bringing Savitri's attention back to the main conversation. "Lord Indra mentioned that you were on a quest, but he didn't specify the details."

"Yes, well, I am on a quest," Savitri explained and shot a glance at Suman. "My husband, Satyavan, was unfairly taken by Dharmaraj. I am going to retrieve his soul. Suman," he gestured at the beaming warrior and a small smile twitched at her lips. "Is a disciple of Sage Agastya. He offered to come with me to help me on my quest."

"How sweet," Ulupi crooned and ran her finger down the side of Suman's cheek. His Adam's apple bobbed. "You were in need of a protector, and he stepped up to the mark."

"Actually," Suman spoke before Savitri could. "I asked Savitri if I could join her on her quest, not because I felt that she wasn't capable of protecting herself, but because I wanted an opportunity to prove myself to my mentor." He winked at Savitri. "She can take care of herself."

"I'm sure." Ulupi's tone turned icy at Suman's rebuttal. She glared at Savitri, who took pride in drowning her jealousy and returning Ulupi's stare with a perfected smile.

"Well," Takshaka broke the ice. "In any case, I'm very sorry for the loss of your husband." His eyes became distant. "I understand well how you feel."

"Do you?"

"Yes." Takshaka took a swig of wine from his jewel-encrusted goblet. "My wife, Ulupi's mother," he nodded to his daughter, who suddenly took great interest in the velvet pillow under her bottom, "died as well. Not very recently - it's been a few years since her passing."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Savitri murmured. "How did she die?"

"Fire." Takshaka shrugged. "Before Indra put this protective dome around our kingdom, Lord Agni used to feast on this forest once a year."

"I thought he ate from the Khandava forest?" Suman asked.

"He does, but he alternates," Takshaka explained. "Every other year he eats from this forest, The Hara Forest, and when he does, Indra puts this dome over our realm." His eyes became glassy. "But before that, we had no protection, and while the gods bickered over the fire down on earth, we were running for our lives." Pausing to take another swig from his goblet, Takshaka wiped his mouth and sighed. "My wife was trying to get everyone out and got trapped in the forest. She died - burned or suffocated, probably."

Savitri covered her mouth gently. "I'm so sorry," she murmured. She reached out and touched Takshaka's shoulder, suddenly feeling more connected to him than she had before. "That must have been hard."

Takshaka shrugged and took a bite out of his food. "With two small children, it was," he agreed. "But she is in a better place now. She doesn't have to worry anymore." He smiled. "And I have my two beautiful children to remember her by. I'm proud of who they've become."

"I haven't done anything worth being proud, Papa," Ulupi said, pouting just like Suman did when he was upset or annoyed. Savitri bit her lip to keep from smiling, and Takshaka laughed.

"You've done so many things to make me proud of you, Ulupi," he said. "That's nonsense talk, and I don't want to hear it. Why, you're to be Queen, and you've worked quite hard to be a good one."

"A Queen without a King, maybe," Ulupi muttered. She stared at the ground for a moment, then perked up abruptly and began to explain something in a rush to Suman, who, based on his eyes that constantly kept moving back and forth, was having trouble keeping up with her.

"The death was hard on Ulupi," Takshaka mentioned. "She became so lifeless that I hardly recognized her anymore. I had to do something for her - that's my job as a father."

"It is," Savitri agreed, while simultaneously wondering how a flirtatious, expressive beast like Ulupi could have once been reserved and lifeless. "Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Do you not miss your wife?"

Takshaka took a deep breath and was quiet. Savitri, sensing the change of atmosphere, opened her mouth to apologize, but he began to speak.

"In passing, yes, I do," he said. "On the day she died and her birthday, especially. But, life goes on. I cannot spend the rest of my life mourning for someone who is in a much better place."

"Where is she? How do you know she's in a better place?" Savitri asked.

Takshaka smiled gently. "The world is cruel, my child," he said. "It was cruel to her, to all of us. I know that she passed Dharmaraj's realm, and I know that she is with Lord Indra in the stars, dancing in the court of the gods." He laughed. "She always loved to dance, do you know? She wanted to dance, and now she can. Up in the stars, she can dance."

"So...you are not upset?"

"Not anymore. Why should I be? I have a kingdom to run and two children to raise." He gazed lovingly at his daughter - a gaze that reminded Savitri of the way that her father used to look at her, and just thinking about him, in his palace, all alone, made her stomach hurt.

"Ah, I see," she mumbled and pushed her plate away. "So, you're happy?"

Takshaka nodded. "Immensely," he said. "I have everything I could ever have asked for."

"But you don't have your wife...?"

"Maybe not," he agreed. "But I have her memories. I can't change the past, Saviri, but I can still keep her alive with me while continuing my life."

"Oh...so what about Agni?"

"What about him?"

"He'll be returning this year, won't he?" Savitri asked. "Let us fight him. Suman and I. Maybe we can keep him from coming back?"

"You don't have to worry about Agni," Takshaka assured. "He and Indra have an agreement now. Whenever he is to eat the forest, Indra puts this protective sphere around our realm to keep us safe." He snapped his fingers. "Speaking of, Agni should be beginning his feast soon. Would you like to stay here until he has completed his task?"

"We'd have to think about it, but thank you for the offer," Savitri said, but her mind was a little preoccupied. A guard approached Takshaka, and she thought about his wife. She was very brave, Savitri realized. She knowingly risked her life, knowing that she could die, in order to save someone in her kingdom. Didn't she fear death? Didn't she fear what she'd be losing?

"I apologize." Takshaka interrupted her reverie. "But I have some business that I need to attend to urgently."

"Is everything alright, Papa?" Ulupi rose with her father.

He smiled placatingly. "Everything will be fine, my dear, don't worry," he replied. "It's just concerning the...help we have for our friends." He nodded towards Savitri and Suman.

Savitri smiled and stood, bowing. "Thank you again for your help, sir, and we'll get back to you with our response," she said.

"I have no doubt about that, and you're most welcome," Takshaka replied. He turned to one of his guards. "Arun, take Savitri and Suman to their room, please." He blessed Savitri and shook Suman's hand. "I will see you in the morning. Rest safely."

Takshaka slithered away, two guards following him, and Arun, a tall, gray naga, approached Savitri and Suman and bowed.

"Let us be going," he said, his voice a deep, gravelly sound.

"He sounds like he ate too many rocks for breakfast," Suman whispered to Savitri.

"Stop it, Suman," she hissed, but did giggle a little bit, making Suman grin.

"I'm right though, aren't I?" He asked. Savitri shook her head in response and turned her attention to the bare, sandy walls. Apart from torches of fire that licked the air and the kingdom banners, there was nothing else on the walls.

"Hey, I owe you a huge thank you," Suman said suddenly, quietly, and Savitri's eyes flickered to him.

"For what?" She asked. "For saving you from Ulupi?" She grinned.

Suman groaned. "Please, don't mention that," he said. "I was trying my best to be nice, but it was so hard! Especially when she kept touching me everywhere."

"You could have told her no, you know that, right?" Savitri frowned. "It's not right for her to touch you without your permission."

"I know," Suman said. "But I was too hungry to care, you know? Besides, I didn't want to be rude."

Savitri scoffed. "It's not being rude. It's your body," she said. Arun turned to look at her over his shoulder, and she smiled and waved awkwardly. He huffed and looked away. "Promise me that next time you'll say something?"

Suman gave her a wane smile. "Okay, I promise." He agreed. He hesitated. "Savitri?"

"Yes?"

"I...thank you for saving my life," he murmured. "Without you, I wouldn't be here today."

"Save your life?" Savitri laughed incredulously. "I didn't do that, Lord Indra did."

"Yes, but if you didn't stay to try and help me, then I'd be dead for sure." He took her hand, put one arm behind his back, bent down, and kissed the top of her palm. "Thank you, really."

She smiled. "You're welcome," she responded and she gazed at him (without annoyance, for the first time) as he let go of her hand and offered her his arm before they continued walking. She snorted, and quickly covered her nose.

"Again," she hissed to herself. "You're being quite the gentleman, Suman. Is it something that you ate?"

"Would you rather I start to behave like a monkey again?" Suman chuckled.

Savitri's eyes widened in faux horror. "Oh, no thank you!" She laughed. "I'm so tired, I doubt that I'd be able to control you when you're monkeying around."

Suman laughed with her. "It's fun, though, is it not?"

"Absolutely not."

"Come on! Just admit that you like it!"

"There's nothing to admit. It's annoying."

"Ah, I'll make you say it one day," Suman promised.

"We will see about that," Savitri said.

"Suman!" Ulupi's shrill voice called from behind them. Savitri scowled and Suman swallowed a groan as Arun stopped walking. All three of them turned to face Ulupi as the princess stopped moving.

"You can leave us, Arun," she said, dismissing the guard. "Their room is here, anyway."

Arun grunted. He nodded to Savitri and Suman and bowed to Ulupi before slithering away, leaving the three of them alone in the corridor.

"Is everything alright, Princess?" Savitri asked.

Ulupi's eyes shot through her like finely sharpened arrows. "This is not something that concerns you," she hissed, her forked tongue flicking between her perfect white teeth. "I have a request for Suman."

"Oh?" Suman bounced a little as he stepped forward. "What is it?"

A smile curved into Ulupi's face and she slithered around Suman. She wrapped her tail around him and tilted his chin up with the tip of her tail. Her face hovered over his, their mouths inches away from one another.

"I would like you to take me as your bride," Ulupi murmured, her tongue flicking across his cheek. From where she stood, a few feet away from them, Savitri could see Suman straining in her hold. His thumb rapidly flicked at the peeling wood of his bow.

"Could you...um...let go of me, please?" Suman choked. "You're holding me too tightly and it's making me quite uncomfortable."

Yes! Savitri cheered in her head as Ulupi's tail reluctantly released Suman, who burst out of her hold gasping for air.

"Thank you, um...woah..." Suman coughed and stepped away from her. "I appreciate your offer, Princess, but I...I'm sorry, I cannot marry you."

"What?" Ulupi's eyes burned furiously and her hair began to form a hood around her head, like a cobra. "Why not?"

"Because I cannot allow any distractions in this mission," Suman replied. He sounded so formal that Savitri wondered if the food had anything to do with his change in attitude. "I have made a promise to my friend, I cannot break that and allow myself to get distracted." He tried to smile. "I'm sorry, but I'm sure that someone else would be happy to marry you."

Like Arun, Savitri thought, remembering the sparkly-eyed stare that Arun had given his princess before he disappeared into god knows where.

"This is an insult to my family!" Ulupi screeched. "An insult to me! And for that, you shall pay, you petty prince!"

"Petty?" Suman snapped.

"Prince?" Savitri asked.

Ulupi ignored her. "I curse you, Suman," she hissed. "That you shall meet the same fate as your parents had before you. This I promise, to mend my broken heart!"

"What?!" Terror washed over Suman's face in a pale marble color.

Ulupi left before either Savitri or Suman could question her, leaving the terror-stricken warrior to collapse on his knees and bury his head in his hands.

"No...no..." he repeated over and over again. He reached for his bow, flicking the top rapidly. Savitri bent down next to him and put a hand on his back.

"Suman...what did she mean?" She asked. "Die like your parents? Prince? What was she saying?"

"Nothing." Suman stood quickly and put his bow away. Color returned to his cheeks as he took a few breaths. "Now's not the time to explain. We have to go."

"What?" Savitri rose with him and put a hand on his chest, stopping him. "What do you mean we have to go? We just got here! And later? Suman, your face was so white I thought you were dying!"

"I'm fine," Suman asserted. "I was just surprised that she knew about my family...nobody knows except Sage Agastya..."

"Know what, Suman?" Savitri asked impatiently, tapping her foot. "What aren't you telling me?"

Before Suman could respond, a loud war cry came from somewhere down the hallway and the silhouette of spears and maces twisted on the walls, their shadows flickering in the fire.

"I'll tell you later, I promise," Suman said. "But right now, we have to go. I've just rejected the king's daughter. There's going to be consequences for that."

"From Takshaka?"

"Ulupi is next in line and probably has bewitched every other soldier with that charm of hers," Suman said. "That's a dangerous weapon, and she's using it right now. Now come on!" He jumped onto the sill of a window and held his hand out to Savitri. "Let's go!"

Without hesitation, Savitri took his hand and they both flew out the window, tumbling onto the ground and rolling through the sand like two cubs playing with each other in the night sky that surrounded them.

"Oof!" Savitri groaned as she flopped above Suman. Her bow pricked her back and every bone in her body ached from the fall, but, realizing that she was laying on Suman, she decided that if her bones hurt, his must've surely been broken.

"I'm okay," Suman grunted as they both stumbled to their feet. "I cannot tell you how many times I've done that."

"Tell me later!" Savitri said when a naga's shadow rushed towards them. "Now, we run!"

"Agreed." Suman said, but before they could begin to run, a familiar voice called out for them.

"Savitri! Suman!" Takshaka's panicked voice matched his fatigued expression as he slithered over the sandy hill and met them in the palace courtyard. "Wait!"

"Wait, Suman." Savitri held his arm. "Let's see what he has to say."

"But, Savitri-!"

"Suman, I trust him," Savitri said, effectively making Suman stop moving. He did slouch and pout, though, but Savitri expected that. She just smiled, shook her head, and rolled her eyes.

"Thank you for waiting," Takshaka said, puffing. He held something thin and long in his arms. Around them, the flames flickered brightly as warrior cries increased.

"I'm very sorry, your majesty," Suman said. "But...I can't marry your daughter..."

Takshaka held up his hand. "I know, Suman. I'm sorry for how she's reacting. I tried to stop her, but..." he sighed. "You have to get out of here. Don't worry about Ulupi. She will be unable to cause you any harm if you leave quickly."

"How do you know?" Savitri asked as adrenaline rang in her ear like the residue sounds of a conch shell that was blown ages ago.

"She won't be able to leave the dome until the end of the year, when Indra removes it," Takshaka explained. "Her duties will keep her inside this place. Here." He held out a bluish-purple arrow to Savitri. "This is a divine arrow. Use it carefully, because you can only use it once. I hope that it will help you on your quest."

"Thank you, Takshaka," Savitri said, taking the arrow. She smiled at the old king, who patted her hand and nodded at Suman.

"Take care, both of you," he said. "Be successful in your mission and - argh!"

"No!" Savitri screamed, rushing to Takshaka as an arrow shot straight through his heart. He seemed to float in the air for a moment, his eyes wide with wonder and glittering like the stars that coated the sky above them, then collapsed on the ground. He died immediately; blood pooled around him - golden blood like that of the gods.

"No! No!" Savitri's knees buckled, but Suman caught her before she could fall. The flames rose higher and the sounds of the warriors yelling were getting louder as they neared the pavilion.

"We have to go!" Suman yelled over the noise. Savitri's eyes watered and some tears trickled down her cheeks, which she wiped roughly. She stood with Suman's help and they both ran - running and running, with Takshaka's last gift held tightly in Savitri's hold as they both dashed through the maze of buildings. And as they ran, Savitri tried to ignore the pain that plunged into her heart as she looked up at the night sky, running with Ulupi's screams chasing after her.