‘How does bowing save you?’
‘If you bow to a Kappa, it will bow back. When it does, the water spills out of the top of its head, which leaves them defenseless.’
‘Well, if they can come out of the water, why haven’t they attacked?’
He pondered thoughtfully. ‘They usually attack only children, or so I was told. My mother told me that her grandmother used to carve the children’s names into fruit or cucumbers and then toss them into the water before bathing. The Kappa would eat the fruit and be satisfied enough that they wouldn’t hurt the bathing children.’
‘Did your mother follow that tradition?’
‘No. First of all, we were royalty and had our baths drawn for us. Second, my mother didn’t believe in the story. She just shared it with us so we would understand the point, which was that all people and things needed to be treated with respect.’
‘I’d like to learn more about your mother sometime. She sounds like a very interesting woman.’
He replied softly, ‘She was. I would’ve liked for her to know you as well.’ He meticulously scanned the water and pointed out the waiting demon. ‘That one was grabbing for you, even though they’re supposed to attack only children. These might be assigned to protect the jewels. If you’d taken one, they probably would’ve pulled you under.’
‘Why pull me under? Why not just jump out at me?’
‘Kappa usually drown their victims before taking their blood. They stay in the water as much as possible to protect themselves.’
I backed up putting Ren between me and the river. ‘So should we head for the trees again or stay by the creek bed?’
He ran a hand through his hair and shouldered the gada again, keep-ing it ready for attack. ‘How about we stay somewhere in the middle. The Kappa seem content to stay in the water for the time being, but let’s try to avoid the branches of the trees too.’
We walked along for another couple of hours. We were able to skirt both the Kappa and the trees, though the latter did try their best to reach out and grab us. The creek curved in a long bend that brought us a bit too close for comfort to the trees, but Ren had the gada ready, and a few blows on the close trunks took care of any wayward branches.
Eventually, we came upon an enormous tree that was directly in our path. Its long, snaking branches stretched impossibly far out toward us, needles pricked forward. Ren crouched down. With an extraordi-nary burst of speed, he ran ahead and leapt up toward the trunk. The tree’s leafy embrace immediately engulfed him.
I heard a big thump, and the tree quivered and released him. He emerged all scratched but walked up to me with a grin on his face. His expression quickly changed into a look of concern, however, because my mouth was gaping open as I looked over his head. The tree had been blocking our view, and now that it had folded in on itself, I could see the ghostly gray kingdom of kishkindha ahead.
21
Kishkindha
We moved past the giant needle tree’s reach and stared at the city. It was actually more the size of a medieval castle than a city. The river ran down to its wall and split into two directions, circling it like a moat. The walls were built of light gray stone tinged with blue flecks of mica, giving it a sparkling smoky periwinkle color.
‘We’re losing our light, Kelsey. And it’s been a hard day. Why don’t we set up camp here, get some sleep, and enter the city tomorrow.’
‘Sounds good to me, I’m beat.’
Ren went off to collect some wood and came back, muttering, ‘Even the old dead branches can scratch you.’
He threw several branches into the stone ring I’d created and started a fire. I tossed him a bottle of water. Pulling out the little pot, he filled it with water and left it to boil.
He went off in search of more firewood while I bustled about setting up camp, which went rather quickly because I didn’t have the tent this time. All I could do was clear the space of rocks and branches.
After the water was hot, I poured some into both of our dinner packets and waited for the freeze-dried food to rehydrate and become edible. He soon returned, grumbling about the wood, and sat down next to me. I handed him a dinner, and he stirred it quietly.
Between bites of hot pasta, I asked, ‘Ren, do you think those Kappa things will come after us during the night?’
‘I don’t think so. They’ve stayed in the water this whole time and, if the story is accurate, they’re also afraid of fire. I’ll just make sure to keep the fire going all night.’
‘Well, maybe we should stand watch. Just in case.’
The corner of his mouth quirked up as he took another bite of his dinner. ‘Okay, who gets the first watch?’
‘I do.’
His eyes twinkled with mirth. ‘Ah, a brave volunteer?’
I glared at him and took another bite. ‘Are you making fun of me?’
He threw a hand over his heart, ‘No, ma’am! I already know you’re brave. You have nothing to prove to me.’
Ren finished his meal, and then hunkered down by the woodpile and threw more of the strange branches on. The fire was bright. The flames licking the wood started burning with a greenish hue at first, then sputtered and crackled like fireworks. The flame changed to a bright reddish-orange tinged with green around the burning kindling.
I set down my finished dinner packet and stared into the weird flames. He sat down beside me again and picked up my hand.
‘Kells, I appreciate you volunteering to stand watch, but I want you to rest. This journey is harder on you than it is on me.’
‘You’re the one getting all scratched up. I just follow along behind.’
‘Yes, but I heal fast. Besides, I really don’t think there’s anything to worry about. Tell you what, I’ll take the first watch, and if nothing happens, we’ll both sleep. Agreed?’
I frowned at him. He started playing with my fingers and turned my hand over so he could trace the lines of my palm. Firelight flickered across his handsome features. My eyes drifted to his lips.
‘Kelsey?’ He made eye contact, and I quickly looked away.
I wasn’t used to dealing with him when camping like this. I usually got to make all my own decisions, and he just followed me around. Er, or I guess I followed him most places. But, at least when he was a tiger he didn’t argue back. Or distract me with thoughts of being wrapped in his arms kissing him.
He smiled an amazingly white smile and stroked the inside of my arm. ‘Your skin here is so soft.’
He leaned over to nuzzle my ear. My blood started pounding thickly and fogged my brain. ‘Kells, tell me you agree with my plan.’
I shook myself free from the spellbinding fog and set my jaw stubbornly. ‘Fine, you win. I agree,’ I mumbled. ‘Even though you are coerc-ing me.’
He laughed and moved to look at me. ‘And how exactly am I coercing you?’
‘Well, first of all, you can’t expect me to have coherent thoughts when you’re touching me. Second, you always know how to get your way with me.’
‘Is that right?’
‘Sure. All you have to do is bat your eyes, or in your case smile and ask nicely, throw in a distracting touch, and then, before I know it, you get whatever it is you want.’
‘Really?’ he teased quietly. ‘I had no idea I had that effect on you.’
Reaching out a hand, he turned my face toward him. He trailed his fingers lightly from my jaw, down to the pulse at my throat, and then across my neckline. My pulse hammered as he touched the cord tied around my neck and followed its path down to the amulet; then he skimmed his fingers lightly back up to my neck, studying my face as he touched me. I swallowed thickly.
He leaned in close and threatened playfully, ‘I’ll have to use it more to my advantage in the future.’