long past her seven-year term?” Hariaksa broke the tense silence to softly ask Ishvari. She nodded, unnerved by the battle between these two giants. “Once you get to Melukhha,” he added, “you will hear many stories about our Priestess. What few know, however, is that after Shaardul’s death, Inanna joined Atulya and myself in the practice of gnosis.” Hariaksa turned to Inanna, his cherubic face glowing with admiration. “I hear you seldom grace the outside world with your presence these days, Priestess—which makes your visit to Rudralaya today a great honor.”

Atulya glared at Hariaksa who studiously avoided his gaze. Ishvari felt a frisson of fresh excitement as the memory of snippets that Charu had dropped on the aspirants, courtesy of her garrulous father, flashed. Takshak ha...

Please subscribe to keep reading.