BAHLIKA KINGDOM
INDIA
MANIKARNIKA POV
"How's Arnav Sir."
"I would love to say he's okay but he's not good at all." The royal doctor said, "And please stop addressing me as sir. I am lyan. "
"Okay Iyan, do you know of any antidote for the poison?"
"No, this is one of the rear poisons and an antidote, exist but hard to find."
"Do you have any records about these rear poisons."
"Yes I do, your majesty."
"Please bring it."
Iyan stood up from the chair he's been sitting since we got here in his house. He's house is not at all bad, it's very descent and modest. Am not bothered to sleep here because am sure I'll be comfortable.
He came back from the inner room he entered with five scrolls after being gone for five minutes.
"Here." He handed the scrolls to me.
"Thank you." I said and then I started devouring each content of the book careful then I remembered that I don't know what poison Arnav was given.
"Which poison Iyan?"
He had already sat on the chair he was sitting on a while ago and I sat opposite him.
He held out a scroll for me and then I read it but nothing.
"There's nothing important here; how are you sure it's this poison that was given to Arnav?"
"This poison is one of the fastest poisons in India and like the others we haven't found any antidote." He adjusted his chair forward.
"It till hasn't answered my question."
"Your majesty, I have only heard of the ivy poison, I have not taken care of any patient with sure a poison and as well his face is pale so am sure it's the ivy poison."
"So no other poison have this effect?"
"Even if there is, it must me among the deadliest poisons," he gestured to the scrolls,"there's no antidote."
"No. We have to find one."
"How?"
"I have no idea."
I sighed.
"What if it's not the ivy poison."
"Then we'll look for the antidote for all the poisons."
"Please speak realistically, how will you find the antidote of all four poisons before tomorrow and may I remind you, it's dark and am not letting you leave in dark."
"Then I'll leave first thing in the morning."
"Before the morning he must be dead already."
"No."
"I think you don't understand when I say one of the fastest poisons."
"No. No. No. I won't give up now."
I raised my hand up to prevent him from discouraging me any further. I have to think. Yes! why not.
"Sir Iyan?"
"Yes your majesty."
"I want to see the cures for every diseases and poisons."
"Your majesty?"
"Trust me and bring it now, there's no time."
With that he stood up again and ran to the inner room and returned after about fifteen minutes.
*****
It's been an hour since I've been searching through the scrolls handed to me by Iyan and Iyan have been thoughtful enough to stay awake with me and search for a possible antidote.
"I'll go prepare us some tea."
I shiver at the thought of tea, I don't think a my I'll be able to drink tea for a long time.
"Thank you but I think I'll rather not." Just then something came to my notice. I brought the lamp closer then behold, the flower I saw tattooed on the assassins that tried to kill me. "Iyan?"
"Your majesty?"
"Which flower is this?" I pointed to the flower.
"Oh that's a rear flower found in the heart of the forest but the cure is not the flower but it's root."
"It says it cures many illness."
"Yes but why the interest on that flower?"
"I don't think it's necessary for you to know that. Tomorrow I'll set off for those flowers. My interest is on them and I feel that it's the antidote we've been looking for."
"Okay your majesty."
He packed all the scrolls and returned them to their rightful places.
It wasn't long before it was dawn and couldn't sleep at all even though my bed was comfortable.
Iyan arranged one of his fastest horse for me and with that, I set out to the forest for those roots.
*****
I started breathing faster than normal as I was at the entrance of the village forest. I had a secret spot here but after my attack, I guess it's not secret anymore and besides, I'll be going deeper. Am scared but I have to do it for Arnav.
I went in.
I journeyed passed my favorite spot just to get a glimpse of the flowers there. I thought I could maybe find the flower roots there but if that flower was there I would have known.
Manav, the horse, walked calmly into the forest but it only gets more crepy and then suddenly, there was a roar,
From what? An elephant, tiger, bear, lion....?
But before I could finish asking, manav threw me off him and ran away to the direction we came from.
Should I go back as well or should I continue to look for those flowers. Arnav life is at risk so I have to go.
I journeyed forward, but not long after I felt my stomach grumbling. I had refused to eat both dinner and breakfast and now I'll pay for it.
My stomach hurts but I have to go forward so I crawled forward as I was already on the ground holding my stomach as if it could ease the pain.
The pain subsided a little after some minutes, my journey did not end like that so I walked faster but then something moved behind. I turned and saw the bushes behind shake, at this time, fear is already in my heart.
"Who's there?" I asked but I was answered with a growl and slowly a figure with four legs, both on the ground. It was huge and has yellowish fur with black stripes. It's a tiger.
It rang in my head and at that moment I stopped breathing. Everything stopped and it was like I was dreaming.
Oh let the waters come so I could wake up. I prayed but I never felt like drowning nor at the verge of waking up. It was real. Oh no, he is coming.
Fortunately, he was good feet's away and it gave me enough time to think before he gets here.
Beside me was a tall trees, I don't remember the tree but I climbed it anyways. I climbed until I was at it's third branch, he can't follow me up, can he?
The tiger growled and roar as his pray has gotten away. I guess he can't climb trees but there's something he can do and that's to wait, which he did.
'well I guess I have to settle here.'
I thought but I haven't even find the flower yet and here I am stuck in a tree. Jumping to another was a good idea if only the other trees weren't far from me.
Why did I climb this particular tree?
When will this tiger leave?
I can't stay here all day.
I wonder if Arnav is dead already.
I have failed Arnav.
A tear roll freely down to my cheeks.
What hurts me isn't that I will be stuck here but that it might be too late to save Arnav if I do get out of this jungle alive.
Am sorry Arnav.
I apologised, if I had listened to him, non of this would have happened. Just then a heard a sound; it was a hiss.
A hiss? A hiss! Oh no a snake.
The snake has successfully climbed the tree and was at the same branch as me.
Please keep on moving, please keep on moving, please please please please! I prayed as I froze. One thing that attracts snakes is sound and movement and at this moment, am too scared to make any.
The snake crawled up to my left shoulder as I sat there like a statue. It went from my left shoulder to my neck and I can feel his cold temperature.
I hope me remaining calm saves me and it goes away. I prayed again.
Finally it got to my right shoulder and then he crawled to the tree.
Sigh.
I till remain calm in case it comes back.
I looked down to see if I could leave now but I guess the tiger is either a very determined animal or he's just really hungry because he's till there. He's lying on the ground facing the tree and it might be my imagination but am sure he smirked at me.
Someone please save me, help. I promise I will be a better person.
I prayed over and over again with my eyes closed.
I heard a growled very loud but I was too scared to open my eyes but something came to my mind,
Had he learned how to climb?
God help me.
"Manu!" A deep voice yelled. I'll recognize that stressed out voice anywhere. "Manu!" He repeated.
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