The forest was as forlorn as it could be. The inky sky had become overcast in a matter of a few seconds. It was evidently going to rain. Mallika scanned her surroundings. She wasn't very far from the camp, but earlier she had run in a frenzy and hadn't paid any attention to which way she had turned on her path. It was difficult to go back.
A helplessness gripped her chest. How could this be? Those back at the camp had most probably been poisoned with a sleep toxin. She didn't have any idea of how to get it's cure, but if she couldn't even get back, wasn't it much worse?
Mallika started wandering amid the dense undergrowth. A strong wind ruffled through the trees, the dry leaves flying around. Mallika felt her face heat up, a prickly feeling stinging her eyes. A large round tear slid down her cheeks as she moved further, not knowing which direction she was headed to. Suddenly, an all-engrossing desperation chilled her veins.
"Please!" She screamed. "Someone, please help me out! I am lost!"
There was no reply. Only the wind roared through the branches and boughs. The clouds rumbled in a low moan.
Mallika dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. She wanted to go back, to save her people. She couldn't let them sink into eternal sleep. But here she was, stuck in this forest, without any idea of how to even save herself from getting lost. Never had she felt so vain.
"Look up."
The messy mire of thoughts that had been troubling her suddenly stilled. The voice was deep, and magnetic. She looked up immediately.
It was the same stranger, a hood over his head. He stood some distance ahead. Though she could not see his face or his eyes, she could feel a gaze on herself. Surprisingly, it wasn't a distant gaze, but one that strangely comforted her. The aura of this man was extremely overpowering, but the gaze she felt on herself was gentle, and somewhat warm. She stared at him for sonic moments, before he spoke again, "Lets go."
Two words, and Mallika felt she had been pulled out from a dungeon of despair. All the sudden anxiety seemed to wash away. "You...you know the way back?" She asked, scrambling up to her feet, and wiping her tears with the back of her palm.
"Yes."
Mallika wanted to ask more, but he turned abruptly and started walking. This presence-- it was far too strong. However, this was something that she could not suppress , "You know me?"
The man stopped in his tracks, then slowly turned to face her, "What do you think?"
"Eh?" Mallika frowned.
"Didn't you want to save your people? Why are you wasting time now?" He turned away again, and resumed walking.
Mallika ran up to him, "Wait! How did you know I... I wanted to save them?"
"That's obvious."
"Okay," Mallika relented, silently scolding herself for asking such a question. Anyone in her position would want to save their people. It wasn't unusual to be worried for your dear ones knowing they have been poisoned.
"Then, you knew my situation, right? Look, I do not know who you are, but I am trusting you, okay? Can you tell me, please, how to get rid of the poison?"
"That's unnecessary."
"Huh?" Mallika knitted her brow. "What's unnecessary? Curing the poison?"
"No. Your asking for the remedy."
Mallika stared at him, her eyelids twitching from sheer pressure. "What do you mean? I don't understand you."
"Your people should already be safe."
This was unlike anything the girl had expected to hear. She had wondered if this stranger thought her incapable of procuring the cure for her people, or if the materials for the antidote were too hard to be acquired, making it unnecessary for her to enquire about them. Worse, the poison might not have any cure at all. But what was she hearing now?
"Already safe? What do you mean?"
"It's better to see for yourself."
Mallika quietened. They had walked out of the forest, and the fires burning in the camp were clearly visible. She could even see a few people walking around! So they indeed they were safe! She was awe-struck. How was this possible? How could this be? And how did the stranger know?
"Sir, just how...."
She turned to face him and paused midway.
There was no one there. No one around her. Only the wind swished past her and the leaves flew all around.
"Where are you?" She asked loudly.
"Here!" It was a familiar voice.
Mallika turned back, startled. It was Ashwin with her uncle alongside him. They each held a large torch of fire as they hurried towards her.
"Ashwin! Uncle!" She heaved a sigh of relief. "You are okay!"
"Where were you?" Ashwin's voice was laced with anxiety. "Where the hell were you?"
"I... Uncle how did you get cured?"
Brihangad looked pale. "It was Aparajit," he replied.
"What?!" Mallika was stunned. The youth was a well-known face in the army. He was an unusually handsome young man, with glistening almond eyes, dark curly hair, and an icy personality. He had a strange aura, that warned people to steer out of his way. He wasn't outspoken, in fact he spoke too little to be remembered in general. Mallika had dueled him during their practise sessions quite a few times, and each time, she was surprised by the way he fought. His battle style was not like theirs, neither was his stance or approach. It seemed he had been taught by some other master. In fact some of his moves were completely new to her.
However, that was Mallika's sole observation. She had told this often to Indrasen and the other fellows, but they all refused her, saying he was just like any other soldier, with nothing out of the way. But Mallika had never been able to feel that way. Now when the odd name popped up in their conversation, she was forced to let a tiny gasp out.
"That's right!" Mallika slammed her fist into her palm. "That guy doesn't drink. He shouldn't have been poisoned anyways."
"Yeah, it's him who revived uncle first, and then gradually the others," Ashwin chuckled. "Say what, we owe the ice king a big thanks."
Mallika narrowed her eyes. If he hadn't been poisoned, how could he have been unaware of the ambush on her? If he had been aware, why didn't he venture to help her? And how could he have the cure so quickly? For some reason, Mallika decided to not let her uncle know of the killers, nor her encounter with the hooded stranger. After all, her uncle too was keeping something from her-- the identity of her saviour. "Lets go and see what's up in the camp," she smiled at them.
"Are you sure you are alright?" Brihangad suddenly asked, eyeing her carefully. Mallika shuffled her feet, "Of course, come on. We don't have time. Lets go see them."
"But what were you doing here?" Ashwin stopped her. "Didn't you know we were poisoned?"
"I did," Mallika smiled nervously, but her nervousness could not be fathomed in the dark. "I thought it was something else, so I came to look for the herbs."
"Came to look for herbs? Bah! Couldn't you ..."
Ashwin had his brows raised high in a mocking stance.
Brihangad tapped his nephew's shoulder. "It's okay, let her keep it a secret if she wants to. After all, it isn't her who poisoned us, right?"
Ashwin grinned, "Of course it isn't. But I will ensure I know your secret soon."
Mallika smiled, her eyes wandering beyond the two in front to the dark forest behind. Had he seen them coming? Did he go away to avoid them? Or had he come just to lead her out? But he surely knew more that he seemed to. And that presence... It was sheer pity she hadn't asked his name earlier. But no worries, now that they had met once, they would surely meet again.