Dhaval & the Liches (special preview)

“You’re going to wear a dent into that floor.” Himank is sitting behind my desk as I pace before it.

I scoff and flop my arms out. “If Dad didn’t, then how am I?”

Himank shrugs and continues reading over the scrolls from Niran. “He walks lighter than you do. You stomp around with heavy soles like mom does.”

I grimace at him and my tail twitches behind me. I sigh and let my tail stiffen back up. I go to the window and look out over the kingdom. I remember vividly when I was a child how the Gnolls attacked us. I could see the fire and smoke from my windows. And now there is Bastat fresh on my brain. The senseless death and bloodshed, the unaccountable loss of life there will not be forgotten. Sanguis and his men will forever live in infamy as the horrors that haunted the Unified Nations. Hopefully, their story won’t be skewed like Balafelamona’s was.

“Hmm,” Himank remarks and my tail twitches. 

I remove myself from the window and look back at him. “What is it?”

“Apparently, Balafelamona, god what an awful name, well anyways, she set up a base here in the capital before there even was a capital.”

“Balafelamona was here? In Rakshasa Country?” I stride over to the desk and read over his shoulder.

“Apparently she was shacked up with one of the head tribal leaders back then,” Himank murmurs. “Actually, he was an Amit.”

My tail goes stiff and fluffs up. “Balafelamona was linked to one of our ancestors.”

Himank nods and his tail fidgets on the side of the chair. “Direct line too if I’m not mistaken. He’d be the first Amit if I can remember our family tree correctly.”

There’s a knock on the door and Dhavya is standing there. “Dhaval.” She stands in the doorway as if she’s terrified. “Nicolai is here.”

I furrow my brow. “Nicolai?” I rise up slowly, feeling dread sink into my bones and bleed into my very soul.

Dhavya nods. “It’s urgent. You have to hurry.”

I race out the door and Himank stands so fast, the chair topples over. I race out, seeing Damini is clutching Nicolai in her arms as he breaks down. 

“What’s going on?” I command. “Where’s Mila?”

Nicolai takes a deep shuddering breath and I see tracks of tears down his fur. “They got her,” he seethes. “On her way here, her caravan was attacked.”

My heart stops cold and yet I am filled with a white hot rage. Himank grabs my hand and squeezes it tight.