Ajan continued, ‘The sinister plans of the Preservers had already opened Avi’s eyes, but the tipping point perhaps was learning of their intentions for him and his family. I continued to listen in on both the headquarters and the other Preservers up in Sarp-poonch, kept a close track of Sanaka’s actions while simultaneously searching for Madhu, and in the evenings, Avi and I discussed our next steps. We realized that we had to wait until the time was right and the valley could start to see Sanaka for what he was. And for the sake of his and his family’s safety, Avi would have to disappear, far from the reach of the Preservers. He wanted to go back to his family, but one sitting of Atmayog revealed to me that the neighbours in their apartment were Preservers, keeping a close eye. The Preservers could not risk touching his family in case Avi returned for vengeance. They had to kill him first. So I sent him to a place where he could disappear, Hathi-Paun, for a long session of Atmayog. And, upon my exile, I too joined him there, and guarded him for the sake of our plan.’

‘. . . son, I will never forgive myself for bringing this upon you . . .’ Avi surmounted the side crest of Kalanag, but instead of looking at the emerging gate in the Seven Hills before him, he looked up at the sky with tears streaming down his face.

‘Stop!’ Idhika said as soon as she saw it. The gate was covered by a large black cloth. Something was wrong.

‘What now?’ Ajan asked.

‘I know another way,’ Idhika said, and led them further east until the loose brick in the wall was in front of them. One by one, each of them climbed the wall and started the brief journey to the Temple of Indra, the crest of Kalanag. A spot-bellied owl, a dark omen, circled their heads, but Idhika kept mum.

Upon reaching the temple, as the valley came into sight, they found it teeming with intruders. Sunrays reflected off a jet-black chopper that hovered above Pandayam Tal, a steel rope dipping into its waters. On the other side of the valley, men with guns stood guard by the entrance to Shreyan’s tunnel. Smoke rose from the village below them, and they all watched in horror as a group of women ran across the Chakkar. Aranyani led the running women towards the Kalpavriksha, but it became clear that it was towards Aranyala that she ran when she raised her hands towards the sky and screamed, and the forest beyond Pandayam Tal came to life—the trees started moving, birds of all colours rose in a frenzy and the earth started vibrating—but it lasted only momentarily, until another chopper dropped an electrified net on her. The only area that seemed unaffected was the north, where lay the Clearing of the Chiefs.

There was no time for discussion. It was clear to them all that the Preservers had taken over the valley and were pulling out Madhu from Pandayam Tal. ‘We have to alert them, and bring out all the fighters from the Clearing.’ There was a fire in Idhika’s eyes. ‘I don’t know exactly what weapons they’re using, but whatever it is, we have something better. Atmayog. We cannot give up.’