When they reached Pandayam Tal and began wading through the bogs, Fayza spotted an untied rowing boat moored to the shore. The sturdy, unpolished sail looked big enough for two, maybe three people. Aman, Idhika, Fayza and Ujal got on, squeezing into the thwart of the boat.

They took turns to row in pairs, and when they neared Acharya Ashwini’s abode, Aman failed to slow their ascent, which led to the boat crashing loudly into the wooden ladder that dipped down from the boat-hut’s threshold. Idhika climbed the steps up to the deck to talk to him. The other three stayed back.

All the while, the acharya’s muffled voice grew louder and then came to a halt. He and Idhika stepped out together. The man limped to the edge of the deck, leant over his dwelling and looked down at them. ‘You all violated Suryast! And then even dared to cross the Seven Hills and run to Pataan?! I just can’t believe it. Never in the entire last century can I recall a more ill-disciplined batch of recruits.’

They waited impatiently for his tirade to end. ‘It is because of your foolishness that I was grilled by Sanaka. He questioned whether I was fit to be the Pratham Sadhu. Apparently, I’m slipping too often to be the first teacher to the Souls. Thank Indra that Aarti and Payal had the sense to come and inform Sanaka of your mutiny—’

‘What? Aarti told Sanaka?’ Aman interrupted his teacher. ‘Acharya, we don’t have much time. Please listen—’

‘You!’ Acharya Ashwini turned red. He pointed at Aman. ‘Oh, you’re in hot water. I’ve never seen Sanaka so angry. I swear on the holy fire . . . Oh! How can I forget his orders? He specifically asked me to fetch him the “discernibly stupid boy”.’ With that, he started climbing down, as fast as his irregular step allowed.

Aman’s heartbeat quickened and he felt flushed. But Ujal’s crying stopped Acharya Ashwini’s charge. ‘Prithvi!’ he sobbed. ‘The eagle took her. She screamed and begged but it flew away over the mountains. The Light Seeker says it was the fiends around the valley who took her.’

‘What?’ Acharya Ashwini stopped midway down the ladder. ‘Aarti never mentioned any of this to Sanaka.’

‘And Guru Amrav even sent out people to look for her, but to no effect.’ Ujal looked at his teacher with imploring eyes. The four of them chaotically recounted the events—first all trying to speak simultaneously, and then slowing down but still cutting each other off to fill in all the details.

Acharya Ashwini heard them out. Then he rushed back up to his hut to procure several items. Two kamandalus swayed from his bare shoulders on a string—neer, spring water, in one, and Madhu in the other. He got on his boat, and they rowed the two boats back to the shore. Macchli ran up to them, her tail wagging.

‘Where do we start?’ Ujal questioned. ‘She could be anywhere.’

‘We start at the edge of Pataan, her last known location. From there, we’ll follow the eagle,’ Acharya Ashwini explained.