His words had the desired effect on his peers. This was how one became a gang leader. You created an environment where the others depended on your knowledge and talents. In a monastery, it was the monk who smuggled in pocket-sized paintings of princesses; in a museum it was the curator who turned a discarded drum into an antique. Here, in the woods, where vines clutched at one’s feet endearingly like snakes, and roots lay in carefully hidden traps, Nala felt like a prince. He was a Valka, after all. At least by blood. His peers thought he was too comely, too slender to be Valka, with his soft, albeit marred, face and close-cropped curls. He smiled at the thought. Comely. He was always smiling, as if he was the only one in on some secret.

‘Why would they give First Years such a dangerous task this early in the semester?’ Akopa asked fearfully, shivering in the cold mountain air, keeping an ear out for the sound of any animal that could eat him. Turns out, he included monkeys in the list. ‘It’s ridiculous!’ he scoffed.

Nala was unconcerned by such fears. He knew there were no dangerous beasts in the area for he could not hear them, and sense of hearing had been better than even his brothers back home.

‘Not really,’ Varcin said. ‘I mean, if we do perish in the jaws of a tiger in the first year itself, it would not be a waste of education from the Acharyas’ perspective, now, would it? ‘Cause for the Meru, it’s a matter of plain investment.’ Varcin was a Drachma. Like Nala, he too, was part of Meru’s affirmative action drive.

‘Goddamn Drachmas,’ Akopa grunted. ‘It’s not as if Meru has not lost its prestige already. Diluting it with coin-counters and forestfolk is a damn shame.’

Nala turned, not offended at all. ‘Would you then like to lead the way, O High and Mighty Namin? Perhaps you can worship your way out of this?’ The others laughed.

Akopa scowled. ‘Bite me, Scarface.’

‘Interesting choice of words,’ Nala said thoughtfully, avoiding the tree roots over which Akopa stumbled. ‘In a forest, I mean, for there are cobras around, of course.’

‘Liar!’ Nonetheless, Akopa huddled somewhat closer to Nala.

Nala winked at the other boys. They chortled awkwardly, however too occupied with the image of a cobra nipping their heels.