Parshuram grunted in acquiesce, looking at Nala from the corner of his eye. She was sure she would be murdered by him the moment they left the House. The Saptarishis rose from their seats but the shadowcat never took its eyes from Nala. Until next time, pussycat, Nala wanted to say, but the sudden flush of recklessness had faded in her. Masha raised her hand as if to wave in farewell.

‘And Parshuram, be gentle with this one. The Blood within her is strong,’ said Sapth Lion.

In an instant the Saptarishis were gone, as if they had never been there. Parshuram turned to leave.

‘Did they mean me?’ Nala whispered as they walked out. ‘What do they mean by my Blood is strong?’

‘I think you’ve spoken enough for a lifetime,’ Parshuram hissed, but Nala saw the faintest trace of a smile on his face.

V

‘I can find you a job in Kasmira, Nala.’

Nala’s shoulders slumped. ‘But I did everything you asked.’

Their return journey from the House of Saptarishi had been marked by silence. No words. No grunts. Nothing. As they neared the town, Nala had expected reprimand, but not rejection. ‘You can’t…’ Nala’s voice sounded defeated. ‘I cooked, I foraged, I spoke, I did everything you asked. I’m sorry, alright! I know I shouldn’t have spoken that way.’

Parshuram was silent as they entered the town, taking a zig-zag through the throng of people going about their daily business. Once past the main market, he said, ‘No, Nala, the Saptarishis are right. I have destroyed the lives of my students before. I had decided never to take another student, but…’ He stopped short as a beggar girl clutched at his hand, asking for food. Rudely, Parshuram snatched his hand away and continued to walk on. Nala quickly dropped a coin in the girl’s hand and hurried after him.

‘You may have noticed that for the last year or so I have been teaching you everything except how to kill. Pretty odd for an assassin’s apprentice, right?’

Really? I hadn’t noticed, Nala thought sardonically.

‘I had hoped that somehow the labours would dissuade you from your path. That it would prove daunting, and you would turn away. But you did not. Time for basic training is done. We are on the precipice of a new beginning Nala, a new journey. This is real life, and real stakes. Time for foolishness is behind us.’

‘The Son of Darkness?’

Parshuram nodded, handing her a scroll. She blew off the dust. A corner flaked off between her fingers as she unrolled it. ‘Careful, you animal. It is ancient!’

She mumbled apologies, and read out loud the faded script: The black sun will rise behind a mountain of mortar, through the timeless void, to poison the heaven. Amidst plague and plight, with a forgotten dance, he will break open the seal of the seven.’ Nala looked up. ‘A catchy tune, Master.’