PRINCE IN EXILE (125 page)

‘I look forward to enjoying the hospitality of Kiskindha, King Sugreeva,’ Rama said. 

Sugreeva nodded, issuing the snorting sigh of vanars that signified distress and regret. ‘So be it. Until then, with a heavy heart and unhappy scent, I reluctantly take your leave. I have a kingdom to restore to harmony and you have a task to fulfil. May mighty Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva themselves attend you on your great quest. Now, go forth, and conquer the last foothold of asuras on this mortal plane. Go to Lanka, and rid the world of the last root of evil. You are armed with invincible weapons of artha, karma and dharma and your success is assured. I give you that which it is my duty under dharma to provide in your great quest.’ 

With those words, Sugreeva twitched his tail, and in response, Angad and Hanuman both simultaneously raised their heads and issued a single harmonious ululating cry that echoed across the mountainside and seemed to fill the entire valley. For an instant, the entire countryside seemed to grow silent, watchful, as if the whole natural world waited to see what great event would follow such a penetrating call. 

And as suddenly as a sunrise through dissipated fog, the sound of a huge number of vanars approaching rose from the far side of the mountain. Rama glanced at Lakshman and saw his brother’s face brighten for the first time in weeks. The sound grew like a great rushing of wind through a dense forest. A torrent of sound that was nevertheless impressive for not one of those noises was made by a vanar throat, only by the movement of the great number that was approaching. 

And what a great number it was. 

In mere moments, the mountainside was covered with black, brown and mottled fur covered vanars, swinging, loping, running, leaping. They stopped within a few dozen paces of the gathering beneath the tree, assembling in an undulating line that stretched as far to either side as Rama could see at a glance. With astonishing efficiency and discipline, a gathering of vanars greater than anything Rama had ever imagined filled the top of Rishimukha. It was far more than he had expected, and, if he had understood correctly, it was only one part of the great assemblage that would march behind him to Lanka. Only one of several such vanar armies. 

Rama felt his heart, which he had thought turned to glacial ice after Sita’s abduction, melt to a proximation of humaneness once again, as the flame of hope kindled by this great display thawed its frozen corners. 

The vanar soldiers stood waiting, their bright vanar eyes filled with adoration and determination. It was a reflection of the same light that filled Hanuman’s eyes, he saw, for the first vanar he had befriended stood before him, as if saying silently, see, Rama, I have done as I promised, just as you have. Now, we have a fighting chance against the rakshasas of Lanka. And this was only one of the many armies? He scarcely dared allow himself to comprehend the magnitude of this event. Could it truly be happening? But of course, here was the first standing before him, the army of Kiskindha, to be joined by several more armies of vanars … nay, armies of Hanuman. For without his fortuitous encounter with the vanar, none of this would have been possible.
Armed with invincible weapons of artha
,
karma and dharma
, Sugreeva had said. And the armies of Hanuman. 

In watchful silence, the army of Kiskindha stood, waiting ready for Rama’s first order, ready to march out at his command. And Rama felt in his slowly thawing heart the first embers of hope catch and kindle, warming his entire being. 

At last, he unsheathed and raised his sword, holding it high to be seen by all. Beside him, Lakshman followed suit. Hanuman stood stiffer and almost
grew
visibly. 

‘To Lanka,’ Rama said, thinking grimly,
and so it begins
. 

The epic adventure continues!

THE RAMAYANA SERIES®

PRINCE OF DHARMA

PRINCE OF AYODHYA & SIEGE OF MITHILA

PRINCE IN EXILE

DEMONS OF CHITRAKUT & ARMIES OF HANUMAN

PRINCE AT WAR

BRIDGE OF RAMA & KING OF AYODHYA

KING OF DHARMA

VENGEANCE OF RAVANA & SONS OF SITA

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