To Kill A God

01. Someone Who Can Help

The jingling of Nila's anklets resounded throughout the long walk to the house at the edge of the settlement. The shrubs and weeds dotting the landscape grew into tall, shady trees, enveloping the village with their long branches.

The house was nestled in the middle of a cluster of such trees, making it seem like the centre of a mysterious ritual. Its mud walls had moss growing at the bottom, with cracks forming. A shabby thatched roof was the only shelter for the inner rooms, hanging onto the house by some unknown force.

The air around the house was drowned in desolation, broken by the sudden chirps of birds and insects. Still, Nila wasn't swayed by such ominous omens and looks. She wanted answers and she would get them, no matter what.

The door was barely hanging onto the walls of the house, dust and moss covering every inch of its frame. Scrunching her face in disgust, she pushed it open gingerly. It gave way immediately, revealing the dark interiors of the hut.

Rags strewn across the floor acted as pseudo-carpets against the rough, sandy floor, providing little comfort to Nila's feet. The curtain veiling one part of the house moved as a hand pushed it away.

"You're late, Nila." a feminine voice said, its owner still covered by the darkness as the rest of the house. She chuckled in a low voice. "What brings you now?" she asked, moving closer to where Nila stood.

The latter eyed the woman with slight suspicion. "How do you not know? You knew I was coming," she asked.

The woman laughed. "Anybody can hear a person's footsteps in the silence of this house. You just took longer to reach than I expected."

Nila relaxed slightly. She doesn't know what I'm here for. If the woman knew Nila's intentions beforehand, she would have thrown her out almost immediately. Even a shaman as powerful as her wouldn't tolerate such notions.

"I need a favour from you, Visha," she said, taking a seat on one of the cushions strewn on the floor. The woman laughed and beckoned for her to go on. This was what people came to her for, anyway.

Nila remained silent for a while as she pondered over how to put her favour in a manner that wouldn't warrant Visha's anger. Deciding there was no delicate way to go around this, she said, "I need to get back Esmeray."

Visha's face grew sombre. "What do you mean? She was the tribute. There is no way to 'get her back'." she said sternly. She has done worse things for the people who came to her for favours. But she drew the line at attempting to tamper with the Gods.

"Please, Visha. You know I cannot stomach sitting obediently, waiting for the next sacrifice to take place."

"No means no, Nila. You know even I can't meddle with the Gods." She said, pots clattering as she started getting the tea boiling. Clearly, she knew Nila wasn't going to give up anytime soon.

"Please, Visha. I'll ask you this for the last time."

"It is going to be the last time if I tell you how to do it! The Gods will finish you and then me. And if they don't, the chieftain will!" Visha exclaimed, throwing the dry grass into the weak fire. It roared immediately, and as Visha lessened its wrath, Nila remained silent.

Finally, once everything was set up, and the water was boiling, Visha turned to Nila once more. This time, her expression was soft, worrisome, and concerned. "I cannot tell you this, Nila. Understand my predicament. Do you not know why I live all the way here?" - she gesticulated with her arms - "I too, was like you once, full of anger and vengeance. This is my state now."

Nila gulped. She knew Visha must have done something wrong to be banished to the outskirts. The house was in shambles, with claw marks on the walls. If her plan didn't work well, this would be her state, ostracized by the only community for miles.

Her resolve wavered for a second, terrified at the thought. Neither would she have been able to save Esmeray nor her own life. But she soon brushed the thought aside. If that was the price to be paid for attempting to save a life, then so be it. At least, she will have the dignity of accepting it with a light heart.

Visha sighed as she gazed upon Nila's determined face. "Alright." she consented. "You are old enough to make your own decisions, and I am not in a position to sway your mind. But I'm still warning you, don't take such decisions rashly. Please."

Nila smiled softly. "Thank you, Visha. Truly."

The latter sighed in a mock display of annoyance. "Listen well, child. You'll need everything that I tell you now."

---

Night fell and Visha wasn't done with even a fraction of what she had to teach Nila. However, no amount of knowledge she had could prepare Nila for what she would encounter. The Gods were unpredictable - their moods were as fickle as a baby's and there was no knowing what would happen to a human who wished to get back a sacrifice.

Nila spent the good part of half a year with Visha, learning the ways of braving the brutal world. She learnt to sleep in the most unpredictable of places; she learnt to navigate the seas. The stars would guide her during the night and the winds during the day. Her skills with the bow were mediocre at best, but her knife and sword skills were unparalleled with Visha's guidance.

After teaching her all she knew, Visha reluctantly announced that Nila was ready. It was a strange mixture of apprehension, excitement, and something else she didn't know how to express. It was a very dangerous undertaking, and her family knew that. They hadn't agreed with her, just like Visha, but they had come to accept it and now she'd be ready.

Her family bid her a tearful goodbye, whereas Visha squeezed her shoulder proudly. She knew what Nila was capable of, and tears would only deter her from her goal. Just before she started, Visha stopped her and gave her directions to a village a long way off from her village.

For all that Visha knew, there was one thing she lacked. She had taught Nila how to survive until she met the Gods, to navigate and to live with the barest of items, but she did not know what to do after that.

"I never had the chance to venture beyond this step, and so, I find myself to be lacking in this aspect. However, I know a person who can help." With that, she sent Nila on her journey, wishing with all her might that she might be safe.