Page 31 of The Enduring Universe
“This is what I want—”
“The Virohi,” she said. “Access to them.”
And Iravan paused.
Color heightened Ahilya’s cheeks. Her fingers crept to hold herself closer.
For the first time since she had come to the Garden, her lips trembled in uncertainty. She was afraid of what he wanted to do to the Virohi. Because of how she saw them as herself? It terrified him, what she had become, and how she could still remain the same.
Iravan pressed his hands together, an action that was wholly his for once. He wanted very badly to soothe away the wrinkle on her mouth, to comfort her, and it was unnerving how much he wanted to reach out. His past lives retreated, became quiescent, and watchful, waiting to see what he would do. What was this hold she had over him?
He took a deep breath to clear his head, and with a rush, Nidhirv, Mohini, Bhaskar, Agni and the rest returned to him, crowding his mind.
“How do you intend to do that?” he asked.
“That is not your—”
“It is my affair,” and this time it was he who snapped. “Do not expect me to take you at your word, Ahilya, especially if you do not intend to take me at mine.”
Ahilya glanced at the surrounding Ecstatics and seemed to come to a decision. “You saw what I did,” she said. “The Virohi are contained by the vriksh, but I believe I can reverse my action with the core tree. It will take time, but I think it is possible. And I will release the tree’s hold on them for you.”
“To do as I want with them?”
A dozen expressions flew over Ahilya’s face, anger, fear, worry, shame. Iravan forced himself not to react as she closed her eyes in obvious pain. “Yes,” she whispered.
Iravan leaned forward again, staring at her. “Why would you do that? Do you no longer think it is genocide?”
Her eyes flew open. “Would you agree to any other terms?”
Slowly, Iravan shook his head.
“I will need all information about the Virohi that you have,” he said. “Not just access to them, but anything in the architect histories. I know there are people in Irshar, Basav, Garima, others—they will need to give us those records. As will you—anything you discover through archeology.”
Ahilya nodded tightly.
“Should you learn how to destroy the Virohi,” Iravan went on, “you will give me that information as well. Our contract is for everything, including news you deem dangerous.”
Once again, she nodded curtly.
The assistance of the Ecstatics was easy. He had planned to do that once he found a way, regardless of Ahilya’s demands. The assistance from the sungineers was harder—but something that he and Dhruv would figure out somehow.
But the Moment…
Even if he’d wanted to repair it, could it be done at all?
He knew that he couldn’t simply will the universe to return into existence. There was a hierarchy to what he could do with his will alone, and the changes he made with the everpower did not endure too long. Nothing endured long unless it was tied to his capital desire, and the voices of Nidhirv, Askavetra, Rajesh, and Mohini reared back at him, to destroy the Virohi. They had waited for so long.
Iravan saw a thousand pairs of eyes watching him. Ahilya stared at him, her chin lifted slightly.
“Kamal,” he called out. “Nagesh. You are to go with Ahilya-ve and assess the damage to Irshar. Make a detailed account of what the ashram needs, and what the Garden can provide.”
The two architects stepped down from the platform and flanked Ahilya. She didn’t bother to look at them. Her eyes were only for Iravan.
He inclined his head. “It appears we have an agreement.”
“Then enforce it,” Ahilya said.
“How?” he questioned. “A healbranch vow will have no effect, not when there is no Nakshar and no rudra tree.”
