Tiger's Quest - By Colleen Houck Page 0,150

agree,” Kishan interjected. “These last few days have been hard on you. Get some rest, bilauta.”

I finished my tea. “I guess I’m outnumbered. Fine. Let’s all get some sleep then, and we can leave that much earlier in the morning.”

I used the Scarf to make another bedroll and pillows for all of us. I fell asleep to the quiet sound of Mr. Kadam and Kishan speaking softly in their native language.

The next day, we began our journey home. We made it past customs and then drove about halfway home before stopping at a hotel in Gaya. We took turns driving and napping in the back. Kishan got a turn, but Mr. Kadam kept an eye on him, still smarting about the wreck with the Jeep in India.

While we drove, we told Mr. Kadam all about our journey. I started with Mount Everest and the bear. Kishan talked about carrying me through the spirit gate and hiking through paradise.

Mr. Kadam was fascinated by the Silvanae and asked dozens of questions. While I drove, he took copious notes. He wanted to keep a detailed record of our journey, and he listened carefully and wrote page after page in his refined style of penmanship. He asked many specific questions about the tests of the four houses and about the iron-bird guardians, nodding as if he had expected this or that to occur.

At the hotel, we sat around a table and showed him the pictures Kishan took of the ark of Noah, the world tree, the Silvanae, and the four houses. The visual record helped us remember more details, and Mr. Kadam pulled out his notebook again and began scribbling.

Kishan showed me the camera and asked, “What is that?”

I turned it different ways and laughed. “It’s one of Hugin’s eyes. See? There’s the nest.”

Kishan flipped through some more. “Why didn’t you take a camera into Kishkindha?”

I shrugged but Mr. Kadam explained, “I didn’t want to burden her with too many heavy objects. She needed water and food.”

Kishan grunted and said, “I’m definitely getting a copy of this one, apsaras rajkumari.”

He handed the camera to me. It was the one of me in the gossamer gown with fairies “hair clips.” I looked like a princess with glowing skin and bright eyes. My hair hung in soft waves down my back, and I could just make out a pink fairy peeking around a lock of hair to see my face. Mr. Kadam looked over my shoulder.

“You look quite becoming, Miss Kelsey.”

Kishan laughed. “You should have seen her in person. Quite becoming is an understatement.”

Mr. Kadam chuckled and went to get his bag from the car.

Kishan rested a hip against the table. He cupped his hands, brought up a knee, and looked at me with a serious expression. “In fact, I’d say that I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.”

I shuffled my feet nervously. “Well, it’s always startling when someone gets a makeover. A fairy makeover would be all the rage at the salons.”

He gently took my elbow and turned me toward him. “The makeover is not what made you beautiful. You are always beautiful. The makeover just accentuated what was already there.” He lifted my chin with a finger, and looked into my eyes. “You are a lovely woman, Kelsey.”

Kishan put his warm hands on my bare arms and rubbed them lightly. He tugged me closer. His eyes darted down to my mouth. As he lowered his lips to within inches of mine, I deliberately pressed my hands against his chest and admonished, “Kishan.”

“I like the way you say my name.”

“Please let me go.”

He lifted his head, sighed, and said softly, “Ren . . . is a lucky, lucky man.”

He reluctantly slid his hands from my arms and then stepped over to the window.

I busied myself by gathering toiletries and pajamas. Kishan watched me quietly for a minute, and then announced, “I think I need a makeover too. A hot shower is calling my name.”

Still nervous, I said, “Yeah. Me too. A hot shower is going to feel heavenly.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Would you like to go first?”

“No, you go ahead.”

His eyes twinkled as he regarded me, “It would be more heavenly if you told me you wanted to conserve water.”

My mouth opened in shock. “Kishan!”

He winked at me. “I didn’t think so. Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

I was saved from responding by Mr. Kadam’s return.

By the second day, Mr. Kadam and I had compared notes on the vision of Lokesh. He had noticed the tattooed

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