I walked back to my chamber and found Kesar sitting on the edge of my bed. She was folding my clothes, neatly stacking them on top of the others.

I stopped by the doorway and watched the Kennari in silence. She was placing some blooming jasmines between the fabrics to make them smell good. I realized no one could take care of me the way Kesar could. But once in a while, I heard her sniff as if she had been crying.

"Kesar?" I called out to her and took a few steps forward. The maiden frantically wiped her eyes before turning around.

"Yes, my lady?" She bowed. I went and pulled her up by the arms. Kesar still kept her eyes down, yet I could see tears glimmering over her damp lashes.

"You cried?" I asked, tipping her chin up. Kesar tilted her head away.

"Dirt got into my eyes, that is all," she said and tried to smile. Before I could speak, she turned to grab the pile of folded clothes and carried them over to the wooden chest. I shrugged off my bag and followed her. Kesar kept arranging stuff around as I stood there.

"Kesar," I said. "I know how you feel."

Kesar stopped her chore for a moment, but she still didn't turn to me. I couldn't endure her silence treatment any longer and spun her around to face me. She stared into my eyes in surprise. Then I encompassed my arms around the maiden.

"My lady, what are you doing?" Kesar said in a startled voice, but I kept holding her in my arms.

"Kesar, I know you're angry and hurt. It upsets me greatly," I said. "I'm sorry for all this but I just can't help these untamed feelings, please, you must understand!"

She went silent for a moment.

"Of course, I do understand you," Kesar said softly. "I dare not in my life blame you for anything. I must have done too little good deeds in my past to deserve you."

I released her from my embrace.

"You deserve someone who loves you true, Kesar," I said. "I'm not the one for you."

The maiden looked up, and after a moment, she smiled again.

"I can see that the princess and you shall be the best of all pairs," she said. "Who am I to deny the harmony of this fated love?"

"Harmony? Love?" I scoffed. "I don't see the faintest of such! I wish she knew how much I am being in love with her. "

"Soon, my lady, I promise you, or else you can punish me, Princess Amarisa desires you more than your eyes can see."

I stared at her a while longer.

"Kesar, tell me truly, will our friendship remain unchanged?"

The maiden dropped her gaze and nodded.

"As long as you still have needs of me," she said but then she sighed, "Though I must confess the arrows of Kama are just as cruel to me as they are to you."

"The arrows of who?" I arched my eyebrows at her. "What are you talking about, Kesar?"

"Nothing, my lady, you must be tired from the lesson," she said with a smile again. "Allow me to prepare your bath and serve your meal."

Before I could say anything else, Kesar bowed and turned away, leaving the room.

~*~

Tepi and Atith came to my chamber and woke me up at a foolishly early dawn. I didn't feel ready to get out of the comfort of my bed yet, but with some dragging and pulling from the maids, I managed to get dressed. Kesar wasn't in the chamber though. She seemed to avoid me now, but I needed to let her be and hoped she would come back to me when she felt better.

Then we set off at first light to the Elephant Terrace.

I was still trying to rub the sleep from my eyes once we got off the carriage. As we went through the Gopura and entered the training field, I noticed the entire encampment was fairly quiet at this hour.

We saw Tusita standing at the Main Square. Vorac and Samudra also appeared from the Pochani Pavilions when they saw us coming.

Tusita was shading her eyes. The sky turned slightly pink from the light of dawn. When we joined her, Tusita turned to us with a bright smile.

"So," Vorac said to her. "Where are they?"

"Journeying far and getting near," Tusita said, still didn't take her eyes off the skyline. "You must be patient for something this special."

I looked in the same direction as the rest, but all I saw was a great range of dark green mountains and the various shades of lit clouds. Atith was the first to jump up in excitement as he pointed to the horizon.

"They're coming!"

We heard some distant whining and snorting sounds in the air. Some flapping noises echoed through the sky. I looked up and saw a flock of giant doves soaring towards us. I had to squint my eyes to look, but once they got closer, I realized that they weren't doves at all. My eyes went wide. The creatures flying towards us were enormous white horses with beautiful white wings on their backs. They galloped through the wind, spreading their wings through the morning sky.

"Welcome to earth," Tusita said breathily then she turned to us and opened her arms as if to make an introduction, "Avatars of Meru Gods, let me present you the gifts from the hand of heaven, the celestial flying horses from the Palace of Indra— the Ashvas."

My mouth flung open.

"Holy cow!" Atith said in a giggly voice. He kept punching Samudra's arm playfully and making weird noises.

"Or you could say holy horses," Vorac said. My mouth still opened.

"Stronger than the tides and faster than the wind!" Atith agreed. "I can't believe I get to see them!"

Even Tepi seemed amazed by the winged creatures.

I watched the winged horses set their hooves on the ground and went galloping through the field. Dirt twirled around as all six of them flapped their powerful wings before folding them back to their sides. The horses had white sleek coats with their long silky mane flowing down their mighty shoulders. They were extremely beautiful and sparkly like they were made of cloud. The animal all whined and bobbed their heads as Tusita ran off towards them.

"Good lads!" she said and went to hug them one by one. "Nice to meet you, too."

We walked up to the heavenly herd and studied the handsome animals in amazement. The Ashvas tossed their heads, flirting their wavy tails around, and neighing joyously under their wings.

"Oh, my god!" I breathed. "I think I'm dreaming."

"No, you're not, Nikita," Tusita said to me as she stood proudly before us. "The Ashvas were the first horses that emerged from the depth of the ocean during the Samudra Manthan."

"Samudra Manthan?" I asked.

"The Churning of the Ocean of Milk," Samudra who stood beside me answered, "Samudra means 'Ocean'. Many ages ago, the gods and demons wanted to retrieve the Amrita, the Elixir of Immortality. They began to churn the ocean together for a millennium."

"During the Great Churning," Tepi continued. "The first horse, Uchaishravas, the king of all horses, was born. Then the Ashvas also arose from the foams of the sea, but Indra took possession of these handsome creatures and brought them to his celestial home. The rest he decided to sever off their wings so that they would remain on earth and not fly back to the Sky Palace after he presented them to mankind. These Ashvas here are the ones we have left."

"Nikita, you have to bond with your Ashva before you can ride one," Tusita beckoned for me to come closer. I slowly stepped forward, not very sure of what to do. I managed to keep my bones attached after all the riding lessons, but now if they wanted me to tame these winged horses, I would have to pray to every god out there to save my behind.

"Don't be afraid," Tusita said. "They're friendlier than horses on earth, I promise."

"Oh, that's a relief then," I said, somewhat relaxed. I stretched my hand out and spread my palm as if I was a blind person. Then one of the Ashvas stepped out front and I recoiled a little.

Tusita reassured me again. I took a deep breath and moved forward. The same horse lowered its head as I slowly and cautiously placed my touch on its white smooth cheek. I smiled, feeling the instant connection sparked between us.

"This one likes you," Tusita said with an approving grin.

"Amazing!" I giggled in excitement when the Ashva licked the side of my face. "I can't believe this!"

My Ashva was sniffing around my shoulders while I stroked her long powerful neck. I giggled when her cold breath tickled my ear.

"She's the swiftest and strongest one of them all," Tusita told me. "The best flying horse Father keeps in heavens."

"Does she have a name?" I asked.

"Not that I know of, but you can pick one for her." She shrugged. "Father didn't mention it in the dream."

"You talked to him in your dream?" I asked.

"We all do," Vorac said. "You can try through meditation. That's how we communicate with our heavenly parents."

"Oh." I nodded and turned to my Ashva again.

"How about I name my horse, 'Pisey'?" I asked.

"Oh, Pisey, 'little darling'. I like that name." Tusita said.

"May I have the privilege of riding one of your horses, too, Tusita? Please?" Atith said, shifting from side to side as if he needed to pee.

"Oh, remember that time you didn't let me ride your fire horses?" Tusita said.

"Aw!" Atith's face dropped. "I can help you teach Nikita too, please?"

Tusita pursed her lips as she considered it.

"Fine," Tusita said at last. "Choose one."

Atith punched the air and came to take one of the winged horses. But his hasty act spooked them. One of the horse raised its front hooves and kicked him in the chest. Atith was sent skidding across the field about twenty feet away. When the momentum stopped, he was sitting on his neck.

"Oh Meru gods!"

We all ran towards him.

"Are you alright?" I asked as we helped him to his feet. Atith reeled sideways like a crab, but Samudra caught him.

"I thought my fire horses were the nastiest!" He rolled his neck around with a sour face.

"Good thing that your armor is permanent or your bones would be shattered like twigs," Tepi said and patted his golden chest.

"Wait, his armor is permanent?" I said.

"His divine father blessed him with the Kavach, the indestructible armor," Tusita said. "Atith was born wearing it."

"Oh," I said, wondering how heavy it must be to wear it all day and night.

"So much for your horsemanship, big boy," Samudra said and patted Atith's back. We walked back towards the Ashvas. They were pawing the ground and grooming their wings without a care.

"Maybe you can count on me," Vorac said to Tusita, batting her eyelashes a little. "I would teach Nikita to ride the great winged horses of yours to the level of expertise."

"Well, if I have your promise to spend the night with me in my chamber, then..." Tusita whispered in her ear, which caused the other girl to shove her away with a glare.

While everyone was still obsessed with the new breeds, the sun raised its smoldering head where the earth touched the sky. Then a ray of golden light flashed through the clouds. We all looked up and saw something rising above the horizon. As the glowing light got nearer and brighter, my eyes could no longer endure the blinding glare. I thought it was a comet falling to earth, but the light seemed to be emitted from the strange flying object. It became too much to bear, and I winced.

"Don't look!" Atith told me. "He's descending."

"Who's descending?"

"Lord Surya, the sun god."