"Then we assassinate some of their leaders. They are starving us out, and more importantly filling us with fear. If our people don't die from hunger, they'll rip themselves apart instead. We need hope, and knowledge combined with some preemptive strikes could bring that."
"No," Prince Anka muttered, looking off to the side. "We live in dark times." He forced a smile, but what little energy he mustered left as his shoulders sagged. "An ancient darkness surrounds us, but I don't have the power of the ascendant kings. None of us have their power. Ravasha is out there? The last time he attacked a single king came forward and cast him out. That king should have killed him. It is on his shoulders and dharma that his kingdom falls. Perhaps I'm his reincarnation, here to pay for those sins."
Divyan shook his head. "My prince, if it wasn't Ravasha, it would be another demon. The last time Ravasha attacked, it was so insignificant they didn't even call it a war. The last demon war, fought without Ravasha, was only stopped when the demons fell to infighting. We caught a break, and it doesn't seem like we're going to catch one this time."
More silence.
"Why come back, Sugriva?" the prince asked, gazing at the monkey. "You were safe with three Ashtadash, a ton of spirits, and your child, if we are to believe your story, and you came back. Why?"
Sugriva looked to Divyan, and the general nodded. Sugriva said, "This is my home. There are those I love here, even if they do not love me back. I could not let an entire kingdom fall to the demons unprepared and undefended."
"Now we will fall defended." He waved a hand. "Go. Take no more than five warriors of your choosing and attack them from—"
Prince Anka was cut off by the crash of boulders into stone buildings, as if lightning cracked against the walls of Jaya. Screams wracked outside the palace and the royal guard came in to stand beside Prince Anka. A hundred men filled the palace, each one with the best armaments and training out of anyone in the city, with few exceptions.
General Humbari roared, "It looks like it's too late for these nonsense tactics. We meet the enemy face on."
Divyan and Sugriva ran down the length of the palace until Prince Anka shouted, "Stop! I have a hundred good men who are going to stay here and die after most of the fighting is over. Take them with you. What prince am I if I'm not willing to risk myself for the good of my people?"
"What?" Humbari growled. "You need them. What if the demons send assassins?"
"Then my dharma is complete, and I was found worthy to enter the next life. General, go with them. I would hate to have you die without your men and far from the front line. How would that bode for your path? How would that look to your men?"
The bear-man blushed and stormed down the palace stairs. "Guard, follow me. We die in the blood of demons today."
Outside, though the sun was in the sky, darkness swallowed the light.
You could join them, the voice said, filled with vigor. You could become a demon, open the doors, and have the first of Ravasha's plunder. Prisha could be your brood queen and you could bed her—
Rape her, he thought to himself, looking to Divyan. Sugriva closed his eyes and meditated briefly until the voice calmed down.
"Are you okay?" Divyan asked.
"I'll be fine. We need to save the walls."
GIVE IN. JOIN THE THRALLS. Become a demon lord.
"No," Sugriva whispered. The man standing next to him looked at the janaav askew, but there was nothing strange about whispering no or cursing. Jaya was about to fall, and everyone knew it.
The soldier clasped Sugriva's shoulder. "Today we get to show how we cling to our path, even in the face of peril. It will be okay, brother."
Sugriva's mouth opened, but what would he say? Why shine doubt on the faith which comforted the soldier?
Sugriva simply said, "Thank you for your encouragement."
The demons struggled to climb the walls. Archers had time to shoot down. Massive rocks were thrown and crushed skulls. While this gave hope, Sugriva knew it wouldn’t last.
Spikes of earth jutted through demons, water eviscerated them at high pressure, the air lifted them high and dropped them, and fire consumed. There was an archer nearby with flint and metal, so Sugriva went to him. "Please light a torch for me. I'm a fire elementalist, but it's my first time."
The archer created a small pocket of cloth and set it in Sugriva's hand. "Are you sure you want the responsibility? You could light us all on fire, as well as them."
"I practiced for a long time with fantastic teachers. Please."
The archer obliged, striking the flint and giving Sugriva fire. Once the cloth lit, he had the flame consume his hand, and the cloth was no more. Then he shot out flames. Most of his shots missed. Some struck, and they sizzled against the exposed flesh or bleached bones. Soon he tired.
The archer said, "You should slow down. Spirits can only give so much."
He realized Ishva fueled him when they trained. He rarely tired with her. Yet there were too many demons, and he had to continue. He threw more fire, and the demon he struck didn't flinch.
The archer glared at Sugriva. "Stop using it or you'll light yourself on fire."
The monkey grumbled, mocking the archer, but he stopped. The fire formed a circlet around his head. He took out his staff and thrust it through the hordes, lancing who he could.
Stocky demons approached the front gate and several points on the wall. "Focus fire on the fat
