NOON soon arrived, and they grew hungry and took shade under a Triahkṣhel at the northern side of town. This Triahkṣhel looked much different, for its triangular roof was raised upon pillars all joined to one another, the exterior glazed in linen white while its interior set to sapphire blue. The tables, instead of being made from wood, were sculpted out of granite as one continuous piece and the seats themselves looked as if they were fit for kings, with their golden frames and deep red cushions. The Triahkṣhel was seated high on a platform, overlooking the rest of the city and all around them were seated aristocratic or wealthy patrons, as could be had by their clothes. As they sat upon a table toward the opening, Erezuri called over multiple waiters and waitresses to set for them a feast and gave them at least a few hundred gold coins. They did not so much as hesitate to collect it, and with a gentle smile, bowed to the group before taking their leave.

“That much money!” said Feyūnhaḥ in great surprise and distress. “Not even I would spend that much for food. You must call them back. We surely cannot repay you for this!”

And both Sanyhaḥmān and Tūmbṃār chided her for not accepting Erezuri’s hospitality, to which Feyūnhaḥ said, “Have you two no shame! We shouldn’t accept so grand a courtesy as this. How would we be able to repay such a thing? No money or items of interest we have to give them!”

The two then shut their mouths, unable to counter her words. Erezuri simply laughed and waved her hands.

“I do not mind, Feyūnhaḥ!” she said. “My brother would have very likely gambled it away,” to which Hirmān wished to object, but was quickly stifled upon his mouth being slapped by his sister. “In any case, I did wish to treat you all—not just for what happened yesterday, but because you are our guests and friends. A greater shame it is for the host to not do all that they can to please their guests than it is for the guests to repay. Regardless of whether a demon or god comes upon visitation, should we lavishly treat them to due benefit. You certainly know of the many stories concerning them, of how many a one was cursed upon the ill-treated stranger revealing their true nature!”

Nakthaḥm nodded in delight as Feyūnhaḥ remained silent, unable to retort for what she said was very much true.

“But aside from that, I wished not for you to repay at all! Enjoy yourselves: your journey will still be quite long through the desert and I fear you shall not have any good food for a while. Enjoy it while you can!”

Feyūnhaḥ still seemed unsure, but Nakthaḥm said, “We should accept her hospitality. It does not look like she will take no for an answer, and I am quite hungry as well.” Erezuri nodded, and in a whisper he continued, “Besides, am I not as a demon of what she spoke?”

“Perhaps you are, but I know you’re speaking for your stomach,” said Feyūnhaḥ, sighing.

“For one of my three stomachs, yes!” he said, laughing, as he smacked Sanyhaḥmān’s back with some hard slaps.

Feyūnhaḥ exhaled and then smiled. “I suppose there’s no use arguing with the host. This princess will have to forego her demands and listen to her equal.”

“Well said, Feyūnhaḥ!” said Erezuri.

It was not long before a platter of food was brought their way: rice glazed in curries of all varieties; the meat seasoned with bahārāt native to the continent of Drgstyṃhaḥ, and the vegetables fried in freshly extracted coconut and peanut oils, flecked with dry chilly powder and asafoetida. And in the center were large chunks of mutton and pork that permeated a delightfully strong fragrance (none of which Tūmbṃār would eat but could not deny were appetizing). Tūmbṃār and Sanyhaḥmān salivated, ready to pounce on their prey, but Nakthaḥm held them back from gorging, pointing to Erezuri while his stomach rumbled.

The three of them looked to her as she lifted some food into the air and spoke a few of the words Lūshhaḥ had pronounced to Zūryaṃār on that fateful day:

Granyavizhivam antvarit

Ishvārhaḥṃār agñav kḥaryaḥm

Frsrtārna granyavima

Bhaoro rar tāpīzhyhar apash

In all the abiding (portions of) life

Does That (reside) as the Internal Flame.

And That by the Way of the Highest,

Has suffused in all (there is) the Breath of Life.

So offer this food as austerity,

As sacrifice partaken without sin.

She dropped the food onto her plate and clapped her hands. The group at once gorged down their meals, taking large mouthfuls of drink and food, losing all control over their gluttony; the monkey, the child, and the demon alike and Hirmān and Erezuri found this quite amusing.

“I fear there might not be enough food for them!” cried Hirmān, laughing.

“Aye it might be so!” said Erezuri. She then asked Feyūnhaḥ, “Are they always like this? Not that I mind?”

“Most of the times, yes,” said Feyūnhaḥ with a gentle smile. “But glad I am they’re able to eat as they are. You’re right that we won’t be able to eat like this when we have to leave. The journey is not all bad, however, irrespective of all the mess concerning gods and demons. And I think we have Tūmbṃār alone to thank for that. Even if he wasn’t tasked by the Dehaḥṃār, he would have continued to journey throughout the world, for that is his desire; the curse of his only being an instigator for it. If only Iḷēhaḥ and Aiṛth were here, I’m sure they would eat their fill as well—well, more so Iḷēhaḥ.”

“Well, if and when the priestess gets better, I shall give them a tour as well, but as for the food you need not worry about that—tonight we shall have an even greater and lavish feast than this,” she said with surety. “But what is the curse you speak of?”

“Ah! We hadn’t mentioned it to you yesterday.”

Feyūnhaḥ explained all the circumstances surrounding their journey but did not speak of Nakthaḥm’s heritage or Iḷēhaḥ’s disappearance.

“My! That is quite the tale!” said Erezuri. “But sad it is that Tūmbṃār should have to bear all that. To think even King Rṭyāshphaḥ was driven to madness and even dared to strike down a child, let alone a priestess. If things have progressed thus far, then all the more reason to turn down the envoy’s offer and forget relocating ourselves to Trdsyḷūr, though the prospect always seemed ill. I shall just have to hope that Hirmān’s council with the Gazhigam proves fruitful.”

“Enough with the chatter, sister, eat!”

And as they ate, not far from them sat some of the envoy’s soldiers, their faces veiled though they were not of the royal guard. They grew all the more suspicious of the group and had devised a scheme to see if they were indeed the ones who escaped the King’s grasp.