Dance of shadows, p.1
Dance of Shadows, page 1
DANCE OF SHADOWS
THE RAAG OF RTA SERIES
Sons of Darkness
Dance of Shadows
DANCE OF SHADOWS
GOURAV MOHANTY
www.headofzeus.com
First published in the United Kingdom in 2025 by Head of Zeus,
part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Copyright © Gourav Mohanty, 2025
The moral right of Gourav Mohanty to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Cover design: Micaela Alcaino
Maps: © Gourav Mohanty
ISBN (HB): 9781035900275
ISBN (BROKEN BINDING HB): 9781035916948
ISBN (B&N HB): 9781035915231
ISBN (XTPB): 9781035900268
ISBN (E): 9781035900299
Head of Zeus
First Floor East
5–8 Hardwick Street
London EC1R 4RG
WWW.HEADOFZEUS.COM
To the mother who nicknamed her son
‘Prince’ and let him write his own legend
(and perhaps spoiled him along the way).
Hi, Maa *waves*
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
GOURAV MOHANTY was born, and currently lives, in Bhubaneswar, the City of Temples. A connoisseur of mythologies and momos, he’s been certified as a nerd ever since he graduated as a gold medalist from law school. He keeps things interesting by daylighting as a lawyer, moonlighting as a stand-up comic and gaslighting as a storyteller.
gouravmohanty.com
X: @MohantyGourav7
Instagram: @thekingbeyondthewall
CONTENTS
The Raag of Rta series
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
About the Author
Author’s Note
Maps
Dramatis Personae
Sigils and Words
Previously on Raag of Rta…
PROLOGUE Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
AEONS LATER
ADHYAYA I:A THE SWAN AND THE SLUT MATI Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
Section V
DANTAVAKRA Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
MATI
DANTAVAKRA Section I
Section II
MATI Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
Section V
INTERLUDE: VAHURA’S ADVENTURES Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
ADHYAYA I:B THE DEVOUT COMES TO DEVOUR THE HANGED MAN Section I
Section II
THE TEMPLE DANCER
THE UNMAKING OF POISON Section I
Section II
MEMORIES OF THREE MOONS Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
Section V
Section VI
Section VII
Section VIII
THE TRUE FRIEND Section I
Section II
Section III
THE INKSPELLER Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
INTERLUDE: VAHURA’S ADVENTURES Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
ADHYAYA I:C SHADES OF SCARS NALA Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
Section V
TAKSHA
NALA Section I
Section II
Section III
TAKSHA Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
Section V
ADHYAYA II:A A FAIRY TALE KARNA Section I
Section II
Section III
MARZANA Section I
Section II
KARNA Section I
Section II
MARZANA
KARNA
INTERLUDE: VAHURA’S ADVENTURES Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
ADHYAYA II:B A LAMENT OF LOYALTY DANTAVAKRA Section I
Section II
MATI Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
DANTAVAKRA Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
MATI Section I
Section II
Section III
DANTAVAKRA Section I
Section II
Section III
MATI
INTERLUDE: VAHURA’S ADVENTURES
ADHYAYA II:C THE SAGE OF BLACK DOORS NALA Section I
Section II
THE TUNNELLERS Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
Section V
Section VI
Section VII
Section VIII
Section IX
Section X
Section XI
Section XII
Section XIII
Section XIV
Section XV
Section XVI
Section XVII
Section XVIII
INTERLUDE: VAHURA’S ADVENTURES Section I
Section II
MANUSRUTI – PART I: THE DRAGON’S PATH
MANUSRUTI – PART II: THE PROPHET’S WRATH INTERLUDE: VAHURA’S ADVENTURES Section I
Section II
ADHYAYA III:A CALM BEFORE THE STORM DANTAVAKRA Section I
Section II
VAHURA Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
Section V
Section VI
MATI Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
VAHURA Section I
Section II
Section III
MATI Section I
Section II
VAHURA Section I
Section II
Section III
INTERLUDE Section I
Section II
MARIGOLD WINTER – PART I
MARIGOLD WINTER – PART II
AFTERMATH CHALAKKHA
KARNA
EPILOGUE A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE BATTLE OF MATHURA
Acknowledgements
Glossary
An Invitation from the Publisher
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The events of Dance of Shadows take place alongside those in Sons of Darkness, like a shadow trailing a particularly dramatic hero. So if you’re reading this and wondering, “Wait, didn’t I already hear about that battle?” – congratulations, dear traveller, you’ve been paying attention. You see, while the main cast was busy waving swords, making speeches, and doing their level best to destroy the world, far more sinister deeds were unfolding just beyond the edge of sight. Dance of Shadows is that story, the one beyond the veil, the one where vengeance sets sail.
Gourav Mohanty
Maps
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
EMPIRE OF MAGADH
Jarasandh
Brooding and brutal Emperor of Magadh
Saham Dev
Crown Prince with a weak spine and cruel mind, Mati’s husband
Mati
Unhinged Empress-in-Waiting and former Princess of Kalinga
Chalakkha
Ambassador desperate to find himself in Emperor’s good books
Dantavakra
Lover of women, contest favourite, Shishupal’s brother and bane
Dimvak
Unfortunately, Dantavakra’s teacher
Shishupal
Dantavakra’s shy elder brother, former Commander of Claws
Gorin
Mercenary attached to Chalakkha, with bad teeth
Isa
Warrior in the Imperial Army
Milani
Visiting noblewoman with the airs of a goddess
Runaan
Revelmaster who is petrified of Unni Ehtral
Mair
Dantavakra’s rich stableowner friend, Milani’s brother
Vishwakarman
Famous architect tasked with retouching Virangavat
Whisper
Silver Wolf prisoner rescued by Chalakkha to shield him
Sidestep
Greedy Silver Wolf prisoner rescued by Chalakkha
Itch
Silver Wolf prisoner who was foolish to get caught
Fidget
Silver Wolf prisoner who was foolish to try and rescue her friend
Amala
Lowborn handmaiden to Mati, with a sec
Anaadi
Owner of Tulips Tavern, with a gambling problem
UNNI EHTRAL
Narag Jhestal
High Priest of Unni Ehtral
Bhadrak
Priest of rank Acharak in Unni Ehtral who is obsessed with purity
Sarai
Priestess of rank Maekhela in Unni Ehtral
KINGDOM OF BALKH
Vahura
Bookmoth Princess of Balkh and granddaughter of Bahlika
Bahlika
A pyredodger King of Balkh and Vahura’s grandfather
Somadatta
Dead son of Bahlika
Bhoorishravas
Warlike Prince of Balkh and grandson of Bahlika
Old Ella
Warlike governess in Vahura’s service
TREE CITY OF KAMRUP
Bhagadatt
Mysterious Tusk of Tree Cities and Remnant Monarch
Baggy
Friendly Marshal of the Tree City
Sokarro
Tusk’s Bloodguard whose nose and ears were sliced away by men
Shurpanakha
Founder of Tree Cities and sister of mythical Ravana
Aindri
A young Yogini with a penchant for mischief
Zubeia
Sultry Mistress of Ravens and head of Yoginis
LIBRARY AT THE RIM OF THE WORLD
Asshaye
Master of Stratagem
Orym
Master of Potions and Machinations
Kalay
Master of Human Sciences
Toshad
Master of History
Ailmar
Master of Cataloguing
UNION OF HASTINA
Duryodhan
Heir apparent and tortured lover of Mati
Karna
Brooding Highmaster of Anga and finest archer of his time
Sudama
Murdered nephew of Karna
Yudhistir
Duryodhan’s funless cousin and rival to the throne
Bheem
Yudhistir’s brother and a gifted wrestler
Arjun
Yudhistir’s brother and a gifted archer
Nakul
Yudhistir’s brother and a beautiful horsegroomer
Sahadev
Yudhistir’s brother and a gifted lawscribe
Shakuni
Master of Spies, the Queen’s brother, an angry soul
Bheeshma
Old Lord Commander of Union, the White Eagle
Dhritarashtra
Blind King of Hastinapur
Gandhari
Blindfolded Queen of Hastinapur
HOUSE OF DEVADASIS
Meenakshi
Real name, Marzana. Devadasi Prime and Gurumaa’s daughter
Gurumaa
Comatose matriarch of Devadasis
Badi Dee
Seniormost superseded Devadasi with a penchant for politics
Damaya
Meenakshi’s sister and a gifted dancer, about to become a Devadasi
Jalapa
Patron who enjoys being dominated
Labang
Servant boy who loves to gossip
Old Khai
Highest-paying patron of the House of Devadasis
THE RED ORDER
Parshuram
Founder of the Red Order and impatient, immortal teacher
Nala
Parshuram’s apprentice and irritated, inquisitive student
SAPTARISHIS
Vyas
Acharya of the Orange Order and teacher in Meru
Masha
Sister of the Black Order, excited to explore the world for the first time
Nar Ad
Acharya of the Blue Order, Pathfinder and horrible singer
Shree
Nar Ad’s apprentice with a Taint in her voice
Nomnom
Shree’s handsome pet rat
Ajath
Mute and deaf mercenary attached to Vyas, with black-dyed teeth
Taksha
Migrant Naga attached to Vyas who believes he’ll find the Messiah
Balthazar
Warrior of the Iron Order, with a bald head
Tamasa
Acharya with a grim frown
Tapasa
Acharya with a gleeful smile
KINGDOM OF KALINGA
Chitragandh
King of Kalinga and absentee father
Matakshara
Wraith of Tamra Lipta with eyes only for gold
Handsome Haram
Peacekeeper of Tamra Lipta
Asanka
Dwarf boatswain on the Gilded Lion
SIGILS AND WORDS
REPUBLIC OF MATHURA
Deeds, Not Birth
EMPIRE OF MAGADH
We Do Not Bow
UNION OF HASTINA
Law Above All
KINGDOM OF PANCHAL
Death Before Dishonour
KINGDOM OF KALINGA
Voyage and Valour
YAVANAS
Arete and Kleos
TREE CITY OF KAMRUP
Seeds Don’t Die in Dirt
KINGDOM OF BALKH
Forge in Faith
SAPTARISHIS
In Chaos Lies Cosmos
PREVIOUSLY ON RAAG OF RTA…
To the benevolent remover of obstacles, Lord Ganesha,
Hearken and heed my caution before you read further. While I offer a glimpse into Sons of Darkness, brevity dictates this be but a mere whisper in the wind, leaving many a tale untold.
Perhaps I should begin with an age long past, when the immortal Daevas slit a woman’s throat. But bound by a vow they could not break, they locked her brother, Muchuk Und, in an ice sleep instead. Fear guided their betrayal, fear that Muchuk Und would wake the Elementals from their rest, an ancient force so loved, so absent, so mercifully dead.
Or perhaps it is wiser to speak of the present, where Masha, an oracle, seeks the Son of Darkness, the serpent prophesied to strangle this Age. Instead, she finds dubious heroes dangling by threads of fate. Take, for instance, the leaders of Mathura, Krishna and Satyabhama, who, under the frail armistice with the Magadhan Empire, are gifted a moment to breathe. But wars don’t end simply because swords are sheathed. Bloodied but unbowed, they scheme to spirit the Mathurans to safer shores before the Empire, bolstered by new allies Kalyavan and Bhagadatt, bring monsters to make Mathura a feast for the gods of slaughter.
