34
"There you go," I said as Adi and I finished the analysis of all the parliment proposals we got for the last couple of weeks, "Now you can spend the next three days entirely in the royal court and catch up with all the pending cases." "You unleashed hell on Earth for no reason," I added playfully.
"Little did I know I am going to get help from my wife," Adi said as he arranged the files on his table. "Now that we've got nothing else to do," he said turning back, "Want to battle?"
"Here?" I asked looking around.
Our chambers are big but a battle......
"Why not?" Adi said and gave his sword to me while pulling another one from the wall.
"Set the tone, Vaishu," he said as we got our swords in position, "Shall we have fun or shall I make it a challenge?"
"Make it a challenge," I said and playfully knocked his sword.
Adi raised his eyebrows and looked up almost offended that I knocked on his sword.
"Let it be noted that you asked for it," he said and without a second delay started to attack, but I did not step back either. I defended every single one of his moves, this time even more effortlessly.
Adi noticed it and took a brief second to look at me and smile.
A subtle indication that he is proud of me, before increasing the aggressiveness of his attack.
I thought I would fail, but to my surprise I was able to defend myself quite well and Adi levelled up a little to make it more challenging, this time without any subtle hints. I still managed to hold up for a while but soon found myself taking backward steps as I struggled to stay in spot.
"Watch the wall," Adi paused for a brief second to warn me as I approached the wall but quickly continued the battle and soon enough I found myself cornored with my back against the wall, our swords inbetween us clashing against each other and Adi right opposite to me.
As an unwritten agreement we moved our weapons slightly to the left so that none of us could accidentally get hurt.
"Retreat?" Adi asked. I shook my head.
"You are trapped," he said almost as if he is wondering why I refuse to retreat.
"I will be the judge of that," I replied.
He remained silent, impressed, but just continued to look into my eyes....something he should probably stop doing because I am getting distracted....wait...if I am getting distracted....he is probably getting distracted too...so maybe I can...
"Nu-uh Love," he immediately pushed back at my futile attempt, although it is worth noting that he did have a moment of surprise. As a natural instinct, my hand grabbed onto his shoulder.
Adi briefly glanced at my hand before shifting his attention back to me.
"Imagine being scared of the enemy," he whispered, "Yet clinging onto his shoulder for assurance."
"Imagine almost defeating the enemy," I countered, "Yet pausing to have an conversation."
Adi found it so funny that despite his best efforts, he couldn't help but smile and look down.
"Intoxicating," I instinctively said out loud.
"What is intoxicating?" Adi asked confused.
"When I used to live in the temple...I heard a group of girls talk," I explained, "about how they are all in love with you and how they visit the court every single day just to see you.
They complained that they never got to see you smile.
..and..." I paused before continuing, "And one of them replied that she once accidentally saw you smile and was so mesmerized that she remained frozen until the general waved his hand infront of her. "
"The Devil's smile is intoxicating were her exact words," I completed.
Wow, what a poetic way to describe a man's smile!
Capable of making even the king blush, or was it the Queen's acknowledgement that made the king blush?
Either way, why not use this opportunity to further torment my wife.
"Oh I remember her," I lied and Vaishu's expression immediately changed, "She's quite beautiful too....even intoxicating....if I may..."
I did not even get to complete my sentence before I was pushed back and Vaishu's sword came straight for my neck.
I defended it, of course, but I would be lying if I say I wasn't a little intimidated.
It is not even the skill level, Vaishu is an intermediate at best, but the absolutely unhinged nature of her attack.
This is the kind of warrior I see in a battlefield and remind myself that this is not a battle I can win without taking it seriously and that is telling given that most of my battles are won without taking them seriously.
I defended her every move but found myself getting more involved in the battle and I could sense it in the back of my head that within minutes this is going to get intense.
Nope, not happening!
Intense battles are meant for my enemies, like the general, not for my wife.
So I made one last move and pulled her into my embrace making sure I hold her hand and keep the sword away from the both of us.
"Joke, Vaishu," I whispered in her ear, "It was a joke."
Her aggression immediately got under control. I could feel her grip on her sword looseing and the frown on her eyebrows relaxing.
"Really?" she asked to confirm.
"I promise," I replied, "I do not even remember that lady."
"Phew!" Vaishu took a deep breath. "Adi did you notice it?" she asked looking back at me, "I got a little angry."
"Right," I smiled, "A little."
After finishing all my gatherings, I decided to focus on my most important duty - tormenting the Queen's cabinet....but what I saw the moment I entered the library has traumatized me beyond repair.
"Greetings, general," the entire Queen's cabinet said in unison. Every single one of them with a white blanket over their head, open hair, and eyes that did not even blink. Sruthi standing right in the middle - the Queen Ghost.
"What the hell is going on?" I asked Sruthi as I approached her.
"We decided to fight our fears," they all replied in unison.
I will admit, their costume is intimidating and plan is commendable but the execution is soo poorly done.
I could see some women in the back struggling to keep the blanket over their head, Naina constantly trying to push back the hair from falling on her face, and Pallu.
..oh well, she ran away the moment I started walking towards them.
The Queen Ghost is the only one committed to the plan!
"Fight your fears, huh?" I asked looking at Sruthi. She tried to stare into my eyes but one of her eyelashes fell into her eyes so she whispered "Damm it", rubbed her eyes and continued to stare at me as if nothing ever happened.
"Do you know what your biggest fear is?" I asked.
"Not you, certainly," she replied.
"Of course, not me," I said. "It's death," I added and pulled out my sword causing the ghost union to collapse. Every single one of them ran away screaming, including my sister, but Sruthi stayed. Not only did she stay, but she did not even blink an eye.
Wowww!
"I must admit Gati," I said impressed, "Your courage is......"
I did not even get to finish my sentence because Sruthi fainted and as if the general of the Nine Kingdoms has nothing better to do, I caught her in my arm.