Chapter 7 The Stranger Who Was Not
The midday sun beat on the small, circular hollow carved into the hill with the intensity of a hammer. Chandra desperately wished for a breeze to cool her down. However, the surrounding trees remained still and watchful.
A flash caught her eye, and she spied the tip of an arrowhead poke past the foliage. They had set up hidden archers in the trees that surrounded the hollow, as an added insurance to the multiple guards stationed at the many entrances this place boasted.
The reason for the amped-up security was the dozen or so strangers dressed all in black.
It seemed like an overkill, but no one forgot the brutal war that raged seven years ago or how savage these group of strangers could be.
They sat on stone benches, arranged in a semicircle across the clearing.
Despite the heat, their dark clothes, and the presence of many guards, they appeared unruffled.
The other half of the circle was occupied by the ruling triumvirate of Amaravathi. Guruji, her stepmother Queen Rathi Devi, and the general of Amaravathi sat on similar stone benches. Chandra sat beside Guruji, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible.
A lotus key piece, shaped like a petal, lay in front of them in an open, velvet-lined box. Queen Rathi Devi had commissioned it to be taken out of the royal treasury. Chandra studied it curiously—it was golden hued and shone dully in the midday sun.
She listened with half an ear while Shota, one of the people from Rajgarh, laid out their reason for this visit, recounting the tale of how King Amarendra used the lotus key to help stop the explosion of Meru. A tale well known around these parts.
Most of her attention was on him. The most dangerous person she ever had the misfortune to meet, sitting nonchalantly on the stone seat like it was a throne, only a few feet from her.
Like her, his dark eyes assessed everyone, and she had no doubt he knew of both the obvious and hidden guards they had stationed in the hollow. His fingers tapped on the stone impatiently while Shota went through the motions of royal protocol, segueing into asking for help.
The only difference between his attire and the rest of the people in his group were the subtle silver embroidery on his shoulders, which proclaimed his royal status, and a prominent red ring on his forefinger.
The red ring reminded her of their encounter a few nights ago when he was in disguise and pretended to be a fugitive from Thianvelli.
He had flitted into her mind several times since then, but it wasn’t until her conversation with Guruji yesterday that she was able to guess at his identity.
She still recalled the shock that had coursed through her at the realization.
Despite suspecting it and mentally preparing herself for it, his presence still hit her with all the subtlety of a battering ram.
He still sported a heavy beard like the other day, when in the past he was generally clean-shaven. The beard covered the distinctive scar he had on his jaw, that coupled with his disguise fooled her thoroughly.
Seven years had caused changes, of course. He had put on more muscle, and had become harder, like nothing could touch him. But how could she have forgotten his raptor eyes? Or the keen intelligence behind them.
Or thought for a moment that a seemingly simple man fleeing from the guards of Thianvelli would be the prince of a great kingdom.
She was distracted by other things and had wool for brains. That was the only explanation she could give for the way she had failed to recognize him.
The tapping stopped, and his fingers clenched into a fist. Chandra glanced up to realize he was looking at her. Dark eyes narrowed with suspicion and even at this distance, his hate seared into her.
His clothes may not be ornate, but power shrouded him.
Black hair formed luxuriant curls at his nape and a mustache with curled ends detracted from the sensuousness of his lower lip.
His face had a sharp, predatory quality to it, not unlike that of a bird of prey, with its sharp beak of a nose and watchful eyes.
The slow smile he gave her had an edge of cruelty to it and told her more effectively than words, that he knew she knew. He knew who had saved him that day on the bridge and had intended to take him to Amaravathi’s prison.
Why hadn’t she listened to her instincts before? she thought in dismay. She would have striven to hide herself better. Now it was too late. If the prince let her secret out, that she was roaming with soldiers at night, she was doomed.
For once, she was grateful for the heavy hair ornaments she was ordered to wear for the meeting today. They partially obscured her face, which meant she could nurse her emotions in private.
“What is Rajgarh willing to offer in exchange for Amaravathi’s assistance?” asked Rathi Devi, her dulcet tones at odds with her sharklike personality. Her question cut into the heart of the exchange, causing Shota to falter to a stop.
“We are prepared to pardon Princess Chandrasena’s punishment and His Highness, Prince Veer, is willing to take her back as his wife,” said Shota, clearing his throat.
Queen Rathi Devi leaned back in her seat as if she were considering her next words.
“Happy as we all shall be with that, I’m afraid, it falls a little short to the extent of help you want from us,” said Rathi Devi. “After all, you are asking to risk the life of one of Amaravathi’s subjects on this, no doubt, dangerous journey.”
Chandra wasn’t too sure about this strategy. Rathi Devi hadn’t yet seen fit to reveal to the party from Rajgarh that her brother, Bhupathi, was unavailable. She had a feeling that the prince wouldn’t be too pleased when he was made aware of the news.
Guruji, too, was stone-faced, but he had no option but to follow the queen’s lead.
“King Chandraketu had wished for the princess’s pardon many times in the Rajakootami. If he were with us now, it would have been what he wanted, I am sure,” said Shota.
The Rajakootami was an annual meeting of rulers of the respective kingdoms of the Saptavarsha. An annual tradition that started when Rajgarh successfully completed the rajasuya yagna that declared their sovereignty.
Chandra jolted at the news that her father had asked for her pardon. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. While one part of her felt warmth at his concern, the other part was ashamed that he had to ask others for forgiveness on her behalf.
“King Chandraketu has also wished for the fortress of Kalpeet back. Are you willing to offer that?” asked Rathi Devi.
Shota and Veer exchanged glances. “I’m afraid it is impossible. Kalpeet has been integrated into our defense systems,” said Shota in a cautious tone.
“We are not willing to settle for anything less than Kalpeet in exchange for Amaravathi’s help,” countered Rathi Devi, her voice firm.
Veer spoke, and his low voice rang with finality across the clearing. “Kalpeet is not up for discussion. Make peace with what I am offering.”
“Shame on you, Prince Veer. When you have abandoned your wife, how can you claim the right to the dowry that she brought you? Why does Amaravathi have to continue bearing the price of her stupidity by relinquishing Kalpeet? She has been punished for her crimes. The kingdom doesn’t have to shoulder the cost of her disgrace too. ”
Chandra sat numb, feeling the blood drain from her face, Shota’s reply was lost in the chaos of her mind.
She burned with humiliation. To be insulted so, in front of all these people, was one thing.
But to be talked about so by her own relatives…
in front of her husband, no less. The things she went through ought to have blunted her to such insults, but they were still there, sharp and bright enough to hurt.
“Queen Rathi Devi, please consider your daughter’s feelings. We don’t need to insult our princess in front of all these people,” pleaded Guruji.
“Stepdaughter,” corrected Rathi Devi with barely hidden relish.
“And what insult is that, Guruji? Has she thought of Amaravathi’s future when she put the peace treaty between the kingdoms in jeopardy with her murderous act?
Or when she made that disgraceful claim at the time of her trial about hating the husband she was commanded to wed?
” She shook her head. “Amaravathi has benefited in no way with this match. It is time someone put Amaravathi and its needs before one woman who didn’t do the same courtesy to her country. ”
“I am afraid you are asking for the impossible, Your Majesty,” said Shota, an edge of desperation creeping into his voice.
“Kalpeet is vital to us. We can’t give it away without weakening ourselves considerably.
We urge you to consider the damage that is suffered by the whole of Saptavarsha should Meru erupt. ”
“He is right, O’ Queen. We must consider the humane aspect of this as well,” said Guruji, adamant about throwing his support behind Rajgarh.
“To hear the man who subjected his own wife to a barbaric punishment of whiplashes speak of human compassion is so ridiculous, it’s almost funny,” she said.
Chandra saw that the prince didn’t like to be subjected to the queen’s acid tongue. His scowl deepened with each argument, and he idly rolled a dagger over his knuckles.
Chandra frowned. When did that dagger appear in his hands? She had been watching him like a hawk and was sure she didn’t see him draw it.
“We ought to stand by our own morals. That is the dharma of a kshatriya. We are the military caste—protectors and defenders. To fail to grant this request freely doesn’t reflect well on us. I don’t agree to this,” said Guruji.