Chapter 26-The Messenger
Vikram was discussing grain storage when the messenger arrived.
He was irritated by the interruption.
That fact would haunt him later.
The council doors opened.
A man entered.
Covered in mud.
Exhausted.
Vikram recognized the colors of Devagarh.
Something inside him tightened.
The messenger fell to his knees.
"Your Highness."
Vikram stood.
"What happened?"
The man did not answer immediately.
Vikram's irritation vanished.
"Is Vinaya ill?"
"No, Your Highness."
Relief.
Brief.
Then dread.
Vikram's mouth went dry.
"Ganga?"
The messenger lowered his head.
No.
Vikram stopped breathing.
"No."
No one had spoken yet.
He already knew.
King Amarendra rose.
"Say it."
The messenger's voice broke.
"There was a fever."
Vikram stared.
Ranveer was suddenly beside him.
The messenger continued.
"The physicians could not..."
"Stop."
Vikram's voice barely existed.
The man looked up.
Vikram's face was white.
"Stop."
But some truths could not be stopped simply because hearing them would destroy you.
The messenger bowed his head.
And the words entered the room with the weight of a funeral bell.