I could not even swallow a morsel peacefully. Rani Dharma saw me pick up a morsel and linger it around my mouth, with my gaze fixed somewhere else.

"Kaurvaki, please take it easy."

"Rani ma, how am I supposed to take it easy when I've heard the truth myself?"

"Trust Samrat, everything will be fine."

Suddenly, a maid ran with tears in her eyes.

"Samrat! A cook has been murdered!"

We all got up and I couldn't feel my feet.

"GUARDS! SURROUND ALL PALACE ENTRANCES AND REPORT FROM THE FORT IF YOU SEE ANY NEWS." Samrat ordered servants and they ran across the place, gathering equipment and Dhrupad started crying.

"Father, I will go and check the side entrances and courtyard, Bhraata Sushim, you go and check the main entrance." Ashok pointed across to the doors and he left hurriedly while Sushim just stood there with his hands behind his back. He perambulated slowly but proudly across to the entrance.

I walked over to Dhrupad and kneeled down on my knees so I looked up to him.

"Dhrupad, look - you have such protective guards and very strong brothers right? No need to be scared!"

I didn't sound too convincing myself.

"Kaurvaki didi, we will be safe right?"

"Yes. Just stay with me or one of us." I closed my eyes and assured him.

I held his hand in my fingers and the women of the family went to the royal court where we were safe.

"Siyamak, come with m....." I began, but Siyamak walked off, ignoring us.

I watched him go with forlorn eyes; ever since I had come to this palace he didn't talk to me.

I decided to go over to the courtyard and check if it was safe.

"Maharani, take care of Dhrupad. I'll come back."

"Where are you going Kaurvaki?" She asked me hesitantly.

"I'll be right back..." I denied on telling her; I ran off, grabbing the sword I laid on the floor earlier and hid behind the same pillars.

Being night, it was hard to see and sense, which was good because I could camouflage in my black blanket.

I took a scarf and wrapped it around my face so that only my sharp eyes covered in streaks of eyeliner were visible.

My hands did a small exercise with the sword as I had done in my childhood when I practiced sword fighting.

I laid out my anklet to avoid the tinkle echoing around the open space, and as a clue for anyone who was searching for me regarding my safety.

"Right..." I quickly undid some ropes tied on the pillars and thrust them over my shoulders.

I didn't know if this was going to work, but maybe it just might.

I lassoed the rope over onto a pole on a balcony which belonged to an unknown bedroom, so I could get a view of the murderer if they ran past, from above.

With my heart in my mouth, I used the rope to pull me up while my feet slid me up the palace walls. I climbed and climbed, heaving and pulling until my hands started burning due to the rough rope.

Blood stained the rope dark red but I ignored it and continue to climb over the terrace.

Candles were lit in this bedroom but I knew no-one was there.

I thinned my eyes through the window and ducked down just in time as a figure came into my view.

I watched as a woman entered the room dominantly, followed by a man who looked like - a guard! A guard from our own palace!

The discussion was too quiet to hear, but I saw the woman take out a red velvet box furtively from the cupboard and she whispered something in his ear.

The woman's silhouette was all I could see, but I could make out the long hair waving.

The guard tucked the box under his arm and tip toed out of the room.

Just as I was about to get up - the woman began advancing towards the terrace - where I was hiding.

With all my might I tried to get the rope to fall straight so I could slip down, but the large blanket kept coming in the way.

I had to decide quickly -

Alright, I'm dropping it.

I let go of it and stepped over the balcony but I felt a sword scraping into my flesh, the cold blade paralyzing my skin.

I screamed, and found myself lying on the ground, my hair all scattered.

I straightened myself up as soon as I realized I had to get out of here and I ran for my life, back into the palace, letting go of the scarf and blanket with the sword. I locked myself in my bedroom and dropped onto the bed.

I lay still for a few minutes, trying to close my eyes and get rid of the stinging pain, but alas - no use.

The wound was deep and it had stained my clothes.

I dabbed it with cold water and cleaned it.

I couldn't tell Ashok I was out there at this time of night otherwise he would be worried and I had to keep it a secret otherwise that would be water over my plans.

I acted normal and quickly draped a fresh piece of cloth round, hiding the wound as I sat in bed pretending to be reading a book.

"Where've you been?" He asked.

"Err, nowhere - I'm here itself, with the family." I stiffened up a bit.

He watched me from the corner of his eye as he took off his sword.

"And where've you been?" I asked.

"The fort."

"Found anything?"

"No, it's too dark to spot anything. It will be tomorrow that we advance our security further away from the entrance, to the middle circle where the radius is a kilometer so it traps the opponent in the diameter and......"

"Okkkayyyy, I don't need all the logistics as long I know we are safe." I laughed.

"Stop faking your laugh Kaurvaki. I know you too well." Ashok smirked.

"Um - "

"I know you're scared from within."

"Me and scared? No way, I'm just as good as you in sword fighting." I flicked the strands of my hair back in attitude.

"Hmm, maybe you didn't have enough of a fight the last time we had one at Takshashila." He smiled at me intimidatingly.

I smirked back.

"Alright then - let's...." I began removing the scarf that hid my wound and quickly realized.

"Err, I'm tired - let's do it tomorrow."

Ashok laughed.

"Scared?"

"No way, I'm just sleepy."

The candle blew out.

The candle was re lit.

Maharani Charumitra had called everyone to the Royal Court urgently.

"There is something important I would like to discuss......"