Sikva, capital city of Kavish

Under an emergency situation, the guards of the water and coast have been trained to make quick measures for the people's safety while a message be sent to the palace. In the years of enmity with Durja, it had given them enough time for Kavish's military intelligence to come up with possible attack routes and solution; the water invasion was one of it.

Emergency orders were clear, 'at any given time, when unidentified foreign ships spotted heading to Kavish, the guards on the water are responsible to send immediate alert to the guards on shore. Thus follows an evacuation of the people to the city without delay.'

By the time the princes received the news, a large number of fleets were already making its way to Kavish and half of the coastal residence were on their way to the city. Nathan departed at once to the coast to join his Water Watchers division at Vajnir while Nakul and Parthiban prepared for emergency assembly with the King, Chief General, War Strategist and Military Officers.

Reports on the number of armies of unidentified troop from the Southern and Eastern Aker Tower came in and they were clearly outnumbered by double the strength of Kavish. In two days, the foreigners had captured a quarter of southeast of Kavish and it was a matter of time before they reach the city. The palace was running behind time and the concerning number against them seemed unmatched.

Using their resources wisely, they segregated their armies into three layers with equal number; the outer, middle and inner, sandwiching each layer with cavalry and their small number of elephant troop. "We have no much time to think of better strategy. This is the best we could arrange. Everyone, go to your stations. I'm going to the tower to check if we can identify who they are." Nakul stepped out with metal body armour and his sword in his hand along with a group of crown prince guards following him.

At the Aker Tower, Nakul scanned the troops through a telescope. The armies marched into the city held flags in the colour of a clear sky with an axe and trident arranged horizontally parallel to each other. "Shoolin," he murmured. "These are armies of Shoolin, what are they doing here?" Invasion? Nakul trembled at the unexpected turn of event but he calmed himself and looked through the telescope to locate the leader of the troop.

In the centre between the cavalry, Ranganathan led the troop on a white beast; heavily built with greying hair. "So, he finally came back for his revenge and Shoolin backing him?" Nakul strode to the stairs and headed straight to where Ranganathan was heading.

In the open ground and in the lanes between the houses, the armies took their spots to defend their city. A loud roar of battle cry boomed from the opponent as they charged towards the Kavish's human shield. The infantry advanced, pushing the Shoolins hard with their shields and spears. The first layer infantry's effort bought them enough time to evacuate remaining citizen in the city into the secure walls of the palace.

Elephants trumpeted, the clashing of metal against metal, the screams of soldiers and the thundering of hooves amplified. Clouds of sand rose on their wake. The first layer of infantry shield further down the row had begun charging, Parthiban must have led part of them, Nakul thought as he reigned his horse to gallop as fast as the beast can. In comparison to an actual battle ground, this was a tricky place to fight especially with houses in between. The soldiers had to rely on their instinct at places where the orders of their leaders were not seen nor heard. The atmosphere turned overwhelming and disorientated; Nakul prayed they don't lose their focus against the Shoolin as he tuned his focus to search for the man leading the Shoolin army.

Battle cry against battle cry. Sword met sword. Blood for blood. The brothers charged through opponent's infantry troop. Their weapons drawn. Each slicing the neck of the Shoolin armies in smooth swings toppling them in seconds. Yet the further they rode, the longer they fought and the more the Shoolins emerged. The clash of swords continued to echo through the air as they engaged in combats dismounting from their horses.

Amidst the intense battle in the first layer of defence came a few more additional hands in aid for Kavish. He knew they were not his soldiers. In the moment of distraction, the crown prince missed to dodge an incoming swing of a sword by a thread's width. The sharp blade slit across his face, leaving a sting of pain on his cheek as blood oozed out. He stumbled to balance himself when another swing of sword from another Shoolin came his way. A fellow warrior valiantly defended him from the enemy's onslaught.

"You good?" The warrior asked. He tapped Nakul's shoulder as a sign of 'I have got your back' and lunged to defend the incoming attacks.

They had no time for chitchat, the longer they defended the more the Shoolins charged. Nakul gripped his sword tight, as time went by the people, he needed close to him had found their way to stay by his side. "Find the leader, catch him. I want him alive," he barked his order through the noise to his comrades as he ran dodging swings of blows and taking some of it.

The battlefield was a flurry of activity as the enemy closed in, arrows filled the air and blades clang together. They had only one man to focus and he was there further on a small hilly road. More infantry flanking his sides with bows ready to shoot arrows. Nakul, Parthiban, their new comrades whom they were supposed to welcome in a grand celebration; the crown prince of Durja and his soldiers raced to the Shoolin's fresh infantry division.

The sky turned orange, flocks of birds returning to their homes but the battle in Sikva came to no end. Behind them, trumpets of elephants amplified and so did the last screams of their enemies.

"We got this." Parthiban's faint words and Dhruva's quick plan to weaken Ranganathan fell on his ears.

It took them no much time to surround Ranganathan with Nakul against him in their circle. While Parthiban, Dhruva and Dhruva's Yujyagana kept the Shoolins outside their circle, Nakul engaged Ranganathan in combat.

"If you lose here, you coming with us." Nakul tighten his grip on his hilt with his dampened palms. His face, expressionless like that of a still water.

Ranganathan sneered sarcastically. "You think I came here after so many years to lose? You have got it wrong, boy. I have come for the land. For the throne."

Nakul said nothing, he had shut the doors to his mind for any kind of chatters and noise outside. His tiredness was dragging him down but Nakul kept his stand firm, sword up.

Ranganathan closed their gap at once and swung his blade. Nakul stopped the blow; their swords clashed together. A series of strike followed and Nakul parried each one skilfully, tiring his opponent while conserving his own. Ranganathan let out a short, loud shout and sprang high. Nakul bolt away, deflecting his slash and stumbled on his feet. Before Nakul could get steady on his feet, Ranganathan was on him again and delivered a strong kick at his jaw. The crown prince dropped on his knees; blood splattered from his mouth on the dry sand.

"How I wish to see your father instead of you on the ground?" Ranganathan sneered. "He had taken what was promised to me. I was betrayed and now I will fight my way to the throne."

Nakul let him to speak as he gathered his remaining strength. Through the droplet of sweat mixed with blood on his lashes, Nakul glimpsed his brother, Dhruva and his soldiers relentlessly keeping Shoolin armies away, and in front of him, Kavish's enemy towered him with a too-an-early-victorious smile on his face. His opponent's one step forward brought him within reach.

With all his strength, Nakul trust his leg at Ranganathan's knee, forcing him to stumble a few steps behind. The crown prince sprung up like the windstorm back on his feet and delivered a punch at his opponent's chin. His swift movement caught Ranganathan off his guard as he moved clumsily. In a heartbeat, the crown prince slashed the flesh of his enemy's tight in one smooth swing and knocked Ranganathan's head with the back of his hilt.

He fell on his knees, yelping in pain before falling unconscious drawing the battle to an end.

*--**-*-*-*

Vajnir, a village near the coast of Kavish

The town once alive and lovely with close knitted community now made her heart bleed. The heat from the flames licking the roofs of the houses and dry things around blazed in furry. The village so hot, it reminded of her own experience with fire. The only difference, she now witnesses an entire town on the verge of being burnt to ashes. The smell of burning lingered in the air as strong as the fire.

Cries of help bellowed through the chaos, Nakshathra focus for the source and took off to rescue those trapped but was held back by her guards.

"It's too dangerous, Kavi. Stay here, we will pull them out," they said and left her with the captain, his assistant, Arunya and Ramani. All were equally frightened by the turn of events.

Screams rang from every corner of the village. People ran in fear here and there trying to save as much people and belongings as they could before it all turns into ashes. The smell of the smoke filled the air, choking those breathing including hers. Nakshathra scanned around through the smoke and fire, someone must have started it, she thought. She turned to the only person came across her mind, Ramani but soon brushed the thought off before it could become whole.

The screams were too agonising to simply stand and watch. Her conscience would never allow her to do it and so, Nakshathra ordered the rest to head back to the vimana and stay until she sends someone for them. She marched into the hot burning village and stumbled upon a kshetrapala unconscious on the ground. Nakshathra rush to help him only to find him severely wounded, blood gushed through the open gash. This wasn't an accident? She did a quick prayer for his soul to depart peacefully, she fetched his sword and headed further into the village.

Alone in the hot burning village, Nakshathra stumbled on many lifeless bodies on the ground. Tears choked her along with the heavy smoke as she walked pass them. They were some villagers, some kshetrapalas and some guards in unidentified uniforms. One particular body piqued her curiosity. He wore a padded armour with an axe and trident crest on it. "Shoolin?" she said with disbelieve. "What problem do they have with us?"

Behind her, she heard short footfalls. "Whose there?" The person asked and she instantly relaxed to the familiar voice.

"It's me, Nakshathra," she said and ran to her brother. They embraced each other in a tight hug while Nakshathra wailed uncontrollably. "What's going on, Nathu?"

"An ambush from Shoolin." Nathan pulled her away from a burning house and to a safer place away from burning buildings.

"Why?"

"If this isn't an invasion then I don't know why else will a nation from south of Lambodara have to attack us." They stood by a small cliff and watched from afar.

The villagers have mostly vacated their houses even before Shoolins could attack but a few unfortunate ones who took a little longer time to move became a victim to the ambush. Nakshathra looked at the village with aching heart and turned to the sea. The scene ahead of them was dark, cold, calm sea and by the base of the cliffs were numerous small boats of Shoolin floating.

"Where are the ships that carried all these boats?" she asked with her finger pointing to the boats.

"Must have dropped them with no intention of bringing them back," Nathan said nonchalantly and paced to a small tree, underneath it a few bags scattered.

He picked up a bag of water, threw at her and took one for him. It seemed something humoured him, he let out a dry laugh before turning to Nakshathra. "You know, half my life I have anticipated a war... with Durja of course but never have I imagine to see part of my country in such a state." Nathan gestured at the village behind him with a sad smile before it faded. "Wait, what are you doing here?"

"I came across a burning village on my way to Sikva and I had to make an immediate stop."

"What about the prince?" Nathan brought his hand to her forehead and wiped off the sooth.

"What's with him? Oh, you asking about how it went in Durja?"

"I don't know what's going to happen, Nathu. It's like." She paused and both stopped on their track.

Sound of gravels falling, people grunting low fell to their ears. "The boats," she whispered. They turned to face the sea, where the sound came.

"Hmm... it must have dropped a new set of soldiers." He emptied the water bag and threw it to the side. "It's two against many. You ready?" he asked with determination shinning in his eyes.

"As long as you are with me." She tightened the grip on the hilt of her sword as they waited from the Shoolins to make the climb.

*-*-*-*-*-*

Sikva, Kavish

The battle dust had settled, the clatter of swords and cries of battle had calmed, the wounded had been carried to be treated, the dead had been placed in an open ground before they be given the rightful funeral rites and the mind behind the collision had been locked in a secured prison.

The day turned dark and slowly everyone in the city begun to retire for the day post dinner which was prepared in the royal kitchen. Unlike other days, the kitchen had been busy despite the battle outside the palace compound. They were given the order to never stop cooking unless the palace gate had been breached. Thankful for the first and second layer of defence, they managed to save the palace without a scratch to it.

Hours passed by but neither the princes of Durja retired to get their wounds treated nor the princes of Kavish quit waiting. All four of them went about doing everything to take care of the city, their people and their army. After six hours of persistent wait, messages were sent to the princes; Ranganathan was finally awake and ready for interrogation.

The time they have all been waiting for, arrived. Especially for Dhruva, ever since he had the chance to take a good look at the person behind Kavish's attack, his mind relentlessly seek answer to which only Ranganathan could provide. During the interrogation by the crown prince of Kavish, Dhruva learnt how Ranganathan's was fooled by the king's father to secure Maharaja Bavaneswaran's right to the throne without making it a brotherly fight.

How irony was it for the late king to actually be the starter for a siblings fight he so eagerly tried to avoid? Was Ranganathan wrong in fighting his way to revenge the family of the man who deceived him after twenty years? Dhruva couldn't speak for the man nor could he put himself in his shoes.

The princes of Kavish had nothing much to say on their behalf except for a heartfelt apology for what their grandfather had done to him. "In case if you ever thought tata had a good life after betraying you, he didn't. Many series of incidents happened in the palace after you left, the king gradually became unstable and the event in Mount Gaja seventeen years ago took its toll on him. He died of heartache full of guilt for whatever he had done over the years of his ruling, including deceiving you." Nakul dropped on his knees with his palms joined together, Parthiban followed suit. "We apologise for all the pain, humiliation and neglections our grandfather had given you."

Dhruva and Prithvi stood by the brothers and said not a word. Their action had displeased him, why are they apologising to someone who had just wagged a war against the entire kingdom putting the lives of innocents at stack?

"Our family have wronged you and for that we are sorry." They bowed one last time before rising up on their feet.

Ranganathan averted his gaze from the brothers, deliberately ignoring them.

"But we cannot forgive you for what you have done to our country today," Nakul continued, his steel voice echoed.

Nakul instantly garnered Ranganathan's attention. He stared back in confusion, perhaps he might have thought the prince might let him go.

Dhruva happened to realise; Nakul was acting as Ranganathan's nephew a while ago but it was only to apologies for their grandfather's wrong doing. As he switched himself back to the role of a crown prince, Nakul showed no empathy to the man seated before them.

"While we are trying to avoid and stop bloodshed, you barged into our home with all those barbarians to kill my people." Nakul leaned closer to Ranganathan with menacing glare. "All of it for the throne? How does it feel now, worth it?"

Dhruva could ask the same to whoever abducted the people of Kavish. What was the reason, did they find it worth it to torture innocents? As the questions sprawled in his mind, a thought sparked. What if Ranganathan had something to do with the missing people? He had been in Durja long enough as well.

"To ease the pain and humiliation I had gone through, it's all worth the effort. Although the person responsible was long dead, it gives me immense peace of mind that I have fight for myself even if it took so long." Ranganathan's voice cracked, his eyes glistened.

Nakul nodded; his jaw tightened.

"It must have been a troubling journey to come this far and acquiring an army from a foreign land, isn't it? What did you do to earn their trust? Who did you make alliance with? What else have you done to get here?" Parthiban asked, towering Ranganathan with his height.

When Ranganathan remained quiet, fidgeting with his fingers, Dhruva stepped forward. He needed answer too. "If you can't answer Prince Parthiban, let's see if you can answer me, Lord Ranganathan, Minister of Housing and Local Govern.... of Durja."

"What?" The reaction came unanimously from Nakul and Parthiban.

"You heard me right; this man had been living in Durja as one of Durja's ministers for the last fourteen years. Tell me who let you in and how did you pass all the exams that required one to be a minister? Who is this person who you seek help in Durja? Is this person also behind the abduction of Kavishians?"

"Is what prince Dhruva saying all true? Answer me?" Nakul unsheathed his sword and placed it at Ranganathan's neck.

"We need your answer, not your silence," Parthiban demanded when Ranganathan sat tight lipped unaffected by the sharp blade pointed at his throat.

Dhruva tried to remember who Ranganathan was close with during his stay in Durja and he could hardly point one person. Ranganathan had always been the quiet minister, never speaks nor brings any issues to the court. Who could have given him refuge three years after he ran away from Kavish? Who might be the person to be benefited with Ranganathan's alliance?

"I'm not going to tell you the name."

Dhruva's line of thoughts snapped.

Ranganathan slid his glance from Nakul to Prithvi, end to end. "Not at the moment," he added almost like an afterthought.

"Well then, have a good night's rest in here. We will catch up with you for more information soon." Parthiban and Nakul set it towards the door then stopped. "Brace yourself, we will not be this nice the next time."

"Prince Dhruva," Ranganathan called. "You might need to be extra careful from now on... I see you are here for a reason and I bet I know why." His sinister smile sent wave of goosebumps on his arms. "Be extra careful... you both," he added.

Dhruva left the prison cell with nothing but uncertainty. What was he saying? Does he mean, he is associated with Alli? If not, how did he know why he was here and why did he stressed on the word both? All of those questions kept him awake the entire night and drifted to sleep at dawn only to wake up with a wave of panic.

"Where is Nakshathra? She should have been here."

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