Yalin, Durja

"Mother never wanted me to see you, be with you nor let me learn about you. I have only known about you through the maidens even that was bits and pieces." Prithvi sat on a small stone under a tree, hugging his knees.

They had stormed away from the village and far through the sugarcane field to avoid being heard. Now they were in front of a temple deprived of people with Prithvi pouring his heart out while Dhruva listened attentively.

The day's heat gradually rose as the sun moved above their heads, even the tree they sat under wasn't enough to cool them down. Dhruva and Prithvi were practically drenched in sweat yet it didn't seem to be a matter of concern to the brothers as Prithvi shared some of his unhappy early days in his life. He appeared flustered with the message his mother sent him.

"I don't know why; she often warns me to never go near you or you would lure me into your charm and steal what is mine." He let out a dry laugh. "I never came to an understanding of what you would steal from me till today..." Prithvi flicked his palms upward, gesturing his failure in comprehension.

Dhruva was aware the queen displeased his presence in the palace and have tried every possible way to stop her children from meeting him but stealing, was something he had not astute from the queen's behaviour. Alike Prithvi the same thought bubbled in his mind too, what will I steal?

"I know mother isn't the first queen of Durja and because of that she had always tried to be the best among all yet her reason to distant you from us was unfathomable. Her control over our life, my life wasn't acceptable either." Prithvi released his knees from the cage of his arms and rose to his height. "But there will be a day where she will not be within my reach to control me. A project in Yalin was my first step away from her shadows. Thanks to the king. And your presences here added more possibilities to help me find courage and break free, again thanks to the king." He twinkling eyes met Dhruva's. "Somehow she found her way to watch me even from afar." His shoulder sagged.

Dusting his hand from the sand, Dhruva stared at the dents imprinted on his palms. He walked to Prithvi and showed his palms. "The queen's control over you are like the dents imprinted on my palm. Once you dust it and loosen up, things will begin to repair itself. Just like our hands." He tapped his brother's shoulder. "But don't shun the queen because she was hard on you. I am sure she had her reasons to do what she did."

"She might have her reasons, yeah. But do you think she will try to keep us apart after she learns about us?" Prithvi raked his fingers through his hair.

Dhruva gave a thought through a long pause as he stared at a puddle of water close to the shrubs that rippled from uncertain disturbance. He continued to watch it until the water turned calm.

"The news will surely give her discomfort but like the water calms after the ripple waves settle, she will come in terms with development as well."

Although the calmness Dhruva predicts might not take place, the sense of relieve displayed on Prithvi's face justifies his unassured assurance.

*-*-*-*-*-*

Sikva, capital city of Kavish

Nakshathra left an angry king, an upset queen, unhappy family members and convinced brothers with her team of six in the small ratha vimana Parthiban had arranged for them. The argument of her journey to Durja went on for five days since she arrived, the king and queen had relentlessly tried to persuade their daughter to stay back but her stubbornness had them succumb to her will eventually.

The preparation of the journey took less than two days and on the third day she was on the flight to Pareen for documents they all needed to get into Durja.

Inside the enclosed ship-modelled flying chariot made of timber and thin iron sheets, were spaciously arranged seats enough to occupy fifteen passengers excluding the pilot and the vimana's crew. Tapered at both end of the vimana for a smooth flight, the speed and direction of it were controlled by the pilot and the crews through levers and sail. Along the body of the flight were an array of windows, allowing the natural light into the cabin with a thin opening for ventilation between the body and the roofing of the vimana.

The ratha vimana was said to be the most advanced invention by the engineers of Takash kingdom, for expeditive travels within the country. Acquired by all the nine royal houses in Lambodara, the ratha vimana was once used only for official visits. However, as the need arises, the richer nobles used it to provide transportation services. With the frequent use of the transportation, Nakshathra's ratha vimana most likely will not attract unwanted attention while they fly through the air space.

Along with Nakshathra, she brought her four devoted loyal guards, her friend Arunya who insisted to go with her regardless of the harm that may come her way and Ramani who had recently joined the Bhavani sena. She had volunteered to go with them as a female guard for the princess.

Travelling to Pareen was never in her initial plan but when she thought of their travel document, Nakshathra opted to use Abhimanyu's offer to get help. Hence, they flew to Pareen and shared the reason for her incognito travel. Abhimanyu had been more than welcome to provide them fake documents to nine of them including the captain and his assistant.

"I hope you succeed in bringing them all back and safe. If you need any help, I will always be there in person if not through my men," he assured as he handed the documents to Nakshathra. "Accept this as my official apology."

Nakshathra simply shook her head for Abhimanyu's contrition. "But thank you. I'll be forever in debt to you for this favour."

"No need for that. Just get back home safe."

Although Nakshathra had several options to get their fake travel documents done, she had chosen Pareen not only because Ahalya had insisted for it but also as a way to patch the kingdoms' shaky relationship after the marriage fiasco took place. She as a princess of Kavish was responsible for Pareen's crown prince's damaged image and with this favour things can begin to bridge and heal.

*-*-*-*-*

Yalin, Durja

The rework of the affected houses and the construction for the proper drainage system proposed by Prithvi had completed within its estimated period. Relief workers were sent to spend their time in whatever way they wish. Most of them have gone to shop at the main market centre in Yalin to bring home gifts. The next day was scheduled for departure, somewhat and the volunteers from other villages had already gone back after bidding farewell to the princes.

Dhruva stood at the edge of the hill where their camps were set and marvelled at the completion of the work. The job was done in an absolute organised manner with no unwanted disrupts and it was all because of Prithvi's proper team management. The stay in Yalin did not only gave him the opportunity to connect with his brother but also learnt about Prince Prithvi's organising skills and mind to see future developments. The trip had given him the one thing he had yearned and now they will be returning home as brothers and not estranged princes.

The crown prince sent a word to Prithvi through a guard about his little venture to a hut owned by an old woman. Ever since he had been in Yalin, they have been receiving a variety of steamed cakes, each one every day. They workers began to treat it as their reward at the end of a tiring day. And so, he thought, he should visit her in person to thank her for her kindness.

He made his way in the direction shown by the locals to her house. The path began to ascend as he clumped through the hill path. The further up he went the quieter it got except for the sounds of insects and sound of monkeys chattering in a distant. "The lady lives this far?" he murmured and turned to look back the way he had come. The town they were working on laid over an hour journey from the hill. "How did she got all those packages of food delivered," he wondered and continued to up the rocky hill.

At a clearing, he sighted a hut or more of a wooden house. The house he had come this far. A relatively large hut stood on eight timber pillars and surrounded with selected vegetation. He reached the bottom of the steps leading to the open main door of the house, "anyone there?" he called.

A while later a woman with dark thick hair let loose came to the door, her hand on her forehead shielding her eyes from the bright light and another on her back. The facial appearance of the woman though did not speak of her age, her hunched body said as much.

"Who is it?" She asked, squinting her eyes to get a better view before her gaze moved behind him.

Dhruva too took interest of what diverted her attention and found his brother and Megavannan marching in his direction. Both carried an expression he couldn't read, at a glance they looked worried and at another they appeared angry.

"You followed me?" Dhruva puckered his brow.

"You left without a word," Prithvi scolded, his hands on his hips. "We were supposed to leave today and you went around to roam like a kid found something interesting." He frowned, clearly annoyed of Dhruva's sudden missing and the long walk he had to take to find him.

"We are sorry, devi. We came to find his brother." Megavannan addressed the puzzled lady still at the door.

Her creased forehead relaxed as she broke into a smile and nodded. "Would you like to come inside? You three look like you need some refreshments before you head back to the town." The lady waved her hand, welcoming them into the house.

"Why were you looking for me, son?" She asked soon after serving them hot tea and her now famous among the workers, steamed cake.

"I came here to thank you in person for all the pastries you have been sending to us for the past few weeks."

"Oh." She wafted her hand and laughed. "That was nothing. You all having been working hard to repair the damage, all I did was bake some cakes for you boys."

"Yet sending them all the way to the town... Its far and we must thank you for your kindness."

"It wasn't a lot of work. Plus given that I had so much of raw materials left and no one to feed, I could at least bake some for you."

The lady pointed at an open room next to the kitchen. The room was filled with sacks of ingredients enough to cook for a village for months.

"Devi, don't mind me asking but did you stock these up for a reason?" Megavannan asked out of curiosity.

She laughed. "Why would I stock up so much for one person. I would survive with my own vegetables I grow in my garden. These were brought in by some men asking me to cook for them as long as they were here."

"Men? Are they workers too?" Dhruva asked.

"Nah, those fellows were large and hefty armed men. They used to guard a cave nearby."

The lady further shared about those men and the cave. They had found her settlement closest to the cave and so, the men had stocked up rations for her to cook for them. She had reportedly seen many of the armed men escorting a group of people with their hands and eyes tied into the cave. And they were mostly men. As a woman living all by her own, she did not find the courage to learn about the happenings in the cave and did as she was told. However, she did overhear them saying those captives deserve to starve till death.

Soon the three of them left the hut and headed to the cave to feed their curiosity. If it was true, the place was used to keep captivate men than they must be Kavishians. A not so short walk later, they came to a small opening amidst overgrown shrubs, an entrance where it would lead them to the cave the lady mentioned. Megavannan lit the torch given by the lady and made their way in with unsheathed swords in their hands.

It was a narrow descending tunnel at first and the path slowly expanded to a large cavern. They need not go in any closer to validify the presence of captives in the chamber. Those abandoned chain and shackles, broken lathi and rusted swords tossed in a corner were enough proofs and those smells of human excreta cannot be ignored. Dhruva mince to the centre of the cavern to inspect closely if they could find anything leading them to the person behind the abduction.

Apart from the abandoned items, he found traces of dry blood on the ground, scribbles on the wall, used utensils and water-holder. "The captives were here until recently they were taken away in a haste. So much in a hurry, they did not clean the place," Dhruva said as he ran his fingers on one of the scribbles.

We will be saved. They will come.

"What captives are you all talking about? I am clueless. What is this about?" Prithvi broke his silence after multiple attempts of understanding the situation they were talking.

Megavannan grabbed him by his shoulders and explained. "Son, someone working in the palace have used this place to hold the captives. The dry bloods, the chains are the proof for it."

"I get that but who are the captives? Are they prisoners? Did they commit such a big crime?" Prithvi appeared worried and curious at the same time.

"They are innocents... from Kavish," answered Dhruva, his eyes swamped with tears. There were so much of blood where he stood and he could only imagine the pain they must have gone through for something they did not do.

"Wait, what?" ... "Th—That... It's real? It wasn't a rumour?" sputtered Prithvi, glancing between Megavannan and Dhruva with his eyes and mouth wide open.

"Someone must have sent an intel ordering them to move out when they learnt about a team from the palace will be working close by and I wonder who is it?" mused Dhruva as they headed out. "Who is it?"

*-*-*-*-*-*

Hi, all. It's Deva. A brief announcement, I'll be posting the remaining chapters today, completing the story. So, you can read it at a go or in your leisure time. 

Thank you!