Sikva, capital city of Kavish

I am doing this for you.

I have been anticipating you for a long time, princess.

To offer you an opportunity to retrieve your people.

You know where I am, come find me there.

Five days of unconsciousness and those were the only words that kept running in her mind. Though at times it felt like a dream on a loop, Nakshathra was aware of the fact that those words were spoken to her by the woman who was responsible for the disappearances.

Her body ached, her head throbbed from all the injuries yet her heart raced each time she heard it, Nakshatra fought with her weak self to leave the treatment room. All along it had been those repetition of phrases that have kept her spirit high because she finally knew what she had to do and she had no much time left to waste. Those phrases that appeared like a dream to her was a reminder of the saviour she was destined to be. A warrior to fight a good fight, to take on any suffering so that her people have a greater chance at good health and peaceful life.

After a long time, at last Nakshathra understood why the royal physician plead to her at Mount Gaja.

Somehow, her family members seemed to not understand the need for her to go to Durja. Everyone including her brothers were against her idea of travelling to the foe's kingdom. Each one was persuading her to drop her plan and suggested something else which did not work for her.

"You need to put your safety first. There is no need to throw yourself where you are hated," Parthiban growled as he minced back and forth before her with his hands on his hips.

"Exactly, there is no way I am allowing you to go Durja," Nakul stressed, standing beside their sobbing mother. "Why are you not even listening to amma?"

"Think of all of us, Nakshathra. Every second you are there will be a nightmare for us."

Nakshathra's hands squeezed into fists, clenching her teeth, trying hard to control her growing anger but she had reached her limit. Her family's overprotectiveness towards her and their short sight of the future was disheartening.

Nakshathra paced to the steps at the front of the court and threw her hand at a standing brass vase. The sound of the brass hitting the sandstone floor reverberated around the chamber, startling those present in the room.

"What are you people expecting me to do?" She bellowed as her eyes met each and everyone.

"Nakshathra." Nakul stepped forward hesitated, shocked and angry at her rection. "We are just worried for you."

"I see that but don't you think you are being a little selfish?" she asked shutting everyone who dared to speak a word. "Just so that you people should not be worried for me, I should live the rest of my life in guilt for causing so many people's miserable state?"

Silence engulfed the court room with only the occasional sound of wind blowing through the eastern windows.

"All these years of disappearance reports, why didn't you take any action even when anyone could have predicted who was behind it? You could have sent a warning or a threat."

The king opened his mouth to speak but quickly refrained.

"Regardless of our military strength. Even if it wasn't them, their authority would have done their work searching for the criminal and finding for our people. The words would have spread, the entire Lambodara would have come to help us."

Nakshathra paced around, throwing her hands up in the air as if all she sees was a failed authority. She couldn't help but to look at her father with disappointment.

"Now! When you know who and what the woman wants and yet you are stopping me, what do you think she will do? Cease her abducting hobby?"

"NO. She will find another way like how when we tightened our sea routes to stop the movement but she found a way through the mountains. Alli will find another way to drop her men to take ours." As the time ticked, the invisible weight on Nakshathra's shoulders grew heavier. "Who knows? She might be getting a couple of ratha vimana to send her rouge of men through our air space soon."

So much have been said with no respond of supporting her decision from her family, Nakshathra plopped on the stairs. Uncertain with their indifferences. Are they not worried about the piling numbers of missing report or they simply trying to find an easy way to not participate?

"Worried," she mumbled. "If any of our family members were taken away, you would have tried everything you have to find them, won't you? Now because none of the Herambas were touched, you simply lay back." She scanned through the small crowd; her brothers had their heads hung in shame. The corner of her mouth twitched, at least she can count on them.

"My decision is final. With me being in the land Durja, you will all learn how those families are living." Nakshathra glanced at her brothers for her support.

Despite being apprehensive, they nodded approving her choice. "I guess the key to end this misery is in Nakshathra's hands. We will make the necessary arrangement as per her plan," Nakul stride to her side and engulfed her in a hug. "I'm sorry," he muttered softly.

"No. I won't let her go. You can't go, Nakshathra." Umayal, their mother wailed. "Listen to me, don't deliberately put your life at risk." While their father shook his head concurring to his wife's cry, the prediction of the renowned astrology lurked in his mind.

"It is your king's order. You are not allowed to leave Kavish. We will send the best knights we have instead," he ordered.

Nakshathra crossed her arms across her chest and locked eye with her father. Questioning him in silence, if his action were truly reasonable, if he was ordering her as a king or a father. Or if sending knights, the best way to retrieve their people when the lady had asked for her specifically.

Bavaneswaran tore his gaze from her with a guilty conscience.

When Nakshathra turned around to leave, she was guilty-stricken to have conducted a what could have been a calm discussion to a rude exchange. At some point, she had embarrassed herself for behaving the way she did.

*-*-*-*-*

Yalin, Durja

Under the large canopy made of dried palm leaves, the relief workers sat to relish their meals together with the princes and army personnel. As it goes on the record, such etiquette had to be the first in the history of Durja to have its princes and workers to dine on equal level regardless of one's social status. Rumours spread quicker than a pigeon carrying a message, soon more villagers gathered to dine with the princes although from afar.

Prince Dhruva and Prince Prithvi were both considered as one of the warmest royal family members in recent times and had garnered both respects along with sheer love from their people. It was on one such meet and greet hour with the people, did Dhruva took notice of a guard tagging along with Prithvi wherever the latter goes.

As Prithvi excused himself from the crowd, his face grew sour when he received a note from the guard and slowly turned distraught as he read its content. Both Prithvi and the guard darted to a secluded place.

Dhruva watched them go further into the small sugarcane plantation with the urge to follow. Swiftly he too politely adjourned the crowd and headed in the same direction as Prithvi.

"Didn't I request to you that you don't have to tell her everything?" Prithvi's agitated voice came as a whispered yell.

"But Her Highness paid me to report everything to her. She had clearly instructed me to do my job as told," the guard recited.

Dhruva bit back a laugh as he understood the problem between his brother and the guard. The problem was him. His presence in Yalin had made it difficult for both Prithvi and the queen. For the former to restrict himself from bonding with his brother while the latter fear they both would form a bond. Dhruva gave his head a disapproving shake, the queen has no right to control her son especially when he has the capability to lead a team. It was time he stands up for his brother.

The crown prince announced his presence with prominent footsteps crushing the gravels and made himself visible to them both. "Is there a problem, Prithvi?" he asked as he stood next to Prithvi with his eyes boring into the guard.

"It's ..." Prithvi fidgeted with the note in his hand hesitated to share his plight.

"May I?" Dhruva asked for the note.

Taken aback, Prithvi stared at his brother unsure if he heard it right. A nod from Dhruva assured he has his back; he handed the note to Dhruva's awaiting hand. "Just so you know, it is not my wish to follow mother's orders anymore," Prithvi mentioned before he read the note.

Son, you are naïve and unaware of the people around you. Listen to me and avoid Dhruva as much as you can. Being with him will only bring you bad reputation. He will belittle and humiliate you.

A smile stretched on Dhruva's lips. "Bad reputation?" he asked, finding it hilarious.

"I'm sorry," Prithvi mumbled.

"Don't be. Don't ever be when it isn't your fault." Dhruva laid a hand on Prithvi's shoulder. "Here take this and tell the queen that the brothers have finally created a bond which they should have done years ago. Now no one can stop that from happening." Giving the guard the note back, Dhruva tapped his brother's shoulder with a nod. "Only if you agree to send this message."

"Of course. Of course, I would want this message to be sent. I'm — just .... I have never disobeyed Amma's words and it's making me worried. What if it makes her angry?" Prithvi confessed.

Prithvi's agitation was reasonable but to show his vulnerable sight in front of the guard did not sit well with Dhruva. Although the guard was Prithvi's trusted man, a line should be drawn in order not to be sabotaged later using his weakness. "Please excuse us," he said to the guard and brought Prithvi further into the plantation.

Whatever was to be said will only be between them—brothers.

*-*-*-*-*-*

Mahina, capital city of Durja

Somewhere in the palace of Durja pigeon flew through a partially opened window. Perched next to the only being present in the room, the pigeon cooed.

The chamber had been deprived of any sort of lights as it has been for the past week since her return from the land of east, wounded. The stab on her abdomen had healed however, her heartsick got worst. Progress in her plan had slowed down, those she was trying to claw to death through her scheme continued to stay indifferent except for the young princess and now even after her encounter, there seem to be no news of Nakshathra's next move.

Alli groan as she tossed and turned on the bed. The darkness in her room reminded her of her continuous failure and got her to think the purpose of all that she was doing. "My father... Yes, to avenge the death of my father," she exclaimed and threw the duvet to the floor.

The pigeon announced its presences yet again and gained her attention. Alli untied the note and read its content. Of course, it was dark and she needed more light. To the window she ran, drew the curtains open and as the evening sun swamp her bedroom, so did the light on her face.

Her smile grew into a loud laughter reviving her dead spirit. Oh, how much she needed the boost of energy, she thought. This had to be the second time in the last few months where she felt absolutely pathetic of herself but no more of those.

"She will be here soon and I will make sure she rots here forever." Alli spread her arms wide with an evil grin plastered on her face. Many days after she had locked herself in her room, Alli stepped out to the balcony and enjoyed the sunset as she schemed her revenge and Nakshathra's future.

*-*-*-*-*-*