It had been almost three months and Draupadi hadn't returned yet, but it wasn't like anyone cared. Shikhandini was baffled, not liking your daughter was one thing, but she was also the princess of Panchal. The king had sent some soldiers to look for her, but they came back even before crossing the kingdom. There were rumours that the princess ran away because of how the king treated her. Shikhandini knew better, even though she had known Draupadi for only some time, she knew her. She was so not the one to run away. Who knows she may have gone to look for something that can make the men of Panchal respect women! Shikhandini never thought about overpowering her father, it was treason. But, she did want to achieve his respect at least, if not his love. She was not scared for Draupadi, she would be fine, but her free spirit was too much for Shikhandini. She just hoped her sister was not thinking of something radical.

The court went, as usual, the king just glanced over the barren seat of his daughter, and resumed as he always did. The king was now listening to a farmer who blamed the landlord for asking unreasonable rent. The king was just about to pass his verdict when a voice came, the voice of a horse. The hoofs of the four-legged animal made click-clack sounds against the marble floor. Draupadi sat atop the horse, and not any horse, this was Maruut, the royal horse of Panchal. This was exactly what Shikhandini feared. She knew Draupadi would do nothing but aggravate her father. Her little sister certainly did not think so, she was now getting off the horse and marched towards the centre of the court. Drupad had already stood up, he was going to speak something, but Draupadi thought better of it.

"Father, I bring you such news that you will rejoice, and so will all of Panchal. Father, the kingdoms of Kunti, Videha and Kosala have sworn allegiance to you Father." the king knitted his eyebrows, as if not sure if his daughter was joking or not, "Now, you will not rule half the kingdom of Panchal, you will rule four times as much!" Draupadi drove the point home. 

Drupad sat back down on the throne, "And how was this achieved?" Drupad questioned, still not convinced.

"I travelled with Maarut to the neighbouring kingdoms of Panchal and gave them a choice to surrender or fight me,  Kunti was won with just some negotiations. Whereas Kosala and Videha had no casualties, but they are licking their wounds!" 

The whole court roared, praises were heard, laughter was emanated. 

The king raised his hands, the court kept it's quite. Again the king was starting to say something when he was interrupted by his offspring, but his son this time.

"Father, I hope the surprise I arranged for you, is of your liking." said Drishtdyumna, coming to stand in front of his sister.

Draupadi came to his side, "I am sure your surprise can wait, Jeshth. Father has some kingdoms to rule." Draupadi stated.

The court again whooped. 

"It is okay little sister, now we can tell him," Drishtdyumna said to Draupadi feigning sweetness, "I proposed this idea to Draupadi, Father!" he said addressing the king.

Finally, the king spoke hopefully without any interruptions, rather boomed.

"I knew my son was only capable of such valour! Praise my so-"

"Father, with all due respect, Jeshth had no part in this." Draupadi said through gritted teeth, hoping to control her anger.

"There is no way you could have done this on your own!" the king stated.

"But, Fathe-"

"Enough," he said a little too harshly, "Now, my son, for your courage and wit, I the king of Panchal assign you as the Senapati of Panchal."

The court whooped nevertheless.

Shikhandini was numb. Fighting on the side of her father, for years, and now stripped from the title so that her brother could take her place, and that too by treachery. She stayed silent.

Draupadi was not able to comprehend what was happening before her, she won three kingdoms for his father, and now his brother was being appointed the Senapati by guile, stripping her sister away from the title. When she came to her senses and tried to reign in her anger, Drishtdyumna had already been assigned the Senapati. Drupad was never fond of the rituals performed by the other kings, his word was the final word. 

"I the princess of Panchal, the daughter of the great Drupad, the blessing of Agnidev, Draupadi challenge you-" she said pointing to her brother, "the Senapati of Panchal for a duel." Draupadi thundered, she was seething with anger.

Author's note: I am providing a vocabulary for words you may be unfamiliar with:

Maruut - The royal horse of Panchal, meaning the wind

Kunti - A kingdom of ancient India, current-day Madhya Pradesh, India

Videha - A kingdom of ancient India, current-day Bihar and West Bengal, India

Kosala - A kingdom of ancient India, current-day Bihar, India

Jeshth - A Hindi term for the elder brother