~•~ The Sacrifices ~•~

"Nothing hurts more than to give up your dear ones before cruel fate, just to compensate your mortal pledges unfulfilled."

|~•~•~•~|

Harsh Vardhan was nothing more than a mere peasant. He submitted his taxes on time, fed the Priests of the village temple a fortune at regular installments, abided by the rules and regulations of the King Tej always. He lived at the outskirts of the Southern Province's capital.

Life was always much fare to him. He had a small hay-hut over his head, he could manage two meals a day, he, along with his wife and kids had coarse, yet clean clothes to wear and two cows, which gave them an opportunity to earn a bit more and keep his kids engaged throughout the day.

But, a storm of a raged king was soon approaching them. That year, there was an attack of locusts, which led to the loss of crops even before they could ripe. But yet, they had to offer the king their due taxes. Their generous king decided to cut the taxes a bit, but couldn't lessen the amount much fearing of the other provinces feeling offended by the gesture.

The richer farmers who had enough money to stock their crops or had a successful business other than farming, could pay the taxes. Whereas, poor farmers as Harsh Vardhan, could only give up his possession to pay the taxes. The possession could be anything, his house, his cows, his lands, even his family members. Poor Harsh Vardhan could only pray for God's mercy.

• • • • •

'My King!', Shakti, the Governor in charge of the Northern Province, bowed his head down before the King, kneeling, 'Our old section of soldiers has been acquainted according to their performance and skills, and we need fresh trainees.'

Northern Province was the nest for the novice soldiers. They were trained hard in there and the extreme weather also helped in increasing their physical abilities.. Shakti was in charge of the whole training process, a great warrior himself, he had now the three young princes training under his wings.

Tej tapped his chin thoughtfully. Suddenly he remembered that some villages would not be able to pay the taxes this year.

'Shakti, go to the villages outskirt of the castle and main city. I will issue a notice there that when you get in there, you find fresh young kids from distressed families to choose for your newest battalion, who would be serving my immediate next generation.'

'Aye, aye my king!!', Shakti left.

• • • • •

'Mercy my lord! Its all your wish Almighty. Just don't break us beyond repair, I beg you God, I beg you.', Harsh Vardhan kissed the ground before his little Shiva Idol.

A loud knock broke the pace of the mantras he was chanting. His wife came to him running.

'The tax-collectors are here!', she announced.

Harsh Vardhan genuflected for once last time, 'everything you wish for our good, God.'

Coming out, he gave out his little savings from the surplus crops.

'Only ten sacks?', the collector calmly asked.

'Sorry sir, you must know about the locust's attack..', Harsh Vardhan bowed deeper.

'Its okay, but we have planned an alternate compensation for you.', came another voice.

'Army general Shakti!', Harsh Vardhan kneeled on the ground immediately, 'greetings my lord! How can I serve you?'

'Hmm, according to the amount of lands you own, you were supposed to give twenty five sacks of crops. And you are offering ten of them.', Shakti scrutinized the situation.

'Yes my lord! The locusts..', He was cut by Shakti.

'I can offer you a solution. I am looking for fresh kids for our army. Those who are not eligible enough to pay off the tax, can give their children to us, we will train them to become soldiers in future. Do you agree?', Shakti held a winning point.

'But both of my kids?'

'Yes. Then you will not have to pay the tax anymore till your kids get in the army.'

'My daughter..'

'Yes her too. Now. Decide fast. Either you submit another fifteen sacks within two weeks or send your kids with us.'

'Khanna! Gauri! Come here kids!!', Harsh Vardhan yelled.

'Yes father!!', both the kids rushed in, panting in unison.

Harsh Vardhan embraced them tightly. 'My brave kids are going to show their bravery, to become the pride of us! God bless you!'

Khanna could smell fishy from the conversation, 'Father, who are these people in armour?'

Harsh looked at the armymen nervously, 'I'm sending both of you with them. You are going to train hard and make us proud', he patted their heads, showing fake happiness.

Khanna suddenly held the end of his mother's cloth, whimpering, 'I don't want to go away from you!!', he wailed loudly.

Harsh gripped his son's hand and handed him over to a tall knight. Gauri looked at Shakti for a long time. Her little brain understood that this man was the leader.

Harsh came to pick her up, but she scooted away. Standing straight before Shakti, she asked in her baby voice, 'Can I sew(r)ve the PW(r)ince?'

Shakti looked at the little girl of barely five, surprised. Nodding slowly at her he said, 'yes my child, you can one day if you prove yourself to be the best.'

'I wieee(ll) be th(the) bewsht(best)!!', Gauri exclaimed.

Shakti was a man of deep senses. He didn't mistake the fire of determination behind the rare green orbs of the girl. Kneeling at her level, he patted her head, 'I'm impressed by your enthusiasm little girl. Would you like to serve the prince personally? For your life?'

Harsh Vardhan cried vehemently, 'no! You can't make my daughter just a mere concubine!! She's worth more to me!!'

'Shut up!!', Shakti snarled, 'You are nobody when I talk!'

Harsh Vardhan bowed deeply, 'I'm sorry my lord. Pardon my overflow of emotions, I deserve to die.'

Shakti turned to Gauri again, 'You didn't answer me, little girl.'

Gauri blinked rapidly putting her index finger in her mouth. Then she nodded in yes.

Shakti's eyes beamed in hidden happiness. Turning to a soldier he ordered him to take the kids with him. But, Gauri protested.

'Ouew(our) thingsh..'

'We will give you everything you need, no need to take your luggage.'

'Bwuth(but) I wan(want) to tawe(take) shum(some), pweshe(please)..', Gauri made an irresistible pout.

'Okay, but only one small thing', Shakti was exasperated.

'Okwey', Gauri ran inside and soon came back. There was a folded tulat(a type of cloth used for writing purposes in ancient days) in her little hands.

'A tulat??', All were laughing at her, but she pasted it her chest tightly, as her life depended on it.

'Okay, okay', Shakti gestured the soldiers to move. Two soldiers dragged along with them the brother and the sister. While, Khanna was shoved inside a large carriage, Shakti stopped the soldier dragging Gauri.

'Bring a gold chain and tie it around her left ankle. She will be trained as the secret bodyguard of our future king(s).'

Harsh Vardhan gasped in fear. He had heard that the secret bodyguards were the most skillful of all the kind of soldiers. A lot of kids were taken to be assigned as the secret bodyguards, but, very few of them could pass all the ordeals of the training session. Those who failed, were generally dead.

'I think you should do the final rites of your daughter. She is no longer your daughter, you are free to consider her dead. She is now one of the trainees for the most precious battalion of Isilwane. Even if she lives through the hardships, she would never come to see you.', Shakti announced in an emotionless voice.

The large carriage drew away from the village, as Gauri looked longingly at her wailing parents. Though she couldn't understand what the big men were saying to her father, but she understood that she would never meet them again. So, she looked at them as long as they were within her view, for the last time.

Her fate was sealed.

So, how is it going?? Should I continue it or not??
Gauri is little, but has a very sharp brain at a very young age and she is very composed too and the best part is, she has decided her path.

Happy reading!
With love,
Sarani.