Happiness comes with the cost of our existing happiness.

7.3 | The call of duties |

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The next morning, Shivaay got down in the mock war field along with his brothers. He spent the previous night wide awake, pacing round in his bedchamber like a wounded lion.

What should I do of Anika? She seems not like an woman who can be toyed with. In spite of being a merchant's daughter, she presents herself as a  quite learned woman and, is incredibly beautiful, I must add (This thought caused his cheeks go red and widened his smile). Oh Anika, only if we met in a different circumstance or you were the princess, instead of Tia..

He also had gone to her chamber in the zenana palace, secretly, to check upon her. What broke his heart was that she had to do all her works alone. No maid came forward to lend a hand to her. But, it was not their fault. After all, his constant attention to Ragini already gave her the immense power to wrap the whole female population of zenana around her fingers. Yet, was it proper to let the King's Wife steep this down? His answer was right before him when he witnessed how Anika completely ignored Ragini as she was supposed to do with every lower rank and he was happier when she pointed out her limits of talking to her. He was not a bit angry that his favourite bed partner got this much humiliated, rather, he was grinning widely at his seemingly sleeping wife. He went to the maids immediately, confronted them for his wife and appointed thirty maids at her service, which was the highest, for, no woman in the zenana palace was bestowed with these many maids.

I am letting you know of your actual place in zenana as my wife, Anika. Now its up to you that how would you use your position and power to reach my side as my queen, Shivaay could finally find his sleep late night, happy with his arrangements.

Next morning when Anika woke up, she was astonished to find three maids with her bathing lotions and clothes, bowing to greet her, 'Good morning Royal Wife, please let us help you in getting ready for the morning.'

Anika stared at them for a long time, and finally she got down from her bed. The maids prepared bath for her,  helped her in dressing up, combed her hair, and dried it with incense smoke. Finally, they sprinkled some essence of flowers, letting her smell amazingly. With this done, she went out on a walk around the palace in the foggy morning, with five maids tailing behind her. They asked of she would like to have her breakfast, but Anika declined, for she always took it after a long strolling and practising of armory back in Pearl Island.

Slowly, she reached the mock war field, where the three kings were practicing distinctly with knights and were occasionally discussing the techniques among them. They were so lost in themselves, that they momentarily failed to acknowledge her presence. Anika stared at her husband in this meantime, his thin organdi attire was sticking to his skin due to sweat. He was a bit short compared to his brothers, but his gleaming blue-green eyes captivated her gaze.

'Ah! Good morning Royal Sister in-law', her first brother in-law noticed her, resulting in the turn of attention towards her.

'Good morning, my kings', she folded her hands and curtsied.

'Do you know swordfight?', Shivaay asked her.

'A bit your highness, and archery too', Anika smiled.

'Is that so? Let's watch your capability in marking then', Shivaay excitedly barked at the knights to prepare a maniquin and lent her his own bow and arrows.

'Hit the head from 25 yards away', he smirked.

Anika concentrated on the sphere at the top of the mannequin. When the blow of breeze steadied, she set her aim and released the string of the bow from the tight pull. The arrow swooshes from the bow and hit the sphere at its centre.

'Perfect, Royal Sister in-law, I think you should carry on with your armory practise in here too, what do you say, Royal brother Shivaay', Rudra squealed, while Omkara clapped only, impressed.

'My deduction is never wrong', Gauri whispered from the bush she was hiding with six more men guarding King Shivaay and Rudra.

'But, I still don't understand, how did you get to know about princes Tia's plotting?', Abhay asked, confused.

'I went to check upon princess the night before wedding, just to see her face once and obviously to check how much worthy of being a queen she was. But, rather I eavesdropped on her planning to escape from the marriage with her maid, simple', Gauri whisper laughed, 'Now, I don't think that I have to tell you how we chased her midnight as hunting hounds!'

'Obviously not, it was exhausting to run barefoot in the jungle till morning', Abhay shivered.

The next moment, Gauri gasped at the man who entered the mock war field. He was completely bathed in blood, yet, his backbone was straight in pride.

'Greetings your majesties', he bowed, 'We have succeeded in defeating king Daksh in the battle challenge. His two hundred men bowed before the thirty of us. Should he presented in the court, your majesty?', he finished with a smirk.

Shivaay didn't care for his bloodied appearance and pulled him in a bear hug, 'I don't know what should be enough to thank you properly.. I'm so proud to have you as my army general Khanna, you never fail me and very very very much worthy of your title', he patted his back.

'His majesty is do kind to flatter me, but its my pleasure that I could carry out successfully your order, thank you your majesty', the man folded his hand and bowed.

Gauri was smiling so bright, that it seemed as if her cheeks would tear apart, her eyes stung with tears of pride. She looked away quickly to wipe the tear that failed to remain in her stone heart.

'What happened Gauri?', Abhay asked.

Gauri ginned proudly, 'I am so happy for my brother, I wish I could congratulate him in person'.

Abhay hugged her, 'Don't worry, one day, you surely would be.'

Though it was not the ritual for the King's wife to attend the court, but, Anika requested Shivaay to let her for that day only. She wanted to see her enemies for the last time. Both Tia and Daksh were brought in by the knights, with their cloths tattered and hands shackled along with their legs and neck.

'So, king Daksh, what do you wish to have as your punishment? For, I'm not letting any of you die, I want to give you something more than death. Something to humiliate you to the extent when you will beg for mercy and forget your former pride', came from from between Shivaay's gritted teeth.

Daksh remained silent. But Tia wailed, 'Shivaay, please, I was going to be your bride-'

'But you cheated!', his roar made Tia jump out of her skin, 'And you dare not address me by my name, only my brothers have the right to do so. Don't forget, you are a petty gaol-bird now, so be in your limits.'

'I will send you taxes like the smaller provinces that you have under your palm, but please don't snatch my throne away', Daksh finally let the wall of pride crack and begged.

'Never! When I sent Khanna to confront you, you challenged him in a battle! Okay, I understand, your pride was at bay, but who are you to bait your own land and people in such a small battle?'

Anika suddenly spoke up, 'You disgraced the teachings of the late king, Daksh. Is this the amount of concern and respect you have for your kingdom? Shame on you, Daksh, you are not even worthy of your title. And Tia, though we were the flowers of the same twig, you never considered me as your equal. I was okay with it, but I really don't appreciate how you used my pledge of friendship. Though I once belonged to Pearl Island, I will support whatever punishment king Shivaay bestows you with.'

Shivaay was about to announce their punishment, when a knight entered with a tray, a men's mantle drenched in blood was piled upon it, along with a tulat.

'Your majesty, this is an urgent message for king Omkara from Northern Province', he kept the tray at  Omkara's feet. He bent to pick it up, and his jaws tightened the more he whisper read the tulat.

King Omkara,
We couldn't help ruining your vacation in Southern Province. So, your substitute, army general Shakti is taken hostage. If you want to control the chance of a rebellion in this meantime, come to Northern Province and meet us. Remember, the more you delay, the greater your loss will be.

With regards,
Anonymous.

Omkara crumpled the tulat, venting all of his anger out on the parchment, and threw it in a fire torch. Standing up abruptly he announced, 'I beg pardon royal brother Shivaay, some matters have wounded up in my province which need my immediate attention. I would like to take my personal leave immediately.'

'I understand, brother, do call me up if you need any type of assistance', Shivaay too stood up.

'Same from me too', Rudra spoke up, following his brother.

'I will', Omkara hurried out.

Gauri had vanished towards the stable the moment Omkara finished reading the letter. Getting on her white horse, Rami, she was waiting for her king to come out.

I am coming for you, you ungracious savages! I will avenge each and every scratch you implanted on my favourite knight, her hazel eyes were now glossy red in bloodlust.

😅😅😅 I know, these are kinda lame, but the crowns do look like these to some extent, in my imagination, do let me know, how much they match your imagination..

Happy reading!
With love,
Sarani.

And yes, don't forget to let me know how the new cover is!