Welcome to where you had once died, little one.

****

"We have to be quick, Indu."

All their belongings were being loaded on the carts and donkeys. Horses were ready.

They were ready too.

Rudra took the blessings of Mataraj Pushyaar and sauntered towards Indumala. The former smiled at Indu, raising her hand in the abhaya mudra. Indumala bowed in return, and together with the Rajan, went towards the palace gates.

The royals were going to Revat.

He took Indu by the hand, his grip gentle on her butterfly-soft skin. Closing his enigmatic eyes, he took three deep breaths to steady himself. "The place where we are going, Indu, you will be witnessing some horrendous sights which I have failed to make nonexistent. And that's also a reason why, I am choosing you to accompany me there."

Indumala could feel the blood rush through his hands. Heat emanating from his hold seeped inside her. His fingers travelled up her limb to her shoulder, entangling themselves with her tresses.

"No woman gets respect in Revat. And you, young and beautiful, and a bodyguard– I warn you Indumala, you will not be welcomed with respect but disgust and mockery."

His grip on her tightened.

"They may tell you derogatory things, but as long as I am there and Aryamna is too, do not be afraid. I am no one to ask you to be quiet after being humiliated, but be a bit like your parents– considerate and wise enough to know when to speak, and when not to."

Indumala could not comprehend completely the cruelty of Revat. Of course she knew it was a really bad place where no one would wish to go, but those were only from the mouths of people. She had herself never witnessed what Revat was like. In a way, she was excited to go there. Perhaps she would be able to defeat the egos of the stupid men who lived in that treacherous place.

"You don't need to think of destroying them now, Indu. This visit is for you to understand Revat, not put it to ruins."

Indumala gasped. "How did you know?"

Rudra adored the way her eyes twinkled. "I know you, little one." My little one.

"You don't call me that."

"But I–" I love you, little one. "I don't do it to tease you, Indu. You are precious to me like little wildflowers and shiny pearls. I want to have a little one in my life."

"Fine. Don't say these things."

"Why so?" For a moment, he thought she was upset.

"People around give us strange looks. I don't want to be judged for whatever is happening."

He placed a hand on her waist. "So, you do understand what is happening?"

She stared at his ebony irises. Tugging his hand closer, she said, "I do." She exhaled. "I am not a fool."

"What we are doing, only fools do. And, I don't think your Baba likes it."

"Baba will understand."

"I pray so."

Indumala didn't chide him for wrapping his arm around her. Keeping her close to his body, their skin rubbing against each other, Rudra took her to the gates. He helped her mount on the horse.

"Your Baba is rarely late. What can be the reason?"

"He should come–"

Their eyes landed on Aryamna. Surprisingly, he wasn't alone. Behind him there was a palanquin.

Rudra looked at him questioningly. He went and pulled the curtains to see who was inside the palanquin. His face dried up like a raisin. "Ishvara?"

"I won't leave her alone. I will take her with me." Aryamna's eyes shone with determination. "You are taking Indumala," he whispered. "And I am taking her."

"I have reasons to take Indu with me."

"I have mine too."

Rudra heaved a sigh. "Right." He pressed Aryamna's palm reassuringly. "We won't fail."

Aryamna didn't have the desire to rebuke him. His eyes teared up on their own, seeing which the Rajan embraced him in his brotherly arms. The silence spoke louder than any of their jumbled up words could. Promises they had made in the past, watched them break, and now again they rebuilt castles.

The men mounted on their horses. A conch shell was blown, as if announcing the war even before its onset. The priests chanted holy mantras and showered on them marigold and hibiscus as they left the territory of Ishgar's palace.

Indumala looked back once. She could see Mataraj bidding them goodbye from the tower. She fancied seeing the old lady shed a tear or two. Maybe it was her imagination, or maybe it was true.

Her mind remained blank for most part of the initial journey. Nobody talked. Nobody smiled. Then, they were outside of Ishgar and on the docks where a ship waited to take them on the next part of their journey.

Everything after that was rushed and frantic. Indumala saw the Rajan and her Baba instruct men and oversee the loading of their things. Ishvara was equally lost as her. They sat together, holding hands, wondering where fate was flowing. Ishvara too didn't know anything about Revat, but had often heard people curse her to go away there. This made it even tougher for Indumala to fathom how merciless the place was.

The salty breeze tickled her face. She rested her head on Ishvara's lap. They talked about the latter's days in Ishgar and Indumala's childhood, trying to pass the time. Soon, they were called to board the ship. The Rajan didn't want any delay, and so the women hurried.

Before she knew, the ship charged into the foamy waves. Seagulls called and the sun glared down at them. Indumala saw her parents relish the fresh taste of sea on the winds, talking about roasted fish and soup. Somehow, Rudra was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he was busy with the planning and weather analysis.

Indumala saw the land go far away from the ship. She didn't know why, but it pained her to leave Ishgar. Something clawed at her windpipe, choking her breath and making her chest tight. She felt her hands go sweaty. Maybe it was motion sickness. But she didn't have the urge to puke, nor did her stomach churn. Oh, maybe it did, but it wasn't the food that struggled to come out. It was a twisting of the guts that she felt before something very wrong was going to occur. She got this sensation last time when Rudra had been attacked by the dark mage.

It didn't bode well.

Indumala didn't want to agitate anyone. She saw her parents enjoying their time from a distance. Although, she observed her father's features go tense whenever her mother would be enamoured by a strange bird or a dolphin, her attention snapping away from his dreamy words. Maybe he was having the same intuitive feeling.

She knew she had to be careful, and strong, not just physically but from the mind. Things were going to go downhill. As the distance between Revat and them decreased, her heart pumped more furiously.

It was just a wait of some nights before they would reach that accursed land.

****

As expected, it didn't take Indu too long to understand why she was feeling that way. Revat was a place she would dare not come ever. Not again. And never alone.

Here, the skies were crimson like blood and black soot polluted the air. It was difficult for her to breathe, to even stare up at the sun, for it looked so helplessly caged behind the scarlet clouds. The scarce vegetation made the rocky land look the most barren. Not only was the land infertile, but the wells were empty too. She passed by women who fought to find water, often arguing over a single brimming pot. The kids were skinny, making her recall her own bony self from childhood. The poor kids ran around dirty and naked, their feet bruised over the jagged pebbles.

Indumala had not seen seen a kingdom so poverty-stricken. Guards patrolled in every street. They would cast the Rajan and his retinue threatening glances. Here,‌ no one seemed to be afraid of his power as an immortal werewolf.

Yet, Indumala saw them shiver when her Baba would narrow his eyes. They didn't counter his cold aggression, as if he were the real Rajan of Aryavarta in their eyes. Why were they scared of her Baba, the Senapati, and not the Rajan himself?

Unable to unravel their thoughts, she tried to peer into the huts. Whenever she would match her gaze with anyone, they would shut their windows. Old men wriggled on the streets, their empty begging bowls reeking of vomit. A chill ran down her spine when she saw the tattered remains of a woman's clothes outside a hut. Its doors were closed, but Indumala could hear the muffled screams.

Her nightmares crept up to the surface, crawling like wraiths and dancing like possessed dolls.

"Do not pay your attention there," Rudra told. "We can't do anything."

"Are we so crippled?"

"We are, at this moment. If fate is kind, soon Revat will be a better place."

She wished so too.

A raven came and violently pecked at her head. Rudra unsheathed his sword and warded off the ominous beastly bird. The party stopped the march. Rudra caressed her back. "Don't be frightened."

"This place is frightening." The hair on her neck stood straight. She gulped, unable to snatch her mind's focus from the horror that hid behind every corner. The raven was just a confirmation of all the destruction that was to come.

"I do not want any harm done to you," she whispered. Rudra was her need, a crucial part of her existence. Even if the sinister visions that perturbed her since long were too much to handle, the fear of losing Rudra was killing her more at present. A world where Rudra would be there to kiss her during her pain was better than her being in hollow peace in a world without his presence. "This land's monarch tried to kill you. I am scared, Rudra, what if–"

"Mount down from your horse, Indu. Come join me."

"But–"

"You are not going to lose me, Indu. No one can kill me. I am immortal."

So even the demigods say, and yet many die. "I am worried."

"Be close to me. It will ease you, and keep me sane too."

Indumala blushed. She had become his medicine, and he her support. "What about Baba?"

"Trust me, he will empathise with us."

So she changed her horse and sat with Rudra. He held the reins in his hands, her body leaning against his toned chest. "You don't need to be terrified of them when I am with you," he said.

His wolf and rationale clashed against each other. To hear her being afraid of losing him to the land which had once killed her, it spread a fire inside his heart. No amount of tears could extinguish it. He would burn her in his agony if he hugged her now. She was delicate, at least in his perspective. "I will be safe, Indu. I will live for you."

"They seem to consider you trivial."

"That's the best mistake they can commit. Allow them the opportunity to undermine their foe. It's a warrior's greatest folly."

Indumala traced the veins on his wrists. "I want you to be victorious no matter what."

"Not alone, Indu. I want you beside me. If I am the Rajan, you will be my crown."

Indumala giggled. Rudra tasted the first sip of victory. It was an achievement divine to make someone smile in the place which had earlier destroyed them.

"And I want to see you roar in untamed joy after you crush these vicious men, Rudra."

"Your desire will be fulfilled, my lady."

Rudra vowed to not break his vow this time. If he had given her the word of protection, he would keep up to it, even if it meant waging a war against the destiny written by gods.

He was immortal and powerful enough to rewrite history.