The bells started tolling in the high tower. The whole palace was awake. Lights blazed and soldiers rushed to their weapons. Mahendra hastily threw a robe over his sleeping dress as he emerged from his chamber, fully armed. He was met at the door by Kattappa and his cousins, Veera and Aditya.

In answer to Mahendra's raised eyebrows, Kattappa replied, "It's a breach. At the garden gate."

"Come, let's go", said Veera raring to be in the field of action.

"My mothers, Ayya and... Avantika", said Mahendra as he tarried a bit, dragging with his feet. "I hope they're all safe."

"Sanga and your Ayya are in the Rajamata's chamber. I personally left them there with my trusted guards. They're safe. But as for Avantika..." Kattappa's voice quivered as he shuffled on both legs, looking anywhere but into Mahendra's eyes that were boring holes into his face with their intensity.

"But what, Thatha?"

"Avantika was the one who raised the alarm. She is fighting to hold back the masked intruders along with our guards."

The colored evaded Mahendra's face as he bit hard into his lower lip. Words eluded him. He simply swung round and raced, covering three steps at a time, as though his very life depended on it. Kattappa and the rest needed no words to inform them about what they must do. They sprang right behind his heels in hot pursuit. They had made it in half the time it would normally take to reach the scene of action.

"The Savaran brigands", Kattappa gasped as soon as he beheld the image of the green snake embossed on mask of the intruders from afar. "Hooligans who have left hundreds dead, maimed and broken for life. Entire villages and travellers on the highways of Mahishmati will thank us for ending their reign of terror if we kill them today."

"Avantika is there", Veera waved as he pointed towards the flaming red floral patterns flitting in and out, followed by a thick bush of hair that cascaded around like a mighty river in spate.

"Thank God!" Mahendra sighed as he ran his hands over his eyes in pure relief.

"For what? The attack?" Aditya said keeping a straight face.

Mahendra shook his head and grinned. "You're incorrigible, Aditya." The dense mood that had settled over all of them dissipated like rain clouds in the summer sun.

"Avantika and the guards are hard pressed. More guards have joined them after the alarm was raised. But the narrow passage is now favoring the brigands just as it was helping Avantika and our guards hold them back earlier", said Kattappa, analysing the ground situation with an eagle's eye look.

"Thatha, we need to surprise them in that case. Avantika and our guards are already engaged to the left. You, Veera and Aditya will take them from the right. I will take them from the front", he said. He pointed towards the mango tree on which he was planning to jump from their vantage position.

Kattappa whistled and clicked his tongue in astonishment. He muttered under his breath unheard by the rest of his companions. "Trishula Vyuham!"

"I didn't hear what you were trying to say properly, Thatha?" Mahendra said as he was preparing to jump.

"Something you said surprised me. That's all, Mahendra."

"Come on. Weren't we supposed to surprise those brigands instead of surprising each other", Aditya said in a wry tone.

"I wonder when you're going to learn to be serious." Mahendra shook his head at Aditya in a mock-serious chiding voice.

"Maybe never", quipped Aditya as the four of them dispersed to put the plan into action.

"Aa..h"

Kattappa, Veera and Aditya fell upon the brigands from the right. Mahendra jumped on the mango tree. He swung around on its branches putting the strong rippling muscles of his arms to good use. An occasional sharp branch that jutted out scratched his skin leaving scratches with blood oozing through. Mahendra persevered on without letting those small bruises bother him. He kicked and knocked out the brigand who was fighting with Avantika in one blow.

After catching Avantika's eye for a fleeting moment both of them turned back. They continued fighting the brigands back to back. The brigands folded up within minutes. They were all dead and Kattappa bent down feeling each one's pulse to ensure that it was so.

Mahendra had eyes only for Avantika. His mind replayed the vision he had seen of her with her hair flowing behind in streams and the red floral and leafy patterns on her arms, hands and knees flashing brilliantly in the dim light. This was the warrior whom he had loved.

"I wonder how they got in amidst all this high security", said Veera.

Breaking her eye contact with Mahendra, Avantika said to a few guards standing beside her, "Bring her." They brought Dharini, bound in chains along with them.
"She opened the gate. We all saw her doing it."

"And I wanted all of you to see me doing it. That's why I went about it in such a conspicuous manner", she replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "My real name is Shivani. I used to work as a spy and assassin on behalf of the former prince of Mahishmati, Bhadra. I thrived in my profession. But something happened to open my eyes. I left that past behind me and took on this new job and identity. I did well for some time. I was happy too. But my past wouldn't let go of me. It came searching for me."

"Can you cut the crap and get directly to business? Why did you open the gate and let these intruders in?" Veera asked, his impatience and irritation pretty obvious for all to see.

"You are the one who raised such a big hullabaloo during the coronation, aren't you?" Aditya shook his fist in a threatening manner. Shivani flinched momentarily as though she thought he was going to hit her.

Aditya drawled as he stepped aside, "You may open your eyes now. I don't hit women. I was taught better."

"I know I am wrong. But I had no other choice. They have my sister and people belonging to my village as hostages. They wanted the future queen and I was supposed to let them in", Shivani said averting her eyes in Avantika's direction.