Translations-

Rajkumari- Princess

Rajkumar- Prince

Maharani- Queen

Maharaja- King

Rajya-Kingdom

Ma-Mom

Pitaashree- Father

Didi- Sister

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I hide pushing myself against the wall of the house as 6 people, all dressed in armour walked passed. It wasn't from our kingdom which worried me, the symbol was not of the peacock and didn't have the three colours blue, gold and white. Instead orange, red and gold outlined the silvery armour, their swords decorated in crystals with the same colours, from the Maurya Empire. They wore masks covering their face except for their eyes, which were glancing around the place, their hand gripping onto the handle of their swords ready to take them out.

A small gasp escaped my mouth, catching the attention of a man, who seemed much stronger than the others. He was wearing the royal crest of the Mauryan Empire and was much more protected with better armour than the 5 soldiers. His eyes looked about the place, his eyes were like of an eagle spotting a single movement, Rajkumar Mahendra.

He glanced over to me, our eyes locking through the shawl. His eyes, they seemed as dark as black as they stared right into mine, neither of us blinked for more than a minute. He suddenly broke eye-contact, I saw his grip on his sword tightening as he began walking towards me, surely he didn't recognise me?

"There, someone is there," he whispered gesturing in my direction as the other men turned their attention towards me.

Luckily the alleyway wasn't that lit so they could only see a person and not recognise whether it was a man or woman and surely they wouldn't recognise me with the shawl? They slowly approached with their swords out, my heart was thumping as they were getting closer to the house as I pushed myself against the dead end. My back crashing onto the wall behind as I tried to disappear into the corner. Our eyes locked once more, his death stare as we made eye-contact.

"Over here, they must have gone this way" Another voice shouted, it was Aditya. The Mauryan Empire soldiers were alerted. They stopped coming towards me, I squinted as I caught them slowly backing away into the alleyway opposite where I was. It led towards the River Jhelum, no one knew about it leading there except me and Aditya as the alleyway led to a dead end but there was a hole hidden behind some vines that draped across the wall.

Cleary they too knew about it as I could not see any movement or sound from there. I watched them intently as they disappeared into the darkness.

"I'm sure I saw them go this way. They cannot be let wandering around the kingdom, they are our enemy" Aditya exclaimed as he and a few soldiers on horseback passed by, they glanced around.

I slumped to the floor, catching my breath as my heart rate slowed down. Aditya and his patrol passed by going back from where they came. My heartbeat raced, what were those soldiers doing here? Pulling the shawl properly over my face, I stand up, placing my hand on my hip. I feel the outline of my sword by my side, relief swept over me. I brought my hand back to my side as I walked slowly out of the alleyway. Looking around I see no one there as I stepped out of my hiding place.

Getting down from my room was easy, climbing back up however was not. I place my left leg on one of the indents in the wall of the castle as I held myself up holding onto the 3D designs on the wall. Pushing myself up I climb onto the ledge scrambling on. A high pitched screech caught my attention as I looked up into the sky, losing my grip I fall to the floor landing on arms.

"Ouch" I mumbled sitting up as I brushed the dirt off myself. An eagle flew around circling the castle however, it wasn't just any ordinary eagle, it was a royal messenger especially trained to deliver messages to different kingdoms. I stretch my hand out as the eagle swooped down. I felt its claws digging into my skin as it landed on my arm. A piece of paper which was rolled up was attached to its leg by a small length of rope. Using my free hand I untie the rope and unfold the message. My heart stops as I continue the letter, my hand tightening its grip of it. I no longer felt the claws of the eagle digging into me as I see the eagle flying in the air. I don't have to guess who had sent the letter as I already was certain I knew where it came from.

I feel a presence behind me, footsteps approaching me. My hands goes towards my hip as my hand wraps around the handle of the sword. I can feel the person standing behind me as they come closer. I suddenly pull out my sword as I pushed them against the wall of the palace, pushing the sword to their neck.

"Aisha" they exclaim their hands up trying to avoid the sword at their neck.

I get a proper look of the person, my hand lowering as I see Aditya against the wall.

"Sorry!" I exclaim lowering my sword as I back away, a smile formed on his face.

He chuckles before he notices the paper clutched in my left hand.

"Now are you going to tell me about this or am I going to have to get it out," I say sternly lifting the sword up as I gestured to the message.

"Aisha, I'm sorry I was told specifically not to tell you" He sighed extending his hand gesturing to pass the note.

"They are planning for war" I blurt out my hands clenching into fists " War with the Maurya Empire, we'll be defeated in a day"

"War, no they have only sent threatening message" He replies taking the paper forcefully from my hand.

His face fell as he read through the entire thing. "How did this escalate so quickly, only the other day there were Mauryan soldiers here and today they have managed to get into the kingdom on the sly and you still haven't caught them, now they are declaring war on us," I say bitterly.