Vijayamarthanda had set camp on the northern shores of Mahishmati. He was expecting the arrival of the princess of Suvarnadweepam, Suvarnamekhala. He evidently had many designs on the girl. While waiting for her arrival along with her entourage, he was meticulously schooling his men regarding what he expected from them in terms of behavior and deportment. While introducing a fair and handsome young man over six feet tall to his bewildered and confused coterie, he said, "He is Prince Virupaksh and he is my son."

He laid peculiar emphasis on the words 'my son' before he proceeded to exhort everyone to speak as little as possible and nothing of any significance and he as deferential as possible to the princess and her troops, "Lips sealed and heads bowed. Speak nothing. If at all you are at loss for topics , speak about the weather. Or even better, exhaust all yours skills of flattery on the princess and her entire entourage. Raise them up to the skies if you must. We need their good opinion desperately."

Just then, they were interrupted by the sudden and unexpected arrival of Subahu, Eiravati and her friend and constant companion, Trinetrini in his camp. As Vijayamathanda flexed his rather unused muscular cartilage in preparation to bend over backwards to receive his royal guests, Subahu waved his hand backwards in a disinterested flick, "Cut these frills short and get to the actual matters. When are the princess and her entourage expected?"

Vijayamarthanda who had opened his mouth with a flourish to indulge in some far fetched similes and metaphors contented himself with merely replying, "I received information just now that their ship has docked in the harbor. The ship seems to have suffered considerable damage due to the storm but luckily there seems to have been no loss to life......which would have been unpleasant if it happened."

After that, he looked towards his only sister, Eiravati with genuine affection. Her happiness was the only reason why he bore the apparent slights from her husband and still continued to support him wholeheartedly in all his nefarious designs. As she hugged him with tears in her eyes, he too hugged her back. He gently held her hands and wiped her tears as he asked, "It's been a long while. How are you? I hope you are well."

Eiravati's face momentarily darkened before she composed herself tolerably to answer the query of her elder sibling cheerfully, "I am fine, brother. You can see for yourself. What exactly do I lack?" Trinetrini contented herself making an apparently cheeky remark unheard by the rest of the company, "Apart from happiness of course!"

Just then, Eiravati perceived the presence of the handsome young man and royal guest in his tent and remarked, "I see you already have a royal guest. Won't you introduce us?" Vijayamarthanda visibly blanched while Subahu took matters into his hand saying, "Let's take a turn around the camp. It is pretty stuffy around the camp. Care to join me, my queen. You will receive all your answers." Subahu turned towards Vijayamarthanda and asked as a parting remark, "Are you sure that these people are as loaded as you believe them to be?" Vijayamarthanda merely nodded his head not venturing any more words before his irascible brother-in-law.

Trinetrini inconspicuously slinked away to an unnoticed corner of the tent while her friend and Subahu exited the tent to catch some fresh air. She never participated in anything. She barely spoke anything to the rest except her friend, Eiravati. But she keenly observed everything happening around her with an inquisitive and keen hawk-like glance. She said within herself, "What plan are you cooking up, Ashwakoot Naresh?"
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In a mountain hideout in Udayagiri,
"Are you sure you are actually talking about the Prince of Ashwakootam?"

Aditya Varma appeared to be in deep thought. As he pensively stared into the vacant spaces without any awareness of his surroundings or the man who was standing in front of him awaiting his further orders, he tried to decipher what plan Vijayamarthanda and Subahu were trying to cook up. It just did not make sense that they were contemplating the marriage of the Prince of Ashwakootam.

He was roused from his reverie by the man fidgeting in front of him, unsure whether to stay or to go. Aditya questioned, "Which route are they taking back to Ashwakootam?"

"There are only three passes across these mountains accessible to a huge Royal entourage with elephants, horses and a huge number of soldiers. They are bound to take one of the three passes. My companion reported that there was a huge increase in the concentration of soldiers and army strength near the Mettu Pass. So in all probability, they will come by that way", the man suggested.

"We cannot take anything for granted. It could be a decoy like the previous time. Keep all the passes under close surveillance. When the time comes, I will inform what to do. Now you may go", instructed Aditya.

The men in the camp were eagerly looking towards him to know what was running in the mind of their leader and compatriot. After a brief pause, he continued, "Vijayamarthanda is up to his usual tricks. After his failure in finding any suitable princesses for his imbecile son from the mainland, he is trying to lure and entrap a princess who has no chance or opportunity of knowing his true colors into matrimony."

"Then what are we going to do?" The men asked anxiously.

"We will endeavor our best to remove any possible illusions this princess may harbor about her intended bridegroom. We have to weaken Subahu's and Vijayamarthanda's strengths as much as we can, directly or indirectly. But for that, we have to meet the princess in person to convince her about the truth of our assertions."

Just then their conversation was interrupted by the tottering footsteps of a lady whose hair was streaked with huge wisps of white hair. The hue of her skin color was darkened by the apparently hard life she was forced to lead in her advancing years. Her skin was heavily wrinkled and her forehead pitted with deep creases of worry. She wore a white cotton saree and wore her hair in a tightly bundled top knot held in place with a band of black beads.

Aditya immediately stopped speaking and rose up in reverence. He gently helped her to a seat and sat down beside her pressing her feet, "Sanga Amma, why did you take all this trouble? I would have personally visited you if you had summoned me."

"I know! I know! After my Aiyya died when he went along with our tribe to fight against the injustice perpetrated by that monster, you have been our only hope and solace. I too would have perished soon after if not for your help and assistance", Sanga, Mahendra Baahubali's foster mother ruefully continued. "If I am alive after everything that has happened, it is to witness the destruction of those wretches who killed my son and my entire family."

"That day will soon come, mother. Please trust in God!" Aditya proclaimed.

"I hope so. But forgive my disenchantment, son. I am not growing younger by the day and those wretches are becoming stronger and stronger every day", Sanga said.

Aditya allowed the old lady's despondence to pass without any remark. He diverted the topic by saying, "Amma, is there any special reason why you took all this trouble?"

"The second day from now is the annual ceremony of my son, Mahendra and daughter-in-law, Avanthika. I am planning to go to Shiva temple on the banks of Bhagiradhi for the ritual. I have spoken to the priest about all the arrangements. After all, only we are the nearest family members left. I would be very grateful if you could accompany me."

"Amma, forgive my oversight. I forgot everything, caught up as I was in other trivial matters. It would be my honor to accompany you. When shall we leave?" Aditya asked.

"Immediately!" Sanga replied.

"Amma, just give me an hour to sort out my affairs. We will start after that. In the meanwhile please do rest for some time." Aditya signaled one of his helpers to escort Sanga to a place where she could rest safely.

All his men were flabbergasted by his promise. The whole endeavor seemed very risky and dangerous. All their movements were being closely monitored. If at all Subahu or Vijayamarthanda got wind about Aditya's presence, they would make an all out attempt to capture and execute him. With Aditya gone, this whole rebellion and guerrilla war would die an instant death.

"Chief, please consider once more. If you are gone, there would be nobody left to fight. This is not the time to get emotional. And what about the princess?" The men hesitatingly demurred.

"I will be in disguise. Some of our men will also go with us. Do not worry about me. I know how to slip between their fingers just like sand in a closed fist. This is my duty to my dead brother. If I fail in this, there would be no possible redemption for me. If not this opportunity, we will make use of some other to contact that princess. But if I miss this day, that loss can never be repaired.....And my inner voice tells me that something is going to be different this time. A vast change is about to take place." Aditya mused.
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Author's Note: Thank you to all my constant readers. No Aparaajitha and Mrithyunjay in this chapter. But all these other characters and events were crucial and a necessary prelude to the actual action of this story book. Please let me know your views and opinions about the chapter. If you like what you have read, kindly vote, comment and support this story.