At Nachiyar's Camp,
Jangamaiyya who had been entrusted with the responsibility of seeing to it that Nachiyar's absence from the camp went unnoticed by anyone was getting restless. Nachiyar had been absent from the camp on a number occasions like this in the recent past. He knew that she was onto something really big. As Nachiyar rode in, he exclaimed, "Thank goodness! You're back. You didn't take any soldiers with you either. I was scared something had happened. The Marar clan have informers and spies all over Vijayapuri. And you know they are stooges of the Suras."

"You are right Aiyya. Something has already happened. Our queen in back", Nachiyar as she jumped down from her horse.

"Maharani Shodasi Devi?" Jangamaiyya astounded by the revelation.

Nachiyar patted and combed the mane of her horse as she tied him, "But not here Aiyya. I will tell you everything."

Both of them retreated to a cottage that had been thoroughly inspected and sound-proofed to discuss the recent developments. Jangamaiyya shut the door behind him. Nachiyar had finished lighting the earthen oil lamp as Jangamaiyya approached her with a perplexed expression on his face, "What's happening? You have never kept anything from me. Is our queen really coming back?"

"The costal fortress of Sagara Durga has been captured. I have already met Maharani Shodasi Devi who appraised me about her strategy and war plans. She has raised quite a formidable fighting force in all these years. There are elite Persian regiments, armed mercenaries and her own troops."

"How is it that this news has not reached the ears of the Suras or the informers and spies of the Marar clan?" An astounded Jangamaiyya asked.

"Subahu's soldiers and the commanding officer manning the fortress have been held captive. The news of its fall has been carefully suppressed", Nachiyar replied. "The chieftains of all the major clans in Vijayapuri are coming here tomorrow eve for discussions and negotiations."
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At the hideout,
It was a very happy reunion between Aditya Varma and his two nieces.

Greatly exhausted by the events of the day, Bhavani slept off like a child as soon as she reached the hideout. The old physician had also retired for the night. The hideout constantly echoed with the noises of war preparations.

Aparaajitha picked up one of the swords was being sharpened and examined its tip, cut and thrust, "Good. We need to produce three thousand more like this one. Where are the spears and arrows?"

She walked up to the corner where these weapons had been stacked and personally checked their quality. Cauldrons of hot boiling concoctions were being carefully monitored by Aparaajitha's troops.

Aditya smiled, "Is everything to your satisfaction?"

"I was simply making sure everything was", Aparaajitha laughing off her extra-cautiousness.

"We will be leaving for Kunthala tomorrow morning as soon as dawn breaks", Aditya informed Aparaajitha.

"I thought we could spend some more time together and get to know each other", Aparaajitha said, feeling a bit disappointed. "I hoped that you and Bhavani would take part in this war."

"I would have loved to, dear niece. But circumstances in Kunthala compel our return. We were planning to retake Kunthala on Rama Navami. But the public outrage against the administrators of Mahishmati was so great that a minor incident blew out of control inciting a full-fledged rebellion among the populace. Instead of sticking to the original plan, my men also joined the people. Most of Subahu's subordinates and soldiers have been publicly executed or imprisoned. The rest have fled Kunthala."

"I am so happy for you and the people of Kunthala. All those long years of struggle have borne fruit", Aparaajitha congratulating her uncle.

"Bhavani is the legitimate heir to the throne of Kunthala. She has to be crowned as its queen. But since she is still young, I will be her regent till she is old enough to take up the responsibility on her own."

"I understand uncle. Kunthala needs you and Bhavani in these early days after the rebellion", Aparaajitha agreed.

"I wished to tell you something before we leave. Your little brother is not dead. He is alive. He is growing up as Subahu's son and the Crown Prince of Mahishmati", Varma said.

"How did you know this?" An astounded Aparaajitha asked.

"Years ago when I and my brother secretly entered Subahu's personal bedchamber to assassinate him, we saw a small red birth mark on his son's back. Gajendra Baahubali was born with the same birthmark. We stood confused and undecided. My brother got killed in the scuffle and I escaped. I have carried this truth close to my bosom all these years. Now I am revealing it to you. You will know when and how to reveal this truth to your brother."

"I always knew that he was my brother", Aparaajitha paused to fill in her uncle with the details of how and under what circumstances she had met Narasimha which led her to believe that he was her brother. "But this revelation proves it beyond certainty that he is indeed Gajendra Baahubali."

"Bhavani told me something else that has disturbed me a lot. There has been an assasination attempt on Gajendra's life", Aditya explaining everything Bhavani had told him in brief to Aparaajitha.

"Please rest assured uncle. I will take care of Gajendra. Any danger will have to pass through me to reach him", Aparaajitha reassuring her uncle.

"Now I can leave for Kunthala in a peaceful frame of mind", Aditya remarked.

Aparaajitha summoned a few of her trusted soldiers, "Disguise yourself into traders and merchants selling their wares. Watch out for a group of ruthless, rogue Suras. Narasimha is bound to be somewhere near them or with them.He will certainly adopt some form of disguise. The moment you come across somebody who comes close to Narasimha's physical description, two of you will ride back to inform me while the rest will stay behind maintaining a close watch over the situation."

"What if Narasimha's life is in danger before we receive your further instructions?" One of the soldiers asked.

"You will judge for yourself what is best. Your primary duty is to keep Narasimha safe. Imprison, fight or kill his enemies if you sense any danger to his life. Escort him here safely after that."
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At Mahishmati,
The royal entourage had been given orders to return back to Mahishmati. A sense of apathy and numbness had settled over all of them. All the prophecies had mostly signalled doom.

Eiravati raised an inquisitive glance towards her husband as he helped her into her palanquin, "Are you scared about the prophecies? You never believe in these things. Maybe they won't happen at all."

"For Narasimha's sake, I want to believe that the prophecies will come true. But I can't believe in parts. If that is true, the rest will also be true. If the rest is false, then even the reassurance that my son is safe will turn out to be false. Damned if I believe, damned if I don't", Subahu smiling icily.

Vijayamarthanda hesitantly began, "I am not coming to Mahishmati. I am returning home from here."

"Brother but what about Narasimha's coronation? Wouldn't you want to attend that?" Eiravati pleading her brother.

"What coronation sister? The Prince is missing. Kunthala has revolted. What we need now is stocktaking and protecting what is left with us, not a joke of a coronation", Vijaya sneered.

Eiravati's face turned ashen at what her older brother was insinuating while Subahu held Vijaya roughly by the scruff of his neck, "Nobody dares talk to the queen of Mahishmati like that. Apologize and do what you are told."

Subahu heaved and flung him bodily six feet away from Eiravati's palanquin. Vijayamarthanda landed unceremoniously on the harsh ground. His knuckles and knees were deeply gashed and a few of his teeth were knock out of his deeply red and bloodied mouth due to the force with which he had landed. He slowly sat up and clutched his forehead that was spinning in circles. He held his folded hands in front of him in a gesture seeking forgiveness.

Eiravati pulled back Subahu's arms, "Let my brother go. We must let go of the people whom we love for their own happiness."

Subahu grunted with dissatisfaction. His veins throttled and throbbed with furious activity. The lines of his horse reins were imprinted on his right palm as he endeavored to control himself from hitting his cowardly brother-in-law.

Greatly relieved, Vijayamarthanda slinked away on his horse along with his retinue to Ashwakootam. A great weight attached itself to Subahu's heart as he watched his kinsman, friend and former ally turn his back upon him.
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