As he laid there Khanna tried to sit up from his bed but the pain was just too much too bear. 

"Damn 3 broken ribs."

Replaying his fight with the King of Mordis in his mind made Khanna feel useless. To be defeated in less than 5 moves was a big blow to his hard work all these years. 

"You should rest more rather than try to move."

Ignoring Dandi's advice Khanna managed to sit up but not without clutching the side of his ribs. 

"I told you no use in moving."

"Why are you still here? I am fine now so you don't have to stand there a babysit me."

Dandi who was resting by a window ledge jumped down to stretch out his legs. 

"Hmph. Do you think I enjoy being cooped up in this little hut with you? If you weren't running a fever I would have left the minute I dropped you off at this dump." 

Dandi looks around the place once more "Why does your princess make you live in this little shack?"

Trying to breathe through the pain Khanna was already thinking about reporting back to Gauri because he knew that no matter what had happened last night the Queen would surely have something up her sleeve. Trying his best to leave his bed only to have Dandi push him back down.

"You!"

"I said rest. Did you not hear that our lives are connected? You die I die."

"The Princess needs me! I can't just lay here all day!"

Dandi clicks his tongue and walks back to sit on the window ledge.

 "You will only be courting death if you don't rest. Besides there is no need to worry about your Princess."

"Why? Just because your King has taken interest? That means nothing to me."

When Khanna was about to try and sit up again but a sudden knock on his door made both men grab onto their blade. 

"Does anyone know that you live here?"

"No. Too far into the woods for anyone to come here."

"Khanna...it's me Bhavya. Can I come in?"

Looking at Khanna who was just as surprise as Dandi "Who's Bhavya?"

"Come in Bhavya."

Bhavya walks in with a bag hanging from her shoulders and when she saw that Khanna was bed bound her heart sank.

Dandi was taken back that this little maid did not even seem surprise with his presence so he decided to just stay at his window ledge and observe these two. 

Setting her bag by the bed Bhavya looks at Khanna's condition.

"You really got a beating this time Khanna."

"Bhavya..."

Taking out some bandages and medicine vials from her bag that Gauri had given her this morning Bhavya was trying to remember the precise instructions that was given.

"Yes?"

"Did the Princess always know that I lived here?"

"She knew a long time ago. Why do you think during the winter she would always gift you many heavy fur coats and blankets?"

Khanna couldn't help but smile while Bhavya quickly made him take some medicine as well as bandaged up his injuries.

"I am a bit sadden to see you like this Khanna."

"Don't worry Bhavya I heal really fast. Just give me a day or two."

Heaving out a long sigh "That's not it Khanna. Things didn't turn out quite as the Princess had hoped and now everyone is to go to the hunting grounds this afternoon.

"The hunting grounds? No! You must convince the Princess to not go! Without me surveying the area it is too dangerous!"

Packing up her stuff so that she could hurry back to help Gauri prepare for their trip Bhavya tried her best to calm Khanna down.

"I can't. The Queen has made a threat against The Crown Prince and you know that is the Princess's weak spot."

Khanna slams his fist into the bed post shattering the wooden panel. 

"I must go!"

Bhavya: You can't. The princess told me to come check on your injuries and to tell you to take rest. 

"What?! No! I will come along!"

"It's an order Khanna."

Bhavya then turns her attention to the man on the window ledge "The Princess would like to thank you for watching Khanna but now that I have tended to his wounds you may return to your King's side."

"I do not take orders from a maid."

Bhavya ignores Dandi's words and continued to relay what Gauri wanted him to know.

"Up to you. But the Princess would like you to keep in mind to not allow your King to over exert himself during the hunt before his condition will take a turn for the worst."

Khanna: Condition?

Dandi's eyes darken he quickly left the hut to return to Omkara's side.

Bhavya: I don't know Khanna. The Princess didn't elaborate. I assume the King might be sick. When I asked the Princess did not answer so advice you to just not think about it. 

Khanna who still did not want to follow orders was about to stand up and leave with Bhavya when his vision started to go blurry and his legs gave way.

"What?...What is happening..."

"I'm sorry Khanna. The Princess knew you wouldn't listen so she had me give you some sedatives."

Dropping back onto his bed as he can only see a blurry silhouette of Bhavya's back as she leaves his hut.

"Princess...why..."

***************************

Gauri was busy soaking her needles with silver threads in jars filled with different types of poison she studied throughout the years with her teacher. She knew that during this trip to the hunting grounds the Queen would surely use the opportunity to harm Sahil and that was something she will never allow to happen. When she gave him his tea during breakfast she could tell that her baby brother has been training hard lately and she wanted him to shine during this hunt to not waste all his efforts. 

Taking out the needles that she had soaked over an hour Gauri laid them out to dry.

"Just try to harm him and I swear you will regret it."

Taking hold of a needle Gauri lifts it up towards the sunlight to make sure the poison had seep deep into the threads.

"I will not hesitate to let you see just how poisonous I can be."

*************************

When Dandi finally made it back to Omkara's chambers he felt relieve to see Omkara staring out the window while enjoying some tea.

"Your Majesty."

"I see you have returned. So how is her guard?"

"Alive."

"Hm. Good."

"Your Majesty...about the hunting expedition...."

Taking another sip of his warm tea while gazing out the window "What about it."

"It might turn into something else."

Omkara lips curves up as he sets his cup down.

"Hunting animals...hunting humans....all the same. Who will remain the hunter is always the key to the game."

"I was also told to make sure your Majesty not over exert yourself due to your condition."

Omkara couldn't help but smile hearing those words. "So she had instructed you to suppress me?"

Though he could cleary see Omkara smile but the dark tone in his voice forced Dandi to lower his gaze.

 "I dare not your Majesty."

"Well it is almost time. We should head out and meet everyone."

"Yes your Majesty."

****************************

Sitting on top of his purebred black stallion Kali was the first one to arrive at the main gates awaiting the rest of the royalties. During this hunting trip he did not want too many guards to follow since this was a sport to prove one's strength and he would be damn to be seen as a King who needed protection in his own land. When all the Princes arrived riding on their own black stallions that Kali had provided them he could tell that they were hyped up for the event. 

Kali: Prince Samarjeet. Prince Veer. Prince AJay.

Slowly galloping towards the King of Ashen the men quickly bowed their heads.

"Your Highness."

Kali: I hope to see your skills today. It's a rare opportunity to have so many join me in hunting.

Samarjeet: It is an honor to hunt in Ashen I hear that the hunting grounds itself is quite challenging.

Veer: Yes. I heard even the tall trees can play tricks on you.

Kali was in a good mood hearing such praises that he laughed so loud that it echoed through the palace.

"My King sure is in a happy mood."

Dressed in a light royal blue dress Svetlana slowly walked towards the men.

Kali jumps down from his horse to greet his Queen.

"I have prepared the carriages."

Svetlana looked please to see 4 carriages along with just a few guards making it easier for her people to strike.

Soon Riddhima and Ishana who was obviously struggling to walk joined them. And as they gave their greetings and curtsied Ishana could feel Ajay's eyes on her. And when she dared to lift up her head she could clearly see his smug smile that made her feel disgusted thinking of what had happened last night. 

Ajay: Princess Ishana. We didn't see you all morning. Are you feeling unwell?

Ishana: I feel better now. I just had a slight headache. Thank you for asking Prince Ajay.

Riddhima who was dressed in a light pink dress with her hair braided to the side was looking for Omkara who has yet to arrive.

"Is the King of Mordis not here yet?"

Just then everyone heard a magnanimous voice "I wouldn't dream of missing it Princess."

Dressed in all black with his black feathered tip arrows peaking out his right shoulders and a long dagger snuggly tucked on his hip.

Riddhima and Ishana was so entranced that they completely forgot to greet him till they heard Kali's voice.

Kali: I am glad you could join us Omkara. You seem to have brought your own horse.

Patting the mane of his large black stallion "My horse has been bored lately. Without war or battles she has only been taking me to sight see. My trip to Ashen was quick because of her."

Riddhima comes up beside Omkara  wanting to pet the horse only to have it kick up it's front legs in the air scaring her.

"AHHH!"

Grabbing the reigns and pulling it Omkara laughs as he controls his strong stallion.

"Princess. You should not ever touch a horse that you are not familiar with. Even I can not assure your safety."

Kali angrily yells out to Riddhima to stand back.

"I'm sorry father I was just so engross in it's beauty that I foolishly wanted to touch it."

The more she looked at Omkara the more she fantasized about getting to ride with him. Just imagining his strong arms around her made Riddhima dare to ask the impossible.

"Your Majesty's horse is so amazing. I hope that I could also ride it."

Curving up his lips as he strokes the soft black hair on his horse "You would have to ask her but she gets jealous easily and seeing how you tried to touch her awhile ago I don't think that is possible."

Clenching her fist to swallow the humiliation Riddhima smiles gently at Omkara "Well I hope to get to know her better. Maybe then your Majesty can help me ride her?"

Svetlana could sense the anger from Kali who was signaling her to stop Riddhima from embarrassing them but when she was about to intervene a soft voice made her grit her teeth.

"I apologize for being late."

Her soft gentle voice made everyone turn to look at the veiled princess in a light green dress and by her side was just her personal maid unlike Riddhima and Ishana who had 4 each.

Samarjeet: Do not apologize Princess Gauri. It will always be worth the wait. 

Kali and Svetlana was surprise at Samarjeet's sudden words because even he himself did not know what came over him. But the words were already spoken and the sudden chill coming from Omkara made Samarjeet regret his mistake.

Svetlana: Prince Samarjeet is such a gentleman. My daughter Riddhima is quite lucky.

Seeing that the atmosphere had changed Kali quickly reminded everyone that it was time to embark.

"Since everyone is here we shall begin. The carriages has been prepared for the Queen and Princesses. I will ride beside my Queen. I could only ask the Princes of Uthon and Prince of Gopar to ride beside my daughers."

Samarjeet hesitantly moved his horse to position it beside Riddhima's carriage while Veer and Ajay each took one side of Ishana's leaving Gauri to ride alone.

Gauri was use to this treatment so when the time came she calmly was about to walk up the 3 step ladder to enter her carriage when she felt a warm hand escort her inside.

"I guess I will have to protect you Princess."

Retracting her hand from Omkara's warm fingers Gauri couldn't help but think of his soft lips that was curved up into a teasing smile right now.

It wasn't often that Gauri would become speechless but whenever it came to him her heart and mind was never in sync. As their eyes lock a familiar voice could be heard not far away.

"No need to bother your Majesty. I will escort my sister."

Gauri's eyes softened "Sahil....."

**Hope you guys enjoyed this update. I guess my mind works faster than how I type because I could have sworn I'd be writing some action scenes but I guess maybe next update LOL. Do vote if you enjoyed. Gosh I can't believe chapter 22 got more than 200 votes! Thanks guys...so glad you guys are enjoying this genre. Do ignore mistakes.**