Anamika had introduced some major changes in the scouting duties. She had the most skilled archers on the towers under Laksh. None of the Nayaks protested when he was appointed.

'Laksh!' one of the archers hollered.

Laksh felt a wave of panic flood through him. He didn't have to reach the Rakshak to see what had alarmed him. He stared at the horizon where he saw it.

An army.

'I want you to inform the Eka Nayak, now!' He ordered the Rakshak who took off immediately.

A few moments later, Anamika followed by Kasa and Guru Gavistha reached the tower.

'Deva!' the Rakshak Guru exclaimed when he saw the army. 'They are here already.'

If one would look closely, they would see the tents that the daanavas were setting up. The fabric was white. They watched as a blood-red banner carrying the Daanavraj's crest was raised from one of the tents. It fluttered furiously as the harsh winds of the Yamlok fought against their presence.

'Good,' she said as she folded her arms behind her, 'We're ready.'

'That we are,' Kasa spoke from her left with a small smile on his face. She was half tempted to ask him if he could see Keval but she bit her tongue. Asking about a traitor wouldn't send a good message to the Rakshaks.

She had said so herself, let this battle be a lesson to all those who resort to treachery.

They watched as two figures emerged from the tents and made their way towards the Eka station.

Her core shook when she recognized them. The woman she had defeated and... Keval. She gritted her teeth as her rage bubbled inside her like lava in the core of the Prithvilok. She didn't intend to but she turned away, unable to contain the toxic mixture of emotions that swirled inside her making her feel sick.

'Guru Gavistha and I will go,' Kasa asserted but she had already made up her mind. She looked the Yamdhut who she had gotten close to. She willed her strength and offered a small prayer to the Yamraj for the same, 'Kasa and I will go.'

Kasa raised his brow inquisitively but gave in to her demands, 'As the Eka Nayak sees fit.'

The Rakshak Guru did not protest. He nodded solemnly.

They could've said 'no' to her, they had the authority but they trusted her decision. She was determined that she would not let them down.

She had never seen the gates of any station open. They were giant gates, made of dhatu that required mammoth strength to be moved. They never had to need to open the gates because of the varas. The gates creaked as they opened slightly. It required all the strong and bulky Rakshaks at the levers to do so.

The three of them could've scaled down the walls of the station, they were skilled enough to do that but Kasa insisted they use the gates.

They walked alongside the Mother River.

Anamika was nervous. Not because she was going to see him again but because she doubted herself. What if she attacked Keval there? The Daanavraj would have the complete right to annihilate the entire Rakshak for disrupting the rules of war. She didn't want to give him that advantage.

Kasa seemed to have grasped her worries.

'It will be fine,' He assured her.

She nodded. There was a short pause which was broken by her, 'So who'll do the talking?'

'You.'

Her eyes widened, 'Me?' Her voice rose up an octave. She cringed at it while he looked back her amused.

She cleared her throat, 'Why me?'

He shrugged, 'You'll do fine, Anamika. Calm yourself down.'

'I don't believe I can control my anger when I see him,' she murmured but he picked it up. He patted her back, comfortingly, 'You'll get a chance to unleash it. Till then, keep it tamed.'

'I don't see the Daanavraj.'

'He's not here.'

They were nearing them so they mutually decided that they should not speak to one another anymore.

Anamika's core shook when she took in Keval 's form. He looked magnificent. His hair was tied up in a bun that rested above his head which accentuated his sharp features. He wore a different armour. It bore the same symbol the flag did. The Daanavraj's crest. He walked with such grace, despite the weapons he carried. Sakhi was tied to his waist, along with an axe that hung on his back. She had never known him to wield one.

But then, she had never really known the real him.

She noticed the thin golden chain that hung around his neck and disappeared behind his breastplate. She caught sight of a couple of kanjars in his arm and leg harnesses. Compared to him, she wasn't that equipped. Apart from her Nasthra, she carried her katar and a chakram.

The woman, on the other hand, looked better than Anamika had left her. She was too dressed for the occasion in full armour. The braid was tucked inside the armour. She wondered why.

The woman glared daggers at her and Anamika returned the courtesy. There was no harm in doing so.

'The Daanavraj has accepted your declaration of war,' The woman spoke. She had a fiendish smile on her face. 'He sends us to represent him. I am Ainas, the Daanaraj's Right Hand and this-' she gestured at the stoic soul that stood next to her, '-is Senapati Keval, the Daanavraj's Maha-yoddha.'

***

Being the Eka Nayak suits her- was Keval's first thought when she appeared. She was in full armour but didn't carry many weapons. That didn't mean it made her any less of a threat to the daanavs. 

He had dreaded this moment from the start.

The fact that she didn't look at him helped but at the same time, it bothered him.

She kept her eyes fixated on Ainas. He saw no surprise on her face when Ainas introduced him as the finest warrior of the Daanavraj.

Ainas was the only one who was smiling... that is if one could call that smiling.

'I am the Eka Nayak and this is Kasa, a child of the Yamraj,' Anamika introduced in a brief and no-nonsense manner.

'The title suits you,' Ainas commented. Her words could've been a compliment if not for the sarcasm that coated her words.

Anamika did not step down, 'And you look better than I left you.'

He held back the snicker. He glanced at Ainas who was fuming. The smirk was no longer on her face. Before she could ruin everything by unleashing her magic on Anamika, he spoke in a bland tone, 'Let us focus on our objective.' He kept his eyes on Kasa but watched the Eka Nayak from his peripheral vision, 'The Daanavraj has accepted the declaration of war. Ainas and I, as His Majesty's representatives have been instructed to discuss with you the rules of war.'

'State your rules,' Anamika had an edge in her voice sharp enough to slice through him.

He ignored the cut that her tone inflicted on his psyche. Impassively, he continued, 'First and foremost, the waters of the Holy Mother are strictly out of bounds. Do you accept?'

'We do,' she replied without much thought.

'Secondly, each battle will go on for two pehers which will be signalled by the conch-bearers.' He looked up at them expectantly, 'After which there will be a rest period for two pehers.'

'I accept on that condition that the conch-bearers be a Yamdhut appointed by me.'

He looked at Ainas who shrugged, 'We accept your condition.'

Nodding, he continued, 'Our third and final condition is that none from either of the parties must be ambushed and hunted.'

'We accept,' Anamika said, 'We have a rule of our own.'

'Go on,' Ainas replied before he could. He tried not to shoot her a glare. The Eka Nayak looked at the Yamdhutthat stood next to her signalling him to speak. Kasa took the cue, 'It pertains to your skills. You are strictly forbidden to devour any Rakshak.'

The woman kept her calm. He was surprised when Ainas gave in to their demands. If they felt the same, they were apt at hiding it.

Ainas' answer was unplanned. Keval found himself thinking what the Daanavraj's reaction would be. According to him, he was would be pissed and wouldn't be as forgiving as he was the last time.

'The conch will be heard after one peher.'

'We agree.'

'If any of the parties break the rules laid out in this meet, the other part will be declared as the victor.'

'Agreed,' Keval answered.

'I suppose that is it,' Anamika's confidence was unnerving. It made Keval feel like he was missing something. He wondered if Kasa had been lying to him but he reasoned with himself a child of the Yamraj would never lie. Lying was considered to be a suit associated with mortals.

'Yes, that is all,' he replied.

For a moment, he thought he saw her emotions cloud in her eyes. It vanished as soon as it appeared. 'Victory to the righteous.'

'Victory to the righteous,' the two of them echoed and then they retreated to their respective camps.

***

As much as Anamika wanted to turn back and look at Keval, she willed herself to look ahead at the station. When they were close to the station, she whispered the question that had been nagging her, 'Why do you think she agreed to our condition?'

'We had no conditions, Anamika,' Kasa pointed out.

There was surge a fear. 'Did I do something wrong?'

He shook his head, 'Just the opposite.'

She was relieved, 'So she must have something to deal with us. I thought they would throw us into the River but it was their first condition. I don't understand. I don't have the slightest clue what they are planning.'

'I'll tell you what you have to do, you will fight Ainas because you're the only one who can take her on.'

'I'm sure she will be surrounded by daanavas whose sole purpose would be to protect her.'

They reached the gates when Kasa held her back from entering the station. He gave her a reassuring smile, 'I know this is difficult for you, Anamika but we're going to get through this. I have faith in your leadership. All the daanavas draw their hopes from Ainas as we do from you. So it doesn't matter what they've planned. You'll find a way through it. Vanquish Ainas, it's all downhill from there.'

She pursed her lips. There was a weight on her shoulders and now that the Yamdhut had acknowledged it, it became heavier. Those words were meant to comfort her but all she could think of how Ainas had mercilessly beheaded Yoshanhara and how she'd devoured the entire Astha station. Her mind was immediately drawn to how the Rakshaks had been betrayed.

'I will make sure all those that have been wronged by her are avenged.'

Kasa shook his head, 'That wasn't the answer I needed to hear from you, Anamika. This war is not about avenging anyone.'

'Then what is it about?'

He gave her a small smile, 'It is about fighting for what's right. If all the lokas were meant to be united under a monarch, they wouldn't have been separated in the first place. This lok rightfully belongs to the Yamraj and because we seek refuge here, it is our duty to protect His kingdom.'

'I understand,' she nodded, meekly. She secretly wished to deliver to Ainas the same fate as Yoshanhara.

'I've said too much.' He chuckled, and Anamika found herself thinking how Kasa could be so casual about the war. He motioned for her to walk through the gates, 'After the Eka Nayak.'

A weak smile played on her lips.

The first thing she did after entering was to assign a conch-bearer. The Yamdhut who was given the duty took it with pride.

Anamika had her doubts. She wondered how many daanavas she could kill, or could she take the death of so many on her conscience and be able to continue. Suddenly, she wanted to throw everything away. She had killed before, but never daanavas. She felt she was undeserving for the position she was currently holding. Sometimes, she would catch Abhay looking at her, not with disdain but with respect. He seemed to have humbled after losing his position. He was smiling more often even if in the times of war.

She knew it was the responsibility that had weighed down on him, just like it was weighing down on her.

They utilized the peher to form the vyuha, the formation of the army. The Rakshaks didn't have to worry about the numbers, the Yamraj had been kind enough to send more of his childrento aid them. The Rakshak Gurus had put on their armours too. It was a strange sight but it provided a lot of support to the Rakshaks.

They put on their brave faces, but Anamika knew that deep down, they were scared.

As they marched together, using the barren land as their battlefield, a loud conch was head from a distance.

She found herself yelling at the top of her lungs she thrust her talwar in the air, 'Victory to the Yamraj!'

It echoed with the same zeal throughout the army as they charged with full vigour at the army that belonged to the Daanavraj.

***

Once the conch sounded, Keval motioned for the first formation to march forward. They were equipped with long shields and bhalas to save them from the lethal Rakshak arrows. Keval stayed behind with the second formation with Ainas by his side. They had mutually decided that they would enter the field later on, till then they would study the Rakshak army and find their flaws.

They were large enough to finish them off all at once but the Daanavraj had explicitly instructed them that he wanted them to suffer.

The Rakshak withheld none of their numbers.

The plan was to compel the Rakshaks to spend more urja on breaking the barrier that would weaken them enough for Ainas to handle them.

'You're going to withhold your powers, aren't you?' Keval hissed, 'Or are you plan on breaking the agreement?'

Ainas smiled coyly, 'Keval, I agreed not to devour the Rakshaks. I never agreed to withhold my magic.'

He raised a brow, inquisitively, 'They are practically indestructible if we don't use magic.'

She leaned in closer and whispered in his ear, 'While you were gone, I learnt a new incantation... One that is less messy and very, very, very effective.'

'Do tell what is it?'

She smirked, 'I'll keep that to myself.'

'The battlefield is no place for surprises, Ainas,' he reasoned with her to which she shrugged, 'Trust me, Keval.'

He was irked by her response. She wasn't making it easy for him to protect her. The Daanavraj would be mad if anything happened to her. He didn't want to risk that kind of wrath. 'Is it safe for you?'

Apparently, she found his concern amusing. She laughed softly like he had cracked a joke and attempted to flirt with her. His face contorted with confusion, 'What's so funny?'

She patted his cheeks and he moved away as if her touch burned him. It didn't offend her. She simply smiled.

'Just answer the question, Ainas,' He seethed.

She waved her hand dismissively. A satisfactory smile on her face. She was enjoying this. He decided it was best to let her be. From his peripheral vision, he noticed that she was looking at him expectantly. Soon that look on her face turned into disappointment.

He watched the Rakshaks attack the daanavas. They had managed to wound and kill many numbers of the first formation, leaving an opening for the Yamdhuts to near them.

'That's are cue,' He said and without waiting for her to respond, he raised Sakhi, signalling the second formation to ready themselves. He waited for a few moments before letting his arm drop. The war cry that emanated from the second formation was impressive. The ground underneath the soles of his feet shook.

The Rakshaks would never expect more of them.

This realm was meant to be Daanavraj's.

His mind took the liberty to wander to a certain face. Unable to stand the direction of his thoughts, he charged.

They never saw it coming. The conch-bearer couldn't do anything, it was well within the boundaries of the agreement even if their actions had a twisted explanation.

'Prepared to be blown away, Keval!' He heard Ainas yell with an enthusiasm that scared him. What if she was being suicidal?

His thought was wiped off when she recklessly jumped over the first formation and planted her feet in the midst of the Rakshak ranks. He swore and followed her but when he landed in the midst of the chaos, to his surprise, he was met with stone statues of Rakshaks surrounding her. She grinned proudly at him to show him her handiwork. He recognized one statue. Laksh. He was taken aback, for a moment his focus had been completely lost.

'You witch!'

He was brought back to reality when he heard Shlok's voice. The dainty boy was vehemently shaking. He could see the anger oozing out of his being. Keval knew he should've stayed away from Ainas but he couldn't let her turn him into stone too. He leapt in front of her and blocked Shlok's blow with Sakhi.

The look on Shlok's face crushed Keval.

Keval found himself wondering what it would be like if he came face to face with Anamika. There were tears in Shlok's eyes and he fought with his daggers. Keval didn't have the heart to strike back, he merely found himself avoiding and sidestepping the blows.

'When Anamika called you a traitor, I couldn't believe it!' Shlok yelled as he made his move.

Keval blocked it. He didn't find any words that could justify his actions.

'We gave you a family! We cared for you!'

He felt his own tears trying to break free. It seemed hollow now, the cause he was fighting for. He pushed Shlok away and kicked him so hard that the boy landed on his back. Keval loomed over him and snarled, 'I don't come from the place as you did! The Daanavraj saved me and for that, his purpose I shall serve!'

***

When the two pehers were fought and over, the Rakshaks were devastated. There were more stone statues than there were Rakshaks and they learned in a very painful way that they could not be moved.

Shlok was on his knees, sobbing next to Laksh who looked valiant as ever, his axe in one arm. He stood in a stance that portrayed that he was about to swing it to behead something. Shlok abandoned his weapons and buried his face in his palms as he wailed.

Anamika stood a respectful distance from them. She looked around her, and more than dead daanavas she saw were stone Rakshaks.

The Yamdhuts' numbers weren't affected. They were complete. No casualties from their side. She found herself feeling incompetent. She should've asked Ainas to ban magic. Nine Rakshak Gurus were turned into stone too. One of them was Rohini.

She didn't what she felt toward that woman but she was overwhelmed by her loss too.

She hugged herself unable to bear the responsibility. Thankfully, there were the Yamdhuts who gently encouraged them to go back to the station and rest. If it would've been up to her, she wouldn't have been able to find the strength.

Shlok howled when a Yamdhut tried to pry him away from Laksh. He fought against him. He froze when his eyes met hers. The Yamdhut let him go and Shlok just stood, looking hollow and dejected.

She had never seen him like that. She pursed her lips and stretched her arms.

He sobbed and hugged her.

'He's gone... Anamika... He's gone. I can't-'

In her mind's eye, she was a mess, she was screaming as loud as she could, promising vengeance in the vilest words, yelling profanities, slamming her fists on the ground; but on the surface, she expressed nothing. Just a lone golden tear that rolled down her cheek presented itself as evidence of what she was going through.

'I won't see him again, Anamika,' the boy in her arms cried. 'I-' His voice cracked, 'I- I hate them for doing this to me I hate them.'

'Eka Nayak, we must go.'

Kasa's soft voice reached her ears. She couldn't find the strength to turn and face him.

There was a reason why he hadn't used her name. He didn't want her to be Anamika. He wanted her to be the Eka Nayak. He wanted her to be a leader and not lose herself in her sorrow.

Her screaming mind died down. She was numb. She ruffled Shlok's hair, 'Come on, Shlok. Laksh would want you to be strong. You know how much he hates tears.' She was amazed at how her voice didn't crack.

The teary-eyed boy looked up at her. She willed herself a smile, an understanding one. He staggered away from her and for a moment she thought that he would lash out at her for being callous. He surprised her by wiping his tears, 'You're right. He hated tears.'

'He'd scold me for letting you cry.'

He let out a laugh but it was strangulated. When it died, it seemed to echo in the battlefield, the source of their misery. They stared at each other before he glanced at Laksh, taking in his features. He reached out gently caress the statue's cheeks. No sooner than Shlok's fingers touched the stone than the curse that stood with it was put into action. Laksh collapsed into a pile of ashes.

She didn't turn away. She could still see the statue there, in her mind's eye. He looked glorious.

'Let's go,' Shlok said. 'I have to tell you something.'

By the look on his face, she knew it was something important. 

Kasa was waiting for them. The Yamdhut smiled when he saw them walking toward the station.

'Shlok, your sahyudhyavan is waiting for you,' He said.

The word seemed to prick on Anamika's fresh wound. When she got over it, Shlok was no longer by her side. She spotted him quiet ahead of her, with Abhay. Kasa was walking with them too. She was glad. She needed some alone time to gather all her courage or whatever that was left of it.

She dared to look back. It was just a peek over her shoulders but she swore she spotted a very familiar silhouette at the far end of the battlefield. She shook her head. It couldn't be possible. It was highly unlikely that it was him. She hadn't encountered him yet. It wasn't something she was looking forward to.

She sprinted forward to catch up with them.

Once they were inside the station, the weight of how badly it had gone for them weighed on her shoulders.

Despite that, she stood to her full height and announced that the council to assemble in the portal room.

Once that was done, she realized that they had lost seven Nayaks.

'What should we do, Anamika?' one of the surviving Nayaks asked her.

Anamika was compelled to say she didn't know but bit her tongue. Her eyes scanned the room. They looked at her with hope. It would be harsh to crush that. She looked at the representatives of the Yamdhuts for help. None of them stepped forward. She drew her attention to her hands while she racked her mind for something that could help them win.

Suddenly it came to her.

Suddenly, she was determined. She watched as her shivering hands coiled into fists. She looked at them, 'I will take on that witch. No one is to attack her, am I clear?'

'That is very risky,' one of the gurus pointed out, 'There would be no one to lead the Rakshaks into battle if you're gone.'

His words encouraged her to put on a brave face, 'Her powers do not work on me and I intend to exploit it to the fullest. No one else will attack her. Steer clear of her. Take on the daanavas, but not her.'

'So this time, you're going for her?'

'Yes.'

'That is an excellent idea,' Kasa cut in. She almost rolled her eyes at his timing but she was grateful that he had. If he approved of her decision then there was a high probability that it was the right one. All the attention was given to him and she took the liberty to slouch a bit, but not too much.

'What about Keval?' one of the Nayaks asked and the council was plunged into silence.

She straightened her back and a frosted look took over her face, 'We show him the same mercy we show the daanavas. We cannot kill him as he is one of us but we will capture him and hand him over to the Yamdhuts. They will decided what to do with him.'

They discussed some more before dispersing.

'I need to know about Ainas if I am to face her alone,' Anamika stopped Kasa.

Kasa sighed and pinched his nose, 'She's a daayan, a very powerful one. A devout follower of Maya Devi. She received a powerful blessing from Her.'

'And how did Ainas know Yoshanhara?'

'We sent Yoshanhara to Ainas to placate her. It didn't go according to plan,' Kasa spoke, 'Ainas ended up cursing Yoshanhara.'

Anamika felt like someone had struck her. 'What was the curse?' She whispered.

'You know what it is,' Kasa said.

'She'd die.'

He nodded.

She gathered herself. It was no time to become emotional. 'How do I defeat her?'

'Cut her braid. It's as simple as that.'

She raised her eyebrows, 'And you were waiting for me to ask you?'

'I thought you knew.'

***