"Sriman Narendra, what about his men stationed throughout the city. Not even a single rebel should escape."

"Arrested, Maharani."

"And the civilians? We have to be sure they are safe. No harm can befall them."

"Our soldiers wouldn't let these cowards anywhere near the innocent people. Like you commanded, ensuring their safety has been our top priority." Narendra turned to face the handful of disarmed rebels present in the courtroom. "Awaiting your orders, Maharani."

"These are our special guests. I've made arrangements for their stay in the dungeons" said Mayanshi, receiving a loud cheer.

Narendra bowed to her and commanded his soldiers to move the prisoners.

"Now, my dear uncle, let's talk about your crimes against Virata." Mayanshi looked in the direction of Bhairava, who seethed with rage. "You attacked a village on my wedding day with the intention of stopping it. Your men murdered few innocent villagers and abducted few others, before a rescue team was dispatched to put an end to the violence. Do you deny it?"

"Wait. Does that mean it was him? He planned the attack on you at the lotus pond?" asked Vaishali.

"Yes. But that's not the point of discussion at the moment. He is responsible for the death of my people. He is responsible for creating chaos in my motherland. For that, he will pay--"

Before Mayanshi could finish the sentence, Bhairava sprang up, twisting Devika's arm from behind and pointing a dagger to her throat. "Quiet, you cold-blooded brute! You think you can thwart my plans and get away with it? You will not arrest me. Not today. Not ever." He tightened the grip on Devika's hand, who screamed. "Nobody move. Or this girl dies."

"No! Don't hurt her." Mayanshi yelled. "Release her!" She demanded in a tone full of desperation, as a drop of blood dripped from Devika's neck.

"You are not in a position to make demands. You will do as I command." Bhairava moved back, dragging Devika with him. He reached the farthest part of the hall, putting a considerable distance between him and everyone else.

"This conversation does not require discharge of weapons. Just tell us what you want us to do."

"I want my son!"

Mayanshi immediately arranged for Govardhana to be brought to the courtroom.

"But that's your bodyguard!" Vaishali exclaimed. "Is he--"

"Not now!" Mayanshi silenced her. "He is here, uncle. Now, release her."

"So that you can tie me up? I am not a fool, Maya. I want to get out of the palace."

"You will. I promise. Release her and go. We won't follow you. We won't pursue you in the future." Mayanshi's voice shook.

"Why should I trust you?"

"Please." She begged for Devika's life. "You are free to go. Just give her back to me."

"Looks like she means a lot to you. But your soldiers don't value her life. They will attack me even if I take her with me." He smirked. "So, my dearest niece, there is only one way to get out of here unharmed. You take her place."

"No. Maharani. Don't listen to him." Devika tried to wriggle free.

"Father!" Govardhana tried to intervene. But Bhairava was in no mood to listen.

Mayanshi ran forward.

"Maya, come back." Vaishali ordered the young queen. Before anyone could stop her, she reached the other end of the courtroom.

"Maharani. Please don't--"

"Shut up, Devika!" Mayanshi disregarded her plea. "I am here. Unarmed. Now release my friend." She demanded her uncle once again.

He pushed the poor girl away, who fell down, hurting her knee. She stood up quickly, only to see Mayanshi being held by her uncle, with the dagger to her throat.

"You stupid girl! What have you done!" Vaishali said exasperatedly. The fact that Mayanshi would put her life in danger to save someone else, filled her heart with fury as well as fear. And yet, surprisingly, this act of the queen didn't seem wrong to her.

The courtroom erupted with requests and threats directed to Bhairava. Everyone aimed for the same thing. To save the queen who saved their motherland.

"Govardhana! Find a chariot. Let's take her with us. She will ensure our safe passage till we reach the outskirts."

Dushyanta stepped forward. "Please, may I suggest an alternative. Why don't I be your charioteer? I will drop you off wherever you would like me to. And I will bring back the queen. It will take much longer for us to walk back. That will give you the headstart."

"No. You think I will trust you after this? Never. I demand a safe passage right now. " He looked pointedly at Vaishali to give the command. "Do not follow me. Or I will kill your queen."

"You won't. Kill me, and you are a dead man walking." Mayanshi spoke in a remarkably calm voice.

"You are right, child. But I can injure you." He gave her a superficial cut above the elbow. "I won't be so merciful the next time."

Govardhana looked troubled. He wanted his father to be set free. But he couldn't see his cousin in pain. "Father, please."

Bhairava ignored him again. "You!" He spat in the direction of Vaishali. "Lead us to the chariot. Walk ahead of us. Command all the guards stationed outside the hall, to drop their weapons and go inside. We must hear you give the command. Only then we will exit this room."

Vaishali nodded. She cautiously walked out of the courtroom through the other entrance. She analyzed the situation. It was highly impossible for her to disarm two men all by herself.

She considered signaling one of the guards to throw their weapon to her. But Bhairava had already proved that he was capable of hurting his niece. She dropped the idea. 'I can't believe I have to fight for that stupid girl. She had to go and be the hero. Why can't she be normal for once?'

Her only chance of helping Mayanshi escape was while mounting the chariot. She could hear three sets of footsteps following her. One of them was being dragged.

They reached the chariot. Bhairava pushed Mayanshi in. Vaishali seized the opportunity to drag Mayanshi away from the chariot. "Run!"

Her plan would have worked if it wasn't for a tiny miscalculation. Mayanshi's hands were tied, with Bhairava holding the other end of the rope.

"I knew you would try something like this. I was prepared." Bhairava pushed her away and mounted the chariot.

Vaishali tried to stop them once again. But the wheel ran over her foot, leaving her collapse to the ground. She watched helplessly as the queen was abducted by her own uncle.

"Govardhana! Don't stop till we reach the banks of the river. We have a ship. We board it and get rid of this backstabbing vermin." Bhairava ordered his son.

"Uncle. You don't seem to understand your position. The soldiers of Rudragiri will have started looking for me by now. Even if you somehow manage to board the ship, they will not let you leave." Mayanshi spoke more bravely than she felt.

"My dear niece. Don't worry about me. How will they know that I intend to escape by a ship? Even if they somehow figure it out, it will be too late. Worry about your fate."

Mayanshi was alarmed. He was right. She only had half a day. They would reach the ship by midnight. And being tied up, she was in no position to fight. Her only hope was Govardhana, who seemed to have nurtured a soft corner for her.

---***---

Samyukta was puzzled to see two men arguing over a simple matter of getting to read a letter delivered by a pigeon.

"I must request you to lower your voice, sir. This tent is for injured soldiers."

"Devi, I have no intention of quarreling with this man. I just want the letter to be delivered to the person it was intended to, safely" said one of them, whose legs were injured.

"Listen well, soldier! You are refusing to share the information regarding the receiver of the letter. Messages like this need to be reported to the army chief." The other man insisted, trying to obtain the scroll by force.

This statement piqued Samyukta's interest. She observed the men carefully. It occurred to her that the former was a trusted friend of Abhimanyu.

The latter was already in the possession of the letter, when she made up her mind. "Sir, you are right. I agree with you. The army chief must be informed about this. You seem to be very sincere and loyal."

"Thank you, Devi." He said, ignoring Abhimanyu's friend, who started protesting. "Tell him to stop making a scene."

"Of course, kind sir. But, before that, please accept this medicine. As a physician it pains me to see a patient forced to work, despite being in pain. It will give you instant relief." She offered a goblet to him.

He drank from it and walked towards the exit, only to feel dizzy and collapse.

Samyukta retrived the scroll from his hands.

"What have you done?" asked Abhimanyu's friend.

"Buying you time till the prince comes. I know this message is for him. And for some reason you wouldn't want anyone else reading it."

"But, you spiked his medicine. Senapati garu won't be pleased. This matter could escalate."

"The prince will help me." She said as if it was obvious.

"How can you be so sure, Devi?" She heard a familiar voice.

She turned around, smiling. "From what I gathered during my brief friendship with you, I can tell that you will never abandon your friends."

"Friends? That's what we are?" Abhimanyu asked, with twinkling eyes. He took the letter from her. "I never took you for someone who can spike a patient's medicine."

"I know. I am scared. But it felt like the right thing to do."

"Why? You barely know these two. How did you decide whom to help?"

"It's true that I am not acquainted with them. But one of them is your friend. You trust him. And I trust your judgement. That made it easy." She replied, gathering her supplies. "I must attend to those in the next tent."

Abhimanyu read the message Mayanshi sent him. At first glance it looked confusing. But once he connected the recent events to the content of the letter, he understood. 'Akka sent a message to mother through that man. And after that amma had a long discussion with Senapati garu. Which could only mean that he was given instructions to harm King Samarjit.'

He rushed to meet Samarjit.

---***---

Kathikeya gathered few armed men at nightfall and slithered towards Samarjit's location, unnoticed.

They could see the silhouette of the sleeping king in a dimly lit tent. They went inside, walking stealthily.

They were about to hold his hands and restrain him before they heard him speak. "Senapati garu! Hasn't anyone told you that trying to hurt your prince while he is asleep, is treason?"

They were stunned to see that the owner of the voice was not King Samarjit. It was their prince.

Abhimanyu smiled smugly at Karthikeya. "I was right. You really are getting old."

He ordered them to sit. They obeyed, looking timid.

"Now, if you don't mind, I would like to hear everything that led to this unfortunate incident." He shot a death glare at them. "And I would appreciate if King Samarjit doesn't know about this unsuccessful little endeavour of yours."

---***---

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