Chapter 3

Leisurely walking out of the cave Om noticed that it was still late in the night. With the full moon still shining brightly his thirst for revenge could clearly be seen on his face. As he slowly walked down the mountain cliff two men in black came out from the darkness and immediately kneeled down.

Dandi: Your highness! Forgive us!

Ranveer: Forgive us!

Om looks down at his two most skilled guards "Not your fault. The enemy was clever to use my sister to lure you two away from me tonight. So how is Princess Priyanka?

Dandi: We were tricked your highness. When we found the Princess she was safely sleeping in her chambers.

Om: Did you then kill the servant who delivered the fake news?

Ranveer: Yes your highness. The moment we realize what happened we killed the servant on the spot but by the time we returned you were gone.

Om looks out towards the forest "They finally managed to turn one of my long time servant against me...how else would they know when to strike."

Dandi and Ranveer has been guarding Om ever since he was born so knowing that the poison acted up they were a bit confused as to how their King managed to escape without their aid.

Dandi: Your highness...how come it seems that the poison is not effecting you tonight?

Om's lips curves up thinking of the small woman in green "Hell was not ready for me tonight." Not far from where they were standing Om had located the group of assassins sent by his Uncle Tej to kill him tonight. "Lets send the Lord a morning gift." It didn't take long for a pile of bodies to fall onto the ground. With his long black hair flowing under the moonlight and his blade dripping with blood Om was indeed the Ruthless King of Mordis.

Om: How come the numbers of bodies are less than what I had calculated?

Dandi: Your highness it seems there is a few more bodies over by the border. And it also seem that a pack of wolves were feeding off of their bodies.

Om smiled evilly "I guess they tried to capture that little doctor."

Dandi and Ranveer looked at each other "Doctor?"

As the three came closer to the bodies of assassins they noticed that all 5 bodies were nearly ripped to shred by the pack of wolves. There was also some kind of odor that was permeating from the bodies.

Dandi: What happened to them? I've never seen anything like this. When does a pack of wolves attack but not eat? This looks like an intent to kill only.

Om looks towards the border that lead to land of Ashen "Somehow I believe this was her doing."

*******

30 minutes ago

After leaving the King of Mordis in the cave Gauri quickly grabbed the herb she needed and was making her way through the forest to return to Ashen when she noticed rustling noises from behind her. Gauri has been through this forest for 10 years now so she was very familiar with her surroundings as well as its habitants. When she heard the footsteps getting closer Gauri pulled a small purple vial from her pouch and when the 5 men came charging at her she smashed the vial onto the ground splashing them with it's contents. At first the group of assassins thought the green woman had tried to poison them but when the didn't feel anything they continued to charge at her. They saw her eyes glow under the moonlight and when they heard her whistle more yellow eyes appeared from the darkness behind her. But as the group of assassins got closer they realize the yellow eyes behind her were those of hungry wolves. They couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the woman casually petting the leader of the pack who was ten times bigger than an average wolf. Afraid to move the assassins remained still till the woman softly said "Go get em." Gauri smiled under her mask as her pack savagely tore the men into bits and pieces. The vile she broke was filled with a concoction that would attract her pack right away taking only mere seconds for them to arrive by her side. "Do not blame me. If you would have just left me alone..." When her pack was done the leader slowly cuddled it's head into Gauri's embrace "Nala...thank you. But I must go now." Nala whimpered knowing her master was going to leave so soon. Gauri took out a cloth and wiped the blood from Nala's face "Don't eat them. Those vile things are disgusting."

Flashback

Ten years ago when Gauri started to sneak into Mordis she stumbled upon a small pack of wolves who seemed to be starving and crying. When Gauri came closer to see why these little pups were whimpering she saw that the parents were gravely injured and had passed away. Feeling sorry for them Gauri help the pups bury their parents and also gave them some food that she had carried with her. Ever since then she became like a mother to these little wolves. They even let her stay in their cave when she got lost and needed a place to hide. For 10 years she was the one who nursed their every wound so to even think about attacking her in this forest one would have to ask her pack first. Gauri hated parting with them. If she could she would bring them home with her because to Gauri these wolves were more trusting than any human being.

After petting each every one of her wolves Gauri quickly made it back to Ashen before sunrise. She took out the herb and started to grind it into a fine dust. Once it was perfect she mixed it in some warm tea and started to make her way to her little brother's chamber where he knows to wait for her. Gauri knocks on the door and slowly opens it only to see a crying Sahil.

Gauri puts down the teacup on the side table before making her way towards her brother "What is wrong. A crown prince should not shed tears so easily." Hearing his beloved sister's voice Sahil rushed into Gauri's arms "Gauri! I know you told me to stay away from them but I just couldn't this time! And now I have fallen into their trap. Father is going to punish me severely." Gauri gently pats Sahil's head "Come drink your medicine. As long as I am here you will be okay. Don't worry." Sahil looks up to see his sister's gently eyes "Gauri. When can I see your face?" Gauri laughs at her brother "Didn't you see it last year?" Sahil pouts "It's not fair that I only get to see your face on my birthday! The rumors about you are getting more ridiculous!" Gauri walks over to the table to grab the teacup while listening to her brother complain. "Drink up." Gauri didn't mind having to wear a mask everyday... it was worth the price paid for having her mother's body sent back to the land of Flay where her mother grew up.

Flashback 10 years ago

Pleading with her father to bury her mom in the royal tombs instead of cremating her Gauri had been kneeling for days in front of her father's bedroom chambers. She didn't are that her father was enjoying his time with his lover Svetlana all she wanted was her father's word that her mother's body be treated with respect that it deserved. Her knees were bleeding and her body was shivering but that never stopped Gauri from begging. But as much as she cried her father ignored her completely only when she was about to faint did she hear a faint chuckle. When Gauri lifted up her head she saw Svetlana wrapped in her father's royal robe. "My my my....you poor thing."

Gauri: Go away. I am here to talk to my father!

Svetlana laughs looking at the beautiful princess "Your father is happily sleepy because of me. You should be nicer since I will be your mother soon."

Gauri: I will never see you as my mother!

Svetlana walks around Gauri who was still kneeling " I don't need you to. I have two daughters of my own. So tell me what exactly do you want from your father...maybe if I feel generous I will ask him for you."

Gauri: Do not lie to me!

Svetlana: You don't know until you try. So tell me.

Gauri: I want my mother to be buried in the royal tombs. I do not want her to burn to ash!

Svetlana laughs: Well that's something that will never happen! They royal tomb is for the King of Ashen to be buried with his Queen.

Gauri: My mother is Queen!

Svetlana crouches down and pinches Gauri's chin "WAS! I will be Queen now...do you think I would allow your mother to take my place? Even in death I will not let your mother be Queen!"

Gauri was clenching her fists and biting her lips to the point blood was slowly dripping at the corners of her mouth. "You snake! You seduce father to do this to my mother!"

Svetlana releases Gauri's chin "Call me what you will but soon you will have to call me mother."

Gauri: Never!

Svetlana: Don't be so stubborn. It will only do you harm dear. But there is another way for your mom's body to stay in tact.

Gauri's eyes lit up "What?!"

Svetlana's smiles at the naive little girl "Nothing is free. If I can get the King to sen your mother's body back to your grandparents in Flay then you would have to do something for me."

Gauri: What do you want?

Svetlana: Well it's easy for me to be Queen but it is not easy for either of my daughter's to be the Crown Princess unless....

Gauri's eyes darken "You want me to give up my position as Crown Princess?!"

Svetlana laughs "But thats not all..."

Gauri: What else is there to take?!

Svetlana caresses Gauri's smooth cheeks "Your beauty. You must wear a mask until both my daughters are married off. I cannot have you competing with them because I cannot deny that your beauty surpasses that of a goddess."

Gauri: A mask?! You think Father would allow this?!

Svetlana smiles evilly "If I can get him to cast your mother aside what makes you think I am unable to do this?"

Gauri knew she was right. Her father who once was so deeply in love with her mother has now turned to a lustful King. "Fine. If you can convince father than I promise."

Svetlana: Don't look at me with such evil eyes. How about this...I will let your brother see your face once a year....on his birthday. See how generous I can be?

Gauri: Why would you allow that?

Svetlana: I don't need the Crown Prince to come wailing and begging your father later on. You need to keep him in control since you will be taking care of his poison I presume?

Gauri's eyes widen "And how do you know my baby brother is poisoned!?" Svetlana didn't even bother to answer Gauri's question instead she just slowly walked back into the Kings bedroom while laughing leaving Gauri to finally understand how her mother finally fell into another person's honey trap.

Sahil nudges Gauri "What are you thinking about?" Gauri smiles "Just reminiscing about the past." "What is there to reminisce!" Sahil sneered.

Gauri: So tell me what did you do to those two.

Sahil puts down his head "They were saying how ugly you were. That without the mask you would scare people with the hideous burnt scars." Gauri started to laugh "Oh...it's burnt scars this time and not a big gash by a knife? Or me contracting some disease that left my face hideous?"

Sahil: How can you joke about that?! You are the most beautiful person in the world!! And when I said that they just laugh even more! I got so angry I three a cup on the ground but when it shattered a shard hit Riddhima's face and Ishana quickly ran to the Queen.

Gauri: You cut her face?

Sahil: She is already ugly! Another scratch wouldn't make her any uglier!

Gauri sighs "You really caused trouble this time Sahil. Even if you are the Crown Prince they are still the Queen's daughters. You know that the Queen has been looking towards marriage talks with the neighboring countries. And you just went and damaged her goods.

Sahil was scared "What am I going to do? Father has summoned me."

Gauri: I will go with you.

As the two made their way to the King's quarters Gauri could already hear Riddhima and Ishana complaining to her father while Svetlana sat drinking her morning tea.

Sahil and Gauri kneels "Greetings Father...Greetings Queen."

When Kali heard his own flesh and blood still refuse to address Svetlana as Mother his mood soured. "Sahil! You are the Crown Prince of Ashen...how can you injure your sister like this?!"

Sahil: Father it was an accident. They were making fun of....

Kali pounds his fist on the table "Making fun of who?! Who are they not allowed to make fun of?! Riddhima is the Crown Princess of Ashen!

Gauri looks at her father with cold eyes "Me."

A sense of guilt rushed deep inside Kali's heart. Even though he knew what he did to the late Queen was unspeakable but he was King of Ashen! And as King of Ashen he regrets nothing. "Riddhima....is that true?"

Riddhima stammers "I was just speaking the truth father. I just said Princess Gauri's face was too scary to not wear a mask and the Crown Prince got so upset and did this to my face!" Trying hard to show the small read scar to her father "See...how am I suppose to meet up with the Princes of Gopar and Uthon?!" Kali knew he needed allies to take on the might King of Mordis who owned the rich land that was filled with gold and diamonds. Hearing that a slight incident like this could jeopardize his plans Kali was furious! "Guards come here with my whip!" Sahil looks to Gauri because the last time he was whipped by his father it took Gauri 2 months to treat him.

Gauri: Father..I don't think that is wise.

Kali: What did you just say?!

Gauri: The Prince of Gopar and the Prince of Uthon are coming next week and if they saw the Crown Prince of Ashen being injured so easily they might ask the reason.

Kali: Are you threatening me?

Gauri: I dare not father. But lips cannot be sealed. Unless you can guarantee no one will reveal why the Crown Prince was whipped so badly then you can carry on.

Svetlana slowly puts down her teacup "Princess Gauri is right your Majesty. You should put important matters first."

Ishana: Mother! You can't let him get away with what he did to sister!

Svetlana chuckles "Who says he will get away with it?"

Kali: What does the Queen mean?

Svetlana: You can't punish the Crown Prince but you can transfer the punishment to the person he loves most.

Sahil: NO! Hit me! I will endure it all!

Gauri pulls Sahil back "If that is what you want I will not fight it."

Kali did not want to be known as the kind of King who would whip his daughter so he left matters to the Queen to deal with. When the saw that Kali had left Svetlana gave the whip to Riddhima "Here. The King has allows 5 hits. Go and relieve your anger."

Svetlana ordered the guards to hold Sahil back while Gauri turns her around allowing Riddhima full access to her back. With every hit a piece of clothing came off leaving a deep gash but Gauri did not give them the luxury to hear her cry out in pain because when Gauri knew what was happening she secretly chewed on some pain relievers beforehand. But her father's whip was no ordinary whip..it had small spikes where once it hit flesh it would cling on skin...even the best pain relievers could only do so much. Luckily for Gauri Riddhima was a weak woman with little strength so each hit was bearable. After the 5th strike the guards released their grip on Sahil who thought it was over only to see Riddhima smile as she delivered the 6th stroke. "HEY! FATHER SAID 5!" Riddhima drops the whip "Oops I lost count."

Sahil runs towards Gauri and covers her with his cloak "Gauri are you okay? It's all my fault! You warned me to be good while you were away..I should have listened!" Sweating profusely and out of breath "It's okay. This is nothing. Take me back to my place." Trying hard to help his sister Sahil used his small body to help Gauri walk back to her Court Yard. "Gauri I promise! I will train hard! I will become stronger! And when I am King no one will dare touch you!" Gauri pats her little brother's head as he tries hard to help her walk "I know you will. Just be good and take your medicine and in 5 years no one will be able to control you."

**So villains are now on the chessboard Next update we will see Omkara's..Hope you guys are enjoying it...do let me know..and hit the VOTE button**