The General charged. It was an unorthodox assault. He struck only from above, keeping his shield upfront at medium height. Uttanka had to keep stepping back, holding his shield high with his left hand to defend against the powerful blows. If he could have raised his right arm high, he would have struck Parvateshwar’s exposed head and shoulder. But he couldn’t. So he kept jabbing back at chest height. Parvateshwar easily parried the blows with his shield. Slowly, but surely, Parvateshwar kept pushing Uttanka back towards the wall. It was a matter of time before he would have no place to retreat.

Anandmayi, while happy at what she thought was the Meluhan General’s jealousy, was also worried about Uttanka. ‘Why can’t he show some compassion?’

Bhagirath turned to his sister. ‘Parvateshwar is doing the right thing. An enemy will show no quarter in battle.’

Just then Uttanka’s back hit the wall. His shield bobbed. Parvateshwar immediately swung from the right and hit Uttanka hard on his chest.

‘That would be a death blow with a real sword,’ whispered Parvateshwar.

Uttanka nodded. He did not try to rub his obviously hurting chest.

Parvateshwar walked calmly back to the centre of the room and called out loudly. ‘Once more?’

Uttanka trudged back into position. Parvateshwar attacked once more. Again with the same result.

Seeing Uttanka in pain, Anandmayi hissed. She was about to step forward, but Bhagirath held her back. He too was worried. But he knew he couldn’t step in. That would be an insult to the General and the foolishly brave soldier who was trying to combat him.

‘Why did you bring that man here?’ asked Bhagirath.

‘Uttanka dances beautifully. I thought it would be fun to have him along on the voyage to Branga.’

Bhagirath turned towards his sister with narrowed eyes. ‘That is not the whole truth. I know what you are doing. And it’s not fair.’

‘Everything’s fair in love and war, Bhagirath. But I certainly don’t want Uttanka getting hurt.’

‘Then you shouldn’t have brought him here!’

Parvateshwar was back in the centre. ‘Again?’

Uttanka lumbered back. He was evidently in pain, his face revealing his increasing rage and frustration. Parvateshwar, on the other hand, was worried. He was afraid that he would end up breaking the soldier’s ribs if they had one more joust. But he had to stop this foolhardiness. If this was a real battle, Uttanka would have already been killed twice over.

He charged at Uttanka again. To his surprise, Uttanka stepped to the side, letting Parvateshwar move forward with his momentum. Then Uttanka turned and charged as an aggressor. He swung to the left, letting his shield come down, leaving his flank open. Parvateshwar pushed his sword forward. Uttanka turned right to avoid the blow and in the same motion rolled his right arm in a swing, letting the momentum carry the sword higher than his injured shoulder would normally have allowed. He struck Parvateshwar on his neck. A kill strike, if it had been a real blade and not a practice weapon.

Parvateshwar stood stunned. How had Uttanka managed to do that?

Uttanka himself looked shocked. He had never managed to strike that high after his injury. Never.

Parvateshwar’s face broke into a slight smile. Uttanka had given up being defensive, turned into an aggressor, and won.

‘Give up your attachment to your shield,’ said Parvateshwar. ‘When you attack hard, you do have the ability to kill.’

Uttanka, still panting hard, smiled slowly.

‘Welcome to the Meluhan army, brave soldier.’

Uttanka immediately dropped his sword and fell at Parvateshwar’s feet, his eyes moist.

Parvateshwar pulled Uttanka up. ‘You are a Meluhan soldier now. And my soldiers don’t cry. Conduct yourself in the manner befitting a Meluhan military man.’

Bhagirath sighed in relief and turned towards Anandmayi. ‘You were lucky this time.’

Anandmayi nodded slowly. But her heart was already racing a few steps ahead. What really impressed Parvateshwar was military prowess. Anandmayi developed a new plan to ensnare her General.

‘Shiva is right, father,’ said Sati. ‘You can’t give away so much Somras. Meluha needs it.’

It had been ten days since Kartik’s birth. Emperor Dilipa and his entourage had left for Ayodhya. Shiva had gone to the banks of the Ganga to supervise the ship building. Daksha and Veerini were sitting in Sati’s private chambers as the proud mother gently rocked Kartik’s crib.

Veerini looked at Daksha, but did not say anything.

‘Let Meluha be my concern, my child,’ said Daksha. ‘You worry your pretty little head only with Kartik.’

Sati hated being spoken to in such a patronising manner. ‘Father, of course I am thinking about Kartik. I am his mother. But I cannot forget our duties to Meluha.’

‘My child,’ smiled Daksha. ‘Meluha is safe. Safer than it has ever been. I don’t think you need to doubt my abilities to care for my people.’

‘Father, I’m not doubting your abilities. Or your commitment. All I’m saying is that I feel it’s wrong for Kartik to receive such a large share of Somras that rightly belongs to the people of Meluha. I am sure there is an immense shortage of the Somras after the destruction of Mount Mandar. Why give so much to my son? Just because he is the Emperor’s grandson? This is against Lord Ram’s rules.’

Daksha laughed out loud. ‘My darling daughter, nowhere do Lord Ram’s rules say that an emperor cannot give Somras powder to his grandchild.’

‘Of course the exact words will not be there, father,’ argued Sati, irritated. ‘And it is not about the exact words. It is the principles that Lord Ram had set up. An emperor must always put his people above his family. We are not following that principle.’

‘What do you mean we are not following that principle?’ asked Daksha, sounding angry. ‘Are you calling me a law-breaker?’

‘Father, please keep your voice low. Kartik will wake up. And if you are favouring Kartik over the common Meluhans, then yes, you are breaking Lord Ram’s laws.’

Veerini cringed. ‘Please...’

Ignoring Veerini’s plea, Daksha ranted. ‘I am not breaking Lord Ram’s laws!’

‘Yes, you are,’ said Sati. ‘Are you saying you have enough Somras for the Suryavanshis? That Kartik is not benefiting at the cost of another less fortunate Meluhan? Unless you promise me that, this Somras powder will just lie waste. I will not let anyone give it to Kartik.’

‘You will hurt your own son?’ asked Daksha, turning briefly to glance at his sleeping grandson, before glaring at Sati.

‘Kartik is my son. He will not like to benefit at the cost of others. Because I will teach him what raj dharma is.’

His own daughter accusing him of not following his royal duties? Daksha exploded. ‘I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF MY RAJ DHARMA!’

Kartik woke with a start and Sati reached out for him instinctively. His mother’s familiar fragrance calmed him instantly. Sati turned and glared at her father.

‘I didn’t want to tell you this,’ said Daksha, ‘but since you are bent on hurting Kartik’s interests, listen. Another Somras manufacturing facility exists. Maharishi Bhrigu ordered me to build it secretly many years ago. It was a back-up for Mount Mandar. We kept it secret because there are traitors in our midst.’