Sati held her mother tight. Years spent with Shiva had broken the mould. She could now freely express her pent-up feelings.

‘I’ve missed you, my child,’ whispered Veerini.

‘I’ve missed you too, maa,’ said Sati, her eyes moist.

Veerini touched Sati’s scar and bit her lip.

‘It’s all right,’ said Sati, with a slight smile. ‘It doesn’t hurt.’

‘Why don’t you get Ayurvati to remove it?’ asked Veerini.

‘I will, maa,’ said Sati. ‘But the beauty of my face is not important. What is important is to find a way towards peace.’

‘I hope Lord Ram helps your father and the Neelkanth to do so,’ said Veerini.

Daksha smiled broadly. ‘I have already found a way, Sati. And we’ll all be together once again; a happy family, like before. By the way, I hope the Neelkanth didn’t mind waiting in the camp outside. After all, it would not be considered a good omen for us to meet before the peace conference.’

Sati frowned at her father’s strange suggestion that all of them would be living together ‘as a family’ once again. She was about to clarify that Shiva had not come with her to Devagiri, but Daksha turned to Kamalaksh.

‘Order the attendants to bring in lunch. I’m famished. As I’m sure are the women in my family,’ said Daksha.

‘Of course, My Lord.’

Veerini was still holding Sati’s hand. ‘It is sad that Ayurvati wasn’t here last week.’

‘Why?’ asked Sati.

‘Had she been here, she would certainly have saved Kanakhala. Nobody has the medical skills that she possesses.’

From the corner of her eye, Sati could see Daksha’s body stiffen. ‘Veerini, you talk too much. We need to eat and...’

‘One moment, father,’ said Sati, turning back to her mother. ‘What happened to Kanakhala?’

‘Didn’t you know?’ asked a surprised Veerini. ‘She died suddenly. I believe there was some kind of accident in her house.’

‘Accident?’ asked a suspicious Sati, whirling around to face Daksha. ‘What happened to her, father?’

‘It was an accident, Sati,’ said Daksha. ‘You don’t need to make a mountain of every mole hill...’

On seeing Daksha’s evasive reaction to Sati’s question, Veerini got suspicious as well. ‘What’s going on, Daksha?’

‘Will you two please give it a rest? We’ve come together for a meal after a very long time. So let us just enjoy this moment.’

‘Everything will be fine soon, Princess,’ said Kamalaksh, in a soft voice.

Sati did not turn her attention to Kamalaksh. But there was something creepy in his voice. Her instincts kicked in.

‘Father, what are you hiding?’

‘Oh, for Lord Ram’s sake!’ said Daksha. ‘If you are so worried about your husband, I’ll have some special food sent out for him as well!’

‘I did not mention Shiva,’ said Sati. ‘You are avoiding my question. What happened to Kanakhala?’

Daksha cursed in frustration, slamming his fist on a desk. ‘Will you trust your father for once? My blood runs in your veins. Would I ever do anything that is not in your interest? If I say Kanakhala died in an accident, then that is what happened.’

Sati stared into her father’s eyes. ‘You’re lying.’

‘Kanakhala got what she deserved, Princess,’ said Kamalaksh, from directly behind her. ‘As will everyone who dares to oppose the true Lord of Meluha. But you don’t need to worry. You are safe because your father adores you.’

A stunned Sati glanced back briefly towards Kamalaksh and then turned to her father.

Daksha’s eyes were moist as he spoke with a wry smile. ‘If only you’d understand how much I love you, my child. Just trust me. I will make everything all right once again.’

Almost imperceptibly, Sati tensed her muscular frame and shot her right elbow back into Kamalaksh’s solar plexus. The surprised colonel staggered back as he bent over with pain, thus bringing his head within her range. Losing no time, Sati sprung onto her left foot and swung her right leg in a great arc, a lethal strike that she had learnt from the Nagas. Her right heel crashed with brutal force into Kamalaksh’s head, right between his ear and temple. It burst his ear drum and rendered him unconscious. The giant frame of the Colonel came crashing down onto the floor. Sati swung full circle in the same smooth motion and faced Daksha again. Quick as lightning, she drew her sword and pointed it at her father.

It all happened so quickly that Daksha had had no time to react.

‘What have you done, father?’ screamed Sati, her anger at boiling point.

‘It’s for your own good!’ shrieked Daksha. ‘Your husband will not trouble us anymore.’

Sati finally understood. ‘Lord Ram, be merciful... Nandi and my soldiers...’

‘My God!’ cried Veerini, moving towards him. ‘What have you done, Daksha?’

‘Shut up, Veerini!’ screamed Daksha, as he shoved her aside and rushed towards Sati.

Veerini was in shock. ‘How could you break the laws of a peace conference? You have damned your soul forever!’

‘You can’t go out!’ shouted Daksha, trying to get a hold of Sati.

Sati pushed Daksha hard, causing the emperor to fall on the floor. She turned and ran towards the door, her sword held tight in her hand, ready for battle.

‘Stop her!’ yelled Daksha. ‘Guards! Stop her!’

The doorman opened the door, stunned to see the princess sprinting towards him. The guards at the door were immobilised by shock.

‘Stop her!’ bellowed Daksha.

Before the guards could react, Sati crashed into them, pushed them aside and burst through the door. She raced down the main corridor. She could still hear her father screaming repeatedly for his guards to stop her. She had to get to her horse. No one else was in possession of one in Devagiri at this time. Were she able to do so, she could easily speed past all the guards and ride out of the city.

‘Stop the Princess!’ screamed a guard from behind.

Sati saw a platoon of guards taking position up ahead. They held their spears out, blocking the way. She looked behind her without slowing down. Another platoon of soldiers was running towards her from the other end. She was trapped.

Lord Ram, give me strength!

Sati heard Daksha’s distant voice. ‘Don’t hurt her!’

A window to the left was open, up ahead. She was on the third floor. It would be foolish to jump. But she knew this palace well; it had been home. She knew that there was a thin ledge above the window. A short jump from there would land her on the palace terrace. Thereafter, she could race away from a side entrance towards the palace gate before anyone would be able to reach her.

Sati sheathed her sword and raised her hands, as if in surrender. The soldiers thought they had her and moved forward, slowing their gait so as to calm the princess’ nerves. Sati suddenly jumped to her side, and was out of the window in a flash. The soldiers gasped, thinking the princess had fallen to a certain death into the courtyard below. But Sati had stretched her hands out simultaneously and used the momentum to jump up, grab the edge of the protruding ledge, swing upwards, and then land safely on top of the ledge in a half-flip. She took a moment to balance herself. She then took a couple of quick steps and leapt onto the terrace.