Chapter fifteen

The winds of change

As a thirteen year old prince, Yuvraj Sanskar was supposed to take lessons on Vajra politics and history apart from the continuing lessons he took on martial arts and elven magic. It meant two things; firstly he would have a new teacher. This one, did not sit well with Sanskar, as he was rather attached to his martial arts scholar, also, it meant that he would not have those lessons with his Guardian plus friend Kavita. So as it could be expected the dawn of the first day of their lessons, found the young prince in a mood that matched the skies outside his chambers. That was of a pastel blue with gray and white clouds hanging heavily in thickets.

In his grumpy mood, Sanskar stumped to the throne room, where the teacher was supposed to see him. It was deserted, owing to the fact that the Vajra was visiting the borders; hence there were no court proceedings for the day. Kavita walked him to the double doors, dressed in her normal fighting outfit. It seemed she had an outdoor training for the day. Sanskar felt envious of her. While he was confined with these boring lessons on dead elves and royal scandals she was going for all the interesting fighting techniques.

Ouch that frown must hurt,' Kavita chuckled under her breath, and chuckled harder as he shot her a death glare. Be careful your highness or it might stick that way.'

I hate whoever the old man is, already,' Sanskar said in a bored tone. He is going to kill me in boredom.'

Whoever told you he is an old man?'

Someone said he is hundred and seventeen,' Sanskar raised his eye brows. You don't think that's old?'

I'm sure he is more than hundred and seventeen,' Kavitra shook her head and then giggled. But he is handsome.' Sanskar rolled his eyes. Come on, I guess the time you spend in human realms is finally rubbing off, hundred years is a blink of an eye...' Bowing a little and still shaking in silent laughter, Kavita went off and Sanskar taking a deep breath pushed the doors and went inside.

True to Kavita's words, the man waiting for him in the shadowy pillared room was not the weary old fellow of Sanskar's imagination. Instead he was a tall man of a lean athletic built, a mane of thick black hair and dark skin. His eyes were wistful, and gleamed with intellect.

Yuvraj Sanskar,' he said in a curt tone, that was not devoid of respect, but did not hold the breathless awe the young prince was accustomed to. My name is Mohan.'

A Naga?' Sanskar mused aloud.

Yes, a Naga and a spy.' He said with a slight twitch to his lips. I thought you might not frown upon being a Naga, since you too share our blood.'

I didn't mean it that way. I was just surprised since they told me you were a friend of my father the Vajra.' Sanskar explained hastily. Master,' he added after a thought. Mohan waved an impatient hand.

There is no need of titles. You can call me Mohan as I will call you Sanskar.'

Does that mean, we're going to be friends?' Again he wondered aloud. The man Mohan seemed interesting. There was no wonder that his father liked him.

No.' The curt tone was back. A king and a subject can never be friends. A subject can be a follower, a well wisher, a pawn...but never a friend. Because a king can never repay friendship as a commoner would want to.' He continued not letting Sanskar speak. Not because a king is evil or selfish, but he cannot and never should differentiate between two of his subjects. It is impossible if one of them is his friend. And friends should always be equals. There is none equal to a king. The weaker friends would only seek to take advantage of the stronger...it is not friendship but dependency.'

Sanskar looked up at the man, suddenly feeling rather shaken. Was this how all the Nagas thought about friends? Or was this the truth of the crown? That once you wear it you are no longer supposed to be a man but simply a king, a figure of power?

Now, why don't you take it as your first lesson?' Mohan asked him.

Are you trying to teach me how painful it is to be a king and how many things I would lose while wearing that crown?'

I am showing you the truth as it is. The pain is a part of your future and I was called to prepare you for that future, to tolerate it and perhaps learn to fight it. But before that, you must learn there is pain. That is when you see the way beyond. It's is not all about shinning golden halls and pretty dresses...sovereign is much much more than that.'

So what are we going to do today Mohan?' Sanskar asked finally. At thirteen he was not a foolish child. He had already realized whatever these lessons were called publicly they were far from theoretical history or political science classes. Mohan was not a typical scholar either. There was a reason why this particular man was brought to court as his teacher; these lessons were important. He did not know how yet, but he knew somehow that they were vital and he felt it.

Mohan smiled finally. The gesture did a great difference to his features. He looked kinder, younger and more pleasant.

We start at the base of any castle; the kitchen.'

I beg your pardon?'

You and I are going to spend an anonymous day, disguised among the servants.'

Sanskar folded his arms.

I'm not cooking.'

Nah, you won't. Who would want to eat what you cook after all? You would help out, whenever you're called.'

The queen mother would have their heads!'

The things Devi Nanda will never hear about, won't hurt her.' Mohan said with a devilish glint of his eyes.

But why?'

Gossips.' Mohan said simply. They have the power to throw a king off this throne. Servants are the ears in walls, the eyes in the tiniest of holes. They know of scandals before they are dragged to the courts and they love exchanging their information. Flaunting to others how much they know of their masters. And it is them who knows exactly what is behind each of those masks. Because even traitors aren't very careful around their maids or man - servants. Listen to their talks you'll know exactly who is plotting to do what next.'

First you will observe them, know the ones useful, the ones you can influence. It is valuable for you to have a network of spies...you need to spot the ones you can pick to your basket the ones you have to be wary of.'

What exactly are you going to teach me Mohan?'

Did not you get it yet, my prince? I'm going to teach you all that is criticized in public, but employed at the end of the day. Deception, plotting, manipulation and power. Agni, teaches you how to deal with heroes, and I would teach you how to deal with reptiles. As you grow up, you will realize this, there are far more deadly wars fought inside these walls than in the battle field. As you grow up enemies will gather, I will teach you how to collect allies. As you grow up plots will thicken, I will tell you how to see through them. Agni will make you a lion no doubt, but I shall make you an eagle. Because even lions can do nothing against the snakes, and this place is full of them."

Saam, daam , danda, bhedh in short right?'

You got it right.'

So it had begun. In the two years that continued from the point where their first discussion ended, Mohan had kept his word. He had created someone with a razor sharp intellect and cold, rigid sense of duty, who he himself felt wary of at times. In his time spent with Mohan, Sanskar learned how to read people, he knew when someone was lying and knew exactly how the truth was extracted. He learned how opinions are formed in general, and knew how to change or form the idea he wanted in the minds of his subjects. There was hardly a thing that escaped his attention, hardly a secret he did not know of. Then came the end of his training with Mohan, exactly twenty four months after its initiation.

Minister Rudranath is moving finally.' Sanskar told Mohan as they dismounted their horses. He is planning to meet Pratula with the scrolls as we thought he would.'

The scrolls may never cross the borders.' Mohan said dismissively.

Yes, because although, Rudranath thinks they are in his procession, they are not.' He tilted his head. My contact at his quarters made sure of that.'

Where are they?'

Sanskar looked at him and crooked his eyebrow. They don't exist.' He said simply.

Mohan nodded slightly. Secrets, he had learned well to deal with them. Sanskar never told him, who his contact in Rudranath's quarters was, and Mohan shifted uncomfortably as he thought perhaps, there might be another contact stationed in his own chambers.

And what about Rudranath, what's your step against him?'

Nothing,' the prince shrugged. Why should I bother for something Pratula would do for me?' there was that cold gleam in his eyes, the sharp line his jaw settled to...he despised the man, but would not let the emotion take control of him. Mohan felt a thrill of pride at his student's progress and at the same time a surge of fear. If he was successful, hundreds would have died...' Sanskar said bitterly.

They stopped in the shadow of the temple of Agni and Mohan turned to him.

Come, there's one last lesson left.'

In here?'

Hmm...come on. We begin at the base of the castle and kingdom; we end at its top most point...the temple.' Mohan went ahead, going through the stone passageways that grew darker as they descended. As we walk, tell me what you know about Sambhava witches, the priestesses of this temple.'

Umm, they come from the great queen Medha*. The first known elven lady to be blessed with the eye. They believe in selflessness and worship the nothingness. They believe the way to grasp the entire gist of your abilities is to hand youself to your powers.'

Yes,' nodded Mohan. In other words it means be your power, destroy yourself. Tell me Sanskar, do you agree?'

A power cannot define a person. So no, I don't.'

They had by then reached their destination. It was a gallery of sorts, a balcony that raised above the fire lit chambers below and ended with stony railings. Mohan gestured him to look down and Sanskar obeyed, his eyes captured the sight of Sambhava** priestesses gathered in the chamber below. Huddled around to be exact around a young woman who remained frozen on the spot where she stood. As their dark figures circled her, from the gaps and the dancing lights of fire, he saw that her feet were chained to the post, she stood against. She was pale and glistering in sweat, her clothes dirty and torn, her hair unkempt.

The girl is one of the people they believe is gifted with great power. This rite is performed to turn her in to a Sambhava priestess. They are making her forget herself, surrender herself to the power she holds within.'

How do they do that?'

By torture of cause,' said Mohan unemotionally and Sanskar noticed that there were burn marks in the girl's body; they were pressing rods of red hot iron against her. He winced and took a step backwards. Mohan turned to look at his pale face. Can't you smell the burning flesh? You know, in extreme pain there comes a point beyond which your conscious can't hold on...they all reach that eventually.'

This is barbaric,' he bit out, wiping his forehead. Someone should stop them!'

Your father couldn't. I don't think his ancestors even tried. He did, but couldn't.'

Well he should have tried harder.'

He did. Still couldn't.'

Then he most certainly had not tried the correct approach.'

A stubborn thing aren't you?' Mohan said with a tight smile. The lesson to learn is that power cannot do everything. One might think since he is the supreme ruler the Vajra can do anything...this is proof that he cannot. But your point is also valid. Where power does not work, there can be other things that might. Just you have to seek for them and use them creatively.'

His words drown in an ear splitting scream from the chambers below and Sanskar's trance was broken. He found himself back in the present as the memory faded away.

**

The darkness of her room, the cold air of the cruise ship was soothing after that terrible memory. Still in his arms, Swara shifted a little, tears dried on her cheeks and her eyelashes still wet. But she was fast asleep now, her breath deep and calm. Sanskar felt suffocated as he looked at her. He knew what Ma had in mind now. She was going to hand her over to the Sambhava priestesses. He had seen that vision in her mind, felt the pain that was to come, when those women would torture her...until she is gone, until she is just the "eye" not Swara anymore. The imagination itself felt venomous. Her eyes would be empty, her tone emotionless, she would never smile those dazzling smiles again. She would not be a person...this lovely person; instead she would be the "eye", an object to the king.

He had been battling himself all that while, up until this moment. It was then he realized that there had never been a choice to make. He would never bear to see that rite performed on her, he would rather die or better kill those wretched women who dare to lay their hands on her. He would never let Ma get this done. No matter what happens of his promise.

Sanskar closed his eyes and reopened them.

He never promised that. He said he would bring her to Vajrateerta, he never said he would hand her over to the Sambhava witches. If it comes to that, he would play dirty after all he was trained to do so.

Slowly he pulled his arms away from her, lowering her to the soft pillows gently. Sanskar knew he cannot stay here, not when she would wake up surely. But he had been delaying the moment of departure. He gazed down at her for one last time and brushed his knuckles against her cold cheek; his power holding her from having another vision.

Sweet dreams,' he whispered.

*

With a brilliant white light the skies exploded and sheets of rain poured down on the pitch black grounds. The river was harsh, but Suvanna took no notice. She had chosen her path, and it was different from the one she had resolved to take half a decade ago, different from what her father expected of her, but now she was past that no return point. Pulling her rain drenched hood down, as her barge hit the angry waters and her paddles straining her palms with the effort; she turned around to cast a final glance at the island of spirits disappearing in to the night. The barge was full of wicker baskets, most of them containing fish or water plants that was supposed to be delivered to the mainland. But one of them was well covered, it's content invisible until the moment she pushed its round lid off.

You can come out now,' she announced in a stiff voice muffled by the rain.

A figure rose slowly from the dark bottoms. It was the same child she was supposed to kill for the rite, all those days ago. The same child she pretended to murder. Suvanna had dared to trick the high priestesses of the temple of spirits and the realization of what she had done, almost killed her with shock. She had pledged her life to this sect, still, from somewhere, courage came to her and she held to it desperately.

You just have to slip away once we reach the mainland, never cross paths with the priestesses again.'

Why are you doing this Jiji?' The child asked curiously. A day or two ago, he would not have dared to open his mouth in front of one of the priestesses. But for some reason he knew, this lady was different.

Because something made me realize, how much a life means.'

But what will happen when they find out?'

They won't.' She told him shortly as the barge bumped against the land and came to an abrupt halt. Don't worry about me...'

The yellowish light of a lantern poured out in to the darkness as someone came to check the load she was carrying. In the patch of light, the drops of rain glistered clearly.

Now is your moments, leave quickly.'

The child nodded briefly and without wasting time to thank her, slipped like a shadow to the shadows. Suvanna did not turn her eyes to watch him escape; instead she had her focus on the approaching man, her hood once again on place.

There was few minutes still, time enough to take a look through Ragini's eyes. Time enough to see him once more...

*

He walked away from her, without daring to take another glance. It was what Mohan advised, when you know your weakness try to avoid it. Sanskar could not help but recall a similar incident from his past, when he had wiped his younger brother's memory. He had been sleeping then; innocence similar to Swara's spread across his face. He would no longer remember the strange elven lands when he wake up and the feeling had left Sanskar quite unsettled. With that one act, he had lost his brother forever. But still he had done it and walked away from him, without another glance.

What Sanskar did not realize was that the memory was not randomly brought to his mind, it was triggered by the presence his subconscious felt, as he reached the end of the passageway. The lights were dimmed for the late night and the premises were deserted. Still Lakshya stood behind him and Sanskar was jerked out of his thoughts rather rudely as he called out.

Bhai?'

The word queered through the silence and hung around them, as Sanskar turned slowly towards the source of the sound. Lakshya stood there, looking a bit unsure of himself, his hands in his pockets and his eyes guarded as he met his brother's gaze. In a moment that felt almost as long as an hour, he bowed slowly, in the perfect way he had been trained a long ago, to courtesy his king.

The night before my departure, Ma had the Sambhava priestesses performing a rite on me. It makes me untouchable for elven powers that effect my mind.*** Your powers did not erase my memory.'

If Sanskar was surprised, it was hard to assume. The look in his eyes hardened for a moment and then returned to its natural glint.

If that makes me a traitor, you can punish me.' Lakshya continued.

Even with those memories you were safe all this while and you are still the brother I love, there is no reason to hold it against you.' Sanskar said slowly, his tone rather impassive.

I wish I could say the same.'

I beg your pardon?'

That you're still the brother I love. But I doubt that very much seeing how you are playing a diabolical game with an innocent who has no idea who you are or what you're capable of...'

I take it, you mean Swara?'

Swara?' Lakshya faltered a little. I mean Janki Gadodia.' He inhaled sharply. Please Bhai, whatever you're planning to use her as, don't. She...umm...she is special to me.'

Sanskar squeezed his eyes shut for a brief moment.

You love her?' His tone was wary.

Lakshya looked down, very interested in his shoes.

I think I might...'

Sanskar let go of the breath he was holding.

And whatever brought you here?'

I was sent on a mission, one that would aid us in the war against the Nagas.' He sounded relieved that the tense topic was done with. Ma wants to end it soon, get the eye back as soon as possible.'

His tone was bitter as he spoke of the eye. It was something Sanskar caught on quickly.

And you Lakshya, what you think about it'

I agree. She made a chaos in our lands, our family all for no reason. The girl should be brought to justice.'

And what if she is not at fault as we were led to believe.'

I don't know Bhai,' he really sounded lost for a moment. I don't think I can forgive her for what she did to me...for all the years I've lost because of her empty words. No, I'm not a god, I can't forgive her and I'm not sure if I ever will.'

In the dimply lit corners a shadow moved as a door leading to a room was shut. The two brothers did not notice it. Ragini leaned against the bolted door breathing heavily. Tears pricked her eyes.

I was right, the voice was back. He is indeed in love with Swara.

She slipped to the ground and hugged her knees. What can I do? Why is it always me? She thought desperately. Can't god spare a bit of love for me too?

As the sobs shook her the more she tried to contain them, someone laid a hand on her shivering shoulder. Ragini's head snapped up, and her eyes if possible, grew wider. There stood a replica of herself. But there was something eerie about her too. She was paler, drenched from head to foot, her hood hang loose from her shoulders and her hair plastered to her face. Like Lakshya, she shone in a soft glow.

Who are you?' She asked in a shivering voice.

I am Suvanna.' She spoke in a voice Ragini was accustomed to. It was the voice inside her head, the one that called herself Janki all this time.

You're not here in reality.' Ragini shook her head.

But I am here...' Suvanna sat beside her, I've always been here.'

There's no point now. He says he loves her.'

Perhaps we can convince him otherwise.'

How?'

I will tell you how, only you need to trust me, join me...let me think instead of you and shut off your mind.'

What you mean?'

Perhaps he may not like either of us individually Ragini, but together we will get him and he have no choice but to fall.'

That sounds scary...but' Ragini gulped. 'Good.'

And Suvanna smiled slowly. Yes. Indeed, it felt good.

*