After an hour's resting, they started their journey and reached the border village of Nishantha the next evening. Since they faced a battle, none of them wanted to stop and they kept moving at a brisk pace. This was possible as they kept riding the horses in turns giving all of them rest in between.
By the time they arrived at the village they were completely exhausted. Shourya had already made arrangements for their arrival. Hence as soon as they entered the village, they were led straight to their respective resting areas. Since an army battalion was always stationed there, there was a permanent place for the men from the battles. Hence they had ample accomodation to spare to these additional men and women. All of them shared their chamber with one other person.The Emperor and Shourya took the main chamber. Aarna and Padma shared one, while Varidhi, Bhavya and Tanisi shared a slightly bigger one. Pradyumna and Ashish shared one, while Shirish shared the chamThe Acharya gave him a broader smile and said, "Blessings my son! Well if you have noticed I always sit here and am always looking at the entrance. What made you think I knew you would come?"Samudra laughed lightly and said, "Acharya, I know you can read me better than myself. I came to ask you something. Infact I came to confirm somethings to my own self".Acharya: "You seem to be in a pleasant state of mind. Are you in love?"Samudra was taken aback.Samudra: "Acharya, I thought you wanted my good. You are eager to see me in love?! You want me to lose my senses?"Acharya: "Oh! Don't talk rubbish. Love is the form in which Lord Mrityunajaya is present everywhere. By insulting love you insult the Lord! Its not a crime to fall in Love. That is why women are better than men. Women can give love to so many around them. We men can love only those whom we consider as ours.."Samudra: "You mean the women who can love. But aren't they some who are
The next morning after washing himself in his personal bath under his chambers the Samrat got ready to visit the Old Palace and later to attend his court. Vishwakeerthi came to personally escort the emperor. He was still skeptical about the Samrat's reaction on seeing the Old Palace. He was very well aware of Samudra's painful memories of the Palace. This was where the royal family had lived till the death of Queen Chandramathi. Queen Chandramathi loved Samudra the most. She always said that her love for him was as big as a Samudra(Ocean) and had hence named him so. After her husband Marthanda's death, her love for Samudra had kept her sane. She wanted to give the best she could to her only son. As a boy of twelve Samudra had screamed like a wounded tiger when his mother's death was announced. In Vishwa's mind the scene was etched, when his dearest friend and the crown prince had suffered. The mighty, courageous, confident, smart and ever smiling Samudra was shattere
Naksha lived in the palace quarters of Samrat Samudra. Since Prapta was sent on his mission, Samudra had ensured Naksha had access to best of facilities in his palace. Tanisi was to be in Samrat's palace almost the whole day to take care of Naksha. This gave Samudra enough chances to meet Tanisi. Tanisi was introduced to Naksha by Vishwa. Naksha already knew her task and she was excited. She was looking forward to Tanisi's company. Tanisi started first day of her task and with a smile left her chamber and entered the pathway to Naksha's chambers when she almost bumped into Samudra. She was greeted by a wicked grin on the Emperor's face. Samudra: "You seem to be in a hurry. Do you like taking care of people so much or is it reserved for specific people." Tanisi: "Your Highness, I do any task assigned to me diligently and honestly. And by the way I met Padma enroute and she is doing very well. I just thought you might be concerned about her!"
It was quite dark when the task at hand was done. He looked at the hourglass besides his bed and exclaimed, "Oh its quite late. Let us have our dinner. We can work on the rest of them tomorrow. Tanisi I will ask Naksha to send you a bit sooner." So saying he got up. Tanisi closed the account record which she had finished and got up too. She slowly spoke in a low tone, "I have worked on these for the first time. Your highness should probably check my work once. I might have made mistakes." Samudra looked intently at her. She was again avoiding his gaze. He said, "Hmm.. I had that in mind. You seem to think like I do. Come lets go to the food hall. I am too hungry, and might eat you if I don't get food quickly". Tanisi's eyes shot up with a horror filled expression. Samudra wanted her to look at him and was pleased. He said, "Don't know how you would taste, I have never eaten human beings before" and laughed.She lowered her head and stood silently. Samudra moved first an
Samudra: "Yes. Not only naked you tried to seduce me. It took all my self-control to not yield to your demands. You couldn't walk straight and were swaying. You came near me and were about to trip when I held you. By now you know, fire berries even in small quantities are very powerful aphrodisiacs. And you had had a tad too much. You wiggled against me. Asking me to cool you down. When with great difficulty I maintained my decorum and kept you away, unable to bear the heat, you removed your clothes and stood naked in front of me. I dragged you to the cool stream and used that water to cool you down. After hours your body cooled down and you lost consciousness. After that I carried you using the exertion to calm myself down."Samudra: "Your nude body remained etched in my memory. I keep tossing and turning at nights unable to fall asleep. Your dreams keep haunting me. I long for your company. Tanisi I became a ruler at the age of 14! I have hardly lived the life of a normal b
Tanisi took the fruit basket and went to Naksha's chamber to share it with her as it was considered as divine food after offering it to the Lord. She found Naksha sulking. As soon as she saw Tanisi she smiled gleefully and almost ran towards her.Tanisi: "Careful!!! You are pregnant you remember?"Naksha: "Thank God atleast you remember. I just had you for a day and now the Samrat wants you to go to him for some work. I will get to be in your company only after lunch..." She said with a small face.Tanisi: "Oh its only for a week Naksha, Samrat is not going to attend court for this week, and he wants to wrap up some administrative work."Naksha: "Why do you know what he is going to do this week? Why should you do the work? Are you his wife or are you going to be?"Tanisi was dumbstuck. She didn't know what to say. She smiled sheepishly and said, "What are you talking of! He is an Emperor and I am a just one of his subjects. Women can die at his fee
Tanisi lowered her head silently and asked him to explain her work. Samudra explained and they got busy for the rest of the morning. At noon, the pratihari(guard) came to inform Samudra of arrival of his master spy Praptavarsha. Samudra soon summoned him to his chamber. Praptavarsha hurriedly came in only to see Tanisi with Samudra and he was surprised. Tanisi wasn't looking at Prapta, she was busy working on the record assigned to her. Samudra saw his questioning look and nodded smilingly to continue with his updates. Seeing this Prapta understood that Samrat trusted her. He said: "My Lord, your doubts were true. A man named Vikas had joined hands with your Uncle Makaranda and assisted him in contacting the Kaingityas about the impending visit of the moderners. He had asked a woman Tanisi as reward.." Tanisi looked up shocked! Prapta understood who was the reward and one look at her told him why she was asked as a reward. Samudra clenched his f
She silently got up and went to the table. She continued working on the accounts. In one of them she found many discrepencies. Trying to figure it out caused her to frown. Samudra had woken up. He looked around to find Tanisi sitting and working intently on the accounts. He saw her frown. She looked beautiful even with such a serious expression and a frown. He kept staring at her. A part of him wanted to go and ask her what was bothering her. The other didn't want this scene to change. In this dilemma he kept looking at her.Tanisi wasn't able to figure out. She knew something was not right but she couldn't point out what needed correction. She wanted to discuss it with Samudra. Thinking he is still asleep she sighed and looked at him hoping to see him sleeping blissfully. But she found him staring at her. She felt embarassed and her face turned a hue of pink. She tried to push this feeling of discomfort away and spoke, "Your highness, I found some discrepencies in this accou