Chapter-1

It's about midnight. The long howling of wolves was heard from Darya van, the forest

boundary between Amai and Hirangan kingdom. For the past many decades, it has always

been peaceful in the Mekong continent ever since Hiranga officially announced that they will

no longer participate in any war unless they are provoked. It can be considered as there

won't be any war from part of Hiranga since no other country, even the Amai kingdom, would

dare to provoke the mighty beast Hiranga and its renowned Serpent and Hawks army.

Amanya, the commander-general of the serpent army had a meeting with the other

members of the army and was preparing for her usual night patrolling in the outskirts of the

kingdom. General Jatin who usually accompanied her in this night patrolling was busy and

couldn't make it today, so she went unaccompanied.

All was good in Hiranga and she was about to return, suddenly she heard a scream nearby

Darya van. She was perplexed as Darya van is an uninhabited area and it is fortified by the

Hawks army. She proceeded towards the gates of Darya van and was stopped by hawks

"The Hawks army bows in respect to the commander," said the guards and they bowed.

"Just now I heard a scream and it seemed to be from Darya"

"Replying to my lord, we didn't" they replied

Confused, Amanya said "move, let me pass. I want to check it myself"

"but lord we are not lying"

"I believe in hawks but if there is a mistake, we should correct it before it's too late or else

Darya won't be peaceful anymore, and yeah, no need to inform others, maybe it's just my

hallucination."

she said and lighted her torch.

"Yes, my lord" and the gates opened.

Even though she convinced them that it was her overthinking but deep in her heart she

thought

"I hope it's an exaggeration on my part and not an ambush"

Little did she know, it was an ambush but laid by heaven and fate…

As she expected, Darya was as cold as a witch's tit. The benighted forest with bleak

shadows of trees in a full moon night gave it an eerie upshot.

"It's true. Darya lives up to its name" she thought in her mind.

The wickedness of Darya fuelled her curiosity."The scream was from north of Darya" she patted her horse "let's go"

The brown horse reared majestically and galloped. Maybe, it was also curious; like owner like pet. It felt like she searched every corner of Darya on her way but couldn't find the

source. She saw some light ahead. She jumped off the horse and walked slowly; getting

near to it. Some people in armor were standing there and in between them there was a

fence.

"Guards of Amai respect the commander-general" and they bowed.

"General, do you need any help and why are you here at this hour?"

"Sorry to disturb you. I heard a scream from Darya but failed to locate it. Was it from...?"

"No general; not from here."

"Ok then" she sighed.

She got back on her horse. After she left, a young guard asked his fellows:

"She is...?"

"She is the commander-general of Serpent army"

"Ah! then she is...!"

"The only princess of Hiranga" they completed his words.

"Then why are you guys bowing to her? I heard she is a beast in disguise, our kingdom's

biggest rival"

"Yes, she is. Dear, you are new here. you will find it out soon"

The young guard full of patriotism was baffled

"So is she not our ..."On her way back she found herself caught in a mist of pensiveness."I should be glad that Darya is not at risk." But she found herself weird. She was puzzled .She couldn't stop thinking about that cry, a sound that is very familiar but not familiar. She was bemused ; "something missed my sight"."Amanya , what are you doing here at this odd hour?""What is an odd hour? I was on my night patrolling" She replied Dhruva."Night!! Commander, you should say it's a morning check. The guards are about to change their shift."" I had to tour alone since Jatin was occupied today; but what brought you to Darya?""I was looking for you.  ""What happened? ""Ahh... Not here. Let's go back to headquarters. Jatin is waiting there".The day dawned slowly. On returning she slowly glanced back. The first rays of sunlight penetrated through the deep canopy of Darya striking the dewdrops over the green flush trees and the red bricks of the fort. It was shining as if it was baptized by the rays. The just risen sun seeped slowly on the city streets and tardily engaged with early morning activities.She reached the headquarters within an hour. Jatin was desperately walking in a circle. From that itself she knew there was bad news waiting for her; no it should be probably unpleasant news. Even though Jatin was a very powerful and calm general in war , deep down he is a cute bunny who gets scared easily."Amanya ! where were you ?""What happened ?"" The Decade Mekong conference is nearing. ""Ah! What's there to panic? Jatin, didn't Hiranga already reject it?  ""I think we may be in trouble.""Stop! stop speaking in circles Dhruva; Jatin tell me what precisely happened""General; it's that according to number  Hiranga should host the forthcoming Decade Mekong Conference but it was against the rule of strict admissions for non hirangans. So after the decision of voting ministers, we rejected the idea of hosting. But now all the other countries of Mekong have requested reconsideration.""And what now?""The King has ordered a meeting of voting ministers to discuss .So...""So as voting ministers we should go right?""Amanya what is your plan?""Plan..?"She turned and smirked at the mirror like she was not at all bothered and was enjoying her wickedness and went to her room leaving them there. Both of them looked at each other;"She truly lives up to her name : The serpent queen."  Jatin sighed."Now I think real trouble is on its way." Dhruv completed his words.A wild wind blew through the windows leaving them befuddled.