Uncle Abhiram was somewhat miffed at the pompous old man, sitting easily in the carriage, refusing to come out. He, too, was getting old, but he still had his marbles where they belonged. At present though, he did not want the old bastard to spoil his mood. Resuming his journey with a larger group now, he decided to engage in some friendly conversations with the youth from the North.

“So lads, tell me about yourselves. Are you all training to be Tantrics?” He asked the Tantric apprentices who were riding behind after the Chief Commander. They all nodded, unsure if they dare speak to the Rakhtaprastha Commander.

“Cat got your tongue, lads?” He bellowed.

A high-pitched voice immediately sputtered, “Yes, sir! I mean, no sir! I mean, yes, we are all training to be Tantrics. With the North Guild, sir!”

The Commander gave a furtive glance to the clutch of chickens following him. “Good. Do not let the young prude work you too much, understand?” He spoke of their Tantric mentor, who was out of the earshot, riding at the very back of the convoy with the Prince.

There were a few sniggers at the Commander’s remark.

“This is our first expedition.” The same high-pitched voice chirped, emboldened. His candor was met with some side-eyes from his peers.

“What is your name, boy?”

“Alok, Sir!”

“What about your friends?” One by one, the remaining four Tantric apprentices introduced themselves to the Commander. There was Raag; there was Rig; and there was little Tilak, a mere child of ten. Raag and Rig were brothers. All four hailed from different provinces, seeking to train under the same guild. This practice of accepting trainees from all kingdoms was common for the Tantric Guild of the North, which housed the greatest Tantric guild of the entire land of Asaya. Despite the public rejection of Tantrism, the people privately held it in awed reverence. It was not an honorable trade, but it was a lucrative one.

“So, tell me lads, what did you like the most about this journey?”

“The food, Sir!” Alok’s high pitched voice rang again, with excitement. He was turning out to be the most talkative of this lot. “There was fish, lots of it, and rabbits, and ducks, even. And so many types of fruits. And sweets, Sir. We even packed some for the road!”

“Alok!” Rig cut in, gently warning the tattler.

“Now, now. Not to worry. Your Master will not hear of this.” Uncle Abhi reconciled, furtively looking back to their Master. “Say lads, how is the North now? I have not been there in some time. Are you lot doing all right, at the guild?”

This question was somewhat intricate, and the lads did not know what the right answer would be. At last, it was Rig, who responded, “Yes, Commander, Sir. The guild is doing quite well by virtue of Prince Drishtiman’s generosity.”

“Ah, yes. I heard he took up the practice of Tantrism.” The Commander remarked, with a hint of jeer. “Say lads, when we get to the next town, Kurnool, I will treat you all to a feast, all right? It will have the same fares of the south. Sound good?”

“That is so generous, Commander, Sir. We are all very thankful!” Alok’s face was beaming with a huge smile.

After a brief quiet moment, the Commander asked, “What about you, Rana? You grew up in Rakhtaprastha, right?”

“Yes, Knight Commander, Sir. But, I was born in Shivalikaksha, at a little village near Yamani,….I meant Jivani! Parents then travelled to Kundali for work when I was little.” His little gaffe flustered him. But the Commander paid no mind.

“Ah, from the East! How I miss the East! The snowy mountains, the blue skies, leafy trees, soft green grass, the sparkling rivers…..Ah the East! Do you still visit your land, boy?”

“Not very much. Last time I went was two years ago.” The Knight Officer smiled at the thought of his grandma there, and his eastern sweetheart.

“Ah, good. Tell me Officer, does it still rain a lot? I remember I was there, what, fifteen years ago? And there were enormous amounts of rain and it flooded the valley! But we got on boats and rowed around the valley anyway! HAHAHA!” came a laughter from the Commander, at his own jest. The Rakhtaprastha forces had to abandon the campaign eventually because the battlefield was flooded.

Rana smiled uncertainly and then responded to his question, “It does not rain as much now, Sir. But you can still row a boat around the lakes, see the beautiful hills and the gardens in the valley.”

“Next time you go, I come with you. What do you say?”

“It will be a great honor, Commander, Sir!” His grandmother would be thrilled if she was told the great Warrior Prince of Rakhtaprastha was to be her guest!

“Do you know that song of the East, lad?”

“Which song, Sir?”

“The flower and the sun.”

“I do, Sir. But I would rather that you sing, since I do not have a voice for singing and I have heard, you do.”

“Ah lad, you trick the old man, huh? Okay. I will, then, if it helps pass the time. Ahem.

“By the river of Bramha, in the valley of roses,

A little Lily grows, quiet and slow.

She opens her eyes and looks at the sky,

An azure blanket with a sunny glow.

She looks around, to find the roses,

And the little birds chirping on the trees,

She looks around, to find the river,

And the green fields, swaying in the breeze.

“Where are my friends?” she says to herself,

“Why does no one look like me?”

The sun comes up, with its golden rays,

“Hello, little friend,” he says to Lily.

The lily asks the sun “Where are my friends?”

“Why am I the lonely one?”

The Sun tells her “I will be your friend,

As I am also the only one” ……

“Lads,” the Commander raised his right hand to signal the rest of the party. “Something is not right. Be ready to race your horses.”

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