The Guardians were tired when they entered the garden of Heles. It was an unbelievable night and all of them knew that the decision to fight the pirates alone was an unwise one and if the villagers were not ready with the defence plan, the four of them would have been dead by morning. Praga was shaking all over. He still couldn’t believe how they could become so dumb witted. When he saw the pirates, their ruthlessness and the way they were killing people and how unafraid they were of dying, all he wanted was to turn back and run. He has always been the one who was afraid. The one who thought they couldn’t accomplish whatever they were planning to do. He voiced his opinions and Sahasra always welcomed them but Charan spoke against him. Hiten never said much. Sahasra would say that a team should have members with different thoughts and opinions. If everyone in the team is thinking similarly then they would never know if a decision is right or wrong and would end up getting in to trouble.

Charan was scared inside but he never showed it. Maybe it was because he loved Sahasra, he wanted to appear strong in front of her. She was like a mountain and seemed too tough to need any protection and that was one of the many qualities he admired in her. He had loved her for years, maybe since they were children. She was soft-spoken and kind but at the same time she had the heart of a warrior. Her every action and every word fascinated him then and now. But Charan knew that she would never reciprocate his love, her name was written with the name of Prince Varun, the heir to the throne and the future King of Sarayuha. He is the son of Queen Jayara’ late brother. He was definitely a better choice for Sahasra than Charan but she never accepted that she loved Varun nor did she spoke against the proposal. He wished to know what was going in her mind and whom she loved or if she even had a feeling of love in her heart or would ever have it. He believed all her love was for her country and her mother, she had none of it left for anyone or anything else.

Hiten spoke very less in the meetings. His way was fewer words and more action. He knew he was of lower status than the other three, he was a soldier and was not from the royal family but none of his three companions treated him that way. He was thankful for that. He was bigger and stronger than everyone else in the team but he still let others to lead him. He liked to follow and it is always good to follow the right kind of people.

Sahasra looked at her companions and she could feel her heart thumping in her chest. She had led them to death last night and it was her own will that made them commit such an action. If something would have happened to any one of them she would have never forgiven herself.

After spending sometime in the garden and realizing how risky their last endeavour was, the four of them returned to the palace and then to their respective chambers. Sahasra had known the problems in her country all along but last night she witnessed the full-fledged strength of what her people were facing in the seas. She knew that her sleep would be disturbed for many days to come. All of the problems her kingdom was facing were due to their enmity with Mahishmathi. She wished she could defeat Mahismathi, wished if she could bring the cruel king Mahendra Bahubali to his knees and make him open the gates of the kingdom so that her people can pass to the main land. But she didn’t have enough military strength or knowledge of war to do any of that. The only way was to make peace with Mahishmathi. She was sure that her mother would never go to Mahismathi or beg them for any help even if she had to die of hunger. Sahasra couldn’t blame her mother. Even after all the sufferings, the people of Saryuha still didn’t wish for any aid from Mahishmathi. They hated the kingdom to that extend.

Mohana waited near the Queen’s chamber and found Sahasra walking through the hallway. Mohana expected a bloody corpse of Avantika’s child when she had handed over her to Jaya. She was astounded when she heard that Jaya was not going to kill it but would bring her up as her own child as she believed that losing the child is the greatest punishment Mahendra can get for his actions and also by bringing up the child she could fill the space in her heart that was carved out by the death of her own. Mohana couldn’t get to love the child at all for some time but and after seeing Jaya’s love for it she also started liking her. But now as the child has grown she couldn’t stop seeing the resemblance that Sahasra had with Avantika. Sometimes she felt it was a younger Avantika that was in front of her. After twenty years, a sense of fear had engulfed her peace and she started meeting Sahasra as less as she could.

Sahasra went to meet the Queen in order to speak about a peace truce with Mahishmathi but she couldn’t get herself to say a word. After all her mother had gone through a lot and she couldn’t ask Jayara to bow down to anyone. But her people needed her to act, they needed help and it was only Mahishmathi that can help them now. Sahasra knew in her heart what she had to do. She went to her chamber and slept as she needed all the rest before she would open up about her plan to the other guardians and they were going to hate it.

Varun sat near the window of the west end of the palace from where the garden of Heles was visible. It was evening, the red horizon painted the garden with a darker hue. Sahasra was standing there with Charan, Praga and Hiten. They were having a heated discussion. Charan was cutting Sahasra’s words many times. He even walked to and fro and Varun could see a lot of anger from his behaviour. Hiten was silent and Praga was calm but surprised in his demeanour. Varun could not hear what they were talking about but understood that it was another of Sahasra’s ideas that Charan objected to. Varun was jealous because the three of them could spend time with her. She seldom spoke to Varun but she spoke to Charan a lot. Varun never got angry on Charan. He knew that Sahasra didn’t love Charan or him. Her only love was her country. That is who she gave all her time and care to. Varun understood that this meeting had something to do with Sarayuha or else Sahasra would not debate with Charan for that long. She mostly agreed to him in the discussions they had in the palace. She thought Charan was wise. Varun knew that Charan loved Sahasra but he was not afraid. He was the future king, and by Queen’s decision Sahasra will be his wife after the coronation. More than wearing the crown or taking the throne what Varun wanted was to know how it feels like to touch Sahasra’s lips and to see how love would look like in her eyes. She was his madness, someone who had his name written on her fate. And there was no one in the world that had the capability to take her away from him.

Kshitij walked the streets of the city. He had to buy food and other supplies for his new venture at the sea. It has been more than a week since the battle with the pirates and the news had spread across all the coastal villages and many had come asking for his help. He taught them the techniques, attack and defence tactics for fighting the pirates. He would stay in Sarayuha for one more week and would go to the seas again.

Kshitij knew that he was followed when he entered the alley. He had his hands on the knife. He walked on. Suddenly he turned around and caught the person who was following him and placed his knife at the person’s throat. Kshitij realised that it was women hence he suddenly let go and came around and faced her. She was not shaking with fear or was showing any signs of being caught. It didn’t surprise Kshitij, it was her, the warrior of the night with her face covered, the same way he saw her the night of the battle. She looked straight in to his eyes. The orange of the street light in the corner of the road shone in her eyes and her gaze touched his heart like fingers on the chords of a Sitar and his whole body trembled. He couldn’t speak. She started speaking.

Sahasra: I heard that you are a sailor and I would need help of yours.

Khitij: What do you want of me?

Sahasra: I want to go to Mahishmathi and you know, we can’t pass the gates. The only way is the sea. I heard that you are the best sailor in Sarayuha. I want you to take me to Mahishmathi. You will be paid well.

Kshitij: I don’t take people to Mahihmathi, even I can’t go there. People of Sarayuha are not allowed in the land.

Sahasra quickly caught this hand and looked at the knife.

Sahasra: If I am not mistaken, this steel is from Mahishmathi and that too is new. You have gone there or at least you have trade with people from there. Just let me meet any one of them. You don’t even have to come to the Kingdom, you can leave me in the sea nearby, and I will sail in a boat till there.

Kshitij couldn’t believe or understand what he was hearing. Why would this girl want to go to Mahishmathi.

Kshitij: I can’t say anything now; I don’t give promises to people when I can’t clearly see their lips and eyes to know how much they are lying. Come to the coastal dock tomorrow morning and without your face covered.

Sahasra: Agreed.

Kshitij was stunned by his meeting with the girl. Though he wanted to meet her since the night of the battle to thank her for helping him, this encounter was so sudden and unexpected and he couldn’t believe what was happening. He looked in wonder at Sahasra who walked away from him and disappeared in to the darkness.

Sahasra wore the clothes of a commoner. She rode her horse Jiha to the dock and left her at a distance and walked to the bay where the ships were anchored. She had never seen so many ships together. She had only gone to the city, the mountains, even walked some distance of the wastelands but never to the docks. Her mother wouldn’t allow it. She feared that someone would take Sahasra away. But today she was leaving on her own. Sahasra walked to the ships and asked a man who was selling fishes for Kshitij. He showed a ship which was medium-sized but beautiful. Sahasra walked to it and saw Kshitij standing on the wooden platform looking at the ship. Sahasra called his name and he turned around and looked at her. He was taller than her and was muscular. His eyes were a colour of Grey and Green and they reminded her of Opals. He had a look of wonder in his eyes, then as though he was lost in some dream.

Kshitij didn’t understand the person who was standing in front of him. Then he looked in her eyes and that taught him who she was. Her eyes were black or brown or could even be the colour of honey. Her hair was flowing in the wind like the leaves in water, without destination, but still moving. She was beautiful he thought but it was her courage that had impressed him even before that.

Sahasra: Kshitij.

kshitij: Yes, I am and you are.

Sahasra: I am Sahasra, the Princess of Sarayuha.

Kshitij couldn’t help laughing. He said: You are beautiful and a highly skilled warrior but you can’t be the princess, I mean why the princess would come to me, a lowly sailor and ask for help and why would she wear a mask at night and battle the pirates. I am sorry; I am not interested in lies.

Sahasra smiled and said: I am Saara. And I am not the Princess.

Kshitij: For a moment I thought you were saying the truth but leaving that, why would a girl who is not the princess want to go to Mahishmathi.

Sahasra: Weapons, I need better weapons. We can’t fight crime without them. We are thinking of extending the number of warriors to safeguard the city and the outskirts and if possible the coastal areas but for that we need good weapons.

Kshitij took a coiled rope from the platform and threw to the ship.

Kshitij: and why do you think that I can get you the weapons.

Sahasra: Because as I told you the weapons you carry are from Mahishmathi. I know good steel when I see it.

Kshitij: Why do you have to come with me, I can buy and get them for you.

Sahasra: You are always in the seas so in case if I need more, you won’t be around so I need to meet the traders.

Kshitij: Ours is a whole male crew. I can’t promise your safety.

Sahasra: You don’t have to promise me anything. My sword has already promised me. That is enough.

Kshitij smiled and said: So nothing I would say will stop you from going.

Sahasra: I am doing this for my country and my people and I am ready to take any risk for them. I don’t care what happens to me but know this, my purpose is greater than anything else and I will do anything to stay alive and fulfil it and also you will get your gold, more than you can imagine.

Kshitij: I don’t want gold. I appreciate that you are helping our people. I won’t be around all the time. Trade keeps Sarayuha alive and I need to travel. I am grateful for your help to the people and for supporting us on the night of the pirate attack. I will take you with me and don’t worry about your safety. None of my crew bites and if they do your sword is free to break their teeth.

Sahasra couldn’t help but laugh. Kshitij laughed too. He thought he was going crazy. His head span a little looking at her eyes which changed colours with the variation in the shade of light.

Kshitij: We will leave in one week time. Meet me here after six days by sunset.

Sahasra agreed and turned around and walked away from Kshitij. Her heart was beating so fast and her hands were cold. She thought it was because of the fear and excitement going to Mahishmathi. Fear causes increased heartbeat, chill in the spine but it would never bring butterflies in the stomach, or make you feel like a river flowing inside your heart. It was not fear, it was something else Sahasra had never known before, it was love.

Amrutha