Sahasra watched the sun rising in the horizon turning the sea into a beautiful hue of yellow and gold. The waves shined and the wind was soft on her face. It had been more than a month and she was nearing her destination. Sahasra turned around and looked at the mass of land they were approaching. Mahishmathi seemed huge from the ship. The tall buildings and the much renowned palace were visible to her eyes. For any other voyager, from any part of the world, Mahishmathi would have been a wonder. But Sahasra was a Sarayuhan and nothing could astonish a Sarayuhan who lives in the land of fantasy. When the ship neared the dock Kshitij got down from it and Sahasra’s heart started beating faster. He was walking straight to the soldiers at the dock. A Sarayuhan is not allowed to enter Mahishmathi and he was going to show them the papers from her country which would definitely earn him a lifetime in jail or even death. Sahasra suddenly jumped down from the ship to the deck and ran towards Kshitij. By then the soldiers had verified his papers and had let him unload the cargo on the port. Sahasra was surprised.

Sahasra: How did you even do that? I thought you will leave the ship in the open sea and would sneak in to Mahishmathi in a small boat but you simply walked towards the soldiers. Do you have that much hold in Mahishmathi?

Kshitij was surprised by her innocent question and looked at her for a while smiling and when he realized that she was serious about it, he started laughing. Sahasra got angry.

Sahasra: Why are you laughing?

Kshitij: Do you think that the Manishmathi army is made of idiots. No one, even the fiercest of pirates can cross the port and reach Mahishmathi, then who am I to do it? My father is originally from Ziran, a small island near Mahishmathi. His ship, which we have sailed till here is also registered to Ziran. My mother was from Sarayuha and after marrying her and having me he stayed in Sarayuha with us. He used to go to the sea and I lived with my mother. When my mother died, he took me with him to the sea.

Sahasra: I am sorry about your mother.

Sahasra’s face was dull and kshitij felt bad for making her sad. Kshitij smiled at her and suddenly turned to his left side and pointed at a shop.

Kshitij: That one right there is the place where you can buy swords and knifes but make sure you won’t show any Sarayuhan coins here. I have to go to the black market to sell our goods or else the soldiers will figure out that they are from Sarayuha. Sarayuhan clothes have high demand in all the kingdoms but the people of Mahismathi are not allowed to trade with Sarayuha, so the rich buy from sailors like us through black market and will give us a huge amount for it. This is the reason why the sailors of Sarayuha go to the sea risking their lives. Our clothes fetch good amount and that sustains our land and help us buy necessary things for our people. I will go there and will come back by the evening. You should stay in the ship till then and we will go to the shop and buy some good steel together.

Kshitij smiled looking at Sahasra. Sahasra always respected the sailors. They were the real heroes of Sarayuha. They put their life in danger everyday to keep her country from dying of famine. She looked at Kshitij with respectful eyes. You don’t have to carry a sword to be a warrior, all you need is courage.

Sahasra: Do not worry. I will go on my own. I will buy everything. I don’t want to waste time. I will be back in the ship before you come. I have brought gold only. There are no coins.

Kshitij: Are you sure?

Sahasra was not sure. She was not going to buy arms but was going to meet the King of Mahishmathi. She knew it was a huge risk if she gets caught, this might become the last time she is seeing Kshitij. A fear ran through her mind and she suddenly hugged Kshitij tight and her eyes filled with tears. Kshitij was shocked. Kshitij caressed his Saara’s hair. Sahasra stayed in the embrace for a long time and then broke off. She wiped her tears and smiled. Kshitij wanted to stay close to her for a longer time. Maybe forever. He smiled back at her.

Sahasra: A good luck hug for me. I am going to try a different accent to the shopkeeper or else he would send me to the court and then to dungeons.

Sahasra laughed like an innocent child and Kshitij couldn’t hold back his laughter. He laughed and his eyes became watery and he didn’t know why. Kshitij hugged Sahasra again and then they broke apart and he walked along with his crew in to the east side of the city and Sahasra towards the west. Both of them turned their heads at times and looked at each other all the way until they both were out of each other’s sight.

Sahasra wandered the streets of Mahishmathi watching its richness. She watched the well dressed, well fed people and their huge houses. Sahasra didn’t feel angry or jealous. They were the common people of the kingdom. We cannot hate people for having a better life when our mayhem is not their fault. Sahasra knew that the common people are never at fault and she had no hatred towards them. Sahasra was thinking of different plans to enter the palace when she heard an announcement that the queen mother Devasena was going to the temple for prayers. Sahasra knew that it was her chance and she ran towards the procession. Both sides of the road were filled with people who wanted to get a glimpse of Devasena and Sahasra didn’t think twice. When the palanquin carrying Devasena came nearby she moved through the mob to the center of the road. The soldiers who were on guard duty were shocked seeing her and they tried to beat her with long sticks. Sahasra blocked them with her sword and they realized that she was heavily armed and all of them drew out their swords. Sahasra was ready for a fight and she took position with a sword in one hand and a knife in the other. The cloth covering her face fell off and she didn’t bother to cover it again. She was here for peace talk and she should be who she is and should not hide behind a mask.

Devasena was curious to know what was happening outside and put her head out of the palanquin and found a few soldiers standing around a girl who was in warrior clothes. What astonished her most was that all the soldiers had their guard down and their swords were not drawn when the girl was armed with a sword and a knife. Devasena took a knife from the scabbard attached to her cloth and asked the palanquin holders to put her down. She could sense the curious and surprised mood of the crowd. Devasena walked towards the soldiers and asked then to move away to get a clear view of the girl and one look and her heart stopped. It was Avantika, only a younger and a bit taller one. But she looked the same as how Avantika used to look during her youth. Devasena had no idea who the girl was but she immediately asked the soldiers to tie her up and put her in the palanquin and bring her to the palace.

Sahasra was shocked to hear what Devasena said and she tried to escape from the scene. But the soldiers caught her and were about to tie her up when Kshitij, Karma and Saneel drifted through the crowd with weapons in their hands. They covered Sahasra and tried to escape from there. But by then more soldiers had reached the place and the four of them were outnumbered and as they didn’t want to create a bloodshed, they surrendered. The four of them were taken to the palace. Sahasra was asked to sit in the palanquin and Kshitij and others were made to walk. Sahasra didn’t understand the reason for such respect. She thought it was because she was a woman. Sahasra looked through the cloth lining of the palanquin at Kshitij and it broke her heart. He was walking in the sun with his hands tied. Kshitij was trying hard to get a glimpse of Sahasra but he couldn’t. Sahasra thought of jumping out of the palanquin and running away from this horrible land with Kshitij. But her aim was to reach the palace and she was going there. Sahasra bit down the pain in her heart and the tears in her eyes.

Kshitij was tensed and scared. He had no idea what he had brought Saara in to. If they reach the palace court, the officials will find out that Saara was from Sarayuha and she will be put in the dungeon. Kshitij had a sudden urge to attack the soldiers and save Saara but he couldn’t risk getting both of them killed for attacking the royal army.

The palace gates were huge with elephant heads on both sides. They were opened with a loud sound for the procession to enter and when the entrance door of the palace was reached the palanquin was lowered and Sahasra was asked to step out. Devasena walked in the front and Sahasra behind her and Kshitij and his crew with the soldiers after them. The Mahishamathi palace and court were five times bigger than that of Sarayuha and held a huge number of people. Sahasra could see the throne from far which was built on a high position with stairs running to it and on it sat the man she hated the most in this world. Sahasra kept her head high and walked straight to the throne. She was bothered by the vastness of the place and the number of eyes that were looking at her. She had never seen so many people in a court before. Sarayuhan courts were small and peaceful but here there was a lot of buzz.

Mahendra was astonished when he heard the announcement of Rajamatha Devasena’s arrival at the court. She had left for the temple in the morning and shouldn’t be back by the time. So if she was coming to the court then it would be for something of utmost importance, Shivu thought. Shivu watched the party walking towards him. His mother was in the front with a girl. She was shorter than his mother and wore warrior clothes. It amused Shivu but what felt surprising was how the members of the court became silent when she passed near them. Shivu could see that they were shocked and numb.

Sahasra was astonished by the kind of silence and muttering that followed while she walked towards the throne. It was confusing. Then she forgot about all of it when she saw the king closer. He was looking at her like he had seen a ghost. His eyes became wide and teary. There was disbelief, sadness and anger in them. When she reached closer to the stairs of the throne, the king spoke. His voice was shaking.

Shivu: Who are you?

Sahasra didn’t know what to say. Even though she came all the way to meet the king and talk peace, her mind revolved in circles. She turned around and looked at Kshitij and apologized with her eyes. He was about to say something but she turned back and looked at the king and said.

Sahasra: I am Sahasra, the princess of Sarayuha. I have come here with a pleading. I want peace between Sarayuha and Mahishmathi and I would request you to consider this proposal.

Sahasra folded her hands and she looked at Shivu, then Devasena and with a teary eye at Kshitij. He was totally shocked. The entire court burst out and Sahasra was not sure what they were saying. Mahendra was about to say something when they heard the announcement of Queen Avantika’s arrival. Sahasra looked at the left side and saw a woman walking towards her. She had her head held high but more than grace and pride she had the power of a warrior. She was one and Sahasra could sense it by the way she walked. The queen Avantika came closer and closer. When she could see her face Sahasra was shocked. Avantika resembled her, an older her. The queen was shorter and had longer hair but everything else was the same. The eyes, the lips. Sahasra felt as though she was looking at a mirror of age and seeing her older self.

Avantika didn’t know what to do when she saw the girl standing in front of her. Avanti was informed by her maids that a girl had come to the palace and she should go and see her immediately. But she never thought that she would see her younger self in front of her. Avantika’s heart went out for the girl in bondage and wanted to hug her and didn’t know the reason. She was about to inch closer to her when Shivu roared.

Shivu: Get this girl to the royal chambers and lock her up there and the other three to the dungeons.

The soldiers had Kshitij, Sahasra and the crew in their hold before they could say or do anything. Kshitij and the crew were taken to the dungeons and Sahasra screamed Kshitij’s name crying harder and begged to let them go. But the soldiers didn’t budge and they forced her to move towards the chambers. Sahasra’s sword was taken and she was pushed in to a huge room and was locked from the outside. She knocked on it for a long time but no one listened. She sat on the floor and cried her heart out. She was in the enemy’s land and she had no escape and because of her Kshitij was also in trouble but the queen who had resemblance to her made her mind go blank. Sahasra lied on the floor and let her tears flow unchecked. A warrior cries too. But mostly when alone.

Shivu sat on the steps to the throne with tears in his eyes. When he first saw the girl he was not sure what to understand but when she spoke about Sarayuha, he knew that it was them who took his daughter. Today his child was standing in front of him and he couldn’t hug her or talk to her softly and instead he locked her up. Shivu broke down sitting on the steps and Avanti came and sat next to him and cried. The whole court went silent. Devasena looked at her broken children and thought about all the years they cried when their child was only a war away.

Amrutha