‘The route will be through the Nagas, Your Highness,’ said Shiva. ‘I believe they are the cause of the troubles of India. And, your plague. I know that you know where they live. I need to find them.’

Chandraketu stiffened, his melancholic eyes shutting for a bit. He then turned to Bappiraj. ‘Please excuse us for a little while, Prime Minister.’

Bappiraj tried to argue. ‘But, Your Highness...’

The King narrowed his eyes and continued to stare at his Prime Minister. Bappiraj immediately left the chambers.

Chandraketu went to a side wall, took off a ring from his forefinger and pressed it into an indentation. A small box sprang out of the wall with a soft click. The king picked up a parchment from it and walked back towards Shiva.

‘My Lord,’ said Chandraketu. ‘This is a letter I received from the Queen of the Nagas just a few days back.’

Shiva scowled softly.

‘I beg you to hear it with an open mind, My Lord,’ said Chandraketu, before lifting the parchment and reading aloud. ‘My friend Chandraketu. My apologies for the delay in the delivery of this year’s supply of the medicines. The troubles with my Rajya Sabha continue. But whatever the situation, the medicines will be delivered soon. That is my word. Also, I have been informed that a charlatan claiming to be the Neelkanth is coming to your kingdom. I believe he wants to find a way to our land. All that he has to offer you are promises. What you get from us is our medicine. What do you think will keep your people alive? Choose wisely.’

Chandraketu looked up at Shiva. ‘It has the seal of the Naga Queen.’

Shiva did not have an answer.

Divodas spoke up. ‘But, Your Highness, I think that the Nagas have cast this spell on us. The plague is their creation. Fight it we must. But to battle it properly, we have to attack the source. Panchavati, the city of the Nagas.’

‘Divodas, even if I agree with you, we cannot forget that what keeps us alive is their medicine. Until the plague is stopped we cannot survive without the Nagas.’

‘But they are your enemies, Your Highness,’ said Bhagirath. ‘How can you not seek vengeance for the plague they have wrought upon you?’

‘I’m fighting everyday to keep my people alive, Prince Bhagirath. Vengeance is a luxury I cannot afford.’

‘It’s not about vengeance. It is about justice,’ said Parvateshwar.

‘No General,’ said Chandraketu. ‘It is not about vengeance or justice. It is only about one thing: Keeping my people alive. I am not a fool. I do know that if I give you the route to Panchavati, the Lord will attack it with a massive army. The Nagas will be destroyed. Along with them, their medicine too, thus demolishing the only means to Branga’s survival. Unless you can guarantee me another supply source, I cannot tell you where Panchavati lies.’

Shiva stared hard at Chandraketu. Though he didn’t like what he was hearing, he knew what the Branga King said was right. He had no choice.

Chandraketu folded his hands together, as though pleading, ‘My Lord, you are my leader, my God, my saviour. I believe in your legend. I know you will set everything right. However, while my people may forget the details, I remember the tales of Lord Rudra. I remember that legends take time to fulfil their promise. And time is the only thing my people don’t have.’

Shiva sighed. ‘You are right, Your Highness. I cannot guarantee supply of the medicines right now. And until I can, I have no right to demand this sacrifice of you.’

Divodas started to say something, but Shiva silenced him with a wave.

‘I will take your leave, Your Highness,’ said Shiva. ‘I need to think.’

Chandraketu fell at Shiva’s feet. ‘Please don’t be angry with me, My Lord. I have no choice.’

Shiva pulled Chandraketu up to his feet. ‘I know.’

As Shiva turned to leave, his eyes fell upon the Naga Queen’s letter. He stiffened as he saw the seal at the bottom. It was an Aum symbol. But not the standard one. At the meeting point of the top and bottom curve of the Aum were two serpent heads. The third curve, surging out to the East, ended in a sharp serpent head, with its fork tongue struck out threateningly.

Shiva growled softly, ‘Is this the Naga Queen’s seal?’

‘Yes, My Lord,’ said Chandraketu.

‘Can any Naga man use this seal?’

‘No, My Lord. Only the Queen can use it.’

‘Tell me the truth. Does any man use this seal?’

‘No, My Lord. Nobody.’

‘That is not true, Your Highness.’

‘My Lord from what I know...’ Suddenly Chandraketu stopped. ‘Of course, the Lord of the People also uses this seal. He is the only one in the history of the Nagas, besides the ruler, who has been allowed to do so.’

Shiva snarled. ‘The Lord of the People? What is his name?’

‘I don’t know, My Lord.’

Shiva narrowed his eyes.

‘I swear on my people, My Lord,’ said Chandraketu. ‘I don’t know. All I know is that his formal title is the Lord of the People.’

‘My Lord,’ said Bhagirath. ‘We have to insist with King Chandraketu.’

Bhagirath, Parvateshwar and Divodas were sitting in Shiva’s private chambers in the Brangaridai palace.

‘I agree, My Lord,’ said Divodas.

‘No,’ said Shiva. ‘Chandraketu has a point. We have to guarantee the supply of the Naga medicine before we attack Panchavati.’

‘But that is impossible, My Lord,’ said Parvateshwar. ‘Only the Nagas have the medicine. The only way we can get the medicine is if we control the Naga territories. And how can we attack and control the Naga territories if the Branga king does not tell us where Panchavati is?’

Shiva turned to Divodas. ‘There must be another way to get the Naga medicine.’

‘There is a very bizarre one, My Lord,’ said Divodas.

‘What?’

‘But it’s the worst possible way, My Lord.’

‘Let me be the judge of that. What is the way?’

‘There is a bandit in the forests beyond the Madhumati river.’

‘Madhumati?’

‘Also a distributary of the Branga, My Lord. To our West.’

‘I see.’

‘It is rumoured that this bandit knows how to make the Naga medicine. Apparently, he does it with the help of a secret plant he sources from beyond the Mahanadi river, which lies to the South–west.’

‘So why doesn’t this bandit sell it? After all a bandit should be interested in money.’

‘He is a strange bandit, My Lord. It is rumoured that he was born a Brahmin, but has long given up the path of knowledge for violence. Most of us believe he has serious psychological problems. He refuses to make money. He has a pathological hatred for Kshatriyas and kills any warrior who ventures into his territory, even if the poor Kshatriya had just lost his way. And, he refuses to share the Naga medicine with anyone, even for untold amounts of gold, using it only for his gang of criminals.’

Shiva frowned. ‘How bizarre.’

‘He is a monster, My Lord. Even worse than the Nagas. It is rumoured that he even beheaded his own mother.’

‘My God!’

‘Yes, My Lord. How do you reason with a madman like that?’