‘Lord Ram be merciful,’ whispered Sati.

‘The beasts didn’t even drag the children’s bodies away. Maybe they wanted vengeance for the single lion killed when he fell into the trap.’

‘They are not humans, Your Highness,’ said Sati, irritated. ‘They do not feel anger or the need for vengeance. Animals kill for only two reasons: hunger or self-defence.’

But why would they kill and then leave the bodies there?

‘Is there more to this than meets the eye?’ asked Sati.

‘I don’t know, My Lady. I’m not sure.’

‘Where are your men?’

‘They are still in Icchawar. But the villagers are preventing them from mounting any more traps. They are saying that their own lives are in greater danger when the lions are lured. They want my police to venture into the jungle and hunt the lions down.’

‘Which they don’t want to do?’

‘It’s not that they don’t want to, My Lady. They don’t know how to. They’re citizens of Kashi. We don’t hunt.’

Sati sighed.

‘But they are willing to fight,’ said Athithigva.

‘I’ll go,’ said Sati.

‘Of course not, My Lady,’ said Athithigva. ‘That’s not what I wanted from you. I only wanted you to send word to Emperor Dilipa for help. He cannot refuse you.’

‘That would take forever, Your Highness. I know how the Swadweepan bureaucracy works. And your people will keep dying. I’ll go. Assign two platoons of the Kashi police to travel with me.’

Sixty soldiers, forty travelling with me and another twenty already in Icchawar. That should do.

Athithigva did not want Sati to venture into the forest. He had come to love her as his sister. ‘My Lady, I can’t bear to see anything...’

‘Nothing will happen to me,’ interrupted Sati. ‘Now assign two Kashi platoons. Sixty men ought to be enough against two lions. I want the joint platoon led by that man who helped General Parvateshwar protect the Brangas. His name was Kaavas, right?’

Athithigva nodded. ‘My Lady, please don’t think I’m unsure about your abilities... But you are like a sister to me. I cannot allow you to put yourself in danger like this. I don’t think you should go.’

‘And I think I must go. Innocents are being killed. Lord Ram would not allow me to stay here. Either I can leave Kashi alone, or with forty soldiers. Which option would you prefer?’

The ship was sailing slowly along the Madhumati. There had been no attack from Parshuram. No devil boats to set Shiva’s ship on fire. No arrows to injure the lookouts. Nothing.

Parvateshwar and Anandmayi were standing against the balustrade at the stern of the ship, staring at the reflection of the sun rising gently in the sluggish Madhumati.

‘The Lord is right,’ said Parvateshwar. ‘They are watching us. I can feel it. It irritates me.’

‘Really?’ smiled Anandmayi. ‘I have had people staring at me all my life. It’s never irritated me!’

Parvateshwar turned to Anandmayi as if trying to explain his point. Then, as he understood the pun, he smiled.

‘By Lord Indra!’ exclaimed Anandmayi. ‘I got you to smile! What an achievement!’

Parvateshwar smiled even more broadly. ‘Yes, well, I was only talking about why the bandits were not attacking...’

‘Now don’t spoil the moment,’ said Anandmayi. She slapped Parvateshwar’s wrist with the back of her hand. ‘You know you look very nice when you smile. You should do so more often.’

Parvateshwar blushed.

‘And you look even better when you blush,’ laughed Anandmayi.

Parvateshwar blushed even deeper. ‘Your Highness...’

‘Anandmayi.’

‘Sorry?’

‘Call me Anandmayi.’

‘How can I?’

‘Very simple. Just say Anandmayi.’

Parvateshwar kept quiet.

‘Why can’t you call me Anandmayi?’

‘I can’t, Your Highness. It is not correct.’

Anandmayi sighed. ‘Tell me Parvateshwar. Who exactly defines what is correct?’

Parvateshwar frowned. ‘Lord Ram’s laws.’

‘And, what was Lord Ram’s fundamental law on punishment for a crime?’

‘Not even one innocent man should be punished. Not even one criminal must get away.’

‘Then you are breaking his laws.’

Parvateshwar frowned. ‘How so?’

‘By punishing an innocent person for a crime she didn’t commit.’

Parvateshwar continued to frown.

‘Many noblemen committed a crime by breaking Lord Ram’s law two hundred and fifty years ago. They got away with the crime. Nobody punished them. And, look at me. I had nothing to do with that crime. I wasn’t even born then. And yet, you are punishing me today for it.’

‘I am not punishing you, Your Highness. How can I?’

‘Yes, you are. You know you are. I know how you feel. I am not blind. Don’t pretend to be deliberately stupid. It’s insulting.’

‘Your Highness...’

‘What would Lord Ram have told you to do?’ interrupted Anandmayi.

Parvateshwar clenched his fist. He looked down, sighing deeply. ‘Anandmayi. Please understand. Even if I want to, I can’t...’

Just then Drapaku marched up. ‘My Lord, the Lord Neelkanth requests your presence.’

Parvateshwar stood rooted to his spot. Still staring at Anandmayi.

‘My Lord...,’ repeated Drapaku.

Parvateshwar whispered. ‘Forgive me, Your Highness. I will speak with you later.’

The Meluhan General turned and marched away, followed by Drapaku.

Anandmayi hissed at Drapaku’s retreating form. ‘Impeccable timing!’

‘Do you have to go, My Lady?’ asked Krittika, gently rocking a sleeping Kartik.

Sati looked at Krittika, bemused. ‘There are innocents dying, Krittika. Do I have a choice?’

Krittika nodded before looking at Kartik.

‘My son will understand,’ said Sati. ‘He would do the same. I am a Kshatriya. It is my dharma to protect the weak. Dharma comes before anything else.’

Krittika took a deep breath and whispered, ‘I agree, My Lady.’

Sati gently ran her hand across Kartik’s face. ‘I need you to take good care of him. He is my life. I have never known the pleasures of motherhood. I never imagined there would be another person I would love as deeply as I love Shiva. But in such a short span of time, Kartik...’

Krittika looked at Sati with a smile, touching the Princess’ hand. ‘I will take care of him. He’s my life as well.’

The Naga Lord of the People was kneeling in the cold waters of the Chambal river. He scooped some water in the palm of his hands and allowed it to pour slowly, mumbling quietly. He then brushed his hands across his face.

The Queen, kneeling next to him, raised an eyebrow. ‘A prayer?’

‘I don’t know if prayers will help. I don’t think anybody up there is really interested in me.’

The Queen smiled and looked back at the river.

‘But there are times when you wouldn’t mind the help of the Almighty,’ whispered the Naga.