INSEPARABLE I

XVIII

"We reject!" A voice suddenly yelled. It had come from one of Noor's cabinet members. He looked furious as he stood up drawing out his sword. "A treasonous Kurrali can never be married to the Chief of Basher. We reject this marriage." He spit out venomously looking at the cabinet members of Kurral across from him.

Prem's cabinet members rose too, instantly drawing out their swords as well. "A word against Kurral and we will finish you right here!" One of them angrily stepped out onto the floor.

"We will see who finishes who!" Challenged Noor's cabinet member also stepping out on the floor.

"Gentlemen!" The Prince intervened. "I request you to keep the decorum of the court in mind."

"Chief!" Prem's cabinet members stormed towards him. "She can never be the Lady of Kurral. Not now, not ever! We do not accept her."

"She..." Prem looked at the men in the eyes, "doesn't need your approval."

"Mind your tone, Prem!" His father snapped at him.

"We will never accept him, Chief! We reject this marriage. They have the blood of thousands of Basheri lives on their hands, Chief!" Noor's Ministers were furious.

"And thousands of Kurrali lives were lost because of them too, Chief!" Prem's Minister immediately countered in rage.

"This marriage..." Noor's defense minister began, "makes you a traitor to Basher, Chief. How can your closest confidant be the biggest enemy of Basher?" He asked shocking Noor and the court.

"This..." Veer spoke without a warning, "applies to our Chief as well. Doesn't it Ministers?" He looked around at the group of men. "How can the Chief of Kurral, with access to everything from Kurral's treasures to its security passages, be trusted when his dearest companion is this woman of Basher?"

"You have betrayed us, Chief!" A man looked up at Prem. "You have been treasonous."

"We demand this marriage be broken off immediately!" The men of Noor's cabinet demanded.

"You must this break this marriage instantly, Chief or the consequences will not be good." One of Prem's Senior Ministers warned him too.

Noor exchanged a look with Prem before eyeing his father and uncle watching on in defeat. Her father also sat in a similar expression of surrender as the King too watched on helplessly. To her surprise, however, Prem looked completely unfazed by the comments as he watched the men below. Then, drawing out his sword, he sliced the air before him in a swift motion and planted it's point on the stage floor, digging into the precious red carpet below and resting his hand on its golden handle.

"Chief Noor Sandhu of Basher is my lawfully wedded wife and there isn't a power in this world that could separate me from her." He declared in tone that served as both a warning and a challenge. With his free hand, he reached for Noor's hand and held it claiming her all over again.

"There will be war!" Noor's Defense Minister shouted eyeing their hands in rage. "You do not know what you have called upon yourself." He said looking at Prem.

"Let there be war!" Prem roared lifting his sword and pointing it at the Minister sending chills down the spines of every man that stood before him. "Hakam!" He announced eyeing the bodyguard to his side. "Send the news of my marriage to Chief Sandhu to every corner of Doab. And tell them..." He thundered looking around the entire courtroom in voice powerful enough to visibly frighten the onlookers. "That Prem Dhaliwal stands in the court of Prince Udam Brar ready to fight every last man in Doab if he must but he will NOT..." He shook with rage, "...let go of Noor Sandhu."

Drawing out his sword too, Prince Udam stuck it's point on the carpet as well, "tell them Prince Udam Brar stands with Chief Dhaliwal. An attack on the Chief will be considered an attack on the Prince." He proclaimed.