Chapter 14
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The whole day that nearly hundreds of people moved out, she gave herself time to mourn her father's loss and come to terms that her brother had betrayed them. As soon as their enemy moved out, she performed the final rites of her father.
After that, Revati did not hesitate in calling a meeting with her ministers immediately. Most of the villagers too gathered around in the ground to listen to their ruler's first initiated meeting.
"Your Highness, I say that we have your coronation at the earliest." One of them voiced.
"Yes, Your Highness, we want you to be our queen!" others piped up at the mention.
"No," she raised a hand to silence them. "I will not officially be queen until the whole of Vaibhavgarh is back together, free from the tyrants, until"-she swallowed- "my father's death, your king's death is avenged. I will not be officially coronated in an act of desperation. I will earn my title, I will not inherit it!"
"But we will address you only as our queen, Maharani," a peasant said firmly.
"As you see fit. Now moving on to important matters. We need to get everyone, by everyone I mean all the people left in Vaibhavgarh including the commoners and peasants, trained for battle." She studied their startled faces calmly.
"What- Your Majesty, but they have children and their lands and their livelihoods to look after."
"I agree, Your Highness. Even if we train them, we cannot compete with the level of expert training received by our former soldiers. They are but common folk!"
She slammed her hand on the table, in an act of outrage and to get their attention. "Livelihood? If we don't win this battle, do you think they'll spare us? Do you think their livelihoods will even survive? Heck, we don't know if they'll survive.
Livelihoods be damned, life is a gift from god. We have to do our best to protect ourselves and others as well. If they have the will to train, if they have the determination it is more than enough. Isn't it, General?"
"I-uh- yes Your Highness. Even the fittest of men cannot undergo training if they do not put their mind to it. I agree with you, my queen."
Revati faced her people. "Do you want to protect your families?"
"Yes," a handful of murmurs went up, not without hesitation.
"Do you want to provide your children and wives safety?"
"Yes." Few more pitched in, albeit the stench of uncertainty lingering in the air.
"Would you rather die honorably serving your country or cowardly at the hands of a sinned man?"
"Die honorably!" they shouted.
"Are you willing to stand with your queen, your families, your motherland? For a better life, for a fruitful life?"
"YES!" they hollered.
"Good. Your training will begin tomorrow. For all of you! Ministers, courtiers, landlords, common people, peasants the poor, the rich, everyone!"
Cheers went up from the crowd in praise of their leader.
"The men will learn to fight. The women will learn self-defense with spears and shooting arrows. The elderly and children will be trained to use slingshots and taught precise aiming. This is the basic training, you will learn more about it in the upcoming month. Know that time is precious and so are our resources with no export coming in from any other kingdom."
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✓ Fearless - Book 1 of The Rajkumari Trilogy
Historical Fiction~~~ "You're smart, I've got to give you that!" Suruchi breathed out as they reached the hallway. "Give it to me when I get the task done," Revati said, reaching out to unlock the door but froze. A high-pitched scream pierced the air. And several mo...
