Ace of Hearts

9 - The Threat

Darkness fought with the stars on that no moon day almost winning the battle. The lightened earthen lamps helped the twinkling dots in illuminating the palace but did not succeed in washing the darkness away. As the clock struck the last prahar of the day, the soldiers strolled the corridors ready to fall into the arms of sleep.

As two such soldiers strolled to the opposite ends of the corridor, two dainty hands gripped the railings and an agile body hoisted itself onto the corridor from a window shade on the lower level. Dusting herself, the girl checked her surroundings and with the stealth of a cat, slipped into the shadows. She maneuvered through multiple hallways trying to find her destination but in vain.

"Who's there?"

A voice called out startling the girl as she froze in her spot cursing her luck. Craning her neck, she slowly turned on her heel to face the source of the voice. Her gaze fell on the lavishly dressed young man whom she soon identified as one of the younger Kaurava princes. A grimace graced her lips as she failed to recall his name.

"Oh! My apologies Bhratrajaya! Please accept my greetings." said the prince joining his hands.

The girl, Tusharika Naitee, forced her lips upwards hoping that the prince missed her fleeting frown caused by his referral to her as his sister-in-law.

"You form relations quite fast Rajkumar. I am not married to your brother." Noticing the confusion in his eyes, she added the last word unwillingly "yet."

"Only a matter of time Bhabhishree. You are already promised to him though." He replied, satisfaction glazing his eyes before confusion replaced it.

"Might I ask what are you doing here at this time unattended?" Amusement danced with the confusion in his gaze as he continued, "And in this unusual attire?"

Naitee's eyes swept over her own dress taking in the dhoti she stole from her twin and a similar navy blue colored duppatta draped over her waist and chest giving the overall attire a maharashtrian look.

"Can you direct me to your brother's room? I need to talk to him about something urgent." said Naitee dismissing the topic.

"My brother's room? Rajkumari, my brother is alone in his chamber right now. I do not think it is wise to meet him alone at this hour." replied the alarmed prince.

"Please. I did not get a chance to speak to him today. It is imperative that I speak to him before it is too late. No one has to know about our meeting." requested Tusharika.

Contemplating it for a short while, the prince finally sighed nodding his head. Pointing to the opposite direction, he said

"It is this way. The way you were going leads to our uncle's chamber."

Tusharika's face paled upon realizing that she would have sneaked into the limping king's chamber had this prince not interrupted her. Suddenly, she wasn't cursing her luck anymore. No. Her lady luck was right at her side.

"I need another favor from you." said Tusha following the prince. Noticing his head tilt to a side, she continued, "Can you please distract your brother's footmen while I enter his chambers? We do not need the helpers gossiping about this, do we?"

The younger Kaurava frowned upon this but reluctantly nodded. After walking a short distance, Tusharika could hear her betrothed barking instructions at his maids. She quickly hid beside a pillar as the said maids walked out of the chamber. She watched curiously as her companion wittily distracted the footmen and slipped into the chambers through a nearby window.