Veer ~ Rise Of The Sisodia's [#YourStoryIndia]

Chapter 4

Outskirts of Kannauj

Together with the Maharaja and the Prince, a group of roughly 150 men made their way back home. They were all soldiers in the Bundelkhand army, yet none of them donned the standard Bundle armour. They did not want to be immediately identified. Some had bows and quivers, while the others carried spears, daggers, and maces. They were all carrying swords and daggers fastened to their hips and shields strapped to their backs.

The bulk of the platoon was in the centre, led by Maharaja Vikramaditya and Prince Veer, with another team of twenty horsemen at the rear. Two scouts rode ahead, followed by a twenty-man advance guard.

May Vijaypal be cursed by Lord Shiva!

' raged Veer. 'Nothing good will ever occur in Bharat as long as jackasses like him rule our nation.'

Vikramaditya sighed and shook his head. 'We don't need Turks to defeat us with rulers like Vijaypal. We are quite skilled at defeating ourselves. We shall continue to fall if we remain divided.'

Just then, one of the scouts galloped back, signalling the men to come to a halt. The riders split and went to a standstill to allow the scout to approach the king.

'What's the problem' Vikramaditya inquired.

'There are several soldiers by the lake, My King,' the scout said. 'Around fifty soldiers.' They're donning the colours of Ghur.'

The lake the scout was referred to served as an informal gathering point for all caravans on the route, where they could water their horses and rest. It was a few kilometres away, down a wooded trail.

Vikramaditya diverted his gaze beyond the scout. 'Where has the chief scout disappeared?'

'He's keeping an eye on them, my lord. I was sent to inform you about the situation by him.

Vikramaditya nodded, pleased to see standard protocols being followed. 'Let's take a closer look,' he suggested. He gestured to Veer and two other soldiers to follow. 'You're coming with us. Everyone else, step back. Keep a close eye on us, but remain hidden.'

The small party rode up towards the lake. The chief scout was concealed behind a tree, his horse tethered to another tree further back. As the prince and king approached, one of the soldiers made a low-pitched bird signal so the scout wouldn't be alarmed.

The chief scout spun around and bowed gently when he spotted the riders. Vikramaditya and Veer dismounted their horses, handed the reins to the youngest soldier, and approached the scout.

'What's the matter, Haider?

'Vikramaditya inquired gently.

Haider replied and gestured to the lake, indicating he had no idea. A big tent had been erected nearby. About fifty men dressed in the distinctive green tunics of the Ghur army sat around a campfire, while a handful of soldiers stood guard but weren't particularly alert.

'Let's see what they're up to,' Vikramaditya suggested. He turned around and looked back. The remaining troops were spread out and visible from a distance. He turned to the younger scout. 'Take my orders to them.' They are to stay close by and remain hidden. I don't believe there should be any trouble, but they should come to our aid if they see any signs of it.'

Vikramaditya, Veer, and Haider rode up to the encampment as the soldiers took cover, making sure their horses walked slowly behind them. The evening had fallen, and a soft breeze blew through the area.

The forest border was about 200 meters from the lake; however, the route was a grassy plain with no obstacles.

Excellent for grazing horses—or launching a cavalry charge, Veer pondered.