A Tale Of Love (On Hold)

THE ATTACK III

RETEKA

My legs moved towards the royal court not knowing why a maid was special sent to call me to this meeting as I was getting ready to roam through the city to see if any intruders had slipped among the masses. The stab wound near my abdomen was patched up by me by using haldi and neem leaves. I strod towards the court which looked like a burning beacon. It didn't looked like it looked at morning but had a dangerous air around it.

I stepped on the dead bodies and internal organs. It will take people days if not weeks to get ride of this mess and stench. I can see few brave souls trying to clean up the way to court but failing terribly. I entered through an side entrance as everyone else was busy in conversing among themselves. They look totally saken to the core. No one got the chance to clean themselves of the blood.

Senapati Sumraj was totally covered in blood from top to bottom except his hands and face which I think he washed before coming. Maha Mantri ji and other ministers looked suprised and confused who called the emergency meeting if Sumraj didn't. They got there answer soon as Maharaj came in banging open the large door of royal court with a very pissed and angry expression on his face.

On his arrival few dead bodies plummeted on the ground. They are few low ranking captains or officials. The only common thing is that they either came from Devgiri or Dalpatgarh. Few other heads collided on the floor. This belong to the people who attacked on the palace.

Maharaj Ayudhik walked to his place on the throne as only few torches burned on the court. No one dared to sit down as they stood watching him with fearful gaze. Wandering if the next head to fall would be theirs. "I left for a single month. And this one month we have a foreign power seize our fort and capital. ARE ALL OF YOU SLEEPING OR THIS INCOMPETENT. ARE THE ARMIES OF SURYAGADH FILLED WITH COWARDS OR RATS ???" His voice echoed through out the court. Making people more frightened of him than they are of the dead bodies or the intruders.

He leaned back and pinched the tip of his nose. "Who dared to attack us ?" He asked his voice floating through the place as people froze. "Garudesh." Maha Mantri ji said as he looked up infront of him but not in the direction of Maharaj Ayudhik. "And why is that ?" He questioned in a sarcastic voice as Maha Mantri ji told whatever transpires in last one month.

By the end of the proposals the entire arm of the throne made up of strongest of metals and diamonds was halfway broke. "So you are telling me Devgiri had removed there support and what measure have you taken. Except the utter idiocity to send away the soldiers and army stationed in fort. Have you all lost your godforsaken common sense. Instead of assembling our troops you sent them away. Are your common sense rotting away." He shouted as he banged his palm against the armrest which broke under the pressure.

I gulped down as his eyes flashed between brown and orange. I can see Sumraj's hands tremble as he looked down at the blood stained floor. No one is looking at the strange change in colour except Maha Mantri ji who looked shocked. His mouth open but nothing came out. I frowned at the reaction of his.

"Sumraj assemble all the forces back. Speed up the army registration. Stop all the transactions between Devgiri and Suryagadh. Barricade the borders. The only way for the trade is either through Suryagadh or Sahyadri forest ranges. They shouldn't have messed with us. How long will the rations will last and how long will it take to replenish them ?" He asked as all grew quite. Slowly a official stepped forward.

"Maharaj both the under secretaries of Minister of Food provinces are dead and the minister itself is healer facility. As for others many are still trying to rummage through the onslaught and trying to put out fires started." Maharaj's glare made others cower away in fear.

"This meeting will continue tomorrow at third pahar. Every one related to Mantri Mandal must attend even if they are on their death beds or submit their resignations. Maha Mantri find a way to solidify the base of Suryagadh that no one can resolve it. Get the answer in meeting tomorrow. Sumraj I want entire palace in its original condition before sunrise. Even if you personally have to clean up the bodies then do it. As well as entire list of deceased and injured. Minister of health refill the entire hospital with medicines and healers."

I followed him close on his heels as he went towards Surya Mahal no doubt to change his cloths. His eyes still flashing between orange and brown. My steps faltered as the premises of Surya Mahal came into view. It looked like it was epicenter of this earthquake. No a single inch of place is without blood or body pieces. I can still recognise the slight uniforms of palace maids and guards.

The same thing happened when we walked inside. Few servants looked pale as they scrubbed the floor vigoursly like their life depended on it. A maid fainted as she saw Maharaj walking in. No one dared to help her and continued scrubing it spotless. I felt a hint of pity as I walked imprinting fresh spots on the newly polished floor. "Say what you have to say ?" Maharaj ordered as we entered his chambers. Eyeing my staff which is now disjoined into two spears and crossed on my back.

"Garudesh is the one who ordered this attack." I said with confidence trying to suppress the pain in my throat. Clearly my voice had became a lot hoarse.

"I know." He said unblinking. As if I had stated a obvious fact.

"I was introgating one of intruders before Nandini killed him. He said they came here for map." I added as he looked at me with disinterest.

"On my orders." He added casually. I looked at him unblinking. We stared at each other as time passed. "What do you want ?" He asked as I continued to stay.

"Three years back when I was eleven. Garudev had came to visit Dalpatgarh." I started as Maharaj paused and gave his attention towards me. My face remained stoic. I began to pace the ground a nasty habit I had installed. "I don't know many details but if you want them only four people can recall them correctly. Maya, Garudev, Chitra Didi and Lekhya. I was alone in this castle for many years and have no knowledge of Kalatrawas and courts but one thing that no one else know other than me is if the person sitting on the throne was Virendra then the throne itself was made up of the metals from the personal coffers of Garudev."

I ended my message and stepped out. All the blood from the palace was cleaned along with dead bodies. The smell remained but it will take days before it goes away completely. I entered the barracks and immediately pinched my nose. Look like they forgot to clean the dead bodies I left here. I took out my spear and stabbed it through the hearts of the people I had rendered immotile. Forgetting the fact that it hadn't been even entire day since I killed my first person.