The King's Shield

Chapter 6- The Sins of The Father

From today you are mine... I want to see you every morning ...I want you close to me...you are my shield...my shield. His words rang in her ears over and over again. Shiva's mind was muddled by the events that had taken place. The way he showed her around the palace, the way he stood close to her, a little too close.

They had already shifted all her belongings to new quarters.
This room was much bigger than the first. It had a sizable bed with soft bedding, water pots and a washroom. He had come all the way here to show her, the new room. He stood at the window and showed her the direct view of the window to his chambers. Why is he doing this? Why is her heart pounding? What feeling is this? Were the questions that bothered her.

She heard a knock at the door. "May I come in, my dear?" She heard Bhairava's voice. " Please come in uncle." She said. "Oh, is it ok if I call you uncle?"

"I wouldn't mind it at all. I'd rather like it." Bhairava smiled." How do you find the new room? Is it to your liking?" He asked

" Please, have a seat," she gestured. "It's bigger, well-ventilated, and the bedding is soft; who am I to complain?" She replied.

" I heard that you got promoted to a royal guard." He sat down.

" No, I am now the king's guard, I don't know what that even means." She said.

" That's odd we never had that position at this palace before." He leaned back on the chair. "Well, I am sure Adhiveer must have thought it through. He doesn't make any irrational decisions." He said.
She shrugged.

" Did you have your dinner?" He asked.

" I am not hungry."

"You are not planning to go out late at night in search of food again, are you?" He laughed.

" If I do will you accompany me?"
She asked him cocking her head at the side.

"O sweet child." He laughed." I came here to inform you that I would be going to Satjaya in two days and will be there for the next two months," He sat up straight "for my granddaughter's wedding."

" Oh," Shiva was surprised." How old is she?"

"She will turn twenty next month, don't be shocked. She chose to marry Trivikrama on her own, nobody forced her to marry so early. He is the crowned prince of the Sahee kingdom in the north and is a good man."

" I was not-" She was embarrassed.

He raised her hand " I have got that kind of reaction too many times not to guess what your next question was going to be. So, I cleared your doubts." He smiled. She nodded.

"You are very very old." She said and grinned.

"Ah, now you are pulling my leg, huh?" He laughed.

" Congratulations, I am very happy for you." She said.

He got up and started at the door
" Shiva, take care of Adhiveer when I am not here. Also, take care of yourself. Maybe when I am back we can have a late dinner together." He gently touched her head, said good night and left. Bhairava reminded her of her baba. She remembered very little of her family, her mother, brother and little sister. How much of a memory does a girl of nine years have of her family before being snatched away? She sighed and lay on her bed.

She couldn't sleep that night, she tossed in the bed restlessly. The next morning, she got up and went out and stood on the veranda, not daring to look at his window. Slowly she glanced in its direction. He was not there. She sighed in relief and was about to go inside when she saw him standing before her. She gulped.

" You are late." He shouted and started walking towards her.
" You used to wake up early when we were travelling from Raankai. Did you sleep well?"

She stood there stumped. What is he doing here so early? She thought.