What would happen if you were appointed as a bodyguard for the person you were supposed to assassinate?
Adhiveer is a beloved king. Adored by everyone in his kingdom and beyond.
Shiva, a professional assassin, gets easily appointed as his royal gu...
Shiva had never seen such a grand celebration. The musicians, the dancers and the decorations were mesmerizing. And the food was delicious.
She was introduced to Rajveer. She could see the similarities between them. So much so that they didn't look like stepbrothers. Although Adhiveer was taller and had darker skin and hair, Rajveer's posture and way of talking were very much the same.
"We have never had a position of king's guard before. I wonder what brother saw that he made such a decision." Shiva was shocked by the frankness.
"The king is very kind, I should say," she said.
"Don't mind him, he is a bit straightforward in his talks," Sidhraj whispered to her. She nodded but her mind drew to the idea of her presence in such an environment. A girl from the forest to the streets to a killer and now a royal guard. Her life had brought her to an odd game, an odd place, in an odd situation. The whirlwind of death was roaring, dominant and had the power to uproot the beliefs of security from everyone's mind present in that room. Only a few who knew what was going on could be either safe or in danger.
The next day Rajveer convinced everyone to go on a small hunt in the woods, near the capital. The king, his brother, Sidhraj and Reva, Drishala and Kumudha, Sabu and Sukhi, Shiva and a few soldiers had settled camp near a small stream of water. The location was pleasant. They had decided to hunt for partridges and wild boars. Down on their luck, they found a few quails and pheasant birds. And they caught a few fish from the stream.
The men were enjoying archery; Shiva was standing under a tree along with Reva while the cooks were preparing the game meat they had caught.
"Shiva, is this the first time you came on a hunt?" Reva asked.
"No, I have plenty of time with my people in the Chirca forest. It is one of our sources of livelihood." She said.
" I don't like hunting at all. It makes me squirm." She said shaking.
" So you don't eat meat?"
"No, not at all. But he likes it," pointing at Sidhraj, " and so I prepare for him whatever he likes." She said with a smile.
"And what does he make for you?" She asked.
"Um, he doesn't make anything; I mean, he doesn't know how to." She said. " Do men in your village make food?" She asked.
" Everyone in our Village must learn to make food, life is difficult there. The children of the family cannot depend on just one of the parents for food. Everyone is taught to hunt, scavenge, gather food and also how to make it too." Shiva said with a sense of pride.
"Even the children?"
Shiva nodded.
Reva raised her eyebrows." I must say, all of you are hard-working people. I am grateful to have you in Merujaya." She said touching her shoulder. "Who taught you how to use weapons? She asked.
Circumstance was the word that flashed in her mind. " I learnt it from different people." Which was also not wrong. She had learnt by watching and practising from thieves, thugs and warriors. She had learnt how to blend in crowds, how to make things disappear with the slight of hands, how to punch till mouths bled, and how to kill. But most important of all, she had learnt not to trust anyone because that was the only way she had survived.
"Do you know how to use any of the weapons? She asked Reva.
"Oh no, all I am good at is numbers and treasury." She replied shyly.
"That's an essential skill. May I ask, would you like to learn, if you get a chance? She was curious.
" Definitely, why wouldn't I? Will you teach me? She asked with pleading eyes.
" It would be an honour," Shiva said.
"What is she honouring you with," they turned to the question asked by Sidhraj as he walked closer to them.
" Shiva is going to teach me how to use a sword," Reva said gleaming with joy.
Sidhraj frowned " Wouldn't it be dangerous?"
" It would be even more dangerous if we were in any sort of danger and I become helpless and would not be able to protect you or even myself," Reva said with a grave expression.
"But I will always be there with you to protect you."
She kept her hand on his chest, "Gods forbid if there comes a time, you are not there with me, away from me for a war or any other reason. Then?"
"Please don't say that, I cannot even fathom the thought." He held her hand on his chest and kissed her on the forehead.
Shiva bowed her head and walked away from them. She remembered the time when Adhiveer had held her hand and asked her to be with him when he had said that he would wait for her till she trusted him. Her heart felt heavy, she could not understand the feeling she had when she was with him. She stood still halfway and looked at him. Her breath swelled up and she held herself. She felt as if everyone could hear her heartbeat.
They decided to trail through the woods for a while along the course of the stream. Sidhraj and Reva decided not to join the others. Shiva knew why. After walking for a certain distance they found that the stream grew in a small waterfall. They tied a rope at the top and climbed down from one side. The first one to go down was Rajveer. When he reached down he signalled them to come down one by one. Then a few soldiers went down after him. Then Adhiveer held the rope and climbed down easily with just three leaps.
Shiva held the rope and put her feet on rocks to glide down. She heard a snap, and the rope came loose. She tried to steady herself but lost her footing and slid down. She hit her head on a rock and fell to the ground with a loud thud.
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Sorry for the delay in updates. I was unwell and decided to take a short break.
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