Yashika The uncanny puzzle of KING[ 18+]

36 - Blood shed begins

Do Check out the song .... Though I know the song doesn't go with the theme but I couldn't think of better song then this.... Imagining Yashika, Nayantara, Digvijay and Ratan in form💕💕💕

Enjoy the chapter and do leave your previous comments 😘

"Do not worry," I reassured her with a gentle smile. "I shall keep your secret until you are ready to reveal it—only when the time feels right."

Yashika stood beside Nayantara, preparing to set their plan into motion as the palace bustled with preparations for the Maha-aarti of Diwali.

But, as fate would have it, Nayantara's parents had chosen this very day to announce her engagement, intending to hasten her wedding soon after. The household was soon preparing to leave for the grand temple of Maa Durga, situated at the far end of the palace grounds, directly opposite the castle's grand entrance hall.

Just as they were about to summon Nayantara, a guard came rushing toward them. His face bore a look of worry, though his eyes remained respectfully downcast. "Kshama kijiye, Raajmata," he began, his voice a tremor among the crowd. "Aapke liye ek sandesh aaya hai. Ek aadmi keh raha hai ki yeh sandesh aapke putra ke dwara bheja gaya hai." (Forgive me, my Queen, but a message has arrived for you. A man says he brings a letter sent by your son.)

Whispers rippled through the gathered assembly, for her younger son stood by her side, and her elder son was thought to have perished a year prior.

All color drained from her face, and beads of sweat formed on her brow despite the chill of the winter air.

"A...umm..." she faltered, her gaze sweeping over the crowd, some faces puzzled, others curious. Though her head remained held high, her confidence visibly faltered. She drew herself up and ordered the guard, "Bring the messenger to the Darbaar Sabha."

With a resolute turn, she walked alongside her husband, the others following in her wake. Her younger son, however, kept silent, his face impassive, revealing nothing of the storm brewing beneath the surface.

Once everyone was settled in the royal court, reserved only for high-ranking officials, the guard stepped forward and bowed deeply to the king and queen.

"There is someone who brings a message from the former king, Digvijay Pratap Singh," he announced, his voice trembling slightly in the stillness that followed. The queen glanced at the king, exchanging a silent look filled with questions. Then, with a nod from the king, the guard was instructed to allow the messenger to present himself.

Moments later, Madhav stepped forward, his head held high with a pride untouched by fear.

"Speak your message," commanded the king, his tone stern and watchful.

"I, Madhav Singh, come as the messenger of my king and of the Vijayratha Empire's rightful ruler, Digvijay Pratap Singh." His gaze swept across the room, pausing momentarily on each person before returning to the king. But his eyes couldn't help but catch the shocked, ashen expression on the queen's face and that of Digvijay's mother.

A heavy silence fell upon the court. Shock, confusion, and fear rippled through those assembled, all save one—Ranvijay, Digvijay's younger brother, whose face alone showed a glimmer of hope.

The king, too stunned to respond, remained silent.

But the queen rose abruptly, her expression a storm of anger and disbelief. "If this is some perverse joke, it would do well to end it now, unless you ready to give your life this very instant," she declared, her voice ringing through the hall like thunder.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but this is no joke," replied Madhav, his voice laced with a cunning that seemed to strike the queen precisely where her deepest fears lay.

"And as we all know, a royal messenger is to be spared at all costs, no matter the kingdom he serves, for he carries out only the duty that is trusted to him." At these words, hands gripped tightly on sword hilts loosened across the court.

Madhav took a calculated step back and turned to the Second Chief of the Army, handing him a scroll before stepping back into the center of the hall.

The chief unrolled the scroll, his eyes scanning its contents. As he read, his face grew pale, and his eyes widened in horror. His head snapped up, first to the king, then to Madhav, and back to the scroll, as if trying to comprehend the gravity of what he had just read.

"What is it?" Ranvijay demanded, rising from his seat.

The chief's voice wavered as he replied, "Digvijay intends to attack at every gate of the palace with his forces. And... Ratan Singh alongside him."

The court was gripped by a fresh wave of shock. Panic crackled through the hall, as everyone grasped the weight of the revelation. First, Digvijay was an unmatched warrior, now joined by another fierce warrior, Ratan Singh. Second, both men knew every secret corner of this castle. And third, no one knew the true strength of Digvijay's forces.

"We have until Durga Pooja," the chief added, his voice thick with dread. "They grant us time only until the Aarti, after which they will storm the castle walls.", Panic surged through the hall as everyone began to comprehend the threat. It was obvious why they feared: first, Digvijay was a mighty warrior, now joined by another fierce fighter, Ratan Singh; second, both men knew every hidden passage within the palace; and third, no one could say how large his army was.

The king was on the verge of ordering Madhav's death when Ranvijay interjected. "Bapusa, no! This is not our way. We do not harm the messenger. He is here only to deliver a message." His words halted his father, but the king's rage was palpable, his nostrils flaring and his chest rising and falling with each breath.

Madhav offered a final bow. "I take my leave," he announced before turning and striding out of the hall.

The court erupted into a chaos as ministers and soldiers rushed to prepare defenses. Their only strategy was to brace for impact, as they had no clear plan of attack nor knowledge of their enemy's numbers or movements.

Meanwhile, Yashika remained in Nayantara's chamber, listening to the commotion outside. Guards were scrambling to protect the women of the palace, gathering them in one place for safety. When two men arrived to escort Nayantara, she instructed them to go on without her, ensuring they would safeguard everyone. She suggested they lead the women to the Khel Bhawan, a spacious building designed as a women's entertainment area within the castle walls. With its high walls and concealed courtyards, it was the safest place for them.

But Nayantara and Yashika had other plans. Disguised as maids with their heads covered, they slipped quietly through the halls, blending into the shadows as they moved.

As they neared the east gate, they spotted two soldiers patrolling nearby. Quickly ducking behind a set of pillars, they managed to remain unseen. Only when the soldiers passed out of sight did Nayantara and Yashika continue, making their way to an ancient, rusted gate.

Digvijay had chosen this gate for his entry—it was a forgotten passage, covered in dust and rust, its purpose long neglected. Few would think to guard it.

After a prolonged struggle, they managed to unlock the old lock. Yashika was about to remove the final block of wood when a voice echoed from the darkness, halting her hand mid-motion.

"Hey, you! Stay right there—l'll kill you!" The threat jolted Yashika back to reality, her mind sharpening as fear coursed through her veins. With a shared look, she and Nayantara gripped the last block of wood and, with a loud cry, wrenched it free.

But before Yashika could react, the man lunged, his sword aimed directly at her chest. In that heart-stopping moment, Nayantara let out a blood-curdling scream, her voice piercing the air as the sight of blood began to pool around them. The horror of the scene struck her, freezing her in place as she watched the crimson drops fall, staining the ground beneath them.