Avantika And Her Quest

An Unlikely Friend

That new dancer. How dare she? She could not be more obnoxious, harassing the Prime Minister with her advances. Could she be more obvious? But still, he looked at her, he notices her. I just wish he extended the same courtesy to me. Maybe I should make my advances as clear as her. She did not even attend the festivities today. What does she think of herself? Just because the Prime Minister noticed her does not mean she will cease to be a dancer. She acts just like a spoilt child. As I walked back from the festivities, I noticed the new girl creeping in the shadows. There's my chance to have her sent where she belongs, the dungeons, I thought.

I followed her, after all, I learned to sleuth from the best. I was a spy for the Prime Minister for a long time before he became the Prime Minister. He found me abandoned by my father in a dark alley and taught me all that I know. I did whatever he asked me to without question and had the utmost loyalty for him. He was the only one who took care of me when I had no one. When he became the prime minister, he asked me to stay with him and continued to provide for me. But, he could not blow my cover so he hired me as a dancer. I use that cover to notice the inner workings of the castle, the maids, the guards and the villagers.

I saw the girl moving towards the Prime Minister's chambers. All my instincts were telling me not to follow her. I found it very confusing as I did not even know the girl enough. She stood in front of the door for a long time, it took her a while to open the door. I resisted the urge to snort, I could have opened the door faster than her. I quickly slipped in behind her. Even though I worked for him, I had never been in his chambers before. I hid behind the thick window drapes. The clean surroundings reflected his meticulous planning and carefully thought out schemes.

I had always admired his calm and intelligence. I saw the girl, looking for something. I was beyond suspicious of her motives. She was not just a dancer, and she was definitely not a helpless, little girl like she made us all believe. She was either a spy from another kingdom or a thief out to steal some secrets. I carefully observed her. I saw that she was getting desperate, as the time passed. She would get caught if she didn't leave soon. Then I saw her pause by a book and a hidden passage opened up. My eyes popped out of their sockets. As she slipped into the passage, I came out from behind the drapes and looked at the book.

It was the history of the dynasty of Avanti. I was beyond confused. What was this book doing here of all places? I remembered about the attack by Vrijji. I suddenly heard voices. I heard the dancer talking to the king of Chetiya. It was interesting... what could a dancer want with a king? More importantly what was the King doing here? As I continued to hear, I felt like suddenly I had entered one of those highly exaggerated stories that the traveling artists told. The dancer was the princess of Avanti! And her father had history with the king of Chetiya. But what shocked me the most was that Sangharsh was the lost prince of Vrijji and he had chained up a person and taken over someone's kingdom just for revenge.

What happened to the kind man who took in an orphan? Was he incapable of kindness? Was his heart actually that dark? I was conflicted. I had always prided myself on being the closest to him, on being the one who could actually understand him and his motives, but I guess, I never knew him. It pained me to hear that instead of battling his demons, he succumbed to the darkness.

When he became the prime minister, I thought that he would leave the plotting behind and that we could actually have a future. A bitter feeling took over me, guess there was never a "we", it was just "me" hanging on to feelings for a man who showed me a little kindness. In an attempt to hear better, I leaned on the bookshelf. My hand must have hit another book and another passage opened. I was conflicted on whether I should enter the passage or not. But, I heard the click of the door opening. I pushed the book again and quickly slipped in the passage. I could not get caught. He may have shown me mercy once but I did not want to test it now.

If he had really fallen so deep into darkness, then I did not want to test my luck, by getting caught. Who knew he might even chain me up. My decision was made for me and I slipped in, I realized I could hear everything better. But I guess my feelings for him were really strong as I was still hanging on to the hope that all this was just a joke and that finding me had helped him get rid of his demons. As I heard his maniacal laugh and words, the little hope I had shattered. Now, I just felt disgusted. I really wondered how I ever had feelings for this monster of a man. My inner turmoil was interrupted by the sound of swords being drawn. I knew that the king of Chetiya had died. So, the only person would be the princess and she did not have a sword.

Could Sangharsh really hurt a woman? As I stood there paralyzed without knowing what to do, I heard a whisper, "I forgot he played dirty.....". The princess's voice trailed off. I was horrified, had he killed her. No, she was the rightful heir, I could not let that madman take over. I heard the click that signified that the door had been locked. I carefully stepped out of the passage. I tried opening the portal and saw that the princess was lying on the ground. She was still breathing to my relief but looked as if she had been drugged. I saw the wrench she must have used to pick the lock in a pouch on her waist. I quickly grabbed it. I could not carry a drugged woman to safety all on my own.

Firstly because I did not have the physical capability. As much as I would have like to say that I was strong, even I know my limitations. I quickly closed the passage and unlocked the door. I checked to see, if there was no one around and walked out. I guess my decision to follow the princess at midnight was paying off. I guess she met with friends there. So, here goes nothing. I was actually putting my life in danger for a girl, I had considered a mortal enemy only an hour ago. "This is going to be fun," I whispered as I continued to that trapdoor.