(Book 5) Hayden Mackay and The Pride of Haima-Endira

7. 1 The Lion and the Beast

The suspicion of being spied on, locating them by the end of the day, the attempt to chase them down to extract information, and then stumbling upon the dead bodies in the secluded lanes- this cycle repeated for the next few days with Pruthvi whilst patrolling in Purvachand. However, he wasn't awfully paranoid as earlier. King Aghasthya, as per our expectations, had once again stepped up to suppress the matter, before the news broke out. Once he believed that Pruthvi had no part in these gruesome streaks of murders, he bargained a confidential meeting with the High King to investigate the matter in a way that other Panchayat members wouldn't point a finger at the Samagraha on duty. I had my eyes and ears open to get the hang of how easily things were working out in his favor but wasn't able to get a thorough grasp on it yet.

"He has his way to deal with such matters," Dhanunjay said, when I asked him, although not in so many words, "Every King has their own style. Maybe you should start having one too."

Against my better judgment, I nodded curtly in response. And then silently did what I had to do.

Even though Pruthvi was off the hook, these terrible daily murders put him in another predicament. The person behind these misconduct was either trying to save him from Shashi's men or it could be a stunt to frame him for these murders. No matter what, on King Aghasthya's orders, Pruthvi kept reporting about the day's events, and secretly did his own research regarding this delinquent behind the screen.

Leena, on the other hand, had got herself involved in her own personal task- to locate Jyran's hut and to know Tyrell's movements. Patrolling for day long in the province with a map in her hand and a bag of chips in another, she walked everywhere, talked with people, been trying everything she could to get a single clue. Luck did not favor with her yet, we were never its favorites anyway. Although occasionally, she claimed to hear a slight coughing sound or a muffled moan when trying the mind connection with either Tyrell or Celina. That bothered her day and night.

The attacks from the beast appeared to have leveled off. A team of knights was set up in every province only to light the huge bonfires at every nook and corner. The intermediate mages working under the order of the Kings provided their best aids. Everything seemed to be running smoothly, until a week later, a horrific letter was handed over to me by a Harakara.

To Hayden Mackay

Subject - Written final warning for unsatisfactory job performance.

You have been informed before through the King Aghasthya Swaraj about the recurring attacks on the villagers of the Sharad Dynasty that aren't caused by the Clan of Almourah. On further analysis, it has come to our attention that your Constellia, being an extra loud and ferocious supernatural animal, is behind some of the fatal effects on the people. A couple of cases are registered under your name, and the Panchayat is ready to issue a warrant for arrest if this continues. Exactly twenty-six people have died of cardiac arrest and other twenty are suffering from severe brain damage. Even the knights are being tortured and refuse to work with your Constellia when on duty. The villagers are scared and are raising the vexed question of exactly how many days they will be having you as their Samagraha in charge. This is your final warning. Control your Constellia. Otherwise, Panchayat will be forced to take legal action against you.

Regards
Imtiyaz Jafar
The High King of Paramarashtra.

"Villagers are scared of me now?" I yelled, letting my irritation out that I had stuffed within me for the past few months. I glared hard at him. He had his face laid down on his paws and was shooting vapors out of his mouth in the evening's foggy weather. "See what you did! What were you thinking, Singh?"

"First of all, I can think whatever the hell I want," he drawled, steamy vapors blowing out of his mouth, "and second of all, they are not scared of you, they are scared of me. So beat it."