Shatru Sesham: Sequel of Baahubali ✔️

Chapter Sixty-Seven (Part 1)

At Nachiyar's Camp,
Jangamaiyya who had been entrusted with the responsibility of seeing to it that Nachiyar's absence from the camp went unnoticed by anyone was getting restless. Nachiyar had been absent from the camp on a number occasions like this in the recent past. He knew that she was onto something really big. As Nachiyar rode in, he exclaimed, "Thank goodness! You're back. You didn't take any soldiers with you either. I was scared something had happened. The Marar clan have informers and spies all over Vijayapuri. And you know they are stooges of the Suras."

"You are right Aiyya. Something has already happened. Our queen in back", Nachiyar as she jumped down from her horse.

"Maharani Shodasi Devi?" Jangamaiyya astounded by the revelation.

Nachiyar patted and combed the mane of her horse as she tied him, "But not here Aiyya. I will tell you everything."

Both of them retreated to a cottage that had been thoroughly inspected and sound-proofed to discuss the recent developments. Jangamaiyya shut the door behind him. Nachiyar had finished lighting the earthen oil lamp as Jangamaiyya approached her with a perplexed expression on his face, "What's happening? You have never kept anything from me. Is our queen really coming back?"

"The costal fortress of Sagara Durga has been captured. I have already met Maharani Shodasi Devi who appraised me about her strategy and war plans. She has raised quite a formidable fighting force in all these years. There are elite Persian regiments, armed mercenaries and her own troops."

"How is it that this news has not reached the ears of the Suras or the informers and spies of the Marar clan?" An astounded Jangamaiyya asked.

"Subahu's soldiers and the commanding officer manning the fortress have been held captive. The news of its fall has been carefully suppressed", Nachiyar replied. "The chieftains of all the major clans in Vijayapuri are coming here tomorrow eve for discussions and negotiations."
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At the hideout,
It was a very happy reunion between Aditya Varma and his two nieces.

Greatly exhausted by the events of the day, Bhavani slept off like a child as soon as she reached the hideout. The old physician had also retired for the night. The hideout constantly echoed with the noises of war preparations.

Aparaajitha picked up one of the swords was being sharpened and examined its tip, cut and thrust, "Good. We need to produce three thousand more like this one. Where are the spears and arrows?"

She walked up to the corner where these weapons had been stacked and personally checked their quality. Cauldrons of hot boiling concoctions were being carefully monitored by Aparaajitha's troops.

Aditya smiled, "Is everything to your satisfaction?"

"I was simply making sure everything was", Aparaajitha laughing off her extra-cautiousness.

"We will be leaving for Kunthala tomorrow morning as soon as dawn breaks", Aditya informed Aparaajitha.

"I thought we could spend some more time together and get to know each other", Aparaajitha said, feeling a bit disappointed. "I hoped that you and Bhavani would take part in this war."

"I would have loved to, dear niece. But circumstances in Kunthala compel our return. We were planning to retake Kunthala on Rama Navami. But the public outrage against the administrators of Mahishmati was so great that a minor incident blew out of control inciting a full-fledged rebellion among the populace. Instead of sticking to the original plan, my men also joined the people. Most of Subahu's subordinates and soldiers have been publicly executed or imprisoned. The rest have fled Kunthala."