Shatru Sesham: Sequel of Baahubali ✔️

Chapter Seventy

Aparaajitha ran to her foster mother and hugged her. Tears were streaming down from her eyes. Shodasi Devi proudly showed her to Vijayamarthanda, "You want to know who she really is? She is my daughter.... Mahendra Baahubali and Avanthika's scion, Bhagiradhi."

Shock and astonishment were writ on his face. He laughed in derision. He mocked, "I should have never given both of you the chance to escape."

"Who are you to give us a chance? It was God's wish to give us this chance", Aparaajitha fierily retorted.

"I will give you a fair chance, Vijayamarthanda, to defend yourself. I am not you to creep through the back door in the dead of the night unannounced. Fight like a warrior or be prepared to die ignominously like a traitor", Shodasi Devi offered.

Vijayamarthanda sighed before he agreed reluctantly. All doors and avenues were closed to him. His soldiers were all bound and bundled in a corner. An open ground near the shrine was chosen for the duel.

Everyone had gathered to witness his downfall. They were all mistaken if they thought Vijayamarthanda was going to go down without putting up a fight. He would live and die on his own terms.

It was nightfall already. Lanterns were lit all around the space where the duel would take place. Vijayamarthanda could feel the hostility in the eyes of the spectators. He averted his glance and diverted his attention towards his opponent.

The former queen inclined her eyes towards two swords and shields placed on a pedestal. "Choose our weapon", she said.

Vijayamarthanda picked up one of the swords and Shodasi Devi picked up the other. Swords and shields in hand, both of them stood on their guard. Vijayamarthanda's sword raced towards Shodasi Devi's neck. She stood still till the last minute before she defended with her shield.

Vijayamarthanda tried to press his advantage by making a comeback from the opposite direction. Shodasi nimbly stepped aside, making a sharp cut just below his abdomen. Vijayamarthanda fell back trying to read his opponent's mind.

Shodasi slid on her knees towards Vijayamarthanda. The sharp blade was aimed at his knees. He leapt into the air to avoid her attack. She stopped her slide midway and thrust her sword near his hip instead. Before Vijayamarthanda could retaliate, she retreated. Blood started oozing out. His green silk dhothi started turning red.

He was livid with anger. His fingers dug into the handle. After a sharp intake of breath, he lunged towards her. He tried to impose upon her with his superior and bulky frame. However, her lithe and agile form broke free from his stranglehold.

The wind had picked up. The clouds darkened and became heavier. A stray streak of white kept appearing between cloud to cloud every now and then.

The flags of Vijayapuri and Ashwakootam were fluttering in the air. An unusually strong gust of wind blew down the flag of Ashwakootam. The eight horsed chariot embossed on the fabric lay rolling in the mud. The three crossed swords on Vijayapuri's flag continued flying upright.

Beads of sweat perforated Vijayamarthanda's forehead. He wiped it with the back of his hand. Gritting his discolored and uneven teeth against his lips, Vijayamarthanda tried every move in the book. Shodasi had an answer ready for every move of his.

She had thoroughly studied him and his style of fighting. He started panting for breath. His shield flew from his grasp and landed among the spectators who cheered loudly. He continued fighting without his shield.

Shodasi Devi had been tiring him out throughout this time while conserving her own energy and stamina for the final lap. He became desperate. His blade whipped through the air. It missed Shodasi by a whisker. Everyone gasped.

She bent over backwards in the nick of the moment. Vijayamarthanda was preparing to swing his sword again when she thrust her sword into his chest without rising up from her backward bent position. As Shodasi Devi retrieved her sword on rising up to the standing position, Vijayamarthanda fell face down, his bloodied face kissing the soil of Vijayapuri.

The people of Vijayapuri heaved a sigh of relief. They danced with joy. This festival had truly brought the light into their lives. Their oppressor and tormentor was no more. It had taken nearly fourteen years to overthrow his greedy and evil reign. Now both Vijayapuri and Ashwakootam were conquered by Bhagiradhi and Shodasi Devi.

Shodasi Devi announced, "I took a long while in coming back. I apologize to my people for that. This win wouldn't have been possible without their love and support for me. I today declare my daughter, Bhagiradhi Devi as my sole and rightful successor. Ammavari jathara modalettandi (Begin the festival of the Goddess).

Nachiyar and all the others hailed their queen and Bhagiradhi. They swore their collective allegiance by bending on their knees before them. Their voices went hoarse shouting, "Shodasi Devi ki Jai! Bhagiradhi Devi ki Jai!"
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At Mahishmati,

Athikay was in a very murderous mood. He had received news just a short while ago that Prince Narasimha had reached the palace. Subahu had given the orders for the Yuvaraju Pattabhishekam (Coronation of the Prince) to proceed as planned without any changes. He had planned to blow this issue out of proportion and topple Subahu from power. But Narasimha had foiled all his plans by arriving in time for the coronation.

As he hastened outside the palace, he knocked a servant who was taking back empty silver glasses and jugs to the royal kitchen, "Get out of my path, you scum!"

"I wasn't ...."

He backed up the man against the wall and drove his sword into his breast, "Dare you argue with me?"

He gestured his soldiers who were following close on his heels to dispose the man's body. They bowed low to him, "Yes, Sire. We will ensure he is found with important state documents beside him."

Athikay left his men to do his dirty job for him as he spurred his stead towards the location where his secret private army had been stationed. Shatadru and Simhamukha were awaiting him to discuss the sudden change in plans.

End of Book Nine: Reconquest of the Triumvirate

Author's Note:

Thank you to all my wonderful friends and readers who kept me going with their words of encouragement and motivation. As a Deepavali gift, I am posting seven back-to-back chapters today. Please read from Chapter Sixty-Seven (Part 1) to Chapter Seventy.

As I informed earlier on my message board, I won't be posting chapter by chapter. It is affecting my flow of writing. I will try to complete a significant section of the story before posting it here on Wattpad. Please do not ask for the next update before Sankranthi or Pongal.

Please answer the questions below. Your answers will tell me the things that worked and the things that didn't. It will help me greatly while completing the rest of the story.

Which character arc did you like the most? Pick any two.

List any three chapters that you loved till now.

List any three scenes or passages that had a great impact on you.

Where do you see all the characters at the end of this story?

Which is your favorite story book till now?

Are there any improvements that you can think of?

Have there been occasions where you have been confused, baffled or irritated by what was happening in the story? If so, when?