Shatru Sesham: Sequel of Baahubali ✔️

Chapter Hundred

"The treasury has been robbed!"

A guard burst in on the assembly of people. The color had deserted his face. His hands and feet were trembling. He held a sword in his right hand and his left hand cupped over a spot beneath his chest. Blood oozed from his wounds. He gasped for breath as he dragged himself in before collapsing in front of everyone.

All the people fell silent. The ministers and noblemen wiped their foreheads. They looked everywhere except right ahead where the inquisitive eyes of their new sovereign and the people were boring holes into them.

"What happened?"

Bhagiradhi's thunderous voice resounded through the silence. Her steely gaze was fixed upon them. She walked up to where they stood. Their feet were jittery. They would have dissolved into a puddle if they could.

"Who did this?"

They fumbled with their clothes. They cleared their throats, but no sounds followed.

"I call forth an emergency council meeting immediately", she announced. "The celebrations and festivities are postponed."

The people dispersed, talking among themselves and shaking their heads. Mrithyunjay and Gajendra followed Bhagiradhi as she gathered her billowing robes that fluttered in the wind and sashayed imperiously within the palace.

The ministers had gathered in the royal court. They rose up and down like an overwrought spring at the slightest sound or provocation. They had a scared and hunted look in each of their faces.They were afraid of being questioned because they didn't have the answers. Even if they knew the answers, they didn't have the solutions.

"It's the sea pirates Simhamukha and Shatadru", said one of the ministers finally growing a spine. "They have been staying in the palace since a while. We didn't pay much attention to their movements or behavior. Only they could have done this."

Mrithyunjay paced the hall up and down before he declared his determination, "Every minute we spend discussing this and finding out whose fault it is, the treasury and the bright future of our entire people is going farther and farther away from us. I will comb the seven seas. I will hound them to the ends of the earth. I will return only after I have discovered where the wealth of our people is and punish those bastards with my own hands."

Bhagiradhi had anticipated he would say this. She said, "Let preparations be made for the journey."

Gajendra advanced towards her to convince her to the contrary, "But why Bhava? Somebody else can..."

"It is not my money or yours. It our people's hard-earned money. I trust him", she said holding her palm in front. She reiterated, "I trust only him."

Mrithyunjay's eyes brimmed up with love and gratitude towards Bhagiradhi for understanding his decision and letting him go. He strode forward, his footsteps firm, and his intent murderous. He reached the mammoth doors of the court. His pace slowed down a bit and his expression softened as he turned back to catch a glimpse of his pregnant wife before leaving.

Mrithyunjay and his crew did not have time to fully prepare for the voyage. "How are we going to find them, Mrithyunjay? Simhamukha and Shatadru have already had a head start over us. They could be anywhere in this vast sea. We are already traveling on half-provisions. We won't last for many days on our existing resources", his first mate said.

"Ration out stuff wisely and equally", Mrithyunjay said. "I am just going by a hunch I have. They won't choose a route that falls under our jurisdiction or belongs to any of our allies. If they take this route, we will catch up with them near these straits."