The Dark Of The Light ||| (ON HOLD)

Olathe

It was five days journey to Olathe. On the way the Royal convoy had stopped to set camps for the night.

As they crossed the mountains and descended onto the valley the picturesque City of Olathe came into view. It was cleaner than Lachlan. The houses were slightly larger and made of better quality stones, mostly granite. The convoy traveled along the winding roads as people gathered on both sides to welcome the Emperor. Showers of rose and lilies fell on the carriages which hurled past the Zaidenians.

The convoy halted in front of a fort as the drawbridge slowly descended to welcome them. The fort inside was huge, made of sandstone. They drove along the cobblestone and reached an inner courtyard. The princesses descended from the carriage as they were ushered inside. The chief of Zaiden Gregor was waiting for them inside the lavish fort hall. Gregor was a plump man. He had beady eyes and a bushy moustache. He belly protruded out. Numerous Gold chains hung from his neck. His Angavastram was made of pure muslin. Unlike other Brahmins Gregor wore colorful clothes instead of the usual white. He was a little taken aback by the wolf that accompanied the children. Quickly recovering from the surprise he bowed down along with his belly when Vayuvijay stepped into the hall.

"Your majesty we are honored by your presence." He slurred.

"At ease, Governor," Vayuvijay said.

"The quarters are already prepared to accommodate your highness." Gregor said in the same slurry manner. Would your majesty prefer to rejuvenate from the exhaustion of the journey."

"On the contrary I would prefer to be updated immediately, of the present status of Zaiden." Vayuvijay said assertively, "But my fellow travelers could do with a little bit of rest I believe."

"Ofcourse your highness." Gregor motioned the hand maiden's, who quickly came forward and collected the baggages that had been laid down by the royal company and offered them to show their rooms. The princesses along with Shivashakti and Anakul followed.

************
As Ajinkya and Adhaata trailed after the hand maiden Aboli bringing up the rear, climbing up the spiral stone staircase that took them to the second level of the Zaiden Fort, they couldn't stop admiring the intricate architecture.

The room they were to share was quite large with an attached balcony. A large four poster bed with pink canopy occupied most of it. A large window opened to their right. The two sisters walked up to savour the view outside. The sky was a bright hue of crimson as the sun disappeared behind the mountains. They could hear the din of the city from here.

"It is beautiful," Adhata remarked.

The hand maidens laid down the trunks, and bowed before leaving them to their privacy.

Little Adhaata longingly stared at the courtyard below where the children, of the Kshatriyas and Sudras in charge of the Fort, were engaged in some game.

"Will they play with us?" Adhaata asked hopefully.

"Even if they don't I have Surya and Aboli." Ajinkya replied smugly.

"Will you and Surya become man and wife someday?" Innocent Adhaata asked.

"Of course," Ajinkya replied confidently "when we grow up I and Surya will be like Father and mother and we have five children."

"But father says one shouldn't have more than one child to maintain the balance of nature." Adhaata warned.

"Well," Ajinkya said thoughtfully "then I shall have one human baby and four wolf pups." She cuddled Aboli as the wolf growled contently.

The stood at the window chattering away.

************
Vayuvijay frowned as he shuffled through the scrolls of record Gregor had provided.