Shedding ROYAL Blood

▪︎1▪︎Pt 2▪︎Her Right On Him

Panipat Province, Capital of Rajputana Empire

▪︎Amrit▪︎

I opened my eyes to a dull morning after a passionate night and smiled. Kunwar Sa was getting ready, with a few maids surrounding him, putting on his robe, his turban and necklace.

As he saw me open my eyes, he passed a slight smirk and gestured something to one of the maids.

She walked out and brought a small bowl of a herbal mixture. This is where I am reminded what I am, a slave and not a wife. He has cleared it years ago that he has two sons and he doesn't want any 'accidents'. Gone are the days when these words used to hurt every morning. Not anymore. I took the silver bowl and gulped the liquid in one go.

"Amrit, We have a meeting with the army commander, then we're going to the border camp for the whole day." He turned to another servant and said, "Ask Maharani to be ready for Tilak. I'm coming."

Tilak (A red dot applied on the forehead between the brows, it is considered auspicious.) Chandrika's right on him. Doing his tilak to get him God's blessings whenever he goes to war or an important work.

I nodded, pushing away those thoughts. "Your highness, I'll get the horses ready and meet you at the main gate." I said walking quickly to my room to freshen up.

All the guards standing there, the maids walking around are used to seeing me walking away in a dishevelled state every morning. Gone are the days when they used to stare with deplorable eyes. Once Kunwar Sa's thundering voice shut them up forever. They don't even look up now.

I accompany him to everything he does. May it be his meetings with men, or spending time with his soldiers at the camp, or in the court of justice for the common people, or in the special conference room. I'm always by his side, no matter how people see us. Sometimes, he takes my opinion about a few things too.

***

I wore an offwhite long frock and churidaar, suitable for horse riding, tied my hair in a tight fitting bun. Can't take one palanquin to the forest. It would slow down the speed of the whole troop.

The whole day passed at the camp and we returned to the Palace late at night. Some soldiers suggested to camp there till morning but Kunwar Sa seemed tense about something and refused. As we entered the gates of the Palace, he descended from the horse and walked to his Chamber without another word. I went to my Chamber but his restless face wouldn't leave my mind. I took a quick bath and walked to his Chamber.

I don't usually do that, unless he calls me. But right now, he is more important than what people think. I was about to go in when two guards crossed their spears in front of my face. "Amrit, Kunwar Sa wants to be alone." One of them said.

I was angry. I pulled those spears away with a jerk and said, "don't you dare pull off such a stunt next time or I will make sure you suffer!" I hissed angrily and walked inside before he could stop me.

Kunwar Sa was sitting on the bed massaging his head and I placed a soothing hand on his shoulder, "Any problem Kunwar Sa?"

He opened his eyes and a weird look crossed his face which I couldn't decipher. Like he had found a solution for whatever he was battling with.

"Amrit?" He asked differently from his usual commanding tone. It was soft and filled with concern.

"Come here." He said, pulling me gently beside him.

"Is everything alright Kunwar Sa?" I asked. "Is something bothering you?"

"If I ask you to do something for me, will you?" He asked firmly, but not ordered. What is happening?

I nodded. "I will."

"No matter how difficult it is?" He asked again.

"I'll try my best not to let you down."

He exhaled a relieved sigh and said, "Come with me."

I walked behind him to the conference room where discussions with his Council of ministers were held. He stood at a distance, facing the other side, his hands securely interlocked at the back and started speaking, "As you see we've been at loggerheads with the Mughal Sultanate (Empire) for decades trying to preserve our culture, our motherland, our blood. And until now, we've been successful too. We have a large Kingdom with more military might but we have to work hard to keep it that way. From Agra, the Mughul Empire has only been expanding towards the Maratha Territories. It has annexed many of them and continues to grow."

"What now?"

He knows it already. I know it already. We hear the news from messengers everyday. Then why is he so worried today all of a sudden?

I nodded and let him continue until he made sense. "All this time, we had an upper hand because of our spies in Agra, and deeper, even in the Palace, who gave us the news of the ongoing plots and plans, sudden attacks and we could be ready beforehand."

"Then what happened now? What has gone wrong Kunwar Sa?" I asked impatiently.

"Our surface spies, outside the Palace, are caught and killed. And we have no news of what's going on. The last news we heard was, that there's a chance for a battle with the Maharaj (King) of Benaras."

"Kunwar Sa that's wrong! According to the standard Protocol, they first have to send an Ambassador to Benaras asking them to respectfully come under their rule." I reasoned.

"Exactly. This War and this fσrςed annexation should be stopped. It would strengthen their monarch too much. They'll be as powerful as us, the whole Rajputana combined. I need the details Amrit. And our spy has all the details, it's just that the security has increased around the borders of Agra and for emigrants. So he can't deliver us. Someone really trusted from our side should go to Agra and retrive it."

I couldn't understand the point of conversation until he held me gently by my shoulders and asked, "Will you do this for me Amrit? Will you go into the lion's den and retrieve that for me?"

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