WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 3: A Sneak

Vaachaspati began to remove the old flowers from the idol first. He loved this temple, the temple of lord Shiva. He was very grateful to King Maheepati for making him the Chief Priest of this temple. He himself being a great devotee of Lord Shiva enjoyed his position as the Chief Priest.

It was a very beautiful morning; he knew people would come much later. Slowly he began to chant sacred mantras while decorating the idol of Shiva with fresh flowers. Slowly people have begun to respect him here; in Swarnapuri, just as people did in Sampada Kingdom once. Many people would ask him innumerable questions about their off spring’s future. People also loved his holy speech in the evenings. Recently he had observed many people started attending it regularly.

Sometimes people would also come to his little hut in the fisherman colony for an advice or a prediction of their horoscope. He felt his life has started to bloom again, although the pain of being called an ‘outcast’ by his own people of Sampada Kingdom would remain for long. He thanked Lord Shiva for giving him a loving wife and three kids and a new life, here in Swarnapuri Kingdom.

Suddenly it began to darken up inside the little chamber where the big idol of Lord Shiva has kept for worship. It was very early in the morning, wondering about the weather, Vaachaspati kept the bamboo bowl filled with flowers down and walked outside. He looked at the sky and for an instant he was speechless. There was a peculiar dark cloud which moved towards Palace. This was very unusual; he had never seen such dark cloud so early in the morning. He began look at them with more attention.

“No!” he cried aloud at once, for this was not the dark cloud that sometimes they observed during a heavy forecast. This dark cloud moved with purpose and in a definite direction. They clearly headed for the Palace. Vaachaspati estimated their trajectory and was horrified at the thought. The dark clouds were indeed coming from the mountain in the east.

It could only mean that they were sent by the Witches of the Mountain. He had heard numerous tales about the Witches of Mountain. The Witches of the mountain were very famous for their dark magic. He knew they longed to avenge the King Maheepati of Swarnapuri. Does this dark cloud mean some trick from them? He closed his eyes with utter concentration and began to open his inner mind for clear indication.

At once he realized the dark clouds were indeed sent by Witches of Mountain for he could hear their screams and laughter in his head. He opened his eyes and stared at the clouds which stopped moving and stood still exactly on top of the Palace. Vaachaspati at once understood that they are up to something new. ”Oh! Lord, save our King - save Swarnapuri from the wicked clutches of mountain Witches.” he prayed aloud.

**

King Maheepati began to pace here and there. He was very worried with what Palace priests have observed. Could that be possible? He has to alert his guards, many thoughts began to form in his head. He even did not notice his Queen Keertidevi walking towards him. He was much immersed in his thoughts. She placed her hands gently on his shoulders.

“My Lord! You seem to be in utter distress, what ails you?” Queen Keertidevi was very much concerned.

“Ah!” he looked at her with surprise, “Queen, there is a reason to be distressed. “   

The compassionate Queen took his hands on her, “And what is that my Lord?”

“The Palace Priests have witnessed the dark clouds on our Palace.”

“Dark clouds! Oh Lord! It means the Witches of the Mountain, isn’t it?”

Maheepati clearly saw the fear in his Queen’s eyes, “Yes, it is them my Queen, it is them, the Witches of the Mountain, they seem to be active again after twenty years.”

**

Vaachaspati took the mat from his hut and walked outside. It was his habit to sit with his kids outside his hut after the night meal. He saw the three kids sitting just outside the hut in front of a small fire made by Atma. Atma was very good in making fire. He spread his mat beside them and sat calling the name of Lord Shiva loudly.

Bakula looked up at him with eager in his eyes, “Father, what you are going to teach me after Vedas?”  Vaachaspati knew his son was very eager to learn, but somehow he felt less enthusiastic today. He was depressed with what he had witnessed earlier today.

“I have taught you enough my boy.” that was all he could say. Atma looked up at him; he at once understood that his father is really worried about something.

“Father, you look worried, what is the matter?”

“Yes, I am dear; I learnt that you have read the signs of stars, what do they say?”

Atma lowered his head before answering, “The positions clearly indicated a war, father.”

Vaachaspati chuckled at once, “A War! Who is going to dare to war against this mighty Kingdom again? That’s impossible my son; however, I too noticed the dark clouds.”

Bakula at once showed interest in the conversation, “Dark clouds! They are sent by Witches of the Mountain, isn’t it father?”

Vaachaspati looked at both of them and said, “Yes; Atma and Bakula, I strictly forbid you two from roaming in the forest henceforth.”

Atma and Bakula could only look at each other with a mischievous smile and nodded their head; they knew their father would be angry if they questioned him further.  

**

It was a lovely morning; Chitrakshi carefully began to pile up the pillows on her bed. She placed out them and arranged so that they could be made up to as her size and shape. Once done, she covered the colorful cloth on top of it; it indeed looked like a sleeping Princess.

“What are you doing Princess?”

Chitrakshi was suddenly startled by the voice, but she soon recovered knowing it was only Mani, her best maid.

“Ah! Mani you did scare me.”

Mani walked in and looked closely at Princess arrangements of pillows, “What does this mean?”

Chitrakshi looked at her grinning mischievously, “Well, Princess Chitrakshi is sleeping, so don’t disturb her and allow no one including the King and his Queen.”

Mani looking very scared said, “But Princess, you will fall in trouble, it is not safe to go out.”

Chitrakshi at once panicked, tears began to shed from her beautiful and delicate eyes, “Mani please let me out, and I will come back soon, please.” 

Mani at once felt for the teen girl, she knew she can never say no to her Princess; she hated seeing tears in her beautiful eyes. Mani began to smoothen up and all she could say was. “Ah! I cannot say no to my Princess, but do hurry back,” at the same time she was immensely curious, “Do tell me where are you going first?”  

Chitrakshi began to wipe away her tiny tears and hugged Mani before whispering in her ears, “I am going to see my friends Atma, Vasundari and Bakula.”

Mani made her to promise that she would be back before the mid day meal. She watched as Princess walk away in joy. She always wished to see her cute Princess in such a happy mood. It has been fourteen years since she was here in Palace as a Princess maid. Each day she found her affection growing towards the beautiful Princess. It was Mani’s responsibility to look after the needs of Princess. She knew at times Princess could be extremely stub born, but Mani did not mind it. She knew well that Princess longed for friends of her age for she had none here in the Palace. Mani only hoped that Princess would return safely and everything would be fine.

**

Gorma and Rukma had been watching the mud pot since yesterday. After their initial success, the mud pot kept on showing the same old stay images of King, Queen and Princess. There was nothing new, or ongoing one.

“Gorma - look here! Pictures of Princess – look.”

Gorma opened her eyes at once; her eyes brightened up as she saw the clear sequences of images showing Princess walking out of the Palace.  

“Gorma, she is going out!” Rukma cried in excitement again. At once Gorma stood up and looked at her younger sister laughing happily. “Ha ha ha and it is time for us to act, get ready Rukma.”

“What are we going to do?” Rukma showed her confusion.

Gorma replied with an irritated look on her face, “Don’t be a fool Rukma; it is time for us to take Princess into our possession.”

“You mean we are going to take her, Ah! What a good idea Gorma, you are some Witch.”

Gorma took her small sack and began to fill in her staffs, “Now - now don’t go on praising me, fill our stuff’s into this. First we are going to take Princess away from the heartless King so that we can demand our wish once again.”

Rukma walked across and took her broom, “Gorma, I am all set to fly again.”

**

“Has father left to temple?” Atma whispered to Bakula.

“Yes, he has, it is time for us to sneak.”

“Where is she?” Atma wanted to make sure Vasundari is inside.

Bakula cast an irritated glance before whispering, “She is in the kitchen helping mother, let’s hurry! Least she may find us.”

Both started to walk out without making noise. None of them spoke again until they were far away from home. Bakula and Atma had planned a secret adventure of sneaking to Palace without Vasundari. They knew very well that she would be a hindrance rather than help for she talked too much and asked too many questions when she should not.

Bakula had planned their visit well in advance. He wanted to sneak in through the back fort of the Palace. He knew very well that there were only two guards at the back door. He had a plan to trick them as well.

**

Princess Chitrakshi walked cautiously towards the back fort. She too knew that the back fort has fewer guards. She moved around without making much noise. She passed the servants quarters unnoticed. Once she passed the quarters she saw the two guards guarding the back fort. She sneaked carefully towards the old well located right side and just outside the quarters. From there she could see the two strolling guards clearly.

Chitrakshi began to wonder whether she can trick them. She gave a thought of running wildly, but she realized at once, she would be caught in no time. The guards certainly would out run her tender feet. Looking here and there she found a big stone lying near the east wall of the well. Her mind began to work fast, yes, DISTRACTION, that’s what would work for her.

Sneaking quietly she fetched the stone, it felt far too heavy for her little fingers, but being very determined she carried it near the well. Chitrakshi knew she would have the advantage of only some moment’s distraction, in that short time she has to sneak out of the big iron door unnoticed. Carefully she laid the stone on top of the well wall. Just across the well, lying was a short wall of about two feet that could hide her until she reached the fort gate.

She knew the fisher men’s quarters was not too far away from the back fort, it was almost very close to the river. Taking deep breath she pushed the stone into the well and quickly hid behind the two feet wall that ran almost until the back gate. 

There was a great sound of thud as the stone found its destination in the well. The two guards at once turned towards the sound. Very cautiously they began to make their way towards it. As they moved in, Princess Chitrakshi moved out in the opposite direction well concealed under the small wall. She heard their footsteps stopping near the well and knew they will be peeping into the well soon. This was her time.

“What was that?” The guard with a thin moustache peeped in.

“Looks like something hard has fallen in,“ She heard the other guard say, without wasting much time she ran through the back gate and within seconds she out of the back fort gate and made her way towards the thick bushes. 

****