WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 20: The Twin Vendors

The market place was very vacant; there were hardly any people. The whole Swarnapuri cried in anguish when they heard the news. But life has to go on, so people slowly started to carry on with their business, but still that affected all the trading. Nazir and Wazir found themselves enough free time to chat about the latest happenings.

“Ho Bhai Nazir, what an ill fate!” Wazir began to shake his head vigorously.

“Let the Lord bless her, Bhai Wazir.” Nazir could only pray. He wished in his heart that Princess had not eaten the poisoned apple.

“If I were to get them, I would throw all my apples and kill them.” Wazir clenched his hands thinking of Mountain Witches.

There was hardly a soul in the Market place, everything else looked very vacant. Even many vendors had not made their minds to come to market. Soon an armored guard walked into the market and stood at the two twin vendors.

“Aren’t you the two who supplies fruits to Palace Yesterday?” He asked looking at both intently.

“We are; what is the matter?” Nazir and Wazir replied at the same instant looking very surprised.

“You are to meet our King immediately, he wants to see you.” The guard passed on the message. The two twin vendors looked at each other in great astonishment. This is the first time their King had summoned them. Nazir started be feel the pang of fear, least he did not want the King to think it was them!

“Lord! What is your game?” Nazir uttered looking at the sky.

“Fear not Bhai Nazir, for we are pure souls and the King knows it too.” Wazir understood what is going on his brother’s mind. He knew that the King would be very reasonable enough to see it, although at outward, it seemed right to suspect them.

**

Nazir and Wazir walked to palace as fast as they could. The palace had the great air of depression all around; still there were lots of guards strolling everywhere. The guards at the door ushered them to the inner Palace silently.

Once inside the inner private chamber they saw the King pacing here and there with a very worried face. Leaving all their thoughts Nazir and Wazir walked towards him and bowed in respect. King Maheepati looked at them for what seemed to be a very moment without speaking.

“Oh lord! We are at your service.” finally Wazir dared to speak. He disliked silence, be it of any kind.

“As you know, Princess has fallen ill after eating an apple, hence I called you here.” King Maheepati walked closer to them looking at them intently.

“We swear - We know nothing about that Oh lord!” Nazir replied earnestly, he did not want the King to think it has anything to do with them, although they were originally from Sampada, the hateful neighboring Kingdom.

“He is right my lord! We are as innocent as the Princess.” Wazir supported his brother bowing his head in respect.

“I know that, respected vendors. I called you here to ask for another help.” Suddenly the King smiled at them gently.

“Help! What help can we do, my lord?” Nazir and Wazir expressed their surprise at the same time.

The King walked further and kept his both hands on their each shoulder. He knew well about them. He knew they were originated from Sampada Kingdom, just like the great Priest, he knew they were very kind hearted souls just like Vaachaspati. He had no intention of suspecting them although; they were the one who supplied fruits to Palace regularly. 

“You can my dear brothers; I would be grateful if you could travel to Sampada and bring Hakim Ajmal Sahib here.” King Maheepati looked deep into their eyes, he was now the father of a sick Princess, and he was a man who needed all the help from kind hearted souls.

“But - But my lord! Swarnapuri and Sampada are really in bad terms.” Wazir spoke first; he at once understood the problem. The great Hakim, Hakim Ajmal Sahib was their uncle. They had shared the same blood, although for his own reasons Hakim Ajmal Sahib wished to stay in Sampada after the war.

“I know, and you two are the only people who could dare to do that.” King Maheepati looked at Wazir, he knew the Sampada King. He would never help them in this matter; rather he would be pleased to t*****e them by forbidding the great Hakim Ajmal Sahib from entering Swarnapuri. Hence, he had thought of seeking the help of these two twin vendors who could bring the great Hakim in secret.

“If it helps in curing Princess illness, we promise; we will bring Hakim Ajmal Sahib.” Nazir pushed his chest forward in pride and assured the King. He wanted to help the King at any cost and he thanked the lord! He had given them a chance now.

“And we shall dare risking our lives for a noble cause.” Wazir bowed showing his assurance as well on the matter. He knew very well that if the Sampada King found them, certainly he would not lag behind in hanging them out the same instant. Sampada King despised people who had dared to desert him after the Great War. All the same, Wazir wanted to help, if he could.

**

Saba and Baba hurriedly entered the Palace. Once coming out of the forest they had met the messenger who had informed them about the ill fate of the Palace. Saba and Baba knew snake venom is always dangerous and had less time to cure; hence they had almost run their remaining way to Palace. The guards soon ushered them into the Princess chamber hurriedly.

“We are here, oh lord!” Saba announced themselves bowing his head.

“Wanderers of the forest, I seek your help.” King Maheepati looked extremely pleased and formally began to address them with the current affairs.

“Oh King! Allow us at once; let us not waste any time.” Baba knew she had very little time just by a glance; he wanted to avoid all the formalities for later. He knew every moment counted now.

King Maheepati nodded his head in agreement and gave way for them to examine at once. Saba and Baba knelt beside the bed on either side and started to examine her carefully.

“Yellow, the dark yellow BA” Saba opened the eyes of Princess and looked at the color.

“Faint, very faint SA”, Baba searched for veins in the wrist and counted it for a few moments.

“Thick white foams BA” Saba opened her mouth and took the sample of white foams on his hands and examined it.

“No response SA” Baba rubbed her both palms vigorously.

“We have little time, Oh King.” Saba said hurriedly and began to open his rucksack.

“Oh Lord! Save her – Save her for me.” King Maheepati was devastated; it seemed as if the fate was completely against him.

“Open her mouth, SA.” Baba took out some herbs and leaves and began to rub it very hard on his palm and let the droplets fall on Princess Mouth.

“Pour to nose and ear as well BA” Saba observed at once. He knew it would be wise to flow the potion in different directions and places for it to work better.

“I see improvement SA” Baba took her hands and began to feel the pulse holding her wrist.

“Light Yellow BA”, Saba opened her eyes and examined the color again.

“Less foam SA,” Baba opened her mouth wide and observed that the foam had stopped remarkably.

**

It took one hour further more for Saba and Baba to complete their treatment. The King Maheepati and Queen Keertidevi waited patiently while praying the god to give their only child back. Saba and Baba had to use all their skills in stabilizing the poison from spreading. They used many of the ancient methods taught by their father.

“Oh lord! We only could stabilize her.” At last Saba stood up wiping his hands on a piece of cloth.

“You mean she is out of danger.” King Maheepati wanted to hear that magic words. He had waited for that since long. His and Queen’s eyes was blood swollen. They had not slept or eaten since the incident.

“No, my lord! This is a very rare and deadly poison. None of our herbs can bring her back.” Baba walked across the King, he wanted the King to know that truth at once.

“However, she is going to hold on for about a month’s time.” Saba looked at the King with sympathy and said in a low voice. He was thankful that they could at least stabilize her for about a month’s time. That would certainly give enough time to probably locate the right potion.

“Yes my lord! And before that, you have to find the right plant or potion which can remove the poison completely.” Baba added giving all the needed information to the King. He knew King Maheepati would not rest until he found that. But unfortunately, Saba and Baba could not name the plant for they have never seen this kind of poison for themselves.

“Where would I get the right plant? And what is its name?” King Maheepati wanted all information immediately. He was ready to risk anything for that plant.

“We, the wanderers of the Forest too don’t know my lord!” Saba has to say that, he knew he was disappointing the King, but the truth should not be concealed at any cost.

“For, we have never come across such deadly poison.” Baba sadly added their ignorance. 

“I request you to send for Hakim Ajmal sahib, for he has played with many deadly snakes.” Saba knew it was only him who could identify the poison as he had charmed all sorts of snakes on earth.

“Yes, I already have. Let us hope that he knows and has the right herbs.” King Maheepati signed deeply, now he could only hope. He wondered how fast the things have changed since the Palace priests witnessed the dark clouds. He knew in his mind that this was the work of Mountain Witches, yet he could not reason it how? At the same time he did not want to admit it openly for it terrorized him, he knew the Mountain Witches could extremely be dangerous if they wanted too.

Keertidevi had heard all their conversations silently. Her sorrow was boundless. She thought she was very lucky to be married to the King of Swarnapuri. She was not a Princess, she did not even have had any royal blood in her, she was from a common family, yet the King himself had fallen for her and dared to marry her. Least she wanted was to lose her only daughter.

“Oh God! Have mercy, have mercy on us.” She silently began to sob again; she had hoped in her heart that the Wanderers of the forest would definitely be able to cure Princess, but again the fate seemed to enjoy its cruel game on them and continued to out-match them. 

****