"Someone tall, handsome, strong and sweet."
"He's all that," Mansoor admitted reluctantly, knowing Kunal was everything but sweet. "But he's not a prince, you know."
"I've met enough princes in my life," she scoffed. "It's probably better for me if I end up marrying you instead of your brother! But I'm very curious to meet Jeevan as well..."
Mansoor sighed, thinking he probably wasn't Kanya's ideal – too short, handsome maybe, strong most definitely not, sweet probably. Was she planning to have Jeevan as well?
The jungle ended abruptly, opening on the wasteland that had become Arquon when two angry dragons burned down everything. The fire could have reached Agharek and most of Rajendra if it hadn't been stopped by the rivers. It had cleaned the surroundings of the northern town of Leland, though, and heavy logging had contributed to the shrinking of the green patch.
Kunal and his party went directly to the governor's palace, but the prince heir wasn't interested in hearing how the town was doing, nor the recounts of the dragon attack. He needed to know if Jeevan and Bindya had been seen in town, passing through or even settling, although that seemed unlikely. They probably hoped to find refuge in Rajendra at this point. The only good news was that the new prince heir of Rajendra was his former sword-teacher, who had been born in Leland, therefore his hometown was very proud of the fact that one of its citizens had now married the only heir of the neighboring kingdom.
Kunal was very happy to hear that too. He could always ask Kumar to give him back the two runaways, if they indeed had found refuge beyond the border. The thought sent Mansoor into panic. He remembered vaguely the young man who had saved Yash's life in a tavern brawl and had warned their father about Arquon. But ten years had gone by, and he couldn't say he knew Kumar. What if he accepted Kunal's unfair request and handed back Jeevan and Bindya?
Mansoor knew Jeevan and Bindya couldn't know about Kumar's past, so he decided he must find them before Kunal and warn them not to cross to Rajendra. Unfortunately he had no idea where to start looking.
Frustrated, he left the governor's palace for a walk in the sunny streets as he mulled over the situation.
"Prince Mansoor?" A potter was calling him.
"Yes?" he answered, puzzled.
The potter signaled him to enter his modest shop, which he did. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness inside, he saw Jeevan and Bindya sitting with the potter's wife.
"Please, take a seat." The potter offered a cushion and sat on the bare ground as soon as he crouched down, still too puzzled to speak.
"If you're here, so is he, I take it?" Jeevan asked.
"Yes. And he knows the future king of Rajendra personally, so you won't be able to find refuge there."
"I know him very well too," the potter said. "I have been invited to relocate in Argantael and planned on bringing my younger cousin and his wife with me."
Mansoor stared puzzled at Jeevan who smiled.
"The Nagra clan spread everywhere. I was born here, but moved to Agharek when I was five. This is my cousin Jayanta, who grew up with Kumar and the Orphans. He spent six years in Arquon, prisoner of the Sect then the late King Neeraj set him free."
"After Prince Yash's death," Jayanta added.
"Did you see him die?" Mansoor asked, his heart beating faster. Ten years later he'd finally know how Yash had died. His father never received a straight answer from Arquon about it.
Jayanta nodded. "He was burned in the Goddess Pit, but his soul was already dead. Ramesh and Neeraj abused him until he could take it no more. And when Princess Meena died in childbirth, he saw the sacrifice as deliverance. I think your brother Karan met the same fate, but with Keiko as High Priestess, when Kumar had already killed Ramesh."
Mansoor wasn't expecting an answer to Karan's fate as well. So the former sword-teacher had exacted revenge on the Sect and the whole of Arquon before becoming prince heir of Rajendra.
"He had married Princess Indira after killing the High Priest King," Jayanta said. "But he ran away for a year, hoping to avoid facing Keiko."
"I really want to see Kumar again," Mansoor said. "When are you leaving for Argantael?"
"Tomorrow at dawn," Jeevan asked.
"I'll come with you. And we go tonight. I'll bring horses."
Jeevan and Bindya shared a saddle, while Jayanta and his wife shared theirs with their four children, the fifth and eldest having to ride with Mansoor who led the way, determined.
But when they reached the border river, Kunal was already there, waiting for them with his men.
"Your escape attempt is over," Kunal said. "Jeevan, you'll end up in a cell, unless you piss me off before we get back to Agharek. Bindya, you will marry me. And you, Mansoor..." Kunal stared at his younger brother ominously. "I had warned you. You lied to me and even worked against me."
"Kunal, I..."
Kunal unsheathed his scimitar, spurring his horse towards his brother.
"Kunal, you can't!" Mansoor panicked. "I was only trying to help!"
Kunal raised his arm, ready to hit.
"Kunal, I'm your brother!" Mansoor screamed.
The scimitar fell without mercy, giving Mansoor an instant death.
Bindya hid her face against Jeevan's chest. He held her tighter, staring at Kunal with contempt.
"You killed your own brother, Kunal," he said through clenched teeth.
"And I'll kill you as well if you don't take your hands off of my betrothed," Kunal replied, the bloody scimitar ready to hit again.
Bindya pulled away from Jeevan, but he didn't let her go.
"He must not hurt you," she whispered. "Let me go. I'll be back."
He let her go with a frown.
Bindya slid off the saddle and walked to Kunal, looking him boldly in the eyes. "Are you happy now that you caught me? Are you done with killing innocent people?"
"I'd kill your father and your brother as well if they tried to oppose me," he replied putting away the scimitar.
She glared at him speechless, and he grabbed her waist, pulling her in front of him on the saddle. "You're mine now," he said before kissing her.
Jeevan clenched his fists and his lips, then got off the saddle too.
Kunal pulled out his scimitar again, holding Bindya close to him. "Don't even think about it," he threatened. "Don't make me lose my patience. You should know by now I'll do anything to have Bindya."
"You shall never have her heart," Jeevan said.
"I'll have that too, eventually." Kunal scoffed. "But you won't be able to see it."
He raised his scimitar again.
"Wait." A woman's voice, and it wasn't Bindya.
Kanya stepped forward, staring at Jeevan but walking towards Kunal. "You still owe me, Kunal. I can't marry your brother, you better give me something for breaking our betrothal."
"What do you want?" Kunal snapped.
"That man." She pointed her finger at Jeevan.
Kunal's eyes went from Jeevan to Kanya and back, then he suddenly smiled.
"Well of course, Kanya. Jeevan is all yours. You can take him home to Gajendra for all I care."
He spurred his horse away, leaving Jeevan with the princess and her escort.
"I'm not ready to go home yet," she purred, reaching out for Jeevan. "Let's go back to Agharek for now."
"What should we do with the others?" the captain of her escort asked, pointing at Jayanta and his family, silently waiting for their fate.
"We don't need them, do we? Let them go," she shrugged.
Jeevan nodded at Jayanta who prepared to cross the river with a sigh.
"Help me, Father."
"I cannot help you, Bindya. Prince Kunal is our overlord. Besides, why do you complain? You were born a commoner and shall become a princess, maybe even a queen..."
"But I want Jeevan!"
"Enough tantrums," Ajay cut in sharply. "You were enough trouble already, for both us and Jeevan. You better obey and do what you're told now."
He ha
d come back to Agharek as soon as he had heard the prince had left for a hunting expedition and had found a temporary job at the palace. He didn't look happy to see his sister again, nor the fact that Jeevan had disappeared into the royal palace.
"Calm down, Ajay. Come on, Bindya, Prince Kunal can't be that bad..."
"Can't be that bad? Father, he killed his own brother!" Bindya protested. "He destroyed our family, makes me fight my beloved brother, has given my man to a foreign princess, and you tell me he can't be that bad? He abused his power all the way to the Rajendra border and I still don't know why his father doesn't stop him!"
"I mean, you might learn to appreciate him. After all, he's very attractive."
"Oh, please! Beautiful but heartless, you'll see what happens when he becomes king! Besides, I want Jeevan!"
"Enough!" Ajay slapped her. "You're a woman, you should obey your male relatives!"
He calmed down, seeing her distress. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I'd do anything to make you happy. But we can't win against him, Bindya. You said so yourself, he killed his own brother. He's the prince heir. I tried to talk to the king, but he won't listen. We have no choice."
"I know," she whispered, dejected. "I'm sorry. I better get ready. Pray for me."
Ajay hugged her as she silently cried on his shoulder.
"I don't understand why you resist me," Kanya said pulling away from Jeevan with a frown.
He relaxed a little but didn't reply. He'd have preferred a prison cell to the company of the beautiful princess. In the cell he'd be free to think about Bindya and plan revenge on Kunal. Being locked up in Kanya's bedroom with the princess constantly trying to seduce him was much harder to bear. He loved Bindya, but he wasn't made of stone.
"You must love her very much," Kanya continued, disappointed.
"Yes." He turned to look at her. "Please help me to save her."
"I'd lose you."
"You will never have me. I don't belong to you."
"While you're here with me, I still have hope. If you leave with her, I'll never have you."
"You'll never have me anyway," he said averting his eyes. "And I don't understand how you can accept being discarded for a commoner."
"Well, I had a prize for that." She caressed his chest, coming closer again. "I think I'll take you with me when I go back to Gajendra."
"And what will your father say? You're a princess, I'm a commoner."
"Arquon and the Sect are gone, and there are no more princes available to marry," she shrugged. "Well, there's Anjaan of Lakeshi, but I don't like him and neither does my sister. I guess we can both marry whoever we want, which is perfect, because I want you." The last sentence was a sensual whisper.
She pulled him closer and kissed him hungrily. He stiffened, but a part of him was sick of fighting and wanted only to surrender and forget.
"My lady, Prince Kunal sends this for tonight," the young servant said, offering a silken embroidered sari for the official betrothal night.
"I'm so sick of obeying," Bindya sighed. "Leave it on the bed and come here."
The youth obeyed and joined her by the window, but remained standing instead of sitting next to her.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Hemal."
"Are you new?"
"Yes, my father sold me to pay a debt."
"So you've been sold too." She smiled ruefully. "How old are you?"
"Fifteen, my lady. If I were older, I'd have run away."
"You're your father's property until you start your own family," she shrugged. "And it's your father who chooses your bride."
"Yes, they think they're so much wiser than us and that we cannot choose..."
"Because they had no choice! Anyway, at least you don't have to marry someone you despise, like me. Would you help me, Hemal?"
"To do what?" he asked, puzzled.
"To see my beloved again. I'm sure he's still here somewhere."
"Jeevan is in Princess Kanya's apartments," he said, lowering his eyes. He knew her story, then. "They never come out. I think she's trying to seduce him, as sometimes we hear her laugh, sometimes she screams."
"Gods." Bindya closed her eyes as her heart sank. "Where are the princess's apartments?" she asked then, staring at him, determined.
"On the other side of the palace, my lady. And there are guards in front of the doors as the princess doesn't want to be disturbed. But today Prince Kunal visited her."
"Really? What for?"
"He told her to go back to her father and take Jeevan with her because while he's here you'll never surrender."
"I won't surrender anyway," she said through clenched teeth.
"If you want me to help you, you must surrender, my lady," the boy said. "So Prince Kunal won't send Jeevan away and you'll be able to see him again."
"I'm afraid you're right," she sighed. "Go now. If you manage to see Jeevan, tell him I still love him."
Hemal bowed and left. She stood up and went to the bed, touching the sari that had been made for a princess.
She scoffed. She was no princess. Kunal thought he could buy her with expensive gifts.
Two maids came in to help her prepare, skillfully draping the embroidered sari and combing her long lush hair in a complicated hairdo decorated with gold that matched the dress.
They were barely finished when Kunal's footsteps approached the room. I hate you so much, she thought as he entered while the maids bowed and backed away from her. She put on a mask of serenity to hide her true feelings before turning to look at him.
He smiled, satisfied, and kissed her bejeweled hand, adding another golden bangle to her already charged wrist.
"You're the most beautiful woman in the world," he said sweetly. Sometimes she wondered what he was really like, the haughty and cruel prince or the sweet lover.
"Thank you," she said hiding half of her face behind the veil of the sari like all good-mannered maidens should do.
"And in a few days you shall be my bride," he said pulling her to her feet and holding her close. "I look forward to it."
She nodded, unable to speak. He caressed her cheek, thoughtful.
"I told Kanya to go back to Gajendra but she asked to attend the wedding," he said. "Do you mind?"
She gulped down her first answer. "Of course not."
He looked puzzled by her obvious surrender – she hadn't given any venomous answer nor tried to get rid of his hands yet.
He grinned, letting her go. "Does the dress please you?"
"It's... the most beautiful I've ever worn," she answered, and it was true. Not that she cared.
"I'm sure we'll get along very well," he said. "And I promise not to touch you until you are my wife."
"You are too kind," she said thinking the exact opposite. She followed him to the great hall for the banquet, praying her mask would hold for the night.
Jeevan sighed one more time. At least he was alone. Beautiful Kanya had gone to a meeting with the king, his heir and her father's ambassadors, probably to settle her situation with her former betrothed.
Jeevan had tried to leave the room, but the guards at the door had stopped him. He could only sit and wait, trying to think. Except Kanya and Kunal were the strongest and there wasn't much he or Bindya could do against them. The servants' passage was locked – until Ajay came through it.
"Ajay! Have you found a way out?"
"No, my friend, but come with me, quick!"
Jeevan followed Ajay through the narrow passage. At a crossing with another corridor they met Bindya and Hemal with a torch.
"Jeevan!" She rushed into his arms and he held her tight. Ajay and the boy backed up a little, leaving them almost in the dark in the windowless passage.
"I can't believe it," he whispered caressing her hair and face.
"I needed to see you and hear how you're doing," she answered, looking at him adoringly.
"I'm doing great now that Kanya is busy and I'm with you. How a
bout you?"
"I had to relent a little with Kunal so he wouldn't kick out the two of you."
"Yes, Hemal told me. He's a smart boy." He glanced at the young servant who was waiting with Ajay.
"If I have a son, I'll call him Hemal," she said, knowing her first choice would never be accepted by her future husband.
They stared at each other in spite of the scarce light in the passage.
"The wedding is near, huh?" he said.
She nodded. "In three days." Her voice was choked. She curled up against him, desperate. "I don't want any of it, Jeevan!"
"You must obey. I'll find a way to escape from Kanya's grip and will come back to save you."
"I'll wait, then." She shivered in his arms. "But I'm scared."
"Of what? You weren't scared in the jungle..."
"That was different. The man we're dealing with is worse than lions and tigers."
"True, but don't worry, everything will be all right."
"Even when he'll discover I'm not a virgin anymore?"
He gasped, taken by surprise. He had forgotten about that. It was so obvious to him that he and Bindya belonged to each other, he hadn't considered the haughty prince might want the same thing.
"I'm sorry." He squeezed her in his arms.
"I'm not sorry you were the first," she replied with a smile before kissing him.
They didn't have much more time together. Ajay and Hemal brought them back to their respective prisons. But Jeevan swore he'd eventually free both of them.
"The wedding was as sumptuous as expected, but the bride looked a little pale," Kanya said, slumping on the bed.
Jeevan didn't move from the window and pretended not to hear.
"Jeevan," she called, chiding.
He turned his head to look at her.
"Come here," she ordered.
He obeyed. She pulled him down and embraced him.
"Bindya is married," she said, satisfied. "Tomorrow we go back to Gajendra. And you will be my lover forever."
"Your father granted me you were still a virgin," Kunal said with a frown.
"I was," Bindya replied, looking him in the eyes. She pulled him closer to kiss him, but he freed himself, glaring at her.
"Who did it?" he demanded.
"What do you care? I'm your wife, now, will you discard me only because you weren't the first man between my legs?"
Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition) Page 12