Renuka took his hands.
"Think about it," she said. "I'm always ready to run away. Go now. Come back as soon as you can."
He looked her in the eyes and squeezed her fingers. She freed herself and moved away from him, signaling him to go.
Tushar slowly went to prepare the escape.
***
"I've been told you summoned a male servant to your room, unattended," Anjaan said. "If you need anything, maids and ladies-in-waiting are there for you."
"What if... I wanted something a woman cannot give me?" Renuka replied with scorn.
He lost his patience and grabbed her arm with fury, raising his other hand to slap her, but he kept it threatening over her.
"You are mine, if you want anything from a man, that's what I'm for," he said through clenched teeth.
"What if I don't like you?" she replied, daring him to hit her.
He closed his fist and pulled down his arm, letting her go while glaring at her with fury and passion. "What's wrong with me?" he asked, frustrated. "Why don't you like me?"
"Because you're a spoiled prince."
He took a deep breath and calmed down. "And an experienced lover," he said recovering his haughtiness. "I'm sure I'm better than your hunter or your gardener. And you love me for that."
"I don't," she said, pouting. "Don't touch me."
He took her in his arms and put her on the bed. She vainly tried to push him away.
"Why," he said showering her with butterfly kisses, "you don't like how I touch you?"
He certainly knew where to put his hands and lips.
"Let me go!" she moaned. He closed her mouth with his.
***
"Renuka." Tushar shook her awake in the darkness of the night. "It's ready, come. A barge will take us downriver and then we can embark for Gajendra or Akkora. The palace is asleep, let's go."
She followed him immediately through the silent royal palace and outside. They reached the river and found the old barge. They embarked under the stars and the current quickly dragged them away from the capital.
Renuka curled up against Tushar.
"Thank you," she whispered, kissing his cheek.
Tushar closed his eyes and held her tighter. Soon she was asleep again, but he couldn't find rest.
***
"Renuka!" Anjaan called one last time. Furious, he punched the empty, unmade bed, falling on it in frustration. The bed-sheets still held her smell, but she was gone again. He sent out the royal guard one more time, pacing the empty room.
He really loved the beautiful noblewoman and didn't want to share her with anyone. Especially not a commoner. After being shunned by foreign princesses, he had decided to pick a bride from Lakeshi – but his choice had been bad, apparently.
He loved fighting to win a woman's heart, but Renuka had gone too far. He had had her body – like haughty Indira, now happily married to a commoner, no, an adventurer – but now he wanted it all. He had enough of chasing brides, he needed to get married and start producing real heirs, not bastards.
While he waited for news, his mood swinging between rage and sorrow, he remembered every word he had exchanged with Renuka since they had first met. He'd never give her up. He couldn't accept being refused by a woman. Renuka must be his sooner or later, body and soul. She could keep trying to escape, but he'd find her always. She belonged to him, forever.
At sunset his captain told him that a woman looking like Renuka had been seen on a barge, headed for the sea with a young man.
"She found another accomplice?" he raged. "She won't find Manish waiting for her, I swear!"
He stormed out of the palace, followed by his guards.
***
Manish was busy with the blooming flowerbed and didn't hear someone approaching. But when he got to his feet to observe his work, his eyes met Prince Anjaan's.
"What else do you want, my lord?" he asked, unafraid.
"Your Renuka escaped again, she's probably coming back here," the prince answered sharply.
Manish smiled. "I knew she'd resist you," he said.
"Who do you think you are?"
"You are our master, but my lady never liked to obey anyone. You are the prince heir, but she will not surrender to you. She prefers nobility of heart to nobility of birth."
"Shut up, gardener! Don't make me lose my patience or this time I'll kill you!"
"You're a coward." Manish stared at him, undaunted. "You're stronger and you know it. I can't do much against the all-powerful prince heir, can I?"
"Exactly. You'd better obey me, Manish, and do what I tell you. I shall pay you, and you won't regret following my will."
"I'm not interested in money," he said looking at the flowers and the luxuriant plants of Renuka's father's garden. His most precious flower was lost, though, the one he had silently adored for years until she had noticed him and blessed him with her love.
"You're a stubborn fool!"
"Maybe. But I truly love my lady Renuka."
Prince Anjaan stared at him with a frown before speaking again. "I had her."
Manish glared at him. "You lie. She'd never give herself to someone like you."
Prince Anjaan scoffed. "Why not? You should have heard her moans of pleasure when she was in my arms..."
"Enough!" Manish lost control and clenched his fists, ready to hit the noble and handsome face of the prince heir. "You're a liar!"
"Ask her when you see her." Prince Anjaan smirked.
Manish tried to hit him, but the prince blocked both his attempts. Prince Anjaan was older and much better trained than him, so he had to pull back, panting with hatred and frustration.
"You had no right to force yourself on her! She was mine, you had no right to touch her!"
"Yes, Manish, she was yours. Not anymore. And I didn't have to force her. Thus, whenever you see her, send her back to me and I'll marry her."
"Never!"
"You want to keep her even if she's not a virgin anymore? How will you know her first child isn't mine?" Prince Anjaan scoffed again.
"I hate you!" Manish attacked the prince again, trying to tear his eyes out with his fingers. Prince Anjaan easily defended himself and sent him tumbling on the flowerbed.
"I already told you, Manish, don't make me lose my patience or I'll kill you." The prince pointed a threatening finger at him. "Will you obey me?"
"No!"
Prince Anjaan grabbed him and slammed him against a tree trunk, one hand on his throat almost choking him.
"You listen to me, you stupid gardener. Either you do what I tell you or you die before Renuka gets here. Your choice."
"What... should I do?" Manish surrendered, half choked by the prince's hand.
Prince Anjaan let him go and he tried to catch his breath, holding his bruised throat.
"Glad to see you can still use your brain," Prince Anjaan said. "When Renuka comes back, you will reject her on the grounds she cheated on you. I'll do my best to console her from the rejection. Like I said, I'll pay you, and if you don't want money, I can relocate you, but you shall never ever try to contact her again, or I'll really kill you. Is that clear?"
"Crystal clear," he answered lowering his eyes and leaning on the tree behind him because his legs wanted to give way under him. "But I can't do what you ask. I can't lie, I could never reject her. And you could never repay me for such a sacrifice."
Prince Anjaan snorted. "You are stubborn, Manish! You can have any woman if you help me to seduce Renuka."
"But I want only her!" He was desperate now. "How can you not understand?"
Prince Anjaan pulled out his scimitar, swinging it fluidly to cut Manish's belly open. The gardener fell on his knees, too stunned to react, staring incredulous at his own blood pouring over the grass.
"You're an idiot," Prince Anjaan grumbled. "I have warned you. Die, idiot!"
He bent to clean the bloodied blade on the flowerbed and left without looking back. Manish slid down to the ground and
stared at the leaves over him. So much light...
***
"Manish!"
Renuka ran through her father's garden towards his favorite spot. She found him lying by a tree in a puddle of his own blood.
"Manish!" She screamed in horror and rushed to him. She pulled him up and saw he was still alive, but barely. His eyelids were heavy as he tried to look at her.
"Renuka..." Even his voice was fading out.
"Who did this?" she demanded, tears in her eyes.
"Anjaan... Run, Renuka, or he'll get you..."
"No!" She held him tight, sobbing. "I'll stay with you!"
"Run, Renuka," he whispered. "I don't want him to get you."
"Oh, Manish, if you knew what he has done..."
"He told me." His smile was tired, his eyes closed again. "I don't care. I love you. Go now, he can come back anytime."
"I love you too, Manish, I love you so much, don't leave me please..."
He opened his eyes again, tried to speak. He gulped. "A kiss." Again, barely a whisper.
She complied with passion, then felt he was gone. She started sobbing again, holding him and calling him in vain.
***
Tushar waited at the only inn of the village outside the walls of Renuka's father's palace. He was nervous, knowing he'd soon meet his real rival.
But Renuka came back alone and visibly shaken. He helped her to sit down on a stool, worried by what her pale face meant.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Anjaan came first," she whispered, upset. "He killed him."
Tushar held her tight, feeling sad for both of them – and the rival he wouldn't meet after all. He wasn't happy or relieved by the news, as they could both easily end up like poor Manish now.
He embraced her in silence, wondering what they should do now. Get back on the river barge and leave the country as he had originally hoped to do? She had asked him to stop by her father's and he couldn't refuse her, but now what?
Their mourning was interrupted by Prince Anjaan and two of his guards.
"So, here's your accomplice." The prince scoffed at Tushar. Renuka stared at him with hatred and terror. "What a sweet welcome," Prince Anjaan said, sarcastic. "You look so happy to see me, Renuka!"
Renuka hid her face against Tushar's chest.
"I see I must use force once more," Prince Anjaan sounded impatient now. "Fine, let's finish this. You hold the traitor," he ordered the guards.
He grabbed Renuka pulling her away from Tushar who stiffened in the guards' hands.
Renuka screamed and fought while Prince Anjaan took her away, laughing mercilessly at her distress.
Tushar clenched his teeth but didn't move, so the guards exchanged a quick glance, shrugged and let him go.
***
The more she screamed, cried and begged, the more Anjaan went back at her with violence and passion. Eventually he was spent and stopped his sexual assault, lying over her. Renuka shivered with pain and sobs beneath him. He wasn't too happy with himself, but he had to tame her. Her father had spoiled her too much, like King Arjun with Indira! But she wasn't a king's daughter, so she'll have to surrender eventually. Her father hadn't stopped him when he had abducted her – he probably didn't like the fact that she wanted to marry a commoner either.
"Enough," he said, bored, adjusting to his living, trembling mattress. "Manish is dead, what else do you want? Shut up and enjoy my touch, it's about time you accepted your new life."
"I hate you!" she said with anger through her tears. "You're an assassin, you killed him!"
"Who?" he asked, holding her wrists and staring at her beautiful face with feigned innocence.
"Manish!" she screamed, exasperated.
"Who is Manish?" He continued his cruel game.
"Enough!" She tried to push him away, but he held her still, laughing at her useless attempts.
"Stop rebelling, Renuka. You're mine and nobody can save you," he told her threateningly.
"I don't think so."
Anjaan looked up and saw the hunter with his bow ready, an arrow pointed at him. "By all the gods! I told those idiots to kill you!"
"Not really," Tushar scoffed. "You told them to hold me. You were so busy with Renuka you forgot to tell them what they should do with me. Now get off of her."
Anjaan obeyed only because the arrow was still undeniably pointed at him.
"Is it poisoned?" he asked.
"Yes," was the sharp reply.
"And what will you do? Would you really kill the prince heir?"
"Why not? He has proven unworthy, after all, I owe it to the country that you never become king."
"You won't get out of the palace alive."
"I have Renuka's father's protection. And the king has been informed of your evil deeds. You will let Renuka go now."
Anjaan pursed his lips, frowning. "Mind if I put some clothes on?"
"You should die naked, but whatever." A smile flashed on the hunter's face, and the pointed arrow kept following every movement.
Anjaan picked up his clothes along with a small throwing knife. He waited for Tushar to look at Renuka and threw. But Tushar avoided the knife and shot his arrow, hitting Anjaan in the chest.
A poisoned arrow. Anjaan collapsed to the ground, knowing he had lost.
***
Tushar lowered his bow, staring at the short agony of the prince heir with a frown. He had killed Prince Anjaan for Renuka's love. Was it worth it?
He looked up at her and slowly walked to the bed. She was hiding under the bed-sheets, and her sobs had ceased. She seemed to be holding her breath in the sudden silence.
He sat on the mattress and slowly peeled away the bed-sheet, uncovering frightened, desperate eyes.
"It's over," he said gently, caressing her hair.
"Thank you," she said serious, finally uncovering her mouth.
"Where are your clothes?" He looked around.
"I'm afraid you'll have to find me new ones." She blushed.
He smiled and looked around the room. He found a chest of saris and a couple of bodices, and went back to her. "Here."
"Thanks. You don't need to turn around."
He gave her his back anyway. She looked ashamed enough already.
"I disgust you, don't I?"
He barely heard her question.
"No," he answered, shaking his head and slowly smiling. He didn't turn, though – he didn't want to embarrass her by looking at her before she was fully covered.
"Tushar." Her arms circled his torso from behind. "Do you want me, Tushar?"
He slowly turned around, his heart slowly filling by happiness. Yes, it had been worth killing the prince. He had earned Renuka's love and not because he was the only survivor. He could see it in her eyes.
"Why do you ask?" He laughed. "I never stopped loving you!"
Renuka smiled at last and held him tight.
"I love you, Tushar," she declared with a sigh of happiness and relief.
The Dancer
The dancer arrived at Argantael from a faraway northern kingdom. She was almost fluent in the southern language and traveled with her own musician. Her dance-steps were new to the court, and the accompanying music was also different, even if the instrument played was similar to a local one. She made strange figures with her arms, and danced on tiptoes, opening her legs like a contortionist both in the air and on the ground.
Kumar thought not even Aishwarya had impressed him that much. The foreign dancer had normal blue eyes and brown hair, wore a wide gown that flew around her like flower petals, and seemed lost in another world when she danced. Aishwarya had been formally perfect, but soulless – this girl put everything in her dance.
Transfixed, Kumar stared at her figures and imagined her doing them over him instead of the floor. He was aroused simply watching her, and suddenly his wife, Indira, his children – Tarun, little Rani – and the rest of the court (including baby Neha who slept in her cradle outside of the great hall) di
sappeared around him. He was spellbound by the foreign woman who danced alone.
The music finished and the dancer bowed, a little out of breath. The applause snapped Kumar out of his state, and he glanced at the people around him, jarred by their presence. He needed to talk to that woman, he wanted to hold her, touch her...
He took a deep breath, trying to control himself while conversations resumed around him and the dancer sat in a faraway corner of the great hall with her musician to eat and drink something.
"She's good, isn't she?" Indira asked.
"Yes," he said quickly. "We should keep her as a permanent attraction."
Puzzled, Indira glanced at him, then at the dancer. "She can entertain us for a month or two," she agreed. "But I'd let her leave afterward."
"Sure." He lowered his eyes, hiding his emotions. Suddenly he wanted to leave the palace again to follow the dancer wherever she'd go.
No. He had to be responsible now.
Tarun, who was now five-years-old, nestled against him, finally distracting from his newly-born obsession. Sickly Hayato hadn't survived this far, his premature birth hadn't allowed him to live longer than two years. That was when Rani had been conceived, on the day of little Hayato's death.
Maybe he should just tell the dancer to leave now, before he ruined his family with his own hands. He thought he had found peace and fulfilled his dreams, and now everything was upset again.
Their eyes met for a moment and his heart sank. Maybe it was too late already.
***
"Sometimes I miss our fermented apple juice," Bella said after a long sip of water. "And the snowy winters."
"I'm surprised you can dance at all in this heat," Matteo smiled. "My lute is rotting. Are you sure you want to reach the extreme south?"
"Yes," she answered, grabbing a piece of meat and nibbling at it. "If only they didn't make everything so spicy!" she sighed.
"He can't take his eyes off you," Matteo warned, staring at someone beyond her.
Too busy with her food, she didn't turn to look. "Who?" she asked.
"The king," he said gloomily. She shrugged.
"You should be used to it by now," she said.
"I thought you had had enough."
"We knew what they were like when we came south."
Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition) Page 14