“Why can’t we make an alliance with the asura?” Dhanush said. “They are almost as powerful as the demigods and their strength is growing. Allying with them safeguards our coasts and allows us to focus on the rakshasas on the south. We can take back the Dandaka Hills. And to me, it makes more sense to be allied with the asura who live close by than with the demigods who live on their flying continent distant from the realities of the other two worlds.”
The court murmured in agreement.
Chandra sighed. “Dhanush, the asura are not trustworthy. They have had designs on our lands for a long time. Plus the demigods are not as distant as you may think. Their penance to the Sun God has given them astravimana which fly across the skies of Jambudvipa. They can launch attacks anywhere on the continent. They are the more sensible option.”
“I think you are afraid to wage war,” Dhanush said.
The court gasped. Only the sages could be so defiant to the king. The accusation of fearing war was the worst insult a warrior could receive.
“Afraid?” Chandra lifted his hand and curled up his fist. “Ask the soldiers whose horse it was that led the charge against the Danavas. Ask the demigods whose astra it was that took down the city of Sutala. Ask them if I know fear.
“I have faced more foes in battle than you have hairs on your head, child. Don’t think that you have become a warrior just because you beat some paltry apes. I command we let the apes have the hills.”
“But, Father...” Dhanush began.
“Silence,” Chandra said. “Do not speak out of turn in the court ever again.”
“I have a say in how the country is ruled,” Dhanush said. “I will be the king one day.”
“Only if I choose,” Chandra said.
The court was stunned by Dhanush’s outburst. Now he hung his head at his father’s wrath, and Kautilya felt bad for him. It was shameful to be reprimanded in public.
Chandra sighed. “The court is dismissed.”
Everyone poured out of the courtroom.
Kautilya walked up to an agitated Dhanush.
“Father was too harsh,” she said.
Dhanush nodded. “It’s so frustrating. You know this policy of appeasement is alienating the Lohithas. The apes are not a big threat. Plus the asura are gaining more influence on Jambudvipa since their alliance with the rakshasas.”
“Father must have some...” Kautilya began.
“What do you think, Kautilya?” Dhanush asked.
“It doesn’t make sense to me, either,” she replied, “but the king has more experience. Some things can only be learned with time.”
Dhanush scoffed. “In that case, would an aging tortoise beat a young lion?”
Kautilya grinned. “It’s not the same.”
“Princess,” a courtier interrupted them, “your father is summoning you.”
Kautilya bade Dhanush goodbye and walked into the courtroom where her father was waiting for her.
“I am disappointed, Kautilya,” Chandra said. “I did not expect my son to act so arrogantly. Power poisons the mind. It takes great strength of character to be a ruler.”
He held up a letter. Kautilya had written to him that she preferred staying away from courtly affairs. “Are you sure you do not want to be part of the court any more?”
Kautilya nodded. “I am happier being a princess. I’d rather concentrate on my own studies.”
Chandra put a finger under her chin. “What will you do with all your time? Do we need to find you a man?”
Kautilya was alarmed. “No, I don’t want to be married yet.” But her mind inadvertently slipped to images of Jay.
“Then what do you want to do?” Chandra asked. “I can see you are lonely, dear one. My time will come soon. Your brothers need wives too or they will become more reckless. How can I marry them off without finding you a husband?”
Kautilya nodded.
“Is there someone on your mind?” Chandra asked.
Kautilya shook her head frantically. She was too embarrassed to bring up the topic of Jay.
“Fine,” Chandra said. “Let me discuss this with the council. We can find you a handsome prince.”
On her way back from the court she cursed herself. It had been a perfect opportunity to bring up the subject of Jay. His father had been Chandra’s best friend. She could have tried.
The next day the court heard about Kautilya’s decision.
“It is wonderful news,” the Chief Priest said. “We can consolidate your alliances with the two other major families. Prince Jansa is of marriageable age.”
Kautilya’s heartbeat quickened.
“The eldest Lohitha is the one looking for a marriage,” Jansa pointed out.
“But he is already set to marry the Magadha king’s eldest daughter,” someone else objected.
“Enough,” Chandra said. “We will conduct a swayamvar.”
Kautilya’s heart skipped a beat. That meant she could choose her own husband. She adored her father more than ever.
“Of course,” the Chief Priest said. “A contest whose victor will get the princess’s hand.”
“Yes,” Chandra said. “That is how I won Subadra and that is how I wish my daughter to be married.”
Kautilya was horrified. They were going to do a ritual swayamvar. Instead of choosing her husband she would be given away to the winner of some pointless contest. It was demeaning.
“Send out the proclamation,” Chandra said. “We will have the ceremony in a month’s time.”
***
That night Kautilya was weeping in her chambers when she heard the door open and turned around to see it was her father.
“Why are you crying, Kautilya?” Chandra asked.
“Why am I crying?” Kautilya repeated incredulously. “You’re going to give me away in a contest!”
“I thought you would be happy,” Chandra said. “You told me you did not have anyone on your mind. The gods will choose the best among all your suitors.”
“But I am a person with my own will,” Kautilya said, “I thought you were different, Father. But you’re just like the rest of them.”
“Kautilya,” Chandra said, “what do you want? Tell me.”
He kept his hand on her shoulder but she slapped it away.
“If you really cared,” Kautilya said, “you would already know what I want.”
It was the first time she had ever been angry at her father. But, it was not anger. It was disappointment.
“I do not want to see you,” Kautilya said. “Go away.”
Chandra walked away. He stood at the door. “It’s true I don’t know what you want. But it’s not because I don’t care. It’s because I’m a fool.” He left the room.
Kautilya thought about Jay. She chided herself for not suggesting his name when she’d had the chance. Now it was too late. The contestants would begin arriving soon.
***
It had been a month since the proclamation.
The swayamvar was to be held at the biggest arena in the capital, and Kautilya arrived decked in the traditional bridal garb of gold jewellery and red silk. She hated the ornate earrings and the giant nose-ring they had put on her. She would rather have arrived in her regular clothes and put off any suitors.
She received the customary blessings from each of her elders in turn. Finally, she reached the king. She had not talked to him since the day he had announced the contest. He smiled at her as he blessed her but Kautilya merely pursed her lips before taking her seat at his side. Her brothers were enjoying the whole affair.
Kautilya could hear the rumble of the masses that had gathered at the arena. It often hosted races, archery competitions and mock battles. But the spectacle of princes contesting for the right to be the princess’s groom had attracted the biggest audience of all.
&nb
sp; Sons from all the noble families had arrived. Marrying Kautilya would mean being a part of the most powerful family in Bharat.
Kautilya studied her suitors. Some of them were handsome, some were strong, but none of them was Jay. They all observed her keenly. Some smiled at her lecherously, sending shivers down her spine.
“The time is nigh,” the Chief Priest said and stood up.
Then he bellowed: “Warriors of Bharat, the stars have aligned this glorious year to venerate and celebrate the great power that is the Shveta dynasty. Today, the beautiful Princess Kautilya, the flower of the dynasty, has offered her hand to the one who will prove his mettle. The princess’s hand will go to the one who will succeed in the Lion-Killing Rite.”
Kautilya gasped and the crowds cheered. She saw the ones who had come to contest go pale.
The rite involved the suitor going into one-on-one combat with a lion with only one weapon. Either the lion was killed or the suitor.
“So who among you now will take up this challenge?” the priest asked.
All the suitors averted their gaze.
Only three warriors had been known to survive the rite. The most recent had been Chandra himself, who had been the first in several generations to slay the lion. Legends were told of the then-young Shveta prince’s battle to win the hand of his beloved Princess Subadra.
“So, is it no one?” the Chief Priest asked. “Does no one dare?”
He was met with silence.
Kautilya heaved a sigh of relief. Though it was embarrassing for the Shveta family that none among the suitors even attempted the battle, she was happy to be spared from becoming a trophy.
“I will attempt to win the princess’s hand.” A familiar voice broke through the silence in the arena. Kautilya’s heart sank as she realised who it was.
“And who are you, son?” the Chief Priest asked.
“I am Jay Bhadra, son of General Vasu Bhadra,” Jay announced as he laid his claim. “Allow me the honour to fight for the princess’s hand.”
The crowds roared in approval but Kautilya feared for his life.
CHAPTER 19
Man versus Lion
Kautilya gaped at Jay. Her heart melted as he smiled at her. He was dressed in armour and carrying a shield and a spear.
The cheering subsided and the whole arena filled with silence again. Jay walked dragging his shield and spear along with him until he reached the centre of the arena.
Kautilya saw half a dozen ape slaves run to the other side of the open space. They lined up next to a large wooden door. The whole crowd now had their gaze fixed on the door. One ape began to unlock it as others took defensive positions.
“Hail war!” a voice shouted from the audience.
“Hail war!” another joined in.
“Hail war!” The chant grew louder.
Kautilya watched as more and more audience members joined the chanting of the sacred war cry. She then turned to stare at the door through which Jay’s nemesis would arrive. The ape was almost finished unlocking it.
“HAIL WAR! HAIL WAR! HAIL WAR!” the whole arena boomed.
Suddenly a massive beast burst out of the door and let out a thunderous roar. The whole arena was silenced. The apes scrambled back towards the wall in fear.
Kautilya gulped. This was the biggest lion she had ever seen. Its scarred face was contorted in rage. It slowly scanned its surroundings. Kautilya saw it sniffing for its prey. Suddenly it turned its big head towards Jay. Its eyes widened in bloodlust and it began walking slowly towards him.
Jay immediately took up a combat stance. His left leg was placed forward, bent at the knee, while his left arm held up the shield. With his right hand, he held up his spear. Kautilya’s heart was beating faster and faster as the lion got closer.
Suddenly the lion leapt at Jay. Jay ducked his head and pushed as the beast crashed onto the shield. Kautilya saw that it knocked the breath out of him.
Jay looked up from behind the shield. The lion was crouching again. It began to slowly circle around so that it could get behind Jay. He adjusted himself accordingly and matched the lion’s movement so that his shield always faced the creature.
The lion leapt again. Jay did the same as before. This time the impact was harder and Jay almost fell backwards, but managed to hold himself up using his spear. Kautilya knew that if he fell, he was doomed.
The lion was getting more and more furious. Jay couldn’t hold off its attacks much longer with his shield. He needed to go on the offensive.
He began inching towards the snarling beast. The lion kept stepping backwards.
“Wait for the lion to come at you!” Kautilya screamed.
Jay stopped walking towards the lion and returned to his earlier stance. The lion roared at Jay but he held still.
The lion and Jay kept circling each other for many tense moments. Kautilya knew Jay needed to draw the lion in so that he could use his spear. Jay lifted up the weapon in an attacking position then he slowly exposed his side to the lion.
The beast crouched and got ready to launch itself as soon as it saw an exposed area. It took a couple of steps back then leapt at Jay.
Jay spotted the opportunity and buried the spear in the lion’s undefended belly. The creature roared in agony and fell on the shield, almost crushing Jay underneath it. But he managed to step away just in time.
Jay pulled out the spear and the lion leapt back to its feet. It roared even louder and agony contorted its face as blood leaked out from its side. Kautilya saw a chance of victory. However, Jay needed to injure the lion more to truly incapacitate it.
Jay turned his shoulder around once again. But the lion was wary now. It stood its ground. Jay became bolder. He turned his head and exposed half his back. Kautilya gritted her teeth. Jay could not see the lion now and had to guess when it would attack.
The lion began to race towards him.
Kautilya screamed. Jay turned but was not fast enough. The spear caught the lion in its rear, but the creature managed to get Jay under its giant paws. Kautilya cursed as the lion began to chew on the top of the shield.
Jay pulled out a dagger and began to jab at the lion’s shoulder. But he could not get enough strength into the movements.
Jay pulled back his dagger and thrust it into the lion’s snout. The strike tore open a gash and the lion growled. It jumped off Jay and tried to tend to its wound.
Jay scrambled up. But before he had time to pick up his spear the lion was on him again. It pawed away his shield and leapt onto him. The claws dug into his shoulders. Jay screamed.
Kautilya knew that in an instant Jay’s throat would be in the lion’s mouth. He turned his eyes towards Kautilya. She saw in his eyes the devotion that was driving him to his doom.
“No!” she screamed. She pulled a spear out of a guard’s hand and flung it at the lion. The spear managed to catch the lion’s side and it leapt away in pain.
Then she pulled a sword from the guard and ran to the edge of the pedestal before leaping into the arena.
The crowds gasped. Kautilya knew that she had no right to interfere but it didn’t matter. Jay might not have proven himself to the nobles but he had proven himself to her.
She ran to him and cradled his head. Blood covered his body. If he did not receive aid soon then he would die.
“You’re a fool, Jay Bhadra,” Kautilya said.
“I love you, Kautilya,” Jay said.
“As I said before,” Kautilya said, “you are a fool and now you’ve dragged me into your folly.”
She stared ahead as the lion charged them.
Then she remembered the astra her father had taught her. She flung the sword at the lion and screamed, “Hamsastra!”
But the astra did not work. The lion merely swatted away the sword and leapt at her with its jaws wide open. Kautilya closed he
r eyes.
But she did not feel teeth sink into her throat as she expected.
When she opened her eyes, the lion was down on the ground. Chandra stood atop the fallen animal. The Purogata was embedded in its belly.
“Get away, Kautilya,” Chandra said.
Kautilya scrambled backwards and got to her feet. The entire audience was dumbfounded.
Chandra pulled out the sword. He smiled at Kautilya and opened his arms for an embrace.
Kautilya ran and grabbed onto Chandra’s gigantic, reassuring body. She broke down and began weeping onto her father’s shoulders.
“Ssshhh,” Chandra said. “It’s all right. I am here. No one can harm you.”
“Disgraceful!” A wrathful shout pierced the silent arena.
Chandra sighed and let go of Kautilya. She turned to see the speaker.
It was Jansa. “Disgraceful!” he cried again.
“Sin,” the Chief Priest said. “Interfering with the Lion-Killing Rite is a grave sin. The War God will curse our land.”
Chandra shook his head. “Not even the gods will harm my daughter, not on my watch.”
“Blasphemy,” the Chief Priest said. “Blasphemy! Kill this vain filth!”
Jansa pulled out his sword. “Come, Lohitha warriors! Let us show them the might of truly noble blood.”
A dozen Lohitha nobles pulled out their weapons and began descending onto the sands of the arena.
Chandra lifted his hand with his palm open. Then he closed his fist.
Kautilya’s brothers leapt out of the pavilion, weapons in hand. They ran around the Lohitha fighters and surrounded Chandra and Kautilya in a protective formation.
“Come,” Chandra said. “Do you have the fortitude to face the Shvetas?”
“Kill them!” the crowd roared. “Kill them!”
Kautilya looked around at the spiteful crowd. Chandra had ruined their sacred rites. They would never forgive this transgression.
“Kill them!” the crowd roared.
“Come on, then,” Chandra said. “Kill us if you dare.”
The Epic of Kautilya : Born To Be King Page 9