The Epic of Kautilya : Born To Be King

by Deepak Thomas

  Tears filled in the Lord Chief’s eyes.

  “Why does she still have it?” the Lord Chief asked. “Doesn’t she hate me after what I did to her?”

  “No,” Kautilya said. “She understands you did what you had to do. She knows you will come back to save her.”

  The Lord Chief choked back a sob. She wiped the tears from her eyes. “What is your name?”

  “Kautilya.”

  “Angad,” the Lord Chief said, “escort her and her friends to a place to stay. Not a hair on her head should be hurt. Yama, you and Druma can continue to stay in your old quarters.”

  Yama bowed his head and nodded.

  The Lord Chief handed the pendant back to Kautilya. “Thank you for keeping this with you, Kautilya. Renuka is right. I will save her, even if it is the last thing I do.”

  As they left, Yama walked up to Kautilya. “Why did you not tell the truth about Renuka?”

  Kautilya did not reply.

  “The truth comes out eventually,” Yama said.

  CHAPTER 29

  A Rocky Start

  Angad led the squad to their living quarters. Yama and Druma were to stay in the main hall near the Lord Chief.

  After dropping the two of them off, Angad led the rest of the squad to a block of rooms in the residential area of the citadel.

  “Does Renuka remember me?” Angad asked Kautilya.

  “Yes,” Kautilya said. “She used to say you are very smart.”

  Angad nodded. “I’ve missed her a lot. Her plight haunts me day and night. But I will rescue her.”

  Kautilya tried to smile. But the lie weighed her down.

  Some apes stared as they passed. Kautilya tried to hide behind the rest of the squad to avoid detection.

  “Hey.” A giant golden-haired ape stood in their way. She was accompanied by a group of other apes.

  “What is it, Vani?” Angad asked.

  “Who are these?” Vani asked.

  Angad turned to the squad. “Let me introduce you to the Free Army.” Then she turned to the ape. “They are here as our guests and we need to take great care of them.”

  Vani continued to stare at Kautilya. Kautilya smiled weakly as she saw the hate building in the ape’s eyes.

  “Why are we protecting a human?” Vani asked.

  “Because we are the Free Army,” Ādi intervened. “I can explain that better with my fists.”

  “The world would be a better place without the humans,” Vani said. She hissed at Kautilya.

  “Please don’t make a scene, Vani,” Angad said. “It’s my mother’s instructions. You don’t want me to tell her that you’re disobeying her.”

  Vani chuckled. “Well, your mother won’t be in charge for long,” she said. The other golden-haired apes nodded in agreement, and she walked up to Angad. She was easily a head taller than him and much bigger. “You get by on your mother’s protection, Angad. It won’t last long.”

  Angad looked down. “Please let us pass, Vani.”

  Vani backed off. “Go on, pretty. I’ll find you later,” she snarled. “I’d love to have some blue-haired bastards.” The other golden apes guffawed.

  Angad ignored them and gestured to the squad to follow. As they left, Ādi snarled at an ape, scaring him out of his wits.

  “Don’t worry, they won’t touch you,” Angad whispered to Kautilya. “They will never disobey the Lord Chief.”

  “I’m sorry I’m this much trouble, chief,” Kautilya said.

  “Call me Angad. And yes, you are trouble.”

  “If it were me,” Ādi said, “I would never let her talk to me like that.”

  “She’s popular,” Angad said. “It’s better to have her on my side.”

  “It’s better to have enemies than to grovel,” Ādi said.

  “Ādi...” Saira reprimanded him.

  “It’s all right,” Angad said. “I know where he’s coming from.”

  They walked down one of the bigger paths along the sides of the hill and came to a halt near a stone hut. “We’re here,” Angad said. “These are your quarters.”

  The squad thanked him and walked in to find that the whole hut was one big room. There were five cloth mats on the stone floor.

  “A roof over our heads!” Ādi exclaimed. “Sweet.” Then he looked at Kautilya. “But it may not be as fancy as you’re used to, princess.” He collapsed on the mat and stretched out his legs.

  Kautilya was too tired to respond, and laid down on a mat as far away from Ādi as possible.

  “So, princess,” Ādi asked, “what’s it like in the palace? Do you have hundreds of slaves at your beck and call?”

  “Stop calling me that,” Kautilya said.

  “Calling you what?” Ādi asked.

  “Stop calling me princess,” Kautilya said.

  “But that’s what you are,” Ādi said.

  “Not any more,” Kautilya said.

  “Once a princess, always a princess,” Ādi said.

  Kautilya snarled and sat up. “My father was killed and I was thrown into prison. My brothers have usurped the throne and I’ve been kicked out of my family. If you think I’ve spent all my life on silk sheets then you’re wrong. I spent years sleeping in a hut just like this where I had to take care of my own needs. I had to forage for food, I had to bathe in rivers and I had to fight boys twice my size every day. So, don’t start thinking you know what it’s like to be in my shoes.”

  Ādi narrowed his eyes. “Whatever, princess.”

  “Ādi,” Saira said, “stop it. She doesn’t like it.”

  Ādi stood up. “Well, I’m sorry. I’ve been called a monster and a freak all my life. I did not know being called ‘princess’ was such an insult. My apologies.” He stormed out of the hut.

  “Where is he going?” Kautilya asked.

  “Probably to beat something up,” Nina said. “He breaks stuff whenever he’s angry. I saw him punch a boulder in two once.”

  Saira sighed. She placed a hand on Kautilya’s arm. “It’s all right. Go to sleep.”

  CHAPTER 30

  New Mission

  Kautilya did not sleep well that night. Finally, she shifted onto her side and saw Saira breathing calmly. She looked serene when she slept.

  “Are you still awake?” Saira suddenly said, startling Kautilya.

  “How did you know?” Kautilya asked.

  “I know when someone is staring at me,” Saira said, her eyes still closed.

  Kautilya laughed. “Then you probably never sleep at all.”

  “Why is that?” Saira asked, opening her eyes.

  “You’re so pretty,” Kautilya said. “Boys must be staring at you all the time.”

  “Oh,” Saira said. “I filter out those stares.”

  “How do you do that?” Kautilya asked.

  “I know things,” Saira said.

  Kautilya turned to her. “Is that another one of your powers?”

  “No,” Saira said, “I am fast, I can fly and I can heal.”

  “How do you have healing powers?” Kautilya asked.

  “I am not sure,” she said, “I have always had them. I discovered it by accident.”

  “Is there no limit to it?” Kautilya asked.

  “I cannot cure diseases,” Saira said, “And I can’t do anything for someone whose spirit has already left the mortal realm. And I can only heal fresh wounds. But there is enough of them with Ādi around.”

  “What a surprise…” Kautilya mumbled.

  Saira sighed. “I’m sorry for what happened today. Ādi can be cruel sometimes.”

  Kautilya shook her head. She lay on her back again. “It’s not Ādi who’s been cruel to me. The gods are the really cruel ones.”

  “Yeah, they are,” Saira said. “I lost my family too. I
don’t remember anything from before Ādi found me. His is the first face I remember seeing.”

  “What happened?” Kautilya asked.

  “I was found unconscious in a ditch in the Kailasa hills. Nina and I were rescued by Yama from the great massacre.”

  Kautilya remembered the yakshi genocide that had

  happened just a few years after she was born. Was that what Saira meant?

  “Yama said that someone had erased my memory,” Saira continued. “And no one ever came looking for me so I never got to learn about my past.”

  “You are a demigod, you know,” Kautilya said.

  “Yeah, I know. There aren’t a lot of demigods on Jambudvipa,” Saira said. “I’ve never seen any others.”

  “There are a few,” Kautilya said, “The rulers of Yaksharajya.”

  “I like you, Kautilya,” Saira said.

  “Thanks,” Kautilya said. “What about the others? Do you think they like me?”

  “Nina doesn’t. She’s lost too many friends in battle with humans,” Saira said. “Barong is an animal, so just feed him.”

  “Ādi hates me a lot,” Kautilya said. “He doesn’t like the fact that I’m from a royal family.”

  “He doesn’t hate you,” Saira said. “He wants you to think he hates you.”

  “Why does he want that?” Kautilya asked.

  “I don’t know why. He never does it with us, though. Never does it with Druma either.”

  “Druma the asura?” Kautilya asked.

  “Yeah. Ādi told me that he loves Druma more than anyone in the world. Druma was the one who raised him. He lost his parents long ago.”

  “How was that?” Kautilya asked.

  “I can’t tell you,” Saira said. “Ādi will be angry if I tell anyone.”

  Kautilya smiled. They were all just children who’d lost people they loved.

  “All right,” Kautilya said. “I think I’d better go to sleep. It was nice talking to you, Saira. It’s good to know I have at least one friend.”

  “It was nice talking to you too,” Saira said. “I think you should try making more friends. All the squad members are good.”

  Kautilya decided to try.

  ***

  “All right,” Yama said to the assembled squad. “Very important mission for us today. There have been rumours of more human troops coming into the hills. Not a good thing for the rebellion. We need a few squads to do reconnaissance. That means one of you has to go out and find out more about this troop movement.”

  The squad agreed.

  Kautilya realised that Dhanush had sent extra troops to suppress the rebellion. If she got a chance to look at them then she could work out the tactics to be used against them.

  Plus it was also a chance for her to be with the squad and prove her worth.

  “I volunteer, Yama,” Kautilya said.

  “What?” Nina said.

  “I want to go.”

  “You?” Yama said. “It’s dangerous enough even if you’re far away from the humans. You propose walking into their jaws.”

  “I am a human,” Kautilya said. “I could probably get up close without them trying to attack me.”

  “She has a point.” Nina’s voice broke in.

  Yama stared at Kautilya for some time. “Ādi,” Yama said, “it’s your duty to make sure that Kautilya is safe. Go on now.”

  While Saira and Ādi packed provisions, Nina briefed Kautilya on how a reconnaissance mission would work.

  It was going to be a day-long expedition. There were only a few paths in the hills that the humans could use to bring in their horses and oxen. Squads had been sent out to scout.

  Ādi and Kautilya had to scout the third road from the east. This was the one most likely to be taken by heavily armoured troops.

  The usual method of scouting was to maintain a distance. Hiding in trees was a good method for gauging the number of troops, what kind of weapons the enemy had and whether there was any renowned commander or warrior among them.

  Nina turned to Ādi. “You’d better make sure she doesn’t break her neck or gets an arrow in the chest.” Then she turned to Kautilya. “I hope things go well. I really don’t want to see you again. But for Ādi’s sake, I hope I do.”

  Kautilya nodded.

  Soon they were out in the forest. Ādi led the way as his sharp sense of smell could detect enemies in hiding or at a distance.

  “Let me carry some of your bags,” Kautilya said. She wasn’t carrying anything because Ādi had packed and pulled everything on his shoulders. Along with provisions he was also carrying maps, telescopes and compasses.

  “Relax,” Ādi said. “It’s not a lot of weight.”

  “Give me a bag,” Kautilya said.

  Ādi hesitated and then passed a bag filled with provisions to her.

  Soon Kautilya realised that her days in prison had weakened her. Ādi had to slow down to accommodate her.

  “Give that back,” Ādi said.

  “I’m fine,” Kautilya said.

  “No, you’re not fine. You’re slowing us down,” Ādi snapped.

  Kautilya took the bag off her back and handed it to Ādi.

  “Now keep up the pace,” Ādi said and they started again.

  Ādi suddenly came to a halt. He sniffed the air and raised his fist, a sign to keep silent and stay alert.

  Sweat beads began to form on Kautilya’s forehead. Was it finally time for her first confrontation with humans since the escape? She wasn’t prepared.

  “What is it, Ādi?” Kautilya whispered.

  Ādi stared into the distance for some time. Finally he shivered, then relaxed again.

  “What was it, Ādi?” Kautilya asked. “Is there an enemy there? There’s a river over there.” She had memorised the maps of Dandaka.

  Ādi scowled at Kautilya. “Are you sure?” He took out a map from his satchel and unfurled it on the ground.

  Kautilya wanted to help. She walked behind Ādi, reached over his head to point to a location on the map and said, “We are at that point.”

  “You’d better take your finger off the map,” Ādi said.

  “I’m sorry,” Kautilya said and stepped away.

  Ādi examined the map for some time. Then he stood up. “Let’s go to the river. We need to refill our water bags.”

  Ādi led the way to the river bank. The water wasn’t very deep and you could see the pebbles on the riverbed. Towards one side of it was a waterfall that dropped several metres down.

  “We’ll stay here for the next few minutes,” Ādi said. “Let me fill the water bags quickly and we’ll be off.”

  “Let me,” Kautilya said and reached out for the bags.

  “Easy, princ—” Ādi said. “Erm ... It’s all right. If you lose your footing and go down that waterfall we won’t even find the pieces.”

  “Give me the water bag,” Kautilya said.

  Ādi stared at her for some time and handed the bag to her.

  Kautilya scampered off to the bank and squatted down to fill the bag. But the river at that point was too shallow and sand went into the bag along with the water. She decided wade deeper into the river.

  It also meant that she was further away from the patronising Ādi. Her fascination with him had quickly been replaced by annoyance. He was arrogant and brash. And whenever he called her princess, she wished she could punch him in the face.

  “Princess,” Ādi said, “don’t go in too deep.”

  Kautilya raised her hand. “It’s fine. The water is cleaner here.” She turned to scoop water from the stream ... and saw a skeletal corpse lying under the water. Its furious eyes were staring right at her.

  Kautilya screamed and fell backwards into the river. The flow pushed her towards the cliff.

  She couldn’t stand up
straight. Her face was under the water and the rolling pebbles did not allow her to get a foothold. She heard a splash and she was lifted out of the water.

  “Are you all right?” she heard Ādi say.

  Kautilya cleared her nose of water. Then she pointed to the stream. “There was a dead man in the river.”

  Suddenly the water parted and the submerged corpse rose to the surface and sat there cross-legged. It had long hair and a longer beard. Moss and algae had begun growing on its skin and hair.

  “Who dares disturb me?” the corpse boomed. “Was it you?” Its fiery eyes bored into Kautilya’s.

  “I did not mean to,” Kautilya tried reasoning.

  “Silence!” the corpse roared. “I have been at this penance for years and you come and disturb it. You foolish girl, I will punish you and your lover.” The corpse raised his arm.

  “But...” Kautilya began but was cut short when the water started swirling around her and Ādi. The corpse had created a whirlpool.

  Kautilya felt the water pull her in, and struggled against it. This could not be the way she died. But the whirlpool was stronger than her. It pulled her further and further in.

  I cannot die. I need to avenge my father.

  CHAPTER 31

  Ghosts

  Kautilya awoke from her stupor coughing out water. Through her blurry vision she could make out Ādi’s shape.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Kautilya said. “What happened?”

  “I pulled you out of the whirlpool,” Ādi said.

  “So we’re fine now,” Kautilya said.

  “No, we’re not,” Ādi said. “We’re stuck on the wrong side of the river.”

  Kautilya took stock of her surroundings.

  “All our provisions are on the other side,” Ādi said. “Our maps, our weapons. That crazy skeleton has put some curse on the water. It begins swirling as soon as we touch it. So you did a great job trying to fill the bag.”

  Kautilya felt guilt creeping in.

  “I’m sorry,” Kautilya said. “I’m pretty sure someone will come out here to help us.”

  “And how will they know we’re here?” Ādi asked. “We need to find a way back and we need to find it quickly.” He looked up at the skies where dark clouds had begun to gather. “Let’s find a place to shelter before it rains.”