"They won't catch me," he promised. "And I'll bring back justice to this town."
She nodded. "Try not to get killed in the process. Good luck."
He rose and left thinking highly of Lady Babra. Pity she didn't have more power at the palace. Unlike the courtesan who had seduced the king and become a sort of second queen, this woman had lost hold on her husband.
As he crossed the luxuriant women's garden again, he heard voices and recognized Pareevash's. Stealthily, he approached a portico where she was facing Kibriya. The lord towered over her, but she looked undaunted.
"I will not submit to your lustful needs, my lord!" she said, probably for the umpteenth time. "I don't care if my brother loses his job, he should have stayed at the forge anyway!"
Kibriya smiled.
"I like feisty women." He took her in his arms. "But you can't resist me forever."
"Take your hands off of me!" She struggled and tried to push him away.
He leaned to kiss her, but she turned her face, so his lips landed on her ear and neck.
Hrithikesh balled his fists and fought to control the boiling anger rising inside him. How dare Kibriya touch his beloved? The smell of jasmine around him reminded him of that one time in the dressmaker's courtyard when he'd tried to kiss her himself. She had stiffened as soon as he'd touched her and her smile had vanished, therefore he hadn't insisted and had let her go. And now the sneaky governor wanted to force himself on her? He should disembowel Kibriya for daring such an awful thing!
And then the abbot's voice reminded him to always control the powerful energy that was his anger, to harness it only for good deeds. He wouldn't behave like Kibriya. Violence called for more violence, and he was better than that.
"Let me go!" Pareevash tried to free herself. "Somebody help!"
"Nobody will come," Kibriya said looking her in the eyes. "Surrender now, and I won't hurt you."
"Never!"
The governor was about to kiss her again when the curved blade of the pole-arm slid between him and his victim, with the cutting edge towards his throat.
"You will not force yourself on her," Hrithikesh said through clenched teeth. "Let her go and step back."
Kibriya gritted his teeth and obeyed, glaring as Hrithikesh came out of the hibiscus shrubs. Hrithikesh moved next to Pareevash, the blade still pointed at the governor. He chanced a sideways glance at the young woman beside him and saw admiration shining in her eyes.
He turned his full attention to the governor. "Don't you get enough with the young brides? Now you even want unmarried maidens? You are shameless!"
"And you are a fool trying to defend the last virgin of the town," Kibriya snapped.
Startled, Hrithikesh glanced at Pareevash who blushed.
Kibriya scoffed. "Or maybe you want her for yourself."
"I'd never force myself on a woman," he retorted. "Step back. And don't even think of coming after me. Or her."
He swung the pole-arm and Kibriya jumped back to avoid the blade. Then Hrithikesh grabbed Pareevash's hand and they both ran out of the garden and from the palace grounds. They didn't stop running until they reached the back alleys.
"Thank you," she said, still breathless, as he walked her back to her uncle's shop. "I hate that man."
"I still haven't found anyone who even remotely likes him," he replied with a shrug.
She trailed her fingers over his naked arm. "You are my hero."
He shivered under her burning touch. He almost unmasked in front of her – in the middle of the street – then remembered his mission.
"Take care of yourself," he said quickly, then ran away to resist the temptation to take her in his arms. That was lust, not love. He'd better keep his animal in check. If she was still a virgin, he couldn't show the worst part of himself to her first.
He still needed to woo her. Especially now that he knew that somehow – if she was still a virgin – she had waited for him. She'll be mine. In due time.
He went back to his uncle's and managed to slip to the bedroom without being seen by Aunt Jasmine. He removed and hid the blade of the pole-arm and put on his long-sleeved tunic, which covered his muscles, and the long cotton vestment of the tutor.
By the time he was ready, his heart had slowed down and he was in control again. He took a deep breath. Time to visit Pareevash as himself. She'd almost kissed the hooded man. Surely she could give him a chance?
On the way, he ripped one sleeve of his coat, and then he asked the dressmaker to repair it. As he suspected, the shop owner sent him to his assistant for such a menial job – he even got the impression Pareevash's uncle was aware of his trick and amused by it.
"Hrithik!" Pareevash sounded impatient. "You're clumsier than ever! How did you rip this?"
"I don't know," he apologized, taking off the shred garment. "Can you sew it?"
She snorted and took it, working quickly.
"Are you all right?" he asked after a short silence. She was usually chattier than this. Obviously the meeting with Kibriya and the hooded man had upset her.
"Yes," she snapped. "I can take care of myself."
"Are you sure you don't want a man to take care of you?" he insisted. "I know that an unmarried woman is weak..."
"You're sweet, Hrithik, but I don't think you'd make a good husband."
"Why not?" he asked, puzzled.
"You're too meek. You won't survive in this town. You should go back to Agharek." She looked at him, worried. "I don't want you to get hurt."
Going to Agharek had hurt him and turned him into a hateful boy full of anger. Leland still had a calming effect on him, in spite of all the bad things going on.
"I'm not going back to Agharek without you," he said with determination.
"My life is here," she replied, her tone serious. "My family is here, my first love is buried here..." She stared into the distance, dreamy. "Maybe the hooded man will clean up our city. We'll have a decent governor and no more bullies." She snapped back to reality and finished sewing. "Of course that wouldn't sit well with my dear brother," she shrugged, "but at least you could stay without danger."
Hrithikesh gulped and found his voice to ask, "Who was your first love and what happened to him?"
"He was a peddler's son. He was apprenticed to Father, along with Lokesh, who always held him in utter contempt. He though his sister deserved better than a peddler's son – it didn't matter that she loved him. So he ambushed Arjun with Ali and Jay... and they killed him. They were never punished, of course." She looked at him with dry eyes. "The old governor had just died and Lord Kibriya was chosen. Lokesh entered the governor's guard. He got married and forgot the whole thing. I didn't, and neither did Farhan. We both liked Arjun, he reminded us of you."
Hrithikesh gulped. He'd have to ask Farhan about Arjun. If the peddler's son had been really like him, it wasn't surprising she didn't want to go through it all again. The way she told the story of her first love – the flat tone, the dry eyes – meant she had no more tears. And that she'd forgotten his promise, and still hadn't realized how much he'd changed in fifteen years. His stomach clenched.
"I told you I'd come back and marry you," he muttered, lowering his eyes.
She gave him back his repaired coat with a sigh.
"I waited," she said. "But then Arjun came along. And then he was killed. You're too much like him, Hrithik, I don't want to fall in love with another harmless man." She pondered. "Do you think the hooded man is single?"
Hrithikesh choked on his comment and stared at her, aghast. He had to tell her the truth, or he'd lose her to... himself!
But Pareevash shooed him out.
"I have work to do, I can't spend hours chatting with you!" she chided. "Besides, shouldn't you be at the palace for Imran's lessons?"
Hrithikesh found himself in the street, unable to utter another word to his beloved.
***
"What do you want?" Lokesh asked bluntly.
"Is your sister in?" Hrithik
esh asked, worried. "Your uncle said she didn't show up for work today. Is she all right?"
"Who knows?" Lokesh snapped. "She was taken to the palace this morning."
"What? Why?" he protested.
Lokesh shrugged. "Lord Kibriya thinks he can lure the hooded man into a trap. One day you'll have to explain to me why everybody is so obsessed with my sister. Is it because she resists you?"
Hrithikesh's heart had sunk at the first sentence and he almost didn't hear the rest.
"Who else wants her?" he asked, frowning.
"Lord Kibriya, that hooded bastard..." Lokesh scoffed. "You've got competition, my friend."
"And who would you give her to?" he challenged. Lokesh had always been overly protective with his sister. He must think highly of his lord to allow him to take her. Or maybe he felt he didn't have a choice.
Lokesh stared at him, thoughtful.
"Between a bandit and a nobleman who would use her and throw her away... At least you'd marry her," he said, serious for the first time since they'd met again. Maybe he realized he was being a fool now that his sister was in the governor's hands.
"Thank you, Lokesh." Hrithikesh half smiled, mentally apologizing for marking him. Lokesh did care for his sister, after all. But now he must run to the palace as the hooded man without arising Lokesh's suspicions. "I will marry her even used. But please make sure Lord Kibriya doesn't hurt her."
Lokesh sighed. "I'll do what I can."
Not much, then, Hrithikesh thought as he waved good-bye. He quickly went back to his uncle's and found Kiran in the bedroom. Damn. He couldn't change in front of his cousin's eyes. What is he doing here at this time of the day?
Kiran sat on his pallet and looked at him when he entered.
"You're back early," he said.
"Um... yes, I forgot something..." Hrithikesh answered embarrassed.
"This?" Kiran pulled out the curved blade from under the bed-sheet.
"Have you gone through my stuff?" He glared at his cousin.
"I came to change my tunic since it's so hot in the workshop today, and your travel bag was half open," Kiran replied, undaunted. "I saw this." The green hooded coat also came out from under the bed-sheet. "I had to check the rest."
Hrithikesh snatched his garment and the blade from his cousin's hands.
"I hope you didn't tell anyone," he grumbled.
"Of course not." Kiran rose, his face brightening. "So you're the hooded man?"
"Yes, and I need to go to the palace, Pareevash is in trouble," he said as he quickly peeled off his tunic.
"You hide your muscles well," Kiran complimented him. "Who trained you?"
"The monks. Military training was included in my education. Physical exercise helped us to learn control."
"Wow! And is your pole-arm magic or what?"
Hrithikesh took the shaft, put on the curved blade, then rotated it to show the seal of the goddess. "This is magic. The seal of the goddess stuns for a very short time, but leaves a permanent mark."
"Great!" Kiran said as Hrithikesh put the scarf over his face and pulled up the hood. "Save your sweetheart, and she'll marry you!"
"I guess I'll have to tell her the truth." He grabbed his main weapon. "But you're sworn to secrecy," he added threateningly.
"Your secret is safe with me." Kiran put both hands over his mouth.
Hrithikesh decided to trust him. He was wasting time, who knew what Kibriya was doing to Pareevash. He nodded and left.
Through alleys and gardens he reached the palace, meeting only a couple of busy servants who pointedly ignored him. Even inside the building he felt invisible. He didn't come across any guards, and the servants he saw were obviously on his side.
He reached the governor's apartment to find it unguarded. He could go in through the main door instead of having to climb and enter from a second floor window.
The apartment, like most noble or royalty quarters, included three rooms one inside the other. An anteroom led to a bath chamber, which led to the bedroom.
The anteroom was empty and Hrithikesh carefully closed the door behind him. He could hear the governor's voice coming from the bedroom in the back. Then Pareevash screamed, calling for help, so he rushed in.
Kibriya had thrown her on the bed and ripped open her bodice. She was struggling wildly against the much bigger man who seemed to want to force himself on her – although he was still fully dressed. He squeezed one of her breasts while he sucked on her neck.
"Get off of her!" The tiled floor was slippery and Hrithikesh skidded to a stop by the bed and put the curved blade at Kibriya's throat.
The governor pulled back, still straddling Pareevash, and Hrithikesh's blade followed.
"What took you so long?" Kibriya asked, sarcastic. "You almost failed your virgin maiden! She hasn't seen your face, but already loves you oh-so-much!"
Hrithikesh gritted his teeth. "Get off of her."
Kibriya scoffed, and slowly obeyed. As he stood to his full height, he suddenly whipped his saber from under the sheets where he'd hidden it and attacked. Hrithikesh parried while Pareevash screamed and curled up in a corner of the bed, clutching her torn bodice closed.
"A pole-arm!" Kibriya said with contempt. "A coward's weapon!"
"You assaulted a harmless woman," Hrithikesh replied. "Who's more cowardly?"
He twirled the shaft and hit Kibriya in the chest with the goddess seal, whispering, "Tum zinda ho." The governor was thrown back, and his sword flew from his hand to land in a corner of the room. He slumped to the floor, shivering from the shock of the blow.
Hrithikesh offered his hand to Pareevash.
"Let's go, it won't hold him for long," he said urgently. Kibriya was barely stunned and he'd probably recover faster than Lokesh.
Holding her bodice closed with one hand, she took his with the other. They rushed out of the apartment and Hrithikesh locked the door. He looked up and down the corridor, and tried to come up with a plan..
"I can't take you home." He grabbed her hand again and tried not to look at her. Where could he hide her? Lady Babra!
"Come!"
He led her to the governor's wife apartment on the other side of the palace. The location showed how estranged the pair had become, but it suited his needs perfectly.
He knocked on the door and was allowed to enter. Lady Babra was alone, as usual. She was startled to see him, but even more so to see Pareevash's flushed face.
"Let me guess," she said. "My husband's latest tryst?"
"I arrived on time," he said. "I think." He glanced at Pareevash who nodded. "Will you protect her, my lady? If I take her home..."
"Nobody will look for her here," Lady Babra assured him with a grin. "Come, young lady, let's see if one of my bodices fits you."
He was reluctant to let go, and so was she. She clutched his hand stubbornly. Finally, he turned his back to the governor's wife and looked his beloved in the eyes. She was still a little breathless, but her face beamed adoration and her lips trembled into a smile.
"Thank you." Her fingers let go of his hand and rose to his face. "May I?"
He let her pull down the scarf slowly, and his heart stuck in his throat. What would she say? Would she be angry? Excited? Disappointed? Of them all, he feared that the most.
Her eyes went wide and she gasped loudly, almost uttering his name.
He laid his fingers on her mouth and shook his head.
Her lips trembled into a smile and she nodded. "How?" she whispered, still incredulous.
He shushed her. "Later," he whispered back, elated by her acceptance. He pulled up the scarf to cover his nose and she blew him a kiss.
"Stay with Lady Babra," he said quickly, wishing he could take her away there and then, marry her and forget everything about Leland. But he couldn't. He wasn't done yet.
"Will you come back for me?" she asked, much as she had done fifteen years earlier.
His heart thundered in his chest. "I promise."
He d
rank in the sight of her one last time, turned to bow at the governor's wife and dashed out the door before his feelings overwhelmed him.
That night he spent a long time on his knees praying to Zindagi. He needed to keep his anger in check if he wanted a bloodless outcome. He couldn't just leave Leland after stirring waters with the governor. Besides, one part of him wanted to punish the governor for laying his hands on Pareevash.
He struggled to keep everything under control and concentrate on the prayer. The abbot's face alternated with Kibriya's, and Pareevash washed over both with her barely hidden breasts. Goddess, he so wanted her! He had contained his lust, but for how long would he be able to do it?
He felt like screaming and kicking, but remained still, and tried to calm the storm of feelings inside him. He eventually went to bed, still with no idea of how to proceed and hoping Pareevash was safe in Lady Babra's apartment.
***
The next morning when he went with Kiran on some errand for his aunt, he was still mulling over the situation. He hadn't talked to Kiran about what had happened the day before, and wondered if he should. Consulting with someone usually helped, if only to brainstorm ideas.
Kiran led him to the blacksmith's shop and greeted Pareevash's father with a determined expression.
"You can show Hrithikesh the new blades," he said.
The blacksmith nodded, glancing at puzzled a Hrithikesh before he opened a leather blanket. Inside were curved blades ready to be inserted into shafts to make pole-arms. It was an inexpensive weapon with less metal than usual, and any utensil with a shaft could be used to complete it. It was a peasant or commoner's weapon, rather than a coward's.
"We're going to help the hooded man," Kiran told Hrithikesh. "Will you help us?"
"Of course," he said pleasantly surprised. If the citizens started fighting back, he wouldn't be alone and wouldn't leave them defenseless. He only needed to teach a final lesson to the governor and then they should be able to take care of themselves.
He smiled at his cousin with relief. Kiran winked and gave him an impish smile while the blacksmith folded the leather to hide the blades again.
"Is Farhan with us?" Hrithikesh asked.
More Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition) Page 11