The Prince of Patliputra

by Shreyas Bhave

  “Why are you laughing?” Asoka asked. The Minister had given in much too fast. Something was wrong.

  “You, Prince, are such a fool,” Hariharan said, once he had finished laughing, “One of the assassins I had sent after you is still at large.”

  “I know. I’ll deal with him later,” Asoka said, tightening his grip upon his blade.

  “But he’s going to deal with you now.”

  “What..?”

  “Poor boy,” Hariharan laughed. His laughter rang in Asoka’s ears. “Foolish prince. The other assassin, he’s right behind you.”

  Asoka looked back. He saw Pushyamitra standing there smiling, but now he was holding a sword.

  “It was you!” Asoka said. “All this time.”

  “All this time indeed,” Pushyamitra raised the sword to his throat. “Throw away that blade of yours. “He said.

  Asoka threw the blade away. Pushyamitra pushed him against the wall.

  “Why didn’t you kill me?” Asoka asked.

  “I’ve been trying at every opportunity I got,” Pushyamitra said. “First time, you killed my accomplice. Second time, you injured me.” He raised his cloak to show a sword wound on his side.

  “That’s why you didn’t let Devi touch you,” Asoka said. “She was there that night. She would have recognized the wound.”

  “Third time’s the charm,” Pushyamitra said pushing the sword slightly. “You left me here in Vidisha to heal. I’ve been waiting ever since for you to come back. But when you came, I had no weapon due to the new rule of the guild. Well I have a weapon now. And you have none.”

  Asoka felt the tip of the sword piercing his throat slightly.

  “We know you plot to become Samrat,” Acharya Hariharan said, standing up by Pushyamitra’s side. “A dead man can’t be Samrat, can he?”

  “I did not expect this from my brother,” Asoka said, pressing himself back into the wall to get away from the sword’s blade, but Pushyamitra kept it close to his neck.

  Hariharan laughed. “That’s why you’ll never become Samrat.” He said. “You trust everyone. You trusted your brother, you trusted Pushyamitra right here. You fool. This was why Maharaja Sushem agreed for you to be sent to Avanti in the first place. So that you could be killed. The only thorn in his way cleared.”

  “Well I have learnt a new lesson now,” Asoka said. How in the world was he going to get out of this situation?

  “You shall die.” The Acharya said. “And Sushem’s horse shall complete its parikrama and return to Taxila. The Ashwamedha will be complete. Sushem will be Samrat.”

  “No, he won’t!” Asoka spit on the floor. He had to buy some time. There were claps heard from the town square. The dance ceremony was almost over. “No man who plots to kill his own brother will ever be Samrat.” He said.

  Then it came. The huge resonating sound of a metal plate being hit by a gong. Asoka felt its vibration in the sword. It came one more time and Pushyamitra’s eyes closed reflexively. That was enough.

  Asoka’s kick was too quick, landing right into Pushyamitra’s groin. The sword moved, and Asoka pushed it away. He punched Pushyamitra with all his might in the face. Pushyamitra fell to the ground. Asoka picked up his blade. He moved to the Acharya and put it to his throat.

  “It’s over.” He said. “You are over, the order is over, your Maharaja Sushem is over. You however shall be the first.” He hit the Acharya on the head and Hariharan fell to the floor with a moan.

  Asoka turned quickly. Pushyamitra was getting to his feet, holding his sword. Asoka ran at him and rammed him. They fell over the roof to the streets.

  The fall was not from much height and Pushyamitra took the brunt of it. Asoka got away as quickly as he could, before Pushyamitra’s sword moved.

  He looked at his blade. It was no match against the sword. He looked up and saw Pushyamitra charge. Asoka threw the blade in his face. Pushyamitra stopped to deflect it. Asoka turned and ran.

  He was running for the town square. The crowd was still there. He could hide in it.

  He reached the town square and entered the crowd. He looked at the stage. Devi and the women were still on it. He saw Pushyamitra enter the town square too, holding his sword in his hands.

  The guards around the crowd were too engrossed in looking at the stage. They did not notice Pushyamitra at all.

  Asoka moved among the crowd to get a look at Pushyamitra. The captain was standing at the edge of the square, looking desperately at the crowd.

  Asoka smiled. He was well-hidden. It was impossible to be found at all in that crowd. All he had to do now was look for Kanaka and…

  Then he saw it. Pushyamitra wasn’t going for the crowd at all. He was going for the stage.

  Everybody screamed as an armed man jumped onto the stage. The women on the stage screamed as he charged towards them. He went directly towards Devi.

  Devi screamed as Pushyamitra grabbed her by the waist and put the sword to her stomach.

  “Asoka!” He screamed loudly. “If you don’t show yourself, I’ll cut her open with my sword.”

  Asoka saw guards approach the stage, but no one dared to climb. The crowd had started to move. Men were screaming.

  “Hardeo,” Pushyamitra shouted again, “if you want your daughter to live, give me Asoka.”

  The crowd had started to disperse now and everyone was running away.

  Asoka saw Hardeo get up and walk to the edge of the overhead platform. The guards looked at him for instructions.

  Suddenly there was a tap on Asoka’s shoulder and he turned. It was Kanaka.

  “On the third building by the edge of the square,” Asoka said, holding his friend by the shoulders. “There are bows and arrows with kalkoot on it. Go there and bring him down.”

  “Can’t you see? He is holding her as a shield.” Kanaka said, looking at the stage. “Maybe we could…”

  “No, we can’t!” Asoka said. “I know him. He’ll really kill her if I don’t show up at once.”

  “So you’re going to go to him?” Kanaka gasped.

  “And you are going to go to the third building by the edge of the square.” Asoka shook Kankadatta by the shoulders and let him go. “I know how good a bowman you are,” he said, “you can take him down. I’ll distract him. It’ll just be like the old times.”

  “I haven’t shot an arrow from so far ever, friend” Kanaka said.

  “Then you better keep your damn eyes open when you shoot one now” Asoka said. “Come on, friend.”

  “Alright,” Kanaka said, turning, “you better distract him properly.” He ran for the buildings and Asoka ran for the platform. He jumped up and landed straight in front of Hardeo.

  Hardeo looked at him, chalk-white, as if he had just seen a ghost.

  “Here I am,” Asoka said, raising his arms.

  Hardeo looked at him. “I don’t have any choice, son,” he muttered.

  “I know,” Asoka said, as he watched guards come to him. He felt his heart thumping against his chest as they pushed him on to the stage

  “Let her go,” Asoka said, as he moved slowly towards the duo. Pushyamitra still held her tightly with the blade just inches away from her belly.

  “First, come near,” he said.

  Asoka took small steps forward. “Why this betrayal, friend?” he asked as he slowly drew nearer, “I was good to you.”

  Pushyamitra spit on Devi’s face. Asoka straightened up. “Don’t you dare,” he said.

  “Don’t you dare,” Pushyamitra said, “you Vaishya scum.”

  “Is this what it was all about?” Asoka said, moving closer.

  “Yes, it was!” Pushyamitra said, “I was a fool to serve a Vaishya like you. The Order showed me what was what. It showed me the truth.”

  ‘Did the Order also fight shoulder to shoulder with you?” Asoka mocked, his eyes not leaving the Captain one bit.

  Pushyamitra shrugged. “Turn around and let me see if you have any hidden weapons,” He ordered, digging th
e blunt end of the blade in Devi’s belly. She screamed with pain, looking at him desperately.

  Asoka raised his arms over his head and turned slowly around himself. “See, I am unarmed.” He shouted. “This is not a trick.”

  “It better not be!” Pushyamitra said. He turned his sword now, and the sharp edge dug slightly into her belly. A small streak of blood trickled out.

  Asoka looked at her. “Nothing will happen to you, Devi.” He said. “Nothing!”

  She looked back at him and nodded.

  “Like you saved me that night, I’ll save you now!” He said. She looked at him, her eyes unwavering. Did she understand what he was trying to tell her?

  “That we shall see, won’t we?” Pushyamitra laughed. He spun her upon her heels and held her in a bear hug. Now his sword dangled just inches above the back of her neck.

  Asoka took two steps and now he was within the sword’s reach. “It’s me you want.” He said loudly. “You let her go now.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, he looked at the town square. He realized that the crowd had not run away, but stood there looking at the stage. He tried to look at the third building by the edge of the square, but his eyes moved to the front as he saw Pushyamitra’s sword move.

  “It is indeed you I want.” Pushyamitra said. “But I’d love to see you cry as I kill her before I kill you.”

  He was still holding her completely to his front. Asoka realized that had to do something to give Kanaka a window.

  “How many times have you attacked me, huh?” He said loudly. Pushyamitra did not answer, but kept looking at him like a tiger about to pounce.

  “Twice!” Asoka continued. “And you failed both times. What makes you think you’ll be successful this time?”

  Pushyamitra jeered angrily as he raised his sword, away from Devi’s neck and pointed it at him. “Let’s see!” He shouted.

  The next things happened too fast. Devi had clenched her fist and hit him right under his right shoulder, in his side. Pushyamitra screamed with pain; the wound had definitely not healed fully.

  He used that hand to dig into the wound and let her go. The other hand with the sword had not moved, but Asoka got what he needed. He ducked under the blade and rammed into him, toppling him over. He turned around to look at Devi. “Go!” He screamed.

  He could see Devi scramble to the side of the stage where the guards took her by the hand and helped her down. Asoka turned, but he had wasted time in watching her go to safety. Pushyamitra had recovered from the fall and was now holding his blade properly again. He caught hold of Asoka and brought the sword right to his neck.

  Asoka could feel the blade dig slightly into his neck, as Pushyamitra got up and leaned over him. “Atleast i still got you!” He said.

  The blade dug a little harder. Come on Kanaka. Asoka thought. Don’t be late. I’ve gotten you your window.

  Pushyamitra pressed the sword harder. “Say your goodbyes, scum,” he shouted. Then he raised his sword.

  Now Kanaka!

  The raised sword never struck. Instead it fell to the side as an arrow pierced Pushyamitra’s neck from the side. The sword fell to the wooden platform with a loud clang as Pushyamitra’s body stayed as it was for a moment. Then it fell down to the side as if in slow motion. Asoka kicked the body, moved it and got to his feet. As he stood up, he realized how fast his heart was beating. His skin was damp with sweat.

  Then he also saw Devi run to him in slow motion. He could see the small cut upon her waist bleeding as she ran. He could see all of her clearly. Her heaving bosom, her arms, and the tears in her eyes as she finally reached him and hugged him tightly.

  “Are you all right?” He asked as he held her tightly too.

  “I am. Are you?” She said amid sobs.

  “Yes.” He said, and then looked to his side. The whole crowd was watching them with bated breath. Then high above on the platform, he could see Hardeo begin to clap, and then the men around him began to clap. Soon the entire crowd was clapping and cheering them.

  The claps rang in his ears as he patted her and let her go. He bent by Pushyamitra’s body and picked it up in his arms. He walked down the stage silently. The clapping stopped as everybody watched him climb down to the ground.

  He walked through them, holding the body in his arms. The men of Vidishanagri moved aside as he walked through the crowd. The men cleared a long way for him. As he walked, he could see the figure of Kanaka waving at him from the top of the third building.

  Then, he turned towards the city gates.

  His men were camped outside the city walls and had not joined the festivities. He walked up to their tents where they had gathered around a bonfire. He was carrying Pushyamitra’s body.

  The men gasped as they saw their leader with his bloodied face walk up and stand in front of the fire. They watched the reflection of the fire glowing in his pupils.

  Then he let the body fall to the floor. The soldiers still kept looking at him.

  “Men of Patliputra!” He said loudly.

  Chandragupta’s eyes were moist as he held Dileepa’s body in his arms. The whole of Taxila had gathered to listen to him from the balcony of his palace.

  “Dileepa was like a brother to me.” He said loudly, showing the lifeless body to them. “You have all known him for many days now. He was a talented fighter and a loyal friend.”

  “I loved him like my little brother,” Asoka said, pointing to the body of Pushyamitra at his feet. The soldiers watched with unwavering eyes.

  “But he chose to betray me,” Asoka said, his face red, stern. “By his own admission, he was ordered to do so by Maharaja Sushem.”

  “It was the Nandas who had him killed,” Chandragupta shouted loudly, raising the body of his friend high in the air. “They tried to kill me too.” He showed them the blood on his face.

  “The Nandas are afraid of us. They are afraid of the revolution we have made here. So like the cowards that they are, they chose to murder us.”

  “Will you have such a man for Samrat?” Asoka shouted. “A man who tries to kill his own brother? But treachery runs in that man’s veins. For he is half-Greek by birth. Tell me, shall you have him?”

  “No!” His men shouted. They drew their swords.

  “Or shall you have me?” He asked. “A man who has fought with you for all these days. The man who has broken bread with you.”

  “You!” They shouted.

  “I am going to kill all the Nandas for this,” Chandragupta said, “I am going to mount my horse and march to Patliputra.”

  There was complete silence in the crowd. All of Taxila waited with for their Raja to speak.

  “Will you follow me?” He asked.

  “Yes!” The cries of the whole of Taxila reverberated across the northern skies.

  “Sushem’s Ashwamedha horse is not far from us,” Asoka said, pointing. “Let’s ride out and stop it because Sushem the kinslayer does not deserve to perform this holy Yadnya.”

  “Yes.” The soldiers screamed standing up.

  “Long live Samrat Asoka.” They shouted.

  “Long live Samrat Asoka.”

  Their cries reverberated across the sky too.

  Their horses galloped at full speed across the dark night sky. Asoka felt the wind tug at him and his eyes were watery. But he kept them strictly open. He held the reins tightly and held his sword in the other hand.

  Vidishanagri was far behind. They were on the road to Patliputra. Somewhere ahead of them was the party of the Ashwamedha horse.

  Then they saw it. Tents fluttering in the wind and fires. In the middle of what looked like an erected stable were lots of horses.

  “Leave no man alive,” Asoka shouted, as his men fell upon the tents like bolts of lightings. “Leave no horse alive either.”

  Almost everybody was sleeping. Those who were not were cut down before they could pick up their weapons. Asoka rounded all the horses in the center stable.

  “Which one of them is
the stallion?” One of his men asked.

  Asoka smiled. “I don’t care.” He said. He took a torch from the fire and laid it on dried grass in the stable. The whole stable began to burn with all the horses in it.

  Their own horses whimpered at the ghastly site. Asoka turned.

  “Back to Vidishanagri.” He ordered and all his horses turned. They ran fast, trying to get away as soon as possible from the ghastly sight.

  Behind them the sun had begun to rise.

  Kanaka met them at the city gates. With him were several of the guards carrying spears. The sun was up in the sky now.

  “Is it done, Asoka?” He asked, once they had reached the gates.

  “Yes, the stallion is dead.” Asoka said, getting down from the horse. “So is the entourage with it.”

  “Good.” Kanaka said. “We found Acharya Hariharan unconscious on the rooftop. He has been taken into custody.”

  “Where is the Guildmaster?” Asoka asked handing over the reins of his horse to a soldier.

  “He is in security, in the guild house,” Kanaka said. “He has been waiting for Hariharan to get up so that we can interrogate him.”

  “Then we should go there,” Asoka said. He and Kanaka walked inside the city together, the guards escorting them.

  “We are still not sure that the danger has passed,” Kanaka said.

  “I think it has,” Asoka said.

  They reached the guild house in no time at all. It had been converted into fortress of some kind, with guards everywhere. They walked in to the great hall. There they found Hardeo sitting on his chair, and the Acharya tied to another opposite him.

  “Ah, you return prince,” Hardeo muttered, as they walked in. “Just in time. This bastard has just woken up.”

  Asoka and Kanaka took seats besides Hardeo. Hariharan was indeed awake and his eyes were open. There was a big blue spot where Asoka had hit him. His white beard was bloodied, some of his teeth broken into pieces.

  “You roughed him up quite a bit, Prince,” Hardeo said.