“I’m here to speed you up, not slow you down.” She winked.
Asoka looked at Hardeo who stood there smiling. Asoka bowed to him. “So long, Guildmaster.” He said.
“So long, son,” Hardeo said, “and don’t worry, I will surely protect my investment. Now I shall have to! It’s quite a plan you’ve cooked up with my daughter.”
“Look,” Asoka said, “the love is genuine.”
“And it appears it is mutual too.” Hardeo winked. “Don’t worry son; the way you have done things here, I daresay I don’t think I am taking that much of a risk by backing you. You shall win.”
“I shall.” Asoka smiled. “I must say it is goodbye then.”
“It indeed is goodbye.” Hardeo said. “But I hope only for a while.”
“Only for a while!” Asoka got up on his horse and bowed to Hardeo. Then he turned to look at his one hundred men who looked at him for orders.
“Let’s ride.” He ordered and he and his cavalrymen shot out ahead on the dusty path. Devi was alongside him. Kanaka and Hardeo waved to them from the ground.. Around him were all his men on their horses and behind them was a huge cloud of dust that they had lifted up from the ground as their horses marched forward.
And far away along the road, somewhere to the north, was Patliputra, the greatest city in the whole of Bharathvarsha.
Epilogue
Taxila, 50 years earlier:
Enraged by the murder of their beloved leader Dileepa, Chandragupta and the men of Taxila prepare to wage war against the Rajya of the evil Nandas. Chanakya has enlisted the support of other small kingdoms of the Northwest for the campaign. The veteran army of Raja Puru stands side by side with the army of Chandragupta.
270 BC:
Sushem raises his army to march east and avenge the killing of his Ashwamedha stallion. He plans to march to the Ganges and seize the throne of Patliputra. This march is strikingly similar to Chandragupta’s march, 50 years earlier. The only difference is this - Sushem has no Chanakya on his side! Will history repeat itself? Will Sushem be able to do what his grandfather Chandragupta did?
Patliputra, 50 years earlier:
Prime Minister Rakshasa readies the defense of the Nandas against an upcoming onslaught from the Northwest. Meanwhile Avarak and the brothers of the Ancient Brahminical order weave their own web to bring down the Nandas, taking advantage of the invasion that will soon be upon them.
270 BC:
Radhagupta and Chanakya wait for their chosen prince, Asoka, to arrive in the city. They hold almost all of the Samrat’s other sons in captivity except Sushem. After that, they shall have to face the civil war from the west. Will Asoka prove that they made the right choice?
A west wind is going to blow strong over Bharathvarsha. The dark clouds of war loom high, waiting to burst into a rain of blood and gore. The thunder claps loud as everyone waits with beating hearts for THE SCOURGE FROM TAXILA to arrive.
The Prince of Patliputra Page 32