for Sati as he was. Probably more than he had been before Sati’s agnipariksha. Suddenly a
thought hit Shiva. He turned and hurried to the closest Naga body. Bending quickly, he checked
the right wrist. Finding nothing there, he turned and rushed to the other Naga dead body.
Meanwhile, Parvateshwar had rallied his disturbed mind enough to realise the important
tasks that needed to be done. He called Vraka and ordered, ‘Place guards over the prisoners
of war. Get doctors to attend to all the injured, including the Chandravanshis.’
‘The injured Chandravanshis have already taken their poison, my Lord,’ said Vraka. ‘You
know they will never want to be caught alive.’
Parvateshwar looked at Vraka with a withering look, clearly saying that he wasn’t interested
in the details and Vraka should get to the task at hand.
‘Yes, my Lord,’ said Vraka, acknowledging Parvateshwar’s silent order.
‘Arrange a perimeter for any counter-attack,’ continued Parvateshwar, his consciousness
already drawn back to Sati’s condition in the house behind him. ‘And...’
Vraka looked up at Parvateshwar, surprised by his Lord’s hesitation. He had never seen his
Lord hesitate before. But Vraka had the good sense to not say anything. He waited for his Lord
to complete his statement.
‘And...’ continued Parvateshwar. ‘There should be some courier-pigeons still alive in the
temple. Send a red coloured letter to Devagiri. To the Emperor. Tell him Princess Sati is
seriously injured.’
Vraka looked up in disbelief. He had no news about Sati. But wisely, he did not say
anything.
‘Tell the Emperor,’ continued Parvateshwar, ‘that she has been shot by an agnibaan.’
‘O Lord Indra!’ blurted Vraka unable to control his shocked dismay.
‘Do it now, Brigadier!’ snarled Parvateshwar.
‘Yes, my Lord,’ said Vraka with a weak salute.
Shiva meanwhile had already checked the wrists of four of the Nagas. None of them wore
the leather bracelet with the serpent aum that Shiva had come to recognise. He reached the
last one. The one who had shot Sati. The wretched one who Shiva had hacked. Shiva kicked
the Naga’s torso with intense hatred before trying to find his right arm. It took him some time to
find the severed limb. Locating it, he raised the remnants of the robe to check the wrist. There
was no leather bracelet. It wasn’t him.
Shiva came back to the hut to find Parvateshwar seated on a stool outside. Krittika was
standing beside the hut entrance, sobbing uncontrollably. Veerbhadra was holding her gently
comforting her. A distraught Nandi stood at Veerbhadra’s side, his face stunned into a blank
expression. Parvateshwar looked up at Shiva and pointed to the empty stool next to him with a
weak smile. He was making brave attempts to appear under control. Shiva sat down slowly and
looked into the distance, waiting for Ayurvati to come out.
‘We have removed the arrow, my Lord,’ said Ayurvati.
Shiva and Parvateshwar were standing in the hut, looking at an unconscious Sati. Nobody
else was allowed in. Ayurvati had clearly said that Sati did not need the risk of increased
infection. And nobody dared argue with the formidable Ayurvati on medical matters. Mastrak