CHAPTER 24

A Stunning Revelation

Sati rushed out of her tent, followed by Krittika and Ayurvati.
‘A little slowly, Sati,’ cried Ayurvati, running to keep up. ‘In your condition...’
Sati turned and grinned back at Ayurvati, but did not reduce her pace. She sprinted to the
royal tent where she had been informed Shiva and Parvateshwar had reached after the
declaration of victory. Nandi and Veerbhadra stood guard at the entrance. They moved aside to
let Sati in, but barred Ayurvati and Krittika.
‘I am sorry, Lady Ayurvati,’ said Nandi apologetically, his head bowed. ‘I have strict
instructions not to let anybody in.’
‘Why?’ asked a surprised Ayurvati.
‘I don’t know, my Lady. I am very sorry’
‘That’s alright,’ said Ayurvati. ‘You’re only doing your job.’
Veerbhadra looked at Krittika. ‘I’m sorry darling.’
‘Please don’t call me that in public,’ whispered Krittika, embarrassed.
Sati pulled the curtain aside and entered the tent.
‘I don’t know, my Lord,’ said Parvateshwar. ‘It doesn’t make sense.’
Sati was surprised at Parvateshwar calling Shiva ‘My Lord’.
But her joy at seeing Shiva safe brushed these thoughts aside. ‘Shiva!’
‘Sati?’ mumbled Shiva, turning towards her.
Sati froze. He didn’t smile when he saw her. He didn’t have the flush of victory on his face.
He hadn’t even got his wounds dressed.
‘What’s wrong?’ asked Sati.
Shiva stared at her. His expression worried her deeply. She turned towards Parvateshwar.
He looked at her for an instant with an obviously forced smile. The way he usually smiled when
he tried to shield her from some bad news. ‘What is it, Pitratulya?’
Parvateshwar looked at Shiva, who spoke at last. ‘Something about this war troubles us.’
‘What could trouble you?’ asked a surprised Sati. ‘You have delivered the greatest victory
ever to the Suryavanshis. This defeat of the Chandravanshis is even more comprehensive than
what my grandfather achieved. You should be proud!’
‘I didn’t see any Nagas with the Chandravanshis,’ said Shiva.
‘The Nagas weren’t there?’ asked Sati. ‘That doesn’t make sense.’
‘Yes,’ said Shiva, his eyes carrying a hint of foreboding. ‘If they are so thick with the
Chandravanshis, then they would have been there in the battlefield. If they were being used by
the Chandravanshis against us, then their skills would have been even more useful in the battle.
But where were they?’
‘Maybe they’ve fallen out with each other,’ suggested Sati.