I am extremely grateful to Deva garu for making this wonderful cover. Isn't it beautiful?

She has written stories belonging to different genre. My favourite among them being 'Suvarna Grantha' (Historical Fiction) and 'The Last Agosti' (Mystery). Please do add them to your library. 

---***---

Mayanshi quickly scanned the five assassins and zeroed in on the easiest target. She dived towards his legs with lightning speed and stabbed his ankle. He yelped in pain. That gave her the opportunity to snatch his sword. She had barely turned around when two assassins charged at her together. She managed to dodge their strikes. Manikantha was holding off the other two with all his might.

They attacked her again, this time separately, injuring her right elbow. Instinct told her to run towards the temple's exit. If she could somehow manage to get out of the temple, and scream on top of her voice, there was a probability of someone hearing her and coming to her aid. She started running. One of the two assassins anticipated this move of hers. He leapt in the direction to block her way out of the temple, while the other one who seemed to be slower, chased her. 

She considered using mere physical strength and pushing him away from the gate, despite knowing that he was the strongest in the lot.

That's when she remembered Samarjit's words. 'Never give your opponent the advantage of proximity.'

She abandoned her plan of running and turned around, facing the one that chased her. She found a weak spot, which happened to be his throat, and ran the sword through it. He collapsed to the floor. She barely had time to register it, when the other assassin attacked her. She glanced at Manikantha. He was busy battling the other two. 

Out of desperation, she kicked the assassin in the thigh. He stumbled for a moment. That gave her the time to stab him in the stomach with her dagger. She plunged it deep inside his body.

"Run!" Yelled one of the remaining three. They vanished from the premises within seconds. Manikantha tried to run after them.

"No! Don't go after them." Mayanshi ordered him. "There could be more of them, trying to lure us to their territory."

He obeyed.

Meanwhile, in the ground, Abhimanyu and Samarjit ran into each other. "Where is she?" They asked in unison.

"I thought she was dining with you" said Samarjit.

"No. She was talking to you the last time I saw her" said Abhimanyu.

They approached Jayendra, who was giving away the gifts to the poor, and explained the situation to him. "Were you all napping?The Princess is missing." He yelled at the soldiers present there. He divided them into four groups and sent them to search for her in different directions. 

"I must go look for her. She never wanders off alone for this long." Abhimanyu said in a panic-stricken voice. He mounted a chariot.

"I'll come with you." Samarjit joined him without waiting for his reply. "Any idea where she could have gone?"

"I don't know. I have never been to this part of the city. I don't think even she remembers anything from here." Abhimanyu replied. "Why are all these houses empty? Not even a single lamp." He groaned in annoyance.

"All these people are still in the ground" said Samarjit. "I don't think she would have come this way. The soldiers might have found her. Let's go back."

"No. Wait. I hear something. Someone's screaming. This direction." Abhimanyu turned the chariot in the direction of the source. 

"Abhimanyu! I can't hear anything. You are mistaken." Samarjit tried to stop him. But he kept driving, until he reached the temple.

"Akka!" He spotted his sister. 

"Yuvarani, what happened? Who are these people?" Samarjit looked at the dead bodies.

Manikantha explained everything that happened. Abhimanyu was furious. "What were you thinking, walking away like that?" He yelled at Mayanshi.

"I am fine, brother." She assured him in a remarkably calm voice. "My brave bodyguard has saved my life. I am really grateful to you, Sriman Manikantha."

"It is my duty, Yuvarani." Manikantha replied.

A search party of soldiers reached the spot at that moment. "This is how capable they are? A foreign tourist like me could reach this place before them." Abhimanyu expressed his displeasure.

"Abhimanyu!" Mayanshi reprimanded him. "Yuvaraja, if you don't mind I would like my dagger back before the dead bodies are transported from here."

Samarjit nodded. Abhimanyu walked ahead. The sight of the bloodied corpse was revolting. He held the dagger and pulled it out, without looking at it. As a result, there stood a small cut on his right palm.

"Careful Prince Abhimanyu. You should have let our soldiers do this. They are capable of pulling out daggers from dead bodies without injuring themselves." Samarjit gave a fitting reply to his earlier remark.

Before Abhimanyu could answer, Mayanshi intervened. "Let's go back to the palace." Everyone agreed.

---***---

"Very irresponsible behavior, Yuvarani. I am not at all happy with you." Usha, the royal physician, scolded Mayanshi.

"I know, Devi. I apologize for my behavior."

"Unacceptable." Vaishali entered the chambers. "You put yourself in harm's way. What if something happened to you? Did you think about consequences before acting? What was the need to go there alone when you had so many soldiers at your command?" She fumed at Mayanshi.

"Amma, she is injured. Maybe we could have this discussion later" said Samarjit.

"She needs to understand, Samarjit. It's my duty to take care of her as long as she is here. Her safety is my responsibility." Vaishali turned towards the physician. "Give her the best medicines. Stop the bleeding. She is already so delicate."

Mayanshi opened her mouth to contradict the 'delicate' statement. Usha squeezed her shoulder tightly, signaling her to not infuriate the Queen. The princess understood. She nodded silently.

"Take rest." Vaishali walked out of the chamber.

Mayanshi expected Samarjit to leave. But he sat down next to her. "Devi, could you please give us a moment alone? I need answers to few questions, to initiate investigation." He requested Usha. He waited until she was out of earshot before continuing. "So, did they speak anything? Could you recognize the accent?"

"Forgive me, I was slightly busy fighting to save my life. Or else I would definitely have made a conversation with them and known where they are from." She replied sarcastically.

"My apologies. I know I shouldn't be bothering you now. But your statement is very essential. Or else we will have to wait until the dead bodies are examined." Samarjit sighed. "Could you at least tell what exactly they wanted?"

"They..." Mayanshi closed her eyes. "I think they were robbers."

"Robbers?"

"Yes. I think they were trying to steal my ornaments. I was all decked up this evening."

Samarjit gazed at her for a while. "Robbers who were so skilled in warfare that they could almost kill a warrior like you? We both know this is not the correct theory."

"Then I don't know why they were attacking us." Mayanshi spoke, looking at her toes.

"Any old enemies who could have done this?"

"None that I could think of. I still think they were robbers. Maybe we should wait until the experts' report regarding the dead bodies." She suggested. 

"Right." Samarjit stood up. "Anything I could do for you?"

"Yes. Please send a physician to my brother's chambers. He is also injured."

"I did that already. I sent a healer to him. She will look after him. I take your leave now. Your handmaiden will stay here with you for the night." He joined his palms in a formal Namaste and walked out.

Devika entered the bed chambers. Her eyes were swollen. It was evident that she was crying. "Yuvarani, I am no one to tell you this. But you shouldn't have been so reckless."

"I am fine, Devika. Just a small scratch. Nothing else." 

"It could have been much worse. What if something happened to you? I would have killed myself."

"Devika! How dare you talk like that? Do you even hear what you are saying?" Mayanshi raised her voice. "Don't ever talk about dying. I didn't fight your so called family and take you in, so that you can talk about killing yourself."

"I am sorry." Devika started weeping. "My world revolves around you. You are all I have. I can't afford to lose you."

Mayanshi's expression softened. She held Devika's hand. "I can't afford to lose you too. You are are a part of my family. I promise you, I will be more careful from now."

"I will make your bed, Yuvarani." Devika offered. 

"No. First take me to Sriman Manikantha. I have to see how he is faring. He is injured."

"Can't it wait till tomorrow?"

"No. Help me locate his chambers. I must speak with him. It can't wait till tomorrow." She stood up. 

---***---

Abhimanyu sipped the medicine given by one of the healers. It tasted horrible. He tried to dispose it off in a nearby flower vase.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Yuvaraja." He heard a voice and turned around. A girl of around nineteen years of age stood by the door. "Medicines might taste bitter. But the solace they provide nullify their bitterness. I hope you know that." She smiled at him.

"I, er, well..." Abhimanyu hesitated to drink it.

"Here. Let me help you. Drink half the content now and the other half later." She held the goblet and brought it to his lips. Her hands carried the fragrance of basil leaves. Something Abhimanyu always liked. He took a deep breath and drank the medicine. Slowly. Enjoying every sip.

She put the goblet aside when it was half empty. "Thank you for the help, Devi." Abhimanyu thanked her.

"It's my duty, Yuvaraja. I am the royal physician's assistant. I made the medicine you had just now." She informed him.

"Well, it was good. I mean, though it tasted bitter, I am sure it will help me recover soon." He struggled to compliment her on the medicine he hated. "Because it has been made by such capable hands as yours, Devi."

She smiled again. "That's very kind of you, Yuvaraja. If you don't mind, I would like to examine your palm once." 

He forwarded his bandaged palm. She held it. "The bandage needs to be changed tomorrow morning. I would personally bring the new paste I made, specifically for cuts and scratches, tomorrow. You will be fine in few days." She released his hand.

"I am already fine, Devi." He grinned ear to ear, bringing his palm to his heart.

"It's getting dark. I must take your leave. I will come back tomorrow. To check whether the goblet is emptied or not." She stood up.

"How can you be so sure that I will drink it? What if I use a shortcut to empty it?" He asked her.

"I don't think you will throw it away after knowing it is the result of someone's hard work. Besides, I will know if you lie to me."

"Really? How?" He was enjoying the conversation.

"Your eyes. They cannot lie." She remarked.

He had to agree with her. She nodded at him and started walking away. "Devi" said Abhimanyu. "I haven't had the pleasure of introducing myself to you. My name is--"

"Abhimanyu. Of course I know your name. You are the future ruler of Srimukha." She replied politely. 

She reached the door when he stopped her again. "Introduction is usually two-sided, Devi. If you think I deserve to know your sweet name, please reveal it to me."

She chuckled. "My name is Samyukta."

"Wonderful name." He complimented her once again. He picked up the goblet as soon as she left, and inhaled the fragrance. 

It still smelt of basil leaves.

---***---

"Yuvarani. You should have summoned me." Manikantha was surprised. 

Mayanshi signaled Devika, who understood that her princess needed to speak to him alone. She nodded and left. "Sriman Manikantha, I just realized I didn't thank you properly for saving my life." She walked towards him. "If it is alright, I would like to have a look at your arm."

"My arms are not injured, Yuvarani. It's the right leg that is injured." He replied.

"I know." She held his hand before he could give his consent, and rolled his sleeves upwards. There stood a tattoo of a lion, right below his elbow.

She looked into his eyes. "Didn't expect to meet you again, my dear cousin." She gave him a dangerously sweet smile.

---***---

Who is your favourite among Mayanshi and Samarjit? Whose side are you on?

Can I have a big comment? Please.