The translucent fabric over his head gave the passage for the rays of light to penetrate his vision, his amalgamated eyes flapped wide with a deep pain above his abdomen. Indresh had been laying on the bed for quite a long now, his orbs adjusted to the right for a better view. Waiting for the perfect flash of a second his mind came across the recollection of the evening in the past when a spear had pierced his chest. He had collapsed on the floor in seconds, while the others hooted in applause for the humble prince who was merely in the clutch of the opponent ready to be slaughtered if Indresh wasn't around, yet Yashwardhan was the one with fame and not him.

Smiling ear to ear oneself, Indresh reminisced on the past. He was on the floor with blood oozing from his skin; his dear soldiers had left him without a call, but there was a savior to get him to the tent. Indresh didn't remember the perfect texture of the man's face but he may be humble enough to help a seeker left amidst his own.

Pivoting his orifices for a better view, he could see maids rushing around the chamber with head physicians having a hard time grinding herbs on the stone slab, "For the service of a not at all famous commander-in-chief." Arching his spine in the backward direction Indresh cursed himself for protecting Yashwardhan. "I could have let Pradam slaughter the crown prince and then attack him, at least Indravati might have gotten free from having a namesake crown prince who doesn't even have the slightest clue about wielding a sword."

He had cushions to his aid helping him to be comforted being in the engulfment of adequate warmth, he was dedicated to his state but not submissive towards the royal family, excluding the one with the crown. Being warm in hot blood he had ambitions of his own, prominently not to only just be commander-in-chief at the age of thirty when he could a lot more.

"Indresh?"

A smile adorned Indresh's face with the coming of the call. He needed to be appreciated and he knew that only one person could do the respective, the one who respected his work.

"Maharaj," Parting ways with the silken comforter, Indresh tried to be on his feet. The wound above his abdomen was fairly ripe to bleed in blue with the clots being ruptured under the influence of extra pressure.

Indrajeet gestured his hands in a no, he had known that Indresh was not in the best of condition to walk barefoot. "I am your visitor this time,"

Indrajeet, the king of Indravati was too modest to be a king in the syllable of the royals who didn't respect others; especially based on their working qualities. His physique was hefty, with bulky shoulders and a fair complexion same as Indresh's.

"So, how are you feeling Indresh?" The reflex to Indrajeet's limb made him wave his hand in affection for the young lad in front of his eyes.

Indrajeet was not a biological father to any, his affection as a father had barely been limited to Yashwardhan being the eldest born in the next generation. But to Indresh, it was something different. He had seen him grow from a teenager to the leader of his army as the official commander-in-chief.

"I am good, Maharaja; may I ask how long I was asleep?" His calculations showed that he might have been unconscious for a long time.

The journey from Indravati to the battlefield must have taken twice the hours a day and the king couldn't arrive within the transcendence of information from the battlefield.

"A week." Indrajeet sighed.

"Seven long days?" Indresh was horrified, "What about the battle?"

"Raktap's army has surrendered, all thanks to you." Indrajeet smiled, "Pradam was last in the lineage, they said that they wish to have peace now and want to continue as a part of Dharmagranthi's land."

"Has maharaja Vaishnava Prajapati agreed?"

"He is here with his army. Wishes to see you."

"He is here?"

"He was the one to get you to the camp."

Indresh needed a moment to comprehend the last statement asserted by the king, all that he could recall about the war was leading Indiravati's army in the battle against Pradam. 

The war against Raktap was for a special cause– Friendship.

Pradam had readied his army to attack the capital of Dharmagranthi with the will to expand its land boundaries, in the presence of an upper hand— Maharaj Vaishnava Prajapati was busy with another war. 

Being the best ally and the cousin of Dharmagrathi's monarch, it was the obligation of Indrajeet to aid the empire.

"Raktap's land is an orphan, Indresh. We don't want any civil wars and for that, I have thought of suggesting Yashwardhan's name as Raktap's new king to Vaishnava. What do you think?" 

Yashwardhan and the king? Never, he did not even deserve to be a mere soldier in the army. Indresh was in a fix, he didn't know what to say. Opening the mouth against the will of the king would be foolish. 

Indrajeet could read the expressions on Indresh's face, he had known of Yashwardhan's incapacity. "I know that he can't even wield a wooden sword," 

"Maharaja?" Being dumbstruck by the proclamation of the king, Indresh's eyes dilated.

"He is the eldest one in the next generation and the humble one that's all. He has gotten the title for a. I am forced to take his name, or else my dear ones may think that I don't consider him my heir yet but—" Indrajeet smiled, "I am sure that Vaishnava would decline it, I am safe both ways." 

Indresh could take the final breath of relief, his tightened muscles were now soft. 

The King of Indravati giggled.

"Both you and Yashwardhan grew up in the same pat ronage but look, one is a master of bloodshed and the other one can't even see blood." Indrajeet smiled, he could clearly remember his first encounter with the ace student of his newly opened gurukul. "You and he were the first students of that gurukul, both of you have reached your final positions. He'll be the king and you already are the king." 

The words pricked Indresh, it was not the end of ambition. He had a lot to do, but Indrajeet too was correct in his shoes. What more could a mere orphan achieve even if he was favored by the king? Even weapons were inaccessible to him, if not Indrajeet had seen his true potential. 

Be it abseric too, it's true— 

"Maharaja, I don't love bloodshed. I kill when it's needed." 

"A commander-in-chief who doesn't like bloodshed?" The words of Indrajeet came as direct mockery to the leader of his army, making the hues of crimson scatter on the texture of his skin.

"It's not—" 

Indresh was interrupted by the call of a soldier, he was announcing an arrival. The high intonation and the grand introduction revealed it to be that of a royal. 

In seconds, he could see a man double his age stationed in the tent. The crown over his head disclosed his identity, he was a king. Indresh bent his head in a downward direction, his fist positioned next to the chest in respect. 

With his lowered eyes he could see the man with the walrus mustache decked in white clothes with an imprint in a golden hue. He was tall and dusky with brown eyes embedded in the holes of the skull. The aura was that of a calm poet, similar to Yashwardhan but in contrast— Indresh could see a huge scar embedded over his palm stretching up till the cloth hadn't draped it beneath.

"Vaishnava," Indrajeet greeted the man with a warm embrace, reciprocated by the same enthusiasm.

The greetings and words of concern were shared. Vaishnava glanced at the bent head of Indresh, he had recognized the person "At ease, sarsenapati." 

Indresh was perplexed, the great king of Dharmagranthi had known him? "Pranam, Maharaja." 

"Praram, you seem well. Other than the time I had seen you laying unconscious on n the battlefield." 

Indresh recollected from Indrajeet's words that it was Vaishnava to pick him on the battlefield, he was grateful to the modest king. 

"He has given another life to you Indresh," said Indrajeet.

Indresh nodded his head, he was grateful.

"I just completed my duty, Indrajeet, you had sent your disciple to aid my state in my absence. How could I leave him on the battlefield all alone, he could have died. I am disappointed by the behavior of your soldiers, how could they leave their chief all alone on the battlefield?" Vaishnava was a man of discipline, the reckless behavior could have led to Indresh's death with the extra blood loss.

"I am aware of it, I asked Yashwardhan for clarification and he said that the soldiers were howling in victory and that's why they didn't notice the fallen body." 

It was an absolute lie— none wished to bark for the same.

Indresh had held his mouth cloth, it was the adequate embellished in him by his mother and Vaishnav admired it. 

Vaishnavi's eyes stretched wide with his glance at a particularly unusual mark over Indresh's back, it was a dark-colored diminished form of a lotus. 

"What's that?" Vaishnava asked pointing his finger to the mark on Indresh's back.

"That's a birthmark," 

"Hm," Vaishnava smiled, removing a ring from his finger. He had to give it to Indresh.

"It's not a present, but a token of blessing. My father had given this ring to me when I was the crown prince, he had asked me to give it to the person who will aid Dharmagranthi in my absence. I ain't giving this to Yashwardhan or Indrajeet but to you. Understand, my dear you will surely become what you are destined for. You have the mark of greatness." 

Indresh was numb, his rational mind could spin a theory of his own— his birthmark was special. But the moment meant accepting blessings and not thinking of extras.

"Indresh, you may rest. I am leaving for Indravati with Yashwardhan and Vaishnava, you aren't well yet. It's my order, you must be back in the capital by next week with the remaining army." 

——— 

"What do you think Vaishnava, is he the one?" Indresh eyed the other king for confirmation. 

"Or else, why would I give the ring to him?" The curve on Vaishnava's face widened.

"He is a commander-in-chief, keep that in mind. But I know that he is meant for something greater." 

"My Menaka is destined to change the destiny of her husband, don't forget that a father can never be wrong." 

"That's the biggest issue, being your daughter would Menaka ever accept him?" Indrssh paused, "The difference, I mean you can understand what I am trying to say." 

"She has a single condition, and he is fulfilling it. Menaka needs a Kshatriya who hates bloodshed, who can be better than him?" 

Yashwardhan hid his figure behind the tree, he was listening to the words of elders. Butterflies rushed in his stomach with the misunderstanding of him being paired with Menaka. He had heard of her, "She will be my wife, I can't believe it." without wait g for another second, he was to the winds rushing to his tent.

Indrajeet pressed a soft smile on his face, "Then that is perfect my lord, as I had said Indresh will be the best match if you are looking for not-a-king as your son-in-law." 

"And that is why I am coming to Indravati," Vaishnava spoke the words in a  tone similar to Indrajeet, "I precisely wish to confirm if his mother is okay with the proposal, his qualities are like you, I just hope that he hasn't embraced bachelorhood like you." 

The last comment was a direct hit to Indrajeet's heart, shattering it to pieces.

"But even you know that it's good," 

"Look at the disadvantages too, the heir of Indravati is not the successor of your valor." 

"Leave it," Indrajeet didn't wish to talk over the topic, "What about Raktaap's administration?"

"Yuvragyi Sachi Prajapati, she is gonna do that."

Yuvragyi: Crown-princess
Maharaja: King
Senapati: Commander-in-chief