It was five days journey to Olathe. On the way the Royal convoy had stopped to set camps for the night.

As they crossed the mountains and descended onto the valley the picturesque City of Olathe came into view. It was cleaner than Lachlan. The houses were slightly larger and made of better quality stones, mostly granite. The convoy traveled along the winding roads as people gathered on both sides to welcome the Emperor. Showers of rose and lilies fell on the carriages which hurled past the Zaidenians.

The convoy halted in front of a fort as the drawbridge slowly descended to welcome them. The fort inside was huge, made of sandstone. They drove along the cobblestone and reached an inner courtyard. The princesses descended from the carriage as they were ushered inside. The chief of Zaiden Gregor was waiting for them inside the lavish fort hall. Gregor was a plump man. He had beady eyes and a bushy moustache. He belly protruded out. Numerous Gold chains hung from his neck. His Angavastram was made of pure muslin. Unlike other Brahmins Gregor wore colorful clothes instead of the usual white. He was a little taken aback by the wolf that accompanied the children. Quickly recovering from the surprise he bowed down along with his belly when Vayuvijay stepped into the hall.

"Your majesty we are honored by your presence." He slurred.

"At ease, Governor," Vayuvijay said.

"The quarters are already prepared to accommodate your highness." Gregor said in the same slurry manner. Would your majesty prefer to rejuvenate from the exhaustion of the journey."

"On the contrary I would prefer to be updated immediately, of the present status of Zaiden." Vayuvijay said assertively, "But my fellow travelers could do with a little bit of rest I believe."

"Ofcourse your highness." Gregor motioned the hand maiden's, who quickly came forward and collected the baggages that had been laid down by the royal company and offered them to show their rooms. The princesses along with Shivashakti and Anakul followed.

************
As Ajinkya and Adhaata trailed after the hand maiden Aboli bringing up the rear, climbing up the spiral stone staircase that took them to the second level of the Zaiden Fort, they couldn't stop admiring the intricate architecture.

The room they were to share was quite large with an attached balcony. A large four poster bed with pink canopy occupied most of it. A large window opened to their right. The two sisters walked up to savour the view outside. The sky was a bright hue of crimson as the sun disappeared behind the mountains. They could hear the din of the city from here.

"It is beautiful," Adhata remarked.

The hand maidens laid down the trunks, and bowed before leaving them to their privacy.

Little Adhaata longingly stared at the courtyard below where the children, of the Kshatriyas and Sudras in charge of the Fort, were engaged in some game.

"Will they play with us?" Adhaata asked hopefully.

"Even if they don't I have Surya and Aboli." Ajinkya replied smugly.

"Will you and Surya become man and wife someday?" Innocent Adhaata asked.

"Of course," Ajinkya replied confidently "when we grow up I and Surya will be like Father and mother and we have five children."

"But father says one shouldn't have more than one child to maintain the balance of nature." Adhaata warned.

"Well," Ajinkya said thoughtfully "then I shall have one human baby and four wolf pups." She cuddled Aboli as the wolf growled contently.

The stood at the window chattering away.

************
Vayuvijay frowned as he shuffled through the scrolls of record Gregor had provided.

"This doesn't make sense," the Emperor fumed "how could you spend three fourth of the funds in beautification of this city when the state is in dire need of upgradation in all its sectors. The Sudras here have not been provided the mutated grains and water channels for their agriculture. They have not been provided the aids that they are entitled to, if their crops are not adequate."

Vayuvijay was infuriated yet he kept his poise. "You have not allocated any funds for the Premiers. Your teachers have not received their wages for months. You have not contributed a single penny for the Building of Healths around the state. Health preservers themselves have died due to absence of treatment." He looked sternly at the head of the state.

"The State Guards are still using outdated swords and their swords have blunted. The only thing you have done is placed fountains everywhere, while your statesmen are devoid of clean drinking water. The rivers are polluted from manufactural waste generated by the Vaishya's."

He sighed angrily "Zaiden is beautiful outside while it rots inside."

Gregor was fiddling with his Angavastram, as he tried to provide a suitable explanation.

"The only class who seem to have benefited are the Vaishya's." Vayuvijay snapped. "You have slashed their import and export duties yet the Sudras have been deprived from such benefits. Looks like you are more concerned with the luxury than the necessities." He grimly commented.

"But your majesty we have the largest trade export," a flabbergasted Gregor said, "we earn more revenue than the rest of the states."

"The number of Gulars in the treasury doesn't define the prosperity of a state. The wellbeing of its people does. And your people are suffering Gregor."

"Your majesty," Gregor gulped "it was a miscalculate, I was not aware of the..."

"You are the head of the state." Vayuvijay banged his fist on the wooden table as the scrolls jumped.

"You are supposed to know everything that goes in every single household." His voice rose. "It your incompetency that has lead to the rise in the state's crime."

Gregor, wiped the perspiration that had appeared from nervousness.

"Call the court in session tomorrow," he informed Hendrix who was there with Shian "tell them the Emperor shall announce new statues."

Vayuvijay rose and walked out of the chamber. He climbed up the stone staircase to check on his daughters.

He pushed open the door to their room.

"No we will not even have a morsel." Adhaata complained as the maid tried to convince the two girls to eat.

"And what is not so delicious about this spread," Vayuvijay exclaimed looking at the elaborate spread that was laid on the table set out in the balcony. There was a whole roasted rooster garnished with pineapple and cherry along with two jars of pumpkin juice, a loaf of spiced bread, sliced cheese, coconut flavored fish curry and bread pudding. A fruit bowl with dragon fruit, cranberry and apples were also served to enhance metabolism.

Vayuvijay motioned the maids to add another chair so that he could join his children.

"Mmmm, this is delicious" he exclaimed as he tasted the fish "are you two not hungry?"

"We were waiting for you," Adhaata cried out, "but you started without us." The little girl pouted.

"Forgive me my ladies," Vayuvijay replied "for being ungrateful to your gesture." He said morosely "lets pretend that the fish never made it to my mouth."

"It already made it to your stomach." Ajinkya said grudgingly.

Vayuvijay ruffled her hair as he sat down with his daughters to enjoy the savory spread. The moonlight bathed the sandstone balcony in its silver, as the children and their father chatted about their voyage and the places they had visited so far, and subtly the memories of Rajdhani sneaked in.

"I miss mother," Ajinkya said, her spirit deflating mildly.

"So do I," little Adhaata chirped.

"But I miss her the most." Vayuvijay said with confidence.

"Have you written to her?" Ajinkya enquired.

"Yes," Vayuvijay sighed, "but she has not replied yet. Grandfather said she was too occupied with the developments in Rajdhani." He pinched his younger daughters nose. "And she doesn't have any of us to aid her."

"How long before we see her again?" Ajinkya asked.

"Soon," Vayuvijay assured her "But till then you can speak to her through mail."

"But father we don't know how to read or write!" Adhaata exclaimed.

"I have already made arrangements to have you two home schooled." Vayuvijay informed them "You shall learn not only how to read and write, but also about Ethar. Its history, its people and its culture. You shall learn accounting too and more about the functioning of the human body."

"What about sword fighting?" Ajinkya remarked, "I want to learn sword fighting too father, and also arrow shooting like Surya."

"Ofcourse!" Vayuvijay said "I shall appoint a trainer for you."

"Then I will grow up and become a Kshatriya."Ajinkya clapped with glee "and be brave and fearless and valiant and one day sacrifice my life for Ethar." She said dreamily.

Her words sent a shiver down Vayuvijay's spine. The thought of his daughter dueling with enemies disturbed him. "She is a child," he thought "as she grows up, her dreams will change."

They finished their dinner and bid their father good night, as Vayuvijay tugged them into their bed and went to his own chamber. It was larger than his daughters, with a writing desk and a large bed. He walked upto his balcony and looked at the star strewn sky. He thought what Manyata was upto. Her absence left an emptiness in him.

**********
"So according to Jaiveera there is nothing wrong in Kaivalya." Manyata walked along the castle's corridor in her father in laws company "Yet the sudden change in the climate of the land is unusual. Should we send some meteorologists to study the bizarre phenomenon?" she asked.

"That will prudent." Dharmeshnath nodded. "And intensify the security in Rajdhani and in  the cities of Kaivalya too.

"Father I am worried about them." She meant her husband and children. Her heart ached from the separation.

"So am I dear child.

"Any news about Bhaswath?" Dharmeshnath asked.

"According to my sources, he has visited Kaivalya too Manyata replied. "He had paid at a tavern with his ruby wedding ring. The one which was our family heirloom. It had Jaya's name engraved in the gold band." Manyata couldn't mask the revulsion from her tone.

"Should I ask Jaiveera to find him?" Dharmeshnath adked through clenched teeth.

"No," Manyata waved away the suggestion"tell him to return, we need him in the Rajdhani." She paused before adding "I will find him eventually. Time to activate our network of spies.

"You need to rest once in a while now." Dharmeshnath advised her.

"The living quarters aren't anymore beckoning without my husband and children father." Manyata sighed.
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