Zeus could not believe his ears. He had never imagined that Seol could betray Ethar. Seol's spite against the Emperor was not unknown, yet this time he had pushed too far. Zeus felt Barrister had something to do with it.

Zeus had all along felt that Barrister had a different energy. He always radiated an environment of gloom and despair. The man was not right to sit in the council of administrators. Zeus could feel it in his bones that something was not right.

Zeus used to live in Heimland the island to the north of Nazaan, just like the rest of his fellow Brahmin Administrators. He had been chosen by Vayuvijay from the thousand of aspirants along with, Cecile, Jon and Ivy, whereas Barrister was chosen by Seol on the permission of the Royal Adviser. 

"You had called for me, my lord." It was Rameres, the head of finance of South Nazaan.

"Rameres, were we assigned any Gulars by the head of state?" asked Zeus.

"No my lord, Lord Seol had not assigned us any additional help. We only have as revenue 3 million aurs, which were collected as duty from the people in South Nazaan, of which as is the rule, I had deposited 1 million Aurs to Lord Seol."

"Please find out from the Revenue head of the State, how much has been received by the state treasury."

"Has something happened my lord?"

"Well yes, and more is about to happen." said Zeus. " You may leave Rameses."

As the revenue head of South Nazan left, Zeus whistled his hawk, and tied the small scroll on his claws, before letting him leave his chamber.

"The Emperor has a lot on his plate," he thought "but the man with ears everywhere doesn't."

***************

Aboli saw her mother howl before leaving her brother and sisters and running deeper into the woods. She followed her mother. Her small body galloping furiously. Suddenly the scent hit her. One was the familiar one, which belonged to her Ajeenkya, and the other, it smelt like rotten meat. Ajeenkya was standing still her hands fixed to her sides, as if she was bound by invisible ropes. Her little face was contorted in pain. Aboli saw a dark hooded figure standing in front of Ajeenkya. Ajeenkya's Dhoti and Choli were starting to tear. It seemed like the figure infront of her with outstretched hands were trying to tear her. The brave little girl was still fighting. As the storm summoned by her started to rise and gather pace. The cloaked figure was getting angry as it applied the last of its effort to tear the little girl.

Aboli saw her mother spring at the cloaked figure disrupting him for once, which gave Ajeenkya the break she needed.

As soon as Ajeenkya released herself she darted towards the cloaked figure and pushed it with both her arms. The cloaked figure threw Aboli's mother against the tree. Ajinkya felt anger replace her fear, she didn't let the cloaked figure get control as she continued her relentless punches.

Aboli saw her mother. She had been hit as she was bleeding profusely from her mouth. She knew Ajeenkya would not be able to keep the monster at bay for long. She needed to get help. Aboli's mother with her teeth picked up the now torn clothes of Ajeenkya which had fallen off and ran towards the temple. She could feel life ebbing away from her yet she ran.

She ran up the stairs and straight to the lady wearing the royal angavastram. Aboli's mother dropped Ajeenkya's clothes which were now drenched in her blood, before she fell and closed her eyes forever.

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Vayuvijay could not speak. It seemed pain had taken away his voice. Few moments back, he was the happiest man on Ethar. And now he felt robbed.  He turned around and looked  out of the window. The same one he had stood, when Ajeenkya was born, couple of years back. The memories came rushing back to him. His little daughter. All he wanted to do was hold her, one last time.

"Your highness, Our men have searched the wood thoroughly, but the princess was nowhere to be found. We did come across the bodies of three young wolves" Said Vrijeswar, "Are you sure the wolf did not attack her your highness." He cautiously addressed his mother in law.

"I am quite certain, it was not the wolf." Replied Shakuntala. "I want my granddaughter's death avenged." Shakuntala shouted. "She was a child. What kind of a monster would kill a child?" "I want you to do whatever you can and find out who did it. We will then have a public execution."

"Please mother. Please let me grieve the loss of my children."

"Children..?" "What..Vayu NO..What happened to Manyata." Shakuntala was horrified.

"The baby didn't make it. Manyata doesn't know anything," said Vayu. Shakuntala felt the room was spinning. It was irony that she was praying at the temple of Oracle for the wellbeing of her family, when her heirs were stolen away from them.

Silence creeped into the waiting room only to be broken by the sudden cry of a baby from the Labour room, which was followed by a distant howl.

"Congratulations..my friend..you are the proud father of two daughters.." Parikshit's voice boomed into the room.

He faultered seeing the look on the faces of the crowd in the Visitors room.

"She is alive. Oh my holy Operator. You saved her." Vayu was overwhelmed to see the baby crying loudly.

He rushed and looked at the child. Unlike Ajeenkya this baby looked like Manyata. But had his eyes. Light brown eyes, and heavy round cheeks. She stopped crying at once when she saw her father. Vayuvijay touched the baby's cheek with his finger. She was reminding him of Ajeenkya. He didn't realise that tears were running down his cheeks.

"Ajeenkya is no more." Vrijeswar, told a confused Parikshit." She had disappeared from the Temple of Oracle, and only her blood stained clothes were brought back by a wolf to Mother Shakuntala."

"Is she having fever? Why is her body so hot?" Asked  scared Vayuvijay.

"No..her..vitals" Parikshit was unable to keep away the pain from his voice "are normal..she is..not having fever..may be..like..Ajeenkya.." Parikshit stopped. Shakuntala was crying silently as she looked at the little baby. She felt a lump deep in her throat. The pain was unbearable. Yet the baby infront of them was still there. They needed to be strong for her.

Inside the labour room, Shivani leaned against the door. Her fist inside her mouth to prevent her from making any noise as she cried. Ajeenkya was gone. She had been punished for her selfishness. Her goddaughter was gone.

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