The corpse was mutilated beyond recognition. The farmer who found it was still in deep shock. He had not seen anything as ghastly as that.

"Do you think it was an animal?" One of the state guards asked his companion.

"I think it was an Eavaling," the other replied darkly.

"Eavaling in Zaiden," on of the farmers gathered panicked as the rest joined him.

A couple of Health Preservers came and took away the corpse. Within noon the rumor of Eavaling attack started doing round.

"Veerbhadra please find the truth behind this rumor," Shivashakti told the commander. Nobody had come to the court as fear of the Eavaling drove them to the safety of their homes. They had not yet been able to identify the corpse. Shian had personally taken up the reconstruction of the face.

"Father...." Adhaata rushed to her father who sat alone in the courtroom "Jenkin's mother is missing." She said tearfully.

"What?" An absent-minded Vayuvijay asked.

"Amala has not returned home." Ajinkya told him solemnly. Sword training had broadened her shoulders, Vayuvijay noticed.

"Since when?" Vayuvijay frowned.

"Since last evening." Adhaata informed "Jenkin has been crying since morning."

"Don't worry, she will come back. Probably caught....."

"My lord we have identified the corpse," Shian had walked in abruptly his face covered with perspiration. He looked distraught as he handed over the scroll with the picture of the corpse's face. Vayuvijay unfurled the scroll, to find Amala stare back at him.

****************
Jenkin trembled with fear as Anakul held his hand tightly. The room was damp and dark. A limp body lied before them on a steel table. A white sheet covered it, leaving only the hand visible. Jenkin walked up and touched the familiar hand. Only this time it was cold and rigid instead of warm and soft. She still had her wedding ring on.

"Maamaa," Jenkin sobbed. As he slightly nudged Amala's lifeless body.
"Mamaa wake up," His voice grew louder.

'WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP MAMAA" he shook his mother's body vigorously, expecting her to rise up and tell him it was all a joke. Wishing she would embrace him and tell him that he had nothing to fear as she was there.

Anakul bent down and hugged him as the boy screamed and screamed till his voice broke. He cried till his eyes were swollen red. He was all alone now. His father had left him when he was an infant. And today his mother has joined his father.

Anakul tried to soothe the boy, but his own pain was on the verge of pouring out. He could not look at Amala's life less body. Worms had dug away her eyes and skin. Her entrails had been pulled out. Shian himself was finding it difficult to preserve his sanity.

Haron looked at the two helplessly. His own mind was in a turmoil. Of all those present in the chamber, only Haron knew how an Eavaling hunted.

As the Priest reckoned them to proceed for the funeral, Haron caught up with Veerbhadra. Other than him Shian, Dasonda and the Emperor himself were present for Amala's last rites.

"Something bothering you?" Veerbhadra asked quietly.

"This was not an Eavaling attack." Haron replied in a low voice.

"You have any other theory?" Veerbhadra frowned at Haron's assertion.

"Someone, in whose every bone cruelty has seeped in," Haron said disgust pouring in "who looks like a human, but shred the last fragment of humanity."

"You have any names in your mind?" Veerbhadra enquired.

"I do."

Amala was laid down on the wooden pyre as Anakul held Jenkin's hand lighting the pyre.

**********
Haron was summoned by the Emperor at the middle of the night.

"You were right," Veerbhadra said grimly.

They were assembled at the ante chamber to the courtroom of Gregor's fort. Vayuvijay sat at the table with Gregor, Shian, Dasonda and Shivashakti. Anakul stood at the open window staring into the night.

"Reports of the medical examination of Amala's corpse came in," Veerbhadra grimaced "not only was she murdered ruthlessly," he inhaled "but gang raped by three, if not four men."

Haron felt the room spinning.

"It is Massimo." Anakul snarled without looking at them.

"Your allegations are based on suspicion." Shivashakti said exasperatedly.

"And if I prove them," he said, still not looking at them.

"Then rest assured nephew, he shall face a death more gruesome than the one Amala did." Vayuvijay said clenching his jaw. The Emperor had known about Anakul's closeness to Amala. He could not fathom the pain his nephew must be facing at the loss of his lover.

"Then start your preparation," Anakul turned to face them a mad glee in his eyes, "before dusk tomorrow you shall have the proof."

********************
Massimo was surprised to see State guards in the port. He was overseeing the arrangements of the vessel that was to set sail by tomorrow.

"Lord Massimo," one of the guards approached him "you are hereby summoned by the Emperor. You must accompany us immediately."

"I am afraid I am a little preoccupied." Massimo tried to dissuade them as sweat broke across his forehead.

"I believe you are not comprehending the urgency." The other guard said , "If you don't follow us, we shall be constrained to us force."

Begrudgingly Massimo complied. He could sense the trouble that awaited him.

As Massimo entered the court he found Vayuvijay sitting on the throne that was at the far end of the room, atop a wooden platform. Gregor and Shivashakti sat on his either side. Royal army warriors and State Guards lined every inch of the four walls of the courtroom. Logan, Cartol and Zen stood before the Emperor. Color drained from Massimo's face as he saw Cartol and Zen reflecting the exact fear he felt. Logan on the other hand was his usual poised self with a sly grin playing on his lips.

The guards shoved Massimo to to stand with other two companions.
"Lord Massimo, Lord Cartol, Lord Zen and Lord Logan you are charged with the rape and murder of lady Amala," Vayuvijay addressed the  three men "how do you defend yourself?"

"We plead not guilty your majesty." Massimo blurted out. As Logan closed his eyes, irritated with his friend's stupidity. Did Massimo think the Emperor would have dared to arrest the four most reputed Vaishya's of Zaiden without concrete proof.

"Bring the child." Anakul who stood with Haron and Veerbhadra behind the Emperor shouted at a Royal army guard who disappeared behind the door adjoining the court room to reappear with Nori.

"Nori," Massimo exclaimed "how did manage to come here?"

"I brought her." Anakul growled.

"How dare you touch my child?" Massimo screamed.

"I told you if you harm Amala, I shall rip every part of your body." Anakul's face contorted with rage.

"Silence," Veerbhadra interjected, cutting the two.

"Nori," Anakul extended his arms, as the child anxiously walked up to him. "Tell us what happened to Amala."

She shivered as she narrated the events of the night.

"I was in my room when I heard clatter in the kitchen. I peered through and found that man" she pointed at Logan "dragging Amala out and tearing her clothes." The child started to sob "and-and they hurt her, and- took of their-their-their."

Nori puked on the dais as the memories of the night came flooding back.

"That will be all." Vayuvijay released her from her agony, "guards please take the child to the living quarters and tell one of the hand maidens to look after her."

"Nori," Veerbhadra called her as she was about to leave "Where these the men who killed Amala?" He said pointing at the four merchants. Nori nodded as tears poured down her eyes.

Massimo felt disgusted with himself. He was probably a monster to his daughter now. Before he could recover Logan spoke out.

"We accept our mistake."

"Mistake?" Vayuvijay spat out. Nobody had seen the Emperor this furious "You call that mistake. If I wasn't the Emperor I would have chopped each of your manhood right now." He roared. Composing himself he spoke "You shall be sentenced tomorrow in the Hall of Justice and executed thereafter." He then turned to one of the guards "Lock them in the dungeon."

"But what about the sinner who lurks in your circle, your majesty?" Logan said unfazed by Vayuvijay's anger, his smile still plastered on his face. "Did your nephew not share with you his escapades in the pleasure house?" Logan turned his gaze to Anakul, whose heart sank. He knew he shouldn't have trusted Lovack. The world around him crumbled as Logan continued "I too don't speak without a witness" his eyes not hiding the malice behind them "Should I be permitted to bring my witness?"

Vayuvijay was perplexed, all this time he thought Anakul was in love with Amala.

"Visiting a pleasure house, may be immoral, but not a crime." The Emperor told Logan coldly.

"But being pleasured by someone of the same sex...as far as my knowledge of the law of Ethar goes...is a crime Your majesty." 

Logan waited for the light murmur that erupted in the platform to die down.

"Bring your witness." Vayuvijay said as a turned to look at Anakul, praying deep inside that the allegations were false.

"He is waiting right outside," Logan told a state guard, who glared at him before fetching Logan's witness.

Anakul didn't know what he felt more, shame for humiliating his uncle or anger for Lovacks treachery. But when the witness arrived, all he felt was a void.

As Odin slowly walked up, Anakul could feel a thousand knives piercing into his body.

"Who are you?" Vayuvijay asked.

"I am Odin of Lachlan, a male whore whom Lord Anakul had the opportunity of fucking numerous times before taking off for Olathe.