The Aryavarta Chronicles Kurukshetra: Book 3 by Krishna Udayasankar Page B

‘I thought he was your man?’
    ‘He was,’ Sudakshin replied, not bothering to add the obvious: that the news the messenger had brought him had not been to his liking. He turned to the commandant of his personal guard, the only other living man in the dungeon-like room besides himself and the Firewright, and ordered, ‘Go, see if he was telling the truth. And if he was…’
    ‘Don’t be hasty,’ Devala cut in. ‘This is not the time for whatever squabbles you may have with your mother. Syoddhan offers you a chance for vengeance against those who killed your father and burnt down your city. After all these years, don’t lose it over small matters.’
    ‘Small matters? You call my mother spreading her legs for the man who killed my father a small matter? Then what would be a big matter, Firewright?’
    ‘Ruining Syoddhan Kauravya’s plans by killing a petty spy would be a big matter. It would not only warn Dharma Yudhisthir and his allies that we know what they are up to, but also…’
    Sudakshin turned on Devala. ‘And what plan is it that you want me to whore out my mother for…Acharya?’ He added the honorific with reluctance, but did not dare insult the man; especially not after he knew the great heights to which Devala had nearly raised his father, Sudakshin the First.
    ‘The plan of getting Dharma to think that you and your considerable might will be at his disposal. By the time he realizes you mean to ally with Syoddhan, it will be too late for him to do anything but surrender. Your father understood the importance of discretion, Sudakshin. Unfortunately, he let his fondness for a woman, and I say fondness advisedly, blind him. Don’t make the same mistake.’
    Sudakshin bit his lip, fighting the urge to retort. Women , he seethed with contempt, thinking of the cause of his father’s downfall. Always women. First that Kritya, and now my own mother… Traitors all! But she is my mother… Out loud, he said, ‘I want confirmation. I want to know. You, what are you waiting for?’ He addressed the last words again to his commandant. The man left with a deep bow and a look in his eyes that Devala recognized as long-held lust, but Sudakshin did not. Devala thought to warn the young king, to tell him that his commandant was not a man to be trusted – not fully. Then he decided against it. Whether in peace, or in war, he doubted that Sudakshin or his commandant would live long.
    His task done, Devala took his leave of Sudakshin. As he rode out of the city, he could not help but glance back at the palace, wondering which of its many sparkling lights came from the Queen’s room, and what was, in fact, going on there.
    It was whispered, in frightened rather than amused tones, that no one in Kashi was ever happy to answer a knock at their door and find the King’s commandant standing there, not even the commandant’s own wife. The young handmaiden attending on the Queen was no exception. She lowered her eyes in a futile bid to avoid attention, but nevertheless felt the commandant’s lecherous gaze sweep over her. With a sigh she resigned herself to the inevitable summons to his bed that she knew she would soon receive. Before that, though, was the matter at hand, undoubtedly more urgent and infinitely more important to them all.
    ‘I wish to see the Queen,’ the commandant declared, expecting to be let in.
    The handmaiden, mustering her love for her mistress as courage, blocked the doorway with her slender frame. ‘Her Highness is not in a position to receive you, my lord,’ she said.
    ‘I insist on knowing why.’
    ‘S…surely, Her Highness is not answerable to the commandant?’
    ‘No, but a handmaiden is.’ The commandant stepped forward, menacing. ‘Do you need me to teach you your place? I assure you, I’d enjoy doing so…’
    ‘My lord, I merely say what I have been ordered to.’
    ‘And I order you now to tell me why the Queen cannot see me. Failing which, I have no choice but to