The Legend of Virinara by Usha Alexander

Author:Usha Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9789353050153
Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited
Published: 2018-03-27T16:00:00+00:00

11

Guruji and I prepared to ride out upon Sheelu as soon as she could be prepared, though the sun was now dipping over the western meadowlands. As we gathered at the stables, ready to mount, I was surprised to see Vijay approach us again from his tent. He was alone and though his gait was strident, I saw that his head was bowed in thought.

‘Have you reconsidered?’ I asked, leaping towards hope.

‘I wish you would believe in me and what I do, Shanti-akra,’ he replied. As I ascended Sheelu’s back with Guruji, he sighed. ‘At least do me this one consideration, so I won’t have to worry about you. Since you’ve so adamantly refused any escort, I must insist that your mahout should follow the riverbank—that’s the surest route to return to Virinara. I’ll see you at the Palace in a few days.’

I nodded, knowing I had no intention to return directly home. But we started southwestward along the bend of the river, as instructed. I wondered if Narun and his warriors were watching our progress. Did they hide among the treetops in the jungles of the opposite shore as we hid within the covered palanquin?

To our left, across the river, soon came the rugged green redoubt of Behra’s Heart Island; to our right, the meadowlands broadened towards the horizon. My heart swelled with longing and bitterness as I peeked out across the same radiant landscape that only days earlier Narun had introduced to me. The twilit colours blurred before me as tears filled my eyes. My gut twisted with despondency. ‘I don’t accept that this matter is decided,’ I whispered to Guruji. ‘You saw how Vijay struggles within himself, didn’t you?’

‘Yes, he struggles a great deal. About a great many things.’

‘We must warn the Gontu about the guardsmen—but we must make them understand that we’ve not given up hope of convincing my brother to pursue a course towards peace. We will succeed in this.’

‘I hadn’t spoken directly with your brother in quite some years. It appears you’ve raised him well.’ A smile crossed Guruji’s lips. ‘He wants to please you.’

‘He’s not just pleasing me, Guruji. He has his own good intentions. What he wants is to be remembered as a just and enlightened raja. You’ll see.’

By the time we arrived at the southern contour of Behra’s Heart Island across the river, the dusk was deepened by heavy, black clouds that clung to the western horizon. Cloaked in the gathering shadows, we instructed Rangri to cross the Great Dara just below the island, and then turn back northward to cross the Broken Dara onto the island.

Rangri was perplexed. ‘But what’s there for you on this bushy island, O Brilliance?’ she asked.

‘You’ll soon see, Rangri.’ She nodded, and it occurred to me then what a great risk we all undertook in this unmeasured adventure. ‘Rangri, you must understand that in sharing this secret with you, I’m trusting you with my life.’ Again she nodded, solemnly and firmly. She was also trusting

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