The Rebel Princess: A Historical Romance (The Princess Series Book 2) by Sundari Venkatraman

Author:Sundari Venkatraman [Venkatraman, Sundari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)
Published: 2021-04-02T23:00:00+00:00

The Needy Queen

The princess and her escort arrived at Azhagapuri pretty late in the afternoon the next day. Not expecting any ceremony in lieu of her arrival, the surprised Chamundeswari stared around her at the colourful flags flying from bamboo poles on both sides of the path she was riding on.

“Are you celebrating something?” asked Vijayendran, turning left and right to check out the many decorations.

“Nothing that I am aware of,” said Princess Chamundeswari, a shrewd look in her eyes. She could not help wondering what plan her stepmother, Queen Naganandini and the chief minister Marthanda Bhupathi had cooked up between them. “I would like to introduce you to my stepmother first,” she told him.

He gave a nod of acknowledgement before continuing to study his new surroundings. The fortress of Azhagapuri was strong and it would be difficult for an enemy to get inside. Which was a good thing. The trouble was that the enemy was already ensconced within the fort. And it looked like that was not just one man but a whole team. Vijayendran was up to the challenge and actually looked forward to it.

Velan turned in the direction of the barracks while the horse carts were led away to the stable yard. Vishnurayan and Anagha went on to their home, the instructions regarding further action made clear to them. With Manu left in a trusted servant’s care—Selvan had helped with the care of the tiger when he had been a cub and was capable of handling him; it was only Princess Chamundeswari and Prince Vijayendra Chozhan who got down from their horses in front of the main palace where the queen and the princess both lived.

They walked side by side into the palace, a sentry announcing their arrival to Queen Naganandini who was seated on her throne in the main hall. “Chamundi, my dear child! Welcome back home,” she greeted her stepdaughter, throwing her arms open wide.

“Chinnamma!” Chamundeswari walked forward to touch her stepmother’s feet. “How have you been?”

“Not too bad, I suppose. It is just that I have missed you terribly. You have been gone for too long, you naughty young lady,” she scolded affectionately even as her eyes ran over the young and handsome warrior who had stepped into the hall along with her stepdaughter. “And who might this be?” asked the queen, her eyes roving hungrily over the well-built stranger. At just thirty-four, the queen had never remarried, considering that she had enough complications in her life without dragging a second husband into the scene. But she did take a lover sometimes; strictly for brief periods not lasting more than a month. Usually, these men were sent off to distant lands so that they were never around to tell the tale once the affair was over. As long as her lovers did not linger in Kongunadu, her brother had decided to turn a blind eye to Naganandini’s multiple affairs. Just now, the queen found herself unable to take her eyes off the stranger.

Chamundeswari turned to Vijayendran and beckoned him forward.

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