Queen of the Earth by Devika Rangachari

Author:Devika Rangachari
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited
Published: 2020-03-13T00:00:00+00:00

OF LOVE AND DUTY

Once I leave his presence, I run.

The soldiers along the corridors are bemused, wondering at the cause of my agitation. I could not allow the distress to show on my face in my father’s presence. His words were like a knife plunging deep inside me but I forced myself to listen without comment, without reaction. He must never suspect what I am feeling.

I cannot let the boys be sacrificed for my father’s ambition. I do not care what happens to Jayadevi but if her sons are killed, I will not be able to live with myself. I did not realize that the boys would be the logical casualties of my father’s takeover—and I am a fool for not doing so!

Is it already too late, I wonder feverishly. Has my father sent guards to round them up and lead them off to be executed? A sob rises in my throat at the vision that suddenly leaps into my mind—that of Kusuma and Dhruva lying lifeless on the ground, their bodies decapitated. I fight it down and hurry to their quarters, my breath ragged, my heart burning in my chest.

A Somavamshi guard stands at the door; my father is already making his move. He prepares to challenge me but I walk past, my head high, and he does not dare to stand in my way.

Jayadevi and the boys are huddled together on a couch at the far end, wide-eyed with fear.

‘Your father has banned us from leaving this chamber,’ she spits. ‘Would he make us prisoners in our own home?’

The boys are quiet. Kusuma whimpers and burrows his head into his mother’s lap. Dhruva fastens his grave eyes on mine. Fierce despair courses through me.

Aloud, I say: ‘You must come with me and speak no word to anyone. You must trust me implicitly.’

‘Why should we?’ Jayadevi pulls the boys closer to her as if she is worried I will snatch them away.

‘Because I love your sons,’ I say simply. ‘And that is reason enough.’

I help the boys to their feet and, after a moment’s hesitation, they follow me to the door, pulling their unwilling mother along. The lamps are lit, there are no welcome shadows in the corridor, there is no cover at all. My heart pulsates with fear. If my father should see us now, we are lost.

As I step out, the guard bars our way.

‘Forgive me,’ he says, ‘but I have orders to let no one leave this chamber.’

‘I know,’ I say quickly. ‘I am taking them to my father. He sent me to fetch them.’

His brow clears and he stands aside.

We hurry past, our uneven breaths and uncertain footsteps resounding in my ears, and I lead them down the long, winding corridors to my chamber. I pray to all the gods I know—the ones I worship and the Shakyamuni as well—and they are perhaps on our side for we encounter no one who could challenge us.

Once in, I order Shashilekha to bar the door. I have no plan, no scheme that occurs to my frantic mind.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.