Chapter 6 — Scene 1: The Meeting
The afternoon sun hung over Haridwar as the imperial delegation made its way toward the administrative quarter.
Tara's carriage moved at the center of the convoy.
Behind and around her traveled the officers of the Cultural Ministry, their attendants, and the guards assigned to the delegation. Horses moved steadily alongside the carriages while several soldiers rode ahead to clear the way.
Aryav and Kavya's carriage followed close behind Tara's.
Satyadhara rode beside Tara's carriage as usual, his eyes moving across the streets and the people around them.
The entire ministerial section of the expedition arrived together.
As they approached the meeting hall, several more carriages could be seen arriving from different directions.
The other ministers had begun to arrive.
Tara stepped down from her carriage and adjusted her clothing before walking toward the entrance.
Malini followed beside her.
Aryav and Kavya soon joined them.
The Trade Minister arrived shortly afterward, surrounded by his officers and guards.
The Foreign Minister arrived moments later.
Both ministers looked over the gathering of officials and guards before exchanging a few words with each other.
Tara noticed the familiar display of status.
More attendants.
More guards.
More elaborate clothing.
The same subtle competition they had shown since the expedition began.
Tara simply walked past them.
Kavya noticed.
Kavya: "You're ignoring them?"
Tara: "Yes."
Aryav: "Probably for the best."
Tara: "I have better things to do."
They entered the meeting hall.
The hall was already filling.
Officials from Haridwar's administration sat along the sides of the room while scribes prepared their writing boards.
Several local officers stood near a large table where maps had been laid out.
The imperial ministers gradually took their seats.
Tara sat at the head of the ministerial section.
Aryav and Kavya took their places nearby.
Satyadhara remained toward the side of the room with the senior guards.
Yash stood among the administrative officers, his map carefully folded beneath his arm.
Once everyone had settled, the Foreign Minister looked toward Tara.
Foreign Minister: "Minister Tara, I must say, the expedition has proceeded remarkably well so far."
Tara looked toward him.
Foreign Minister: "The schedule has been maintained, the supply wagons have kept pace, and we've encountered no serious delays."
Foreign Minister: "And, thankfully, no one has fallen seriously ill."
A few ministers nodded in agreement.
Tara smiled politely.
Tara: "Thank you. We've all worked together to keep things moving."
Before the conversation could continue, a strange sound came from the corner of the room.
Someone quietly coughed.
Everyone turned.
Dev was sitting in his chair with one hand pressed against his stomach.
His face looked pale.
Dev: "I don't think I'm feeling very well."
Silence.
Several officials stared at him.
The Trade Minister slowly closed his eyes.
Kavya gave him an exhausted look.
Aryav simply looked away.
Even Tara seemed to know exactly what was happening.
Dev: "Perhaps I should rest."
The Foreign Minister stared at him.
Foreign Minister: "You have been saying that every day."
Dev: "Because I have been feeling unwell every day."
One of the scribes quietly lowered his head, trying not to react.
Tara sighed.
Tara: "Dev, sit quietly for now."
Dev immediately straightened himself.
Dev: "Yes, Minister."
The room returned to business.
Tara looked toward the local officer standing beside the map.
Tara: "Now, regarding our next stage. We need the safest practical route toward the Katyuri kingdom and eventually its capital."
Local Officer: "Of course, Minister."
The officer stepped toward the large map.
He placed his hand near Haridwar.
Local Officer: "From here, the main road continues toward the northern foothills."
His finger moved along the route.
Local Officer: "You'll pass through several smaller settlements before the terrain becomes increasingly difficult."
He continued farther north.
Local Officer: "From there, the road divides."
Local Officer: "The western route is shorter, but the terrain is considerably more difficult for a large convoy."
Local Officer: "The eastern route takes longer, but the road is wider and more suitable for wagons."
Tara leaned slightly closer.
Tara: "And from there?"
Local Officer: "Once you cross farther into Katyuri territory, the road continues toward the kingdom's interior."
He traced the route toward the capital.
Local Officer: "Eventually, you will reach the road leading toward Joshimath."
Tara nodded.
Tara: "How many days should we expect?"
Local Officer: "That depends on the condition of the roads and the weather, Minister."
Local Officer: "For a convoy of this size, I would allow several days."
Tara: "Understood."
The officer's hand remained on the map.
But he didn't move.
He stared at the route for a moment.
Then he slowly looked toward Tara.
Local Officer: "There is... one more thing."
The room became quieter.
Tara: "Go on."
The officer hesitated.
Local Officer: "I would strongly recommend taking additional security with you."
The Trade Minister frowned.
Trade Minister: "Additional security?"
Local Officer: "Yes."
Local Officer: "And once you enter the mountains, you should remain together as much as possible."
His voice had changed.
It was no longer the voice of an administrator simply explaining a route.
It sounded like a warning.
The room fell silent.
Tara looked at him carefully.
Tara: "Why?"
The officer took a slow breath.
Local Officer: "There have been... incidents in the hills."
The Trade Minister leaned forward.
Trade Minister: "What kind of incidents?"
The officer glanced toward him.
Local Officer: "Caravans have disappeared."
A few ministers exchanged looks.
Trade Minister: "You're referring to the reports from the merchants?"
Local Officer: "Yes."
The Trade Minister gave a short laugh.
Trade Minister: "With respect, officer, we're not a group of helpless traders."
He gestured around the hall.
Trade Minister: "We're an imperial convoy."
Trade Minister: "We have some of the finest weapons in the subcontinent."
Trade Minister: "And some of the best soldiers in the Pratihara Empire."
A few officers nodded proudly.
The local officer didn't smile.
Local Officer: "I understand that, Minister."
Local Officer: "But I still advise caution."
Trade Minister: "Why?"
The officer looked toward the map again.
Local Officer: "Because the place you're entering is not particularly stable at the moment."
He paused.
Local Officer: "There is a tribe in those mountains."
Tara's expression became more serious.
Tara: "What tribe?"
The officer took a breath.
Local Officer: "The Raksh."
The room remained completely still.
Local Officer: "They have been haunting these hills for years."
Local Officer: "The Katyuri kingdom has tried repeatedly to push them farther away from its borders."
Local Officer: "But the mountains make that almost impossible."
Local Officer: "They know the terrain better than anyone."
Local Officer: "They disappear into the forests, move through paths that ordinary armies cannot use, and strike when no one expects them."
He looked around the room.
Local Officer: "Even our own forces have struggled to contain them."
The Border Garrison
Several days earlier, far from Haridwar, a small Pratihara garrison stood at the edge of the empire's northern frontier.
The camp was quiet.
Most of the soldiers were asleep.
Only the night watch remained awake.
A lone sentry stood upon the wooden watch platform, leaning against his spear.
His eyes were heavy.
The night had been uneventful.
Almost too uneventful.
He rubbed his eyes.
Then stopped.
A sound had reached him.
He listened.
Nothing.
The sentry frowned.
Then it came again.
A long, distant howl.
His eyes widened.
He turned toward the mountains.
Sentry: "What was that?"
He stared into the darkness.
At first, he saw nothing.
Then—
One light appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Small points of fire suddenly began appearing across the distant mountainside.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Then dozens.
The sentry froze.
He couldn't tell what they were.
Torches?
Campfires?
Something else?
Sentry: "Guards!"
He grabbed the alarm bell and struck it repeatedly.
The ringing exploded through the sleeping camp.
Soldiers immediately began rushing from their tents.
Soldier: "What's happening?"
Sentry: "The mountains!"
Several soldiers looked toward the darkness.
More lights had appeared.
Weapons were grabbed.
Armor was thrown on.
Men rushed toward the edge of the camp while others prepared the horses.
A horn sounded through the night.
The soldiers stared toward the mountains, trying to understand what they were seeing.
Then something flew through the darkness.
Whoosh!
An arrow struck the ground several steps away from the soldiers.
Everyone froze.
Soldier: "Don't touch it!"
A guard cautiously approached.
Something was attached to the arrow.
A human finger.
The soldiers stared at it in horror.
Guard: "What in the name of the gods..."
He carefully picked up the arrow using a piece of cloth.
A small hollow had been carved inside the finger.
A tightly rolled piece of paper had been placed within it.
The guard pulled it out.
Guard: "There's something inside."
He unfolded the paper.
His expression slowly changed as he read.
Guard: "It's a message."
Officer: "Read it."
The guard swallowed.
Guard: "It says..."
He looked toward the others.
Guard: "To the Pratihara Empire."
Guard: "Do not attempt to enter these mountains."
Guard: "Stay within your empty plains."
Guard: "These hills belong to us."
Silence.
The soldiers looked toward the mountains again.
The lights were still there.
Watching.
The following morning, the garrison's officers gathered to discuss what had happened.
Officer 1: "The Katyuris have sent us a warning."
Officer 2: "It would explain the message."
Officer 1: "Their soldiers have been unhappy with our presence near the frontier for some time."
Another officer remained silent.
He stared at the piece of paper.
Officer 3: "I don't believe it."
Officer 1: "Why?"
Officer 3: "Because if the Katyuris intended to send a warning, they wouldn't have done it like this."
He placed the paper on the table.
Officer 3: "And they certainly wouldn't have used a human finger."
The room fell quiet.
Officer 3: "If we report this to the capital as a Katyuri threat and we're wrong, we could create a diplomatic crisis."
Officer 1: "Then what do you suggest?"
Officer 3: "We ask them."
He turned toward a messenger.
Officer 3: "Ride to the nearest Katyuri authority."
Messenger: "Yes, sir."
Officer 3: "Show them the message."
Officer 3: "Ask them directly whether they sent it."
The messenger departed.
By the following day, the answer returned.
The Katyuris denied sending the message.
They had no knowledge of the threat.
And they had only one explanation.
The Raksh.
Back in the Meeting Hall
The local officer took a slow breath.
Local Officer: "That was when we first realized what we were dealing with."
He looked around the room.
Local Officer: "Until then, we knew there were strange incidents in the mountains."
Local Officer: "But that was the first time the Pratihara authorities understood that someone was deliberately watching our movements."
He paused.
Local Officer: "These Raksh are not an honored people."
Local Officer: "They are... something else."
His expression darkened.
Local Officer: "They are like haunting ghosts of the Himalayas."
Local Officer: "They speak in riddles."
Local Officer: "They use tricks, deception, and whatever clever scheme they can devise to get what they want."
Local Officer: "They don't fight like an ordinary army."
Local Officer: "They make you wonder whether you're fighting men at all."
Scene 2 — After the Meeting
The meeting eventually came to an end.
Officials began gathering their papers while scribes rolled up their documents and carefully placed them into wooden cases.
The ministers slowly rose from their seats.
Conversations resumed throughout the hall, though the warning about the Raksh remained on everyone's minds.
Tara stepped outside with Malini, Aryav, Kavya, and Yash.
The afternoon air felt noticeably cooler than the crowded meeting hall.
Tara walked beside Yash as they made their way through the administrative courtyard.
Tara: "You did very well today."
Yash looked toward her.
Yash: "Minister?"
Tara: "Your map. The routes you marked, the supply locations, everything."
Yash: "I'm glad it was useful."
Tara: "It was more useful than I expected."
Yash gave a small smile.
Yash: "Thank you, Minister."
Tara: "Keep updating it while we're here. It could become very useful once we leave Haridwar."
Yash: "Of course."
They continued walking.
Then Tara noticed something.
She stopped.
Yash looked back.
Yash: "Minister?"
Tara didn't answer immediately.
Her eyes were fixed farther ahead.
Satyadhara was walking several paces behind them.
Something was wrong.
He wasn't moving normally.
His shoulders were tense.
His breathing was heavy.
Sweat ran down the side of his face despite the relatively cool afternoon air.
One hand remained tightly wrapped around his spear.
Tara stared at him.
Tara: "Yash."
Yash turned toward her.
Tara: "Go check on Satyadhara."
Yash: "Yes, Minister."
Tara remained where she was.
Yash walked back toward him.
Satyadhara continued forward without noticing him.
Yash approached from behind.
Yash: "Sir Satyadhara?"
The sudden voice behind him made Satyadhara spin around.
His spear came up instantly.
Yash barely had time to react.
The weapon stopped inches from him.
Satyadhara froze.
His breathing was ragged.
Yash stood completely still.
Yash: "Sir..."
Satyadhara slowly lowered the spear.
Satyadhara: "Yash."
Yash: "Are you alright?"
Satyadhara didn't answer.
He took a deep breath.
Then another.
A few nearby guards had noticed what happened.
Guard: "Easy, Satyadhara."
Another guard gave a nervous laugh.
Guard: "You nearly took the poor man's head off."
Satyadhara ignored them.
Tara immediately walked over.
Tara: "Satyadhara."
He looked toward her.
Tara: "Are you alright?"
Satyadhara: "I'm fine."
Tara frowned.
Tara: "You're sweating."
Satyadhara: "It's nothing."
Tara stepped closer.
She placed a hand on his arm.
His muscles were tense beneath his armor.
Then she placed the back of her hand against his forehead.
Tara: "You're burning."
Satyadhara: "It's only the heat."
Tara: "No, it isn't."
She looked at him seriously.
Tara: "You have a fever."
Satyadhara: "I'll be fine."
Tara: "You're going to rest."
Satyadhara immediately shook his head.
Satyadhara: "No."
Tara: "Satyadhara."
Satyadhara: "I can't."
Tara: "Why?"
Satyadhara: "Because I need to remain with you."
Tara stared at him.
Tara: "Nothing has happened."
Satyadhara remained silent.
Tara: "The meeting is over. We're back inside the imperial quarters. You don't need to stand guard every second."
Satyadhara: "I do."
Tara: "Why are you acting like this?"
He looked away.
Tara: "You've been different ever since that officer started talking about the mountains."
Satyadhara's grip tightened around his spear.
Tara noticed.
Tara: "You're frightening yourself over something."
Satyadhara: "I'm not frightened."
Tara: "Then tell me what's wrong."
Satyadhara didn't respond.
His breathing remained uneven.
Tara looked toward Yash.
Tara: "Help me get him somewhere cooler."
Yash nodded.
Yash: "Yes, Minister."
They guided Satyadhara away from the main courtyard and toward a quieter garden behind the administrative building.
The garden was shaded by trees, with a small stone fountain running through its center.
A cool breeze moved through the leaves.
At the far end stood an open pavilion supported by stone pillars, its roof providing shade while leaving the sides completely open.
Tara led Satyadhara inside.
Tara: "Sit."
Satyadhara hesitated.
Tara: "Please."
He finally sat down.
Yash brought a vessel of water from one of the attendants nearby.
Tara handed it to Satyadhara.
Tara: "Drink."
He did.
Slowly.
The water seemed to help.
His breathing gradually became steadier.
Tara sat across from him.
Yash remained nearby.
For a while, nobody spoke.
Only the sound of the fountain filled the pavilion.
Tara: "Better?"
Satyadhara nodded.
Satyadhara: "A little."
Tara looked at him carefully.
Tara: "Now tell me."
Satyadhara lowered his eyes.
Tara: "You've been acting strangely since the meeting started."
Satyadhara remained silent.
Tara: "And when that officer mentioned the Raksh..."
She paused.
Tara: "You looked like you'd seen a ghost."
Satyadhara's expression changed.
For several seconds, he stared at the flowing water of the fountain.
Satyadhara: "I've dealt with that "Raksh" tribe before."