Throne of Purvakhand

by ASHUTOSH RAI

  ‘I never try to dishonour you. I am just trying to finish the matter in a peaceful way because war can be tremendously destructive. Lord Jakrant is not here. He is not here from twenty three years and we should work in the manner we are guided by the Great Ostracized Human Legends. We are not as strong as we were twenty years before. We are getting continuous small threats from south and from north as well. And we don’t know those two men who are responsible for those small but fatal loses. So in this vital time, war can never be a good way. We need more time. We all know what happened in Gorkhein.’ argued Dhwajkant turning his face toward Sharak.

  ‘Sshhhh!’ hissed Saile frowning at Dhwajkant. ‘You mean I am weak. You know well that I killed your mother. You are playing your word tactics against me. You can’t dare to stand and avenge your mother’s death. I swear that your these words had defiled all the holy respect which I ever had for you in my holy heart. You said that we are weak. We should send a peace messenger to those mice. We should fear that boy who lived in Kundey for twenty three years hiding his identity. Don’t it seems a pity poor manava talk? You should take rest! Pity manava.’

  And the whole assembly started laughing on Dhwajkant and he walked off the royal assembly staring Saile. He would have killed her if he was not bound to the promise he had made with Jakrant.

  Saile argued, ‘I think Dhwajkant needs holiday. He has gone mental. He has started thinking like our enemy.’

  Sharak roared, ‘He can’t. He is a Slave.’

  ‘My Emperor,’ muttered Rubbak, trying to impress Sharak. ‘My King, the informers had informed me that his father, Nandkant is there in Gorkhein. He is waiting there alone for Saile so he can avenge the death of his old wife Gita. We can capture and then can receive important information from him.’

  ‘Are you sure that he is there alone,’ asked Ketushutra. His eye had a bit of concern.

  ‘Yes, you know my information is always confidential,’ boasted Rubbak.

  Sharak nodded and ordered to capture him. ‘Chain him, strip his flesh and gather the news of THE-MAN-WHOM-FUTURE-AWAITS.’ He selected a team of hundred soldiers of black flag including Saile, Rubbak, Jobark and Ketushutra to imprison Nandkant.

  In Den of Elcleis, Saras had learned about the warfare and the actions of handling sword and mace. It took ten more days and on the twenty first day of the journey, Saras was no more a novice in eyes of Elcleis.

  ‘You are a good disciple,’ remarked Elcleis. ‘You have improved. You have the capabilities but remember when you are in battlefield there should be no place for fear on your forehead instead it should shine so that it may create chaos in your opponent and unnerve him. War depends on bravery plus a sharp minded strategy rather than capabilities. Your powers, your capability and your knowledge are worthless if not used on time of cause. While handling mace or sword your body should be balanced like you had done in past ten days. And the weapon should be acting as your shadow. With a smile on face, enjoying always giving a wound to the opponent and respect him if he is a brave against you. Never give your opponent to catch your reflex.’

  ‘I will remember,’ said Saras as he bent his lean, muscular body and touched the feet of Elcleis, taking his blessing and started for the place where Chatuskara was guarding the wooden sword.

  ‘And always keep your bow with you,’ suggested Elcleis as Saras walked in to the door that took him to den of Chatuskara.

  Chatuskara was man with boarder chest, chilled like mountain rock. His four arms gave him more frightening look. He was sleeping on a stone bed. Saras sped ahead with silent steps, unwilling to disturb him and to avoid the fight of no cause. He felt no difficulty in finding the hanging wooden swords but is was not easy to identify the sword matching to Elcleis choice. There were many swords of different length and they were hovering high in air. Saras has to jump high for it. Swords were changing their place regularly. Saras had already tried fifty time but each times he got disappointment. By now there were only ten swords floating. And a more hour passed and he had not got the desired sword. None of them matched the size asked by Elcleis. Saras was tired. He sat at corner of a boulder and amused that what would had happen if Kumud had seen him prancing like a mouse for a wooden sword. He sighed and made one more jump. It was the last and possibly the same sword that Elcleis had demanded. He ran on the boulders arranged in order and pushed himself for jump. His fingers touched the sword but he could not grab it. It slipped from his hand and hang to a more height. Saras winced with pain, fallen on ground. He looked up to catch the sight of the sword. Taking enough breath in his chest, he made one more try and made a magnificent jump. Once again he his finger felt the touch of the wood hilt but the sword slipped again. He stared his hands and cursed them. He raised his head and found that sword was not floating. He shook his head and searched for sword. It was cuddled beneath a big rock, which was adjacent to Chatuskara’s bed. With a still slow steps, Saras ran to take the sword which was hidden beneath a big rock. A big punch warmed his face as he crunched to clutch the sword. And that hand took the sword back beneath the rock. Saras was amazed that his jaw were on normal place. He moved them confirming whether he had not got a strain in its muscles.

  Chatuskara glared and shouted at Saras angrily. ‘You duffer. You thought that you can cheat me. My eyes are always open, even in extreme sleep. Leave the sword and go away. No one is allowed here. Especially a man like you. Don’t you heard what I said?’

  Saras answered, ‘I was just trying to avoid an unworthy fight. Elcleis had asked this sword. This is my target. I will take it to Elcleis because according to him, it will be a proof that I am the lost prince of Virnagre. So don’t dare to stop me and leave my way. Once I committed I will finish it anyhow.’

  Chatuskara laughed, ‘You seem to be a novice. Your talk proves it. If you are really a prince then why you entered here like a thief. Just go from here. I don’t want people to talk how a novice dead at my hands.’

  This was an insult to the foster son of Nandkant. Saras sniffed, staring at Chatuskara and ran toward Chatuskara to get the sword back but he got jabbed again. This play happen four times and thus the anger of Chatuskara was raising his body height and power. He lifts Saras high and flung him on a big stone breaking his jaw making him to bleed.

  But the young man rose again on his feet, growling. He made a round run and this time everything happened reverse. He clout on Chatuskara’s mouth and then gave a high kick near his neck, making Chatuskara realise what the pain is called. Saras moved five steps back, took a mace shaped stone, ran toward the four armed man, pressed the ground beneath his left foot and leapt high, smashing the stone on Chatuskara’s middle head. The great body of Chatuskara fell down. He was unconscious.

  Saras took the wooden sword, and lifted the heavy body of Chatuskara upon his shoulders and represented both in front of Elcleis who was enjoying a magical chillum.

  ‘This is your sword and here is your Chatuskara. Heavy one to lift but I managed,’

  Elcleis stared him and laughed ostentatiously. ‘O! My god, you said true. Only you can be the son of emperor Vikramchandra. The Epic Age is to come. The lost age is to come once again.’

  Saras exclaimed, ‘You are laughing.’

  ‘Why should not I. I won the challenge. Chatuskara is unconscious. I won.’ Elcleis smiled taking a puff from chillum.

  Saras was amazed. For he had not challenged Elcleis. He frowned as he felt it would easy and worthy to come on point rather than indulging in an unworthy talk. He came near to Elcleis took chillum from him and placed it on ground. ‘I always respect everyone for their merits but it never means that I can’t abuse any one for their demerits. Can we talk?’

  Elcleis moved ahead ignoring the words of Saras. But Saras was too a stubborn. He followed him to outside and then again back to inside.

  Elcleis noticed that Saras was walking behind him. He turned to him and growled, ‘What you want now. You got your sword. Go ahead.’

  Saras raised his v
oice. ‘Don’t feel that you can horrify me because you are a warrior wizard. So, I am not going to leave you. Tell me where the real sword is. The Virum Blade. Don’t forget what happened twenty three years before. I will be back but with you and Virum Blade. I have to go Charcoal Palace as soon as possible. He is alone there and may be in danger?’

  Elcleis trembled with an unknown sensation. He said, ‘The sword lost its holy power and divine nature when it took the blood of Rajmata Sraddha Devi. It was said that that sword should never taste blood of those who are not warrior. Now it is like every common sword. Vikramchandra too could never use its divine powers but at least he was never wounded in battle till he had his grip on it. But now no matter whether you had your grip on it or not. It is now ordinary and to make it powerful again we have to put it into the water of Saraswati River in tank which is now in ancient temple of Lord Shiva on Mount Karil. Everyone know that no one can climb even quarter of Karil’s height. It had to keep it safe from Black flag. I knew that anyone who tried go on height of Karil, never returned. So I asked helped from my teacher, wizard lord Aarab, who only comes when we need him. You have to try to climb the Mount Karil. If you did that then you will get that sword.’

  ‘He is one of the Ostracized Human Legends,’ said Saras in a quick witted manner. ‘He is responsible for the ice craft on trees and buildings during winter. And he was ostracized for the reason that was never told.’

  ‘Yes, He is responsible and on Karil there is always winter’, said Elcleis. ‘But never say him an ostracized. Call him Lord Aarab, call him the Great Aarab or call him just a Human Legend Aarab. Beside some wrong takes. He had done many thing for humanity and he is worthy of being called as Lord. He is a legend, more like a god.’

  Saras nodded. ‘But how will I climb the Karil? I don’t know anything about climbing the mountains.’

  Elcleis said, ‘Just like the way you came here. Be tension free. Don’t worry. You just go there through the roads and no need to climb. You may have never seen such ancient roads. Well maintained and fully covered with human skulls. It is good to walk in shadow because shadow can hide everything. Go and find Aarab as now he only can give you that sword. The sword of great emperor. I will pray the god that you may return alive with that sword. I am going to help Nandkant in checking the prevailing danger’

  Then Elcleis swing his stick over Chatuskara’s head so he regained his consciousness. Elcleis turned around, and opened his palm. A small bag appeared on his palm, so tiny that can be put in nose. It grew to a normal excepted size when Elcleis placed it on the stone table. He emptied it and said, ‘I think you will need these things. Some woollen clothes and a piece of paper which is actually a roadmap to Mount Karil.’ Saras stared Elcleis simply. Saras started for the peak of Mount Karil and Elcleis with Chatuskara mounted on a giant eagle, who flapped its wing to south, the direction of Gorkhein where Nandkant was in trouble.

  Saile, Jobark, Rubbak and Ketushutra were there under guard of a hundred soldiers. The sky was filled with thunders and wind howled curtly as it passed by Nandkant, who was tethered in between two pillars on the terrace of Charcoal Palace. There was barely a part of his body that had not been tortured.

  Saile came near to unconscious Nandkant, patted on his mouth making him conscious.

  ‘I heard that you are very strong. You defeated Swayambadha in a pala. And for me it took half an hour to handle him’, said Saile smiling coldly.

  Nandkant smiled and clutched her throat with his right hand cruelly. Saile's breath started draining. Somehow, she took her hand behind Nandkant's neck and plucked a hair from his head. She murmured a mantra and bleeding started from the ears of Nandkant. He left the witch's throat, shrinking his eyes deep in pain.

  ‘Care him with immense atrocity. Teach him lessons ruthlessly’, barked Saile still staring right into his eyes. She could not find any fear in his eyes. Instead his growl shocked her. She stumbled back, dropping his hair. Her face had wrinkles of irritation that arose with an uncertain fear. Frowned in exasperation, she turned into a crow and flew away like a coward for the second time.

  Rubbak, a thin but cruel man of about Nandkant’s age came into action. He converted himself into a group of innumerous insects and victimized Nandkant already much tired body. The insects whizzed into the Satyarathi’s body and then repeated the same inhumane act continuously for ten times. Nandkant’s body appeared like beehive. He thrashed as immense bleed occur through his mouth, eyes and ears and the bottom part of his body. Peak at being cruel, Jobark and Ketushutra came with a long knife and stabbed Nandkant below his abdomen randomly asking about Saraswatichandra.

  ‘Will you say now? Where is he?’ asked Rubbak, wiping the blood from his face and when he got no answer. Jobark dashed near him and slapped Nandkant. They had thought that the old Satyarathi would break and spat all that he had concealed in his brain.

  Ketushutra was irritated with the firmness of Nandkant. He feigned a soft smile on his broad face and said, ‘Rubbak, You are wasting your power. You don’t know who we are. We are commanders of Black Flag and King Sharak is our master. Why don’t you say him truth about his son Dhwajkant.’

  ‘Oh! You are so smart, Ketushutra,’ said Rubbak politely. He turned to Nandkant and continued, ‘You know what Nandkant I will fry you in the lava of Gocau. You end is very near, just at a single knock. But… but you have the right, the certain right to know about your son who is now our slave. Your son Dhwajkant is now a slave. He works for us. He had taken a pledge to die for the Great Evil Lord Jakrant.’

  Nandkant was quite but he heard all. He neither winced nor tried to give any movement in his body to prove his pain.

  ‘I am surprised. Actually impressed,’ yelled Ketushutra as he hurled his knife in his heart and crossed it near spinal cord, deep sprouting the blood out, ruining his nerves. ‘You are truly valiant. You are not deserting your breath?’

  By now the giant eagle was above Gorkhein. Elcleis watched this inhumane act from sky. He could not wait for the eagle to land. He plunged at Ketushutra urging him down to the ground. Chatuskara and the eagle of Elcleis too started the bloodshed. Now the cruel watched cruelty of Chatuskara and the Wizard.

  Elcleis shouted on devils, ‘You Bastards. I can see fear on your faces. All you must fear. Fear in the name of Elcleis. I am back. Like Daetyachur and Daryamir, I will crunch you like a boy crunches the bones of chicken. You want to know about your death. You must know that when he will confront you, there will be cracking of light in sky, the clouds will sound hard, a storm will come to destroy you all. He is coming with the Virum Blade. The time of your death has arrived and soon you all will diminished.’ A Danava ran towards him, swinging his sword viciously. Elcleis turned to side and swiftly winds his spear staff around the sword of Danava. The Danava soldier stood surprised as the sword fell from his grip. He stared blankly at Elcleis. And the wizard use that moment for slicing the throat of Danava. Elcleis screeched, ‘The storm is stirring. The fall is about to come. The lion has awaken. Hear his roar.’

  Elcleis moved his stick toward a troop of twenty soldiers, thrashing them all, parting in pieces and blowing them to mouth of Volcano ending their part. He roared, ‘See today I am before you and tomorrow he will slew you all. He will punish for all sin you and your master did. He defeated the legendary Chatuskara in duel and so now, he is ready to end this cursed age of Black Flag and once again there will be a fresh start of the lost age of prosperity, truth and love when he will slay The Evil Lord Jakrant. The scion of Vir had returned.’

  By the time Chatuskara had raised himself to enormous proportion. Elcleis called out his name loudly and ordered him to finish everybody quick. Chatuskara obeyed the same killing fourteen under his foot.

  Elcleis stared his spear staff and it changed into a bow that showered the rain of arrows on Ketushutra, Jobark and Rubbak, wounding them in a virulently.

  Ketushutra became invisible. But his wounds turned him captive. Elcleis understood his tric
k and hits hard on his head by stick making him fell down the terrace. Jobark leapt forward and rolled on Ketushutra, taking him to an appropriate distance. He turned into a bat, clutched Ketushutra by his collar of his robes and flew away saving him from a certain death.

  Chatuskara punches Rubbak hard. Rubbak tries the same on Chatuskara which made the giant angry. Chatuskara arose his height like a mountain and then parted the insect man into two by pressing his right leg beneath his feet and pulling the left foot with the power of his rear hands. Rubbak cried aloud with pain. Chatuskara turned back relaxing his body to normal assuming that Rubbak had died. But the parted body turned into insects and the Danava arose again alive in form of a group of dangerous insects. He gave himself a resemblance of arrow and ambushed attacked vicariously on Chatuskara but his attack has no effect. Chatuskara was a man of muscle as strong as stone. The biting was unsuccessful. Rubbak came to his true form. He cast an irritated look at Chatuskara as he understood that he can’t harm him. Rubbak tried to escape as he turned himself again into an insects but got trapped in a bag of jute by the magic of wizard. The bag turns small as pouch and Chatuskara tucked it in back of his waistband.

  Elcleis freed Nandkant. He was badly injured. Nandkant held the right wrist of Elcleis and mumbled, ‘Elcleis... Take me to Vanara…… Vanara.’ His voice become inaudible to Elcleis in blazing of thunderous sky. Nandkant tried much but could not speak. He had lost his energy. With his every breath, he was losing his hope to live. He shaped his lips like that of a monkey signalling ‘Kapikshetra’.

  Elcleis nodded understanding the signal of his old friend. He put Jobark in Chatuskara’s pocket, captive in the small jute bag. They climbed the giant eagle and flew for Kapikshetra.

  Meanwhile, Saras had travelled the half distance. His legs were filled and his body was sweating even in the worst temperature that dwelled below minus. In that frosty atmosphere he was amazed as he saw a running market. He whirled his head as he found men walking bare foot without any strain on their faces between the coolest he had experienced. That scarcely populated place had two roads, both chiselled and covered in ice rocks. The curtly howling wind that crossed through the road in brazen shivering atmosphere makes the place costly. He purchased a dozen apple for twenty gold coins. Now his pocket was empty. He saw an old man who had closed himself by a pillar that stood covered with a hard layer of ice, by the road veered for Karil. He stared in direction Saras though he truly can’t see him because of his festered eyes. He was shivering due to immense cold that his decaying body was failing to accept, waiting to vanish his old frail, hungry body. He gave him his blanket and other woollen clothes he had in the bag. The man asked him to give some food. Saras smiled and gave four apples which he has purchased for his voyage to Karil. Saras heard a cold whisper as he turned to one of the road: ‘That door goes to Karil. After a distance you will see it covered with human skeletons.’ Saras turned his head to the source o the sound. It was that same old man. Saras whispered firmly. ‘I must go there.’