Kali saw that the army wasn’t moving anymore. It had been static for a while. He knew it was the time to seize victory. He congratulated Koko and Vikoko, who stood with the Yakshas at the front.

Kuvera brought the horses, dressed confoundingly as elephants.

“Is this what you needed from my horses? We could have brought the big ones and sorted the trouble rather than dressing them this way.”

“The fact that you think that way, mate, is why you are standing here under my command.”

Kuvera’s mouth was agape in. That was when Raktapa and Vasuki entered the scene, for they were already witnessing all of it from the confines of their tent.

“And what do you plan to do, man? They are weak now. Should I just send my men and finish the whole deal instantly?” Raktapa scoffed.

“Um, no need now really,” Kali said. “I’m going to offer them a truce.”

Vasuki growled, “Truce? What a joke!”

“I’m not humouring you, Prince Vasuki,” Kali’s voice hardened. “I’m going to offer them the truce.”

Raktapa, Vasuki and Kuvera laughed at this declaration.

“And mind you, boy, how do you plan to move towards that direction and not get killed by Vedanta’s soldiers?”

“Oh, he won’t kill me.” Kali sat on the elephant-trunked horse, with Koko and Vikoko on the side.

“So sure, are we?” Kuvera crooned.

“I’m not sending my men on this suicide mission,” Raktapa announced.

“No need to,” Kali said. “I am only going with my generals.”

“With that ridiculous outfit for your horse and that absurd plan of yours, we should just find a new commander to aid us in the battles against the Manavs,” Vasuki said. “Since you are clearly far from suitable for the job.”

Kali just smiled. There was no use of explaining this. He manoeuvred the heavy horse and decided to ride towards Vedanta, when Kuvera’s voice reached him.

“Since you are leaving for your death, would you mind telling us how you were able to cripple the Chakravyuh so that we can use it for our later battles?”

“You hit the heart.” He signalled towards the drum beaters, who were sprawled on the ground, dead. “Their drummers were how the army was moving. Once the beats were dead, the army was confused. The beats made the synchronous structure and I just pulled away the structure when the bulls became their distraction. Now no matter how many people they have in the huddle over there, they are confused, scared and most of all broken. They don’t have any heart to follow. And that’s where we need to hit now.”

And he rode on. But he could hear the sly whispers in the back, coming from Raktapa.

“Not so ridiculous after all,” he said.