part0088

When it came to Kali, he didn’t care about them. They were worse than the scum of this land, thrown and pitted against each other. They suffered the most. They should. He hated them. What he did to Kalki’s accomplices was exactly what they deserved, and perhaps even more, if he had the time. But he had to leave. People were gathering and it was not a nice image to see their new king be a killer in the streets. They had to respect him after all.

Durukti deserved the same fate, but she was his sister. The blood between them stopped him from doing anything. But he knew what he had to do with her. He would keep her in control with Symrin, her handmaiden, who be his spy. He had given her gold to speak to him whenever Durukti was a nuisance or try to do something.

But softness and tenderness crushed him whenever he saw her face. Now, as he stood there, in her room, he asked her, “Would you come for the coronation?”

He didn’t have to try so hard in getting the crown from Vedanta. The Naga leaders were dead, except Manasa, about whose death he and lied about it. She wouldn’t be returning for sure. Vedanta was afraid and Kali intended to feed on this fear.

Durukti was sitting on the window sill, looking at the stars. “Why is your chest bloody?”

Kali was so muddled up in his thoughts, he had forgotten about his dishevelled frame. “I was handling some business.”

“Did you kill him?” she asked.

Surely, she spoke of him. Kalki. The mysterious villager from Shambala. Just because of that, Kali wanted to burn down the village, but then he hadn’t lost all sense of reasoning.

She turned. There was no sympathy in her eyes. “Good.”

“What happened to you?”

“I just thought he was a different person. But he’s not.”

Kali walked over to her, close, as he clasped her hands. She looked at him, sternly, brows arched high. “I apologize for my actions recently,” Kali sighed. “I was hurt and angry. Martanja had a way of influencing people. He convinced me that you were lovers with him.”

“You should care more about the city than my life.”

“But your life is important to me.” Kali wanted to hug her, but he held back. No matter how distanced they had grown, he still loved her and he knew she loved him back, despite the hatred.

“What had gotten into you?”

“Some people bring out the worst in you,” he spoke, regarding Kalki. He was too strong for his own sake, just like how Kali was. Perhaps he had been subjected to the Soma as well. “Each one of us has a dark side and it comes out eventually. It’s not planned.” He tightened his hand around her. “But some people also bring the best out in you. I don’t want to lose you because of our recent squabbles. You had your own right to do what you wanted.”

Durukti clenched her teeth and slapped him as hard as she could. Kali took it, calmly, sighing. “I think I deserved that.”

“You don’t own me, brother. You’re damn well right you deserved it.”

“Does that mean you forgive me?”

She looked at him for a moment. Kali came forward, embracing her, and for a while she didn’t reciprocate, until she hugged him back in relief. He pulled back, looking at her with wistful eyes.

“Would you come for my coronation?”

“Do I have a choice?”

Kali knew exactly what to say to appease her. “Yes, you do. You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

A smirk pulled up her cheek. “I will.”

He wasn’t sure she meant it or if things were back to normal, but at least the façade of it was. He couldn’t revel in it for long since a voice came from behind him.

“My lord, the men from the keep have returned from the infirmary and are waiting for you,” Koko’s familiar voice spoke.

The word ‘keep’ alarmed Durukti. “What have you done with the medicine I brought for you?”

“My dear,” he dexterously ran his fingers over her collarbone, “they were not just mere medicines. They were an elixir. And sadly, they have been destroyed.”

She raised her brows. “What do you plan to do? Search for more?”

Kali hadn’t thought of that. Each part of his body felt more than better. He hadn’t felt fitter in his life and it had crossed his mind, to travel in search for more. But then did he need it? He had kept a pouch of it, just in case his illness returned. But for now, he was content.

“I’m a king, sister. I have better things to worry about.” He slowly kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you for everything. Without you, there is no me,” he whispered and he meant it.

Kali left the grand room, glancing at Symrin, who was making her way in. They shared a look before Kali left with Koko and Vikoko towards the main chambers, near the fort’s garden, where he had impaled the propagandist. He reached and found five men, bandaged and standing calmly, with their arms at the back. More guards from his fort were standing guard behind them. They all looked worried.

Kali saw they all were Rakshas, Martanja’s men, who were supposed to keep the Somas safe.

“Do you remember…” he began, walking calmly back and fro, as he saw their huge, injured bodies, “who those culprits were?”

All of them shook their head to say no.

“Can you recognize any one of them if they return?” He played with his fingers, looking at his nails, paring them against each other.

One of them nodded his head.

“Stand in front.”

“What is your name, son?”

“Pradm,” Kali nodded. The man had a huge gash in his chest, which was festering. “Would you manage to recognize them if they are back? Did you have a good look at their faces?”

“Yes, my lord,” Pradm said.

“Good,” Kali turned to the others. “Koko, Vikoko, kill them all.”

Pradm gasped. Koko and Vikoko, quick on their feet, slashed their heads. Some protested, but Kali’s other guards stabbed and severed their torsos. Pradm watched in horror, while Kali shifted his gaze away from him. “Don’t worry. They were useless. Raktapa, your chief, would have mutilated them already if you returned to him like that. I did you all a favour.”

Pradm shivered, in spite being a big man himself. Something about Kali made even him afraid.

“But you won’t go anywhere, don’t worry, Pradm. You are going to stay right here, with me. Won’t you?”

Pradm weakly nodded.

“Great. You are the new commander for the Rakshas force in the city. I’ll send a note to Raktapa telling him about your post and the circumstances surrounding it.”

“But I’m just a soldier.” He had a weak voice.

“You are more than that, son.” He patted his chest, leaving Pradm in the midst of decimated Rakshas. “And also,” he said without looking at Pradm’s face, “tomorrow is my coronation. Please make yourself available.”

Kali stood as Vedanta, the last king, came forward. He had a forced smile as he put down the crown over Kali’s head. But it wasn’t just the crown. He put several other pieces of jewellery over Kali, including rings, bracelets and necklaces. Kali had a smirk. He had worn a robe, made of silk and fur. Vedanta turned away, clapping, while a row of people, nobles, and aristocrats lined up to congratulate him.

Kali turned to his right and watched Vedanta slowly clap with his daughter, who seemed like a problem at first sight. She didn’t have the courtesy to clap, but rather had a frown on her face. Kali didn’t mind the indecency. She was just a child, after all. He even saw Kuvera, giving his plastic grin, fake as ever. He was pleased however that Kali was able to defeat his arch enemies: the Nagas. On the other end, he saw Durukti, who looked pleasant today, with Symrin on her side. Behind Kali, Koko and Vikoko stood on opposite sides, standing still like devoted soldiers. Pradm was in the front with his Rakshas guards, kneeling down to their new king.

Kali stood up to speak. “I have been bestowed with this great duty by the people’s man, the last King Vedanta. He was gracious enough to give me this opportunity, on seeing I had better and more progressive ideas to work with.” And more so because he had threatened him for Urvashi’s safety.

“I have thrown out the Naga tribe from our city.” Many uproariously cheered that, and Kali had to calm them down. “I sent them back to their home city.” Though it was a lie. He had put them in one place under the impression that Manasa had summoned them. And then, he had killed each one of the Nagas, with archers stationed nearby. “Thus more Manav soldiers have been inducted, and we can restore status quo as best as we can.”

Everyone clapped. He had just waged a war with the other Nagas. But for now, he didn’t care. He had broken his own pact, but that was the only way to stop all the feuds.

“Enjoy the feast and the drinks and the women, of course.”

And here, the apsaras entered, dancing in highly revealing clothes. Kali could see from the corner of his eyes that Durukti was feeling ashamed, while Vedanta grabbed Urvashi’s hand and left from the place. It was a sight to behold.

Kali sat on his throne, his hands dangling from the arms of his throne, as he casually positioned himself. He had great plans for the city, but he wouldn’t stop here. He’d go for the other ones now. He was strong and he was back.

Koko leaned forward, while Kali saw the nobles enjoying the sight of the prostitutes. “My lord?”

“Lord Vedanta has left.”

“I know.” Kali was dismissive.

“As you had placed your guards in his fort, they were quick to notice a familiar prisoner they had earlier seen.”

“Familiar, you say?” Kali raised his brows. “Call him here.”

“All right, my lord.”

And within moments, the prisoner was brought in, with his head covered in a sack, and hands tied by a tight rope. Kali drank his wine, as he signalled the sack to be lifted.

When the sack was removed, it revealed a familiar figure. With wounds across his body, the boy was the same one he had been seen during the trial, assisting Kalki’s flight.

Pradm, who was standing right there, ran instantly towards Kali and nodded. “It’s him, my lord. One of them.”

Kali sighed, walking clumsily and spilling his wine in the process, as he came close to the prisoner. “So you thought destroying my property would be a good idea?”

Pradm interjected. “My lord, should I cut him open?”

“No, that’ll be too easy.” He looked at the boy, patting him on the shoulder. “We’ll have some fun with him. Death is too quick and too easy a punishment. What is your name, boy?”