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"Hello, Jeevan," Bindya greeted hugging him. They were meeting as usual in the servant's quarters courtyard and Ajay was tagging along for decency's sake.
"Hello," he answered with a smile, squeezing her in his arms and ignoring the glances of two elder servants who barely hid their amusement for the couple's youthful love.
"Hey, little sister, you're not married yet!" Ajay teased, hands on his hips.
Bindya let go of Jeevan to frown at her brother. "Am I not betrothed? What's wrong with showing my love to my future husband?"
"You're not my wife yet," Jeevan smiled. "And you know how people talk. Your brother's presence keeps us safe, but what if he has enough of chaperoning you?"
"All right, I'll have to keep him on our side. What can I do for you, brother?"
Ajay laughed aloud. He had been friends with Jeevan since childhood and has seen the love-story blossom between his best friend and his sister. Bindya was now almost twenty and her father had joyfully accepted Jeevan's timely proposal. Bindya and Jeevan were bound to get married soon and live happily ever after – without Ajay.
He didn't mind going with them everywhere until the ceremony, and often looked the other way when they needed to be alone. Both he and Jeevan were twenty-four and all three worked as servants at the royal palace of Agharek, with different tasks: Bindya was a washer-woman, Ajay was on the staff of Prince Kunal – the haughty heir to the throne, and Jeevan worked in the administration offices, as he could read and write.
Their life was quiet in the service of the royal family, and the servants' quarters were a closely knitted community where there was always help available.
One day the king ordered a great party for the twenty-sixth birthday of his firstborn, and all the palace servants were employed in the sumptuous great hall for the occasion. And that day something changed, because Prince Kunal noticed Bindya's sweet beauty, and when he saw her talking to Ajay and another servant he didn't know, he didn't hesitate to join them, in spite of the fact she was way below him.
"You're one of mine," he told Ajay.
"Yes, my lord," Ajay bowed.
"What's your name again?"
"Ajay."
"And who is this beautiful maiden?"
"My sister Bindya, my lord." Ajay was a little worried by the way the prince was staring at his sister – as if she was a prey he was ready to capture.
Bindya bowed and didn't avert her eyes while Jeevan observed the prince from up close for the first time.
"I shall dance with your sister," Kunal said, never taking his eyes off of Bindya. With all the princesses and noblewomen in the room, he was smitten by a servant.
"She is betrothed to me," Jeevan said. "We shall marry soon."
Kunal glared at him. "You don't address a nobleman," he said haughtily. Then he turned back to Bindya with a smile. "Come."
She smiled back, amused.
"I'll be back soon," she whispered kissing Jeevan's cheek.
Ajay followed them with a worried stare.
"Our lord is kind of domineering," Jeevan said.
"Be careful, he's dangerous," Ajay warned. "He's spoiled and can do what he wants."
Jeevan didn't comment. He was following Bindya's dance and probably hadn't heard a word. Ajay shook his head with a sigh.
"That insolent young man is really your betrothed?" Kunal asked through the slow dance steps.
"Yes, my lord, we shall marry in a month," Bindya answered.
"Wouldn't you prefer somebody more important, and richer?"
"No, my lord, I love him."
Kunal laughed at her naivete – which made her even more endearing.
"Does love exist?" he asked. "I doubt it. Not for someone like you: poor, without a dowry..."
"I have enough to live, my lord, and Jeevan is working even harder for our married life."
"Wouldn't you prefer a life of luxury by my side?"
"No, my lord, thank you."
Strange woman! She wasn't interested in him and preferred a commoner with no background.
"You're beautiful, you know?" he said as the dance steps brought them very close.
"Thank you, my lord," she answered, completely indifferent to his charm. "May I rest now?"
Kunal let her go, annoyed.
"What are you doing?" Mansoor joined him a little suspicious. His only surviving brother was twenty-two and had noticed he had danced with a servant.
"Nothing," he snapped, still staring at Bindya.
Mansoor followed his gaze. "What are you up to?" he asked again. "Kunal, Kanya won't be happy if you cheat on her again..."
"I don't care," he shrugged. "I want to know everything about that girl."
"She's a commoner! You can't consider her, not even as a concubine!" Mansoor protested.
Kunal glared at him and Mansoor hung his head, gulping down his objections. Kunal knew he'd be able to do as he pleased. His father might still be the king, but he had his own court.
"Is your daughter in?" Kunal asked haughtily, without getting off the saddle.
"She's down at the river, washing," Bindya's father answered from his doorstep, contrite.
Kunal spurred on the horse without turning back and left the servants' courtyard to head for the river.
Bindya was alone, humming a song to herself. He observed the washer-woman from the trees shadow before coming out in the open. He got off his saddle, tied the horse and walked to her.
She looked up from her work, surprised, and stopped her humming.
"Even while doing a modest work, you're still the most beautiful," he said, crouching next to her and drinking the sight of her with the same pleasure he had felt in the palace great hall.
"Thank you, my lord." She smiled and resumed washing.
"Enough," he said after a moment of silence, grabbing her hands. "You shouldn't ruin these wonderful hands with such low work."
She had long, slender fingers in spite of the ruined skin, and he squeezed her hand, staring at her face with desire. She deserved to be dressed and bejeweled like a princess, and taken care of so she wouldn't have to work for a living.
"I don't mind working," she said, averting her eyes and blushing slightly. "Time flies when I'm busy."
"Wouldn't you prefer living in a palace worthy of your beauty?"
"Thank you, my lord, but I'm not interested in luxuries. I think I'd be bored all day."
"Bored?" he protested.
She used his surprise to free her hands and grab the washed garments, putting them in her basket.
"Listen, I'd give you my name, my house, my love and anything a woman can wish for. You're so beautiful, Bindya..."
He tried to embrace her, but she slipped away and rose, putting the basket on her head. She walked towards the trees and the buildings behind, followed by his puzzled stare.
"I'm sorry, my lord, but Jeevan's love is my greatest wealth," she said stopping by the trees and turning to dazzle him with her smile. Then she left.
Kunal frowned. "I shall have you, my beautiful commoner," he whispered angrily.
"What's going on?" Bindya asked gaily, entering her modest lodging in the servants' quarters and finding her father and her brother gloomily seated in a corner.
"Your brother lost his job," her father replied, depressed. He turned to look at her. "What did you refuse to Prince Kunal?"
"He wants me, Father," she replied, her smile vanishing behind a frown. "But I will not break the promise I made to Jeevan."
"I understand, dear. But I'm too old and broken for any kind of work. How shall we survive if Ajay doesn't find another job?"
She sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm sure we could take care of you, Father, and Ajay will find another job... away from the royal palace. That piece of shit!" She remembered the prince's slimy ways. "I'll talk to him!"
"No, my dear daughter, calm down. He's the prince heir. Ajay and I can move to the city and you and Jeevan can visit us..."
Ajay hid his face in his hands. "I knew it, I knew it!" he grumbled.
"Don't worry, son, you're young and moving away might even help you to find that perfect woman you couldn't find among the palace servants..." The old man sighed. "We'll see."
"Hello," Kunal greeted with a smile.
Bindya pretended not to see him.
Kunal spurred his horse and let it walk by her side. "Won't you greet me, beautiful maiden?"
"What are you trying to do?" She turned angrily to look at him as he was towering over her from his saddle, one fist on her hip. "My brother lost his job, I'm sure it's your fault!"
"My beautiful maiden, anger makes you even more charming," he grinned. "What can I say? It happens. If you accepted my proposal, your family would be all right. Have you changed your mind, sweetheart?"
"No! Listen, I don't want to disrespect you, but leave me alone! I will marry Jeevan with Ajay and my father's blessing!"
She turned her back on him and walked away as fast as she could without running. How could he think she'd prefer to be a prince's concubine instead of her beloved's wife? She was furious with the stubborn prince stalking her only because he had taken a fancy to her looks.
He quickly caught up with her and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her up in the saddle in front of him. She dropped her basket with a yelp as he held her close to him – way too close for decency.
"Let me go!" She struggled to get free of his arms and he laughed at her attempts before holding her tight and stealing a long, passionate kiss.
When he let her go, Bindya stared at him, breathless. He smiled and caressed her cheek.
"I love you," he whispered before kissing her again.
"Bindya!" Jeevan's voice startled both her and the prince.
Her betrothed grabbed her wrist, pulling her off the saddle. She nestled against his chest, still breathless, as Jeevan glared at Kunal, who was too stunned to react, but his face was slowly turning into an angry scowl.
"You might be the prince heir, but this doesn't allow you to lust after someone else's woman," Jeevan told him, undaunted.
Still holding her wrist, he dragged her away from the prince. They found temporary refuge in his lodging.
"I'm sorry," she said, ashamed of herself. "I didn't want to."
"I know," he snapped, still frowning.
"Jeevan..." she pleaded.
"I'm sorry." He held her tight, softening his tone and his expression. "But when I saw you in his arms... Then I saw your face and understood he was abusing his power. I love you, Bindya, and I'll protect you from everything, including him."
"Jeevan, I need to talk to you."
Jeevan sat in front of Bindya's father, staring curiously at the elegant guest who was already there when he got in. Ajay stood by the wall, brooding.
"Jeevan, this is Mansoor, Prince Kunal's brother. He came to ask for Bindya on the heir's behalf."
"I will not give her up," Jeevan replied, staring at the younger prince who looked much sweeter than Kunal.
"He will break you," Mansoor whispered, lowering his eyes. "I'd help you," he added, looking up again, obviously concerned. "But it will be hard. Kunal always gets what he wants."
Jeevan observed Mansoor before speaking. "You're a worthy prince," he said. "Unlike your brother."
"No." Mansoor smiled ruefully. "I'm only a pale imitation of the firstborn, and the only survivor of his brothers. Thank the gods the Sect is destroyed, or I might have ended up like Yash and Karan."
"Pity they didn't take Kunal instead," Jeevan said. "Don't try to be like him."
"I won't, thank you." Mansoor even blushed.
Jeevan smiled. "Are you betrothed yet, Mansoor?"
"No," the prince said, lowering his eyes again. "Kunal is, but he said he'd break the betrothal to Kanya of Gajendra to marry Bindya."
"He'd give up a princess to make a queen out of a commoner?" Jeevan asked, incredulous. "How will that sit with your father and the King of Gajendra?"
"I told you, he always gets what he wants," Mansoor replied patiently. "They'll betroth Kanya to me. And he'll pay you..."
"Don't," Jeevan interrupted him. "No money can buy my love for Bindya and make me break my promise to her."
"Don't give up." Again, a whisper. Mansoor looked excited, but immediately regained control and put on a mask of formality. "I shall tell your answer to my brother."
He rose and left without looking at anyone.
"My boy, I hope you know what you're doing," Bindya's father sighed. "You must be crazy to oppose Prince Kunal."
"Don't give up," Ajay said sharply. "Unlike me."
Jeevan noticed he had packed his few belongings and was ready to leave.
"Where will you go?" Jeevan asked, worried for his friend's future.
"I don't know, but I've had enough of palace intrigues. I' think I'll go to Lakresha to start a new life."
"I have relatives in Leland if you can't find work in Lakresha," Jeevan said. "Good luck."
"May the gods bless you, Ajay," his father added.
"Give a hug to Bindya from me," Ajay grumbled, grabbing his travel bag and heading for the door.
"Hello," Bindya greeted with a depressed tone. She stopped a few paces from Jeevan and hung her head.
They were meeting in the middle of the courtyard without Ajay, but it was uncommon of her not to rush into his arms. Jeevan answered, surprised by her gloomy mood.
"We cannot see each other anymore," she said, lowering her eyes. "And the betrothal is broken."
"What?" He couldn't believe his ears.
"My father gave me to Prince Kunal."
"He can't!"
"He had to. Kunal found an old debt. My father had to sell me to cancel that debt."
"You're not an object!"
"Oh, really?"she snapped, her eyes glaring at him. "How do you think I feel? I must obey my father, and I can't let him go to prison, as he's too old and it would kill him. They forced him to give me to Kunal!"
"So you will marry him?" he asked, calming down after her explosion. He knew she wasn't mad at him, but was frustrated by the rules society had imposed on them.
"No, I... I don't know!" She took the two steps between them and found refuge in his arms. "I don't want to, Jeevan. But what choice do I have?"
"I'll take you away," he whispered in her ear, holding her tight. "We'll leave too, like Ajay did."
"To go where? Kunal is the prince heir!"
"We'll stay away from people until he forgets you. We'll hide in the jungle. He won't find us. Will you follow me?"
"Yes." She didn't sound convinced, but he knew he could hunt and take care of both of them. "Take me away, Jeevan."
"If you think running away is the only way, I will not stop you," her father said. "Don't tell me where you want to go, I might be forced to reveal it. Be happy with Jeevan. I'm sure time will cure Prince Kunal's obsession and you will be able to come back. Please know that I love you both and you have my blessing. Go now. Tomorrow your new betrothed will come. Tomorrow it will be too late."
"Thank you, Father." Bindya hugged him. "We will come back, eventually."
She gathered her few belongings like her brother had done and joined Jeevan in the streets. They left the capital and headed north for the jungle, where they soon entered the shadows of the trees.
They followed the main river, then a stream, keeping water in sight for practical reasons – they could just follow the current to go back to civilization, and they needed water to live anyway.
In a clearing at sunset they ran into a tiger. Bindya yelped and backed up, but he squeezed her hand.
"Don't be afraid," he said quietly. "It will not attack us."
The tiger growled at them, drank some more and left without bothering with them.
"I thought they were man-eaters," she whispered, still fearful.
"Not really," he said. "Only if they don't have a choice. And that one looked young and healthy enough not to bother with preys taller than it."
"How do you know these things about tigers?" she asked, staring at him in amazement.
He grinned. "I was on the king's hunting team for some years and talked with lots of experienced hunters."
"You're wonderful," she said adoringly.
"Still, we should find a tiger-free spot to build our new house," he said. "This is one of their drinking spots, so we better move on. I hope you're not too tired yet."
"No, but it's getting darker."
He quickly made and lit a torch, leading her further away from civilization.
Kunal was furious when he discovered Bindya had disappeared.
"Suits you right," was Kanya's sarcastic comment. The princess of Gajendra hadn't liked being shunned for a commoner and given to Mansoor instead of the heir.
"Shut up! I'll find her, she can't hide in my kingdom!"
"I believe your father is still the king," she scoffed. "Anyway, good luck."
He glared at her, then at Mansoor who was secretly happy that Jeevan and Bindya had run away.
Kunal looked all over Agharek and sent men to the closest villages, reaching even the other, closer towns on Agharek river – Lakresha and Akulina – but nobody had seen Jeevan or Bindya.
Discovering that Jeevan had been in his father's hunting party, Kunal decided to check the jungle as well. The northern part had been burned out during the destruction of Arquon, but around Agharek it was still luxuriant.
So he mounted a hunting expedition, hoping to find the runaways. Mansoor and Kanya went with him, one worried, the other curious to meet the commoners who had dared defy the prince heir.
Eventually one of the hunters found traces of human footsteps in the thick undergrowth – a muddy clearing had kept track of someone's passage. So far they had found isolated huts of single hunters, but had left them behind, following the river further and further away from the capital. They were almost in the vicinity of Lakresha and there were traces of two people walking in the jungle.
"It's them!" Kunal grumbled. "We're close!"
"Who is the crazy man who takes a woman to live in the jungle?" Kanya asked.
"A real crazy, trust me," the prince scoffed. "He dared to challenge me. I'll find him and punish him for what he did."
Mansoor didn't like the sound of that. "Kunal, may I sleep in Lakresha tonight? I don't like hunting, and you don't really need me here, do you?"
"No," Kunal answered sharply without looking at him. "Want to go with him?" he asked Kanya who shrugged.
"I'm fine," she said. "I liked following my father when he went hunting."
Mansoor left the party preparing for the night stop, but instead of heading for the town, he continued along the river, holding his lance tight and praying to find Jeevan and Bindya before any large cat decided to feed on him. He should have asked a guard to go with him, but he knew they were all faithful to Kunal and he didn't want his brother to learn where he was actually headed.
Night fell and the jungle became too dark to keep walking. Mansoor climbed a tree and curled up on a branch, worried and scared. He couldn't sleep for fear of predators and had no idea how much further he should go.
He waited for daybreak without dozing off and marched on as soon as he could see where he was going. He knew Kunal and his men were close behind and hoped to find Jeevan and Bindya before they caught up with him. They had elephants, after all, while he – like the runaways – was on foot.
Night fell again and he was exhausted and hungry. He weakly climbed another tree and saw a light not too far he thought must be a fire of some sort. Relieved, he climbed down and walked towards the light, reaching a clearing near a rocky wall where a not too deep cave opened. A fire burned inside.
Stumbling with fatigue he crossed the clearing towards the light, but someone grabbed him from behind, putting a knife to his throat. He had made too much noise.
"Jeevan?" he asked tentatively.
"Who are you?" It sounded like him, but it was a whisper and he couldn't be sure.
"Mansoor."
The man let go and pushed him towards the fire. When both entered the light cone, they recognized each other. Bindya was hiding in a corner of the cave, but she came out as well.
"Come in," Jeevan led Mansoor to sit down by the fire.
"Hello, Mansoor," Bindya greeted. "You look haggard."
"I'm starving," he admitted.
She smiled and offered him the remnants of their dinner, venison not yet cold.
"You've been brave to reach this place," Jeevan said while Mansoor wolfed down the meat. "Why bother, though? All alone?"
"They found your track," he replied, stopping his chewing to frown at the reason for his solitary expedition. "Kunal has a hunting party. They'll be on you soon."
"We'll move further away," Jeevan shrugged. "I'm a hunter too. I'll be more careful. They will not track me down, Mansoor."
Mansoor finished his meat and sighed with satisfaction. He noticed Jeevan and Bindya's entwined fingers and looked at her pretty face.
"Do you like living here?" he asked.
"Yes," she grinned. "I'm free, with the man I love who hunts for me while I cook for him... All we need is a hut for the monsoon season, as apparently we can't stay in this nice little cave." She turned to Jeevan. "Do you think we'll find another one?"
"We might move to a town during that time," he said. "And then cross over to Rajendra."
She giggled as he kissed her forehead.
"I envy you," Mansoor whispered.
"One day you will find happiness too," Jeevan told him.
"Only if I manage to get away from Kunal," he grumbled. "And it's not easy, as there aren't any remaining foreign princesses who might inherit their father's throne. I guess I'm stuck with what he discards. Besides, he's my brother and I love him..."
"Of course," Jeevan smiled. "Get some sleep, and don't worry if you don't see us in the morning."
Mansoor lay down on the floor and closed his eyes, grateful to finally have some rest.
A kick awakened him from his uncomfortable bed and he was startled to see the sun was up and the cave was empty except for him and Kunal's frown.
"What are you doing here?" the elder asked.
"Er... I got lost," he answered, slowly getting up on his feet, although he wasn't as tall as Kunal. But he felt less threatened if they both stood.
"Really?" Kunal arched his eyebrows, skeptical.
"I'm not as good as you are at moving around the jungle."
"So you slept here, cooked some food and everything all by yourself?" Kunal pointed at the remnants of the fire and the discarded bones of the previous night's meals.
"Well of course..."
Kunal slapped him. "Don't lie to me," he threatened. "You found Jeevan, huh? Did you see him?"
"No, I swear, I haven't seen him I don't know where he is!"
Kunal grabbed him by his throat and squeezed. "Be careful, Mansoor, if I find out you lied, I'll kill you."
Terrified, Mansoor nodded and Kunal let him go, storming out of the little cave. Mansoor followed him, dejected.
"Mansoor." Kanya's voice startled him. "What does Jeevan look like?"
He looked at her, puzzled. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious."
"He's handsome." Mansoor averted his eyes.
"More handsome than Kunal?"
"He's different. It depends on what you look for in a man, I guess."
"Someone tall, handsome, strong and sweet."
"He's all that," Mansoor admitted reluctantly, knowing Kunal was everything but sweet. "But he's not a prince, you know."
"I've met enough princes in my life," she scoffed. "It's probably better for me if I end up marrying you instead of your brother! But I'm very curious to meet Jeevan as well..."
Mansoor sighed, thinking he probably wasn't Kanya's ideal – too short, handsome maybe, strong most definitely not, sweet probably. Was she planning to have Jeevan as well?
The jungle ended abruptly, opening on the wasteland that had become Arquon when two angry dragons burned down everything. The fire could have reached Agharek and most of Rajendra if it hadn't been stopped by the rivers. It had cleaned the surroundings of the northern town of Leland, though, and heavy logging had contributed to the shrinking of the green patch.
Kunal and his party went directly to the governor's palace, but the prince heir wasn't interested in hearing how the town was doing, nor the recounts of the dragon attack. He needed to know if Jeevan and Bindya had been seen in town, passing through or even settling, although that seemed unlikely. They probably hoped to find refuge in Rajendra at this point. The only good news was that the new prince heir of Rajendra was his former sword-teacher, who had been born in Leland, therefore his hometown was very proud of the fact that one of its citizens had now married the only heir of the neighboring kingdom.
Kunal was very happy to hear that too. He could always ask Kumar to give him back the two runaways, if they indeed had found refuge beyond the border. The thought sent Mansoor into panic. He remembered vaguely the young man who had saved Yash's life in a tavern brawl and had warned their father about Arquon. But ten years had gone by, and he couldn't say he knew Kumar. What if he accepted Kunal's unfair request and handed back Jeevan and Bindya?
Mansoor knew Jeevan and Bindya couldn't know about Kumar's past, so he decided he must find them before Kunal and warn them not to cross to Rajendra. Unfortunately he had no idea where to start looking.
Frustrated, he left the governor's palace for a walk in the sunny streets as he mulled over the situation.
"Prince Mansoor?" A potter was calling him.
"Yes?" he answered, puzzled.
The potter signaled him to enter his modest shop, which he did. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness inside, he saw Jeevan and Bindya sitting with the potter's wife.
"Please, take a seat." The potter offered a cushion and sat on the bare ground as soon as he crouched down, still too puzzled to speak.
"If you're here, so is he, I take it?" Jeevan asked.
"Yes. And he knows the future king of Rajendra personally, so you won't be able to find refuge there."
"I know him very well too," the potter said. "I have been invited to relocate in Argantael and planned on bringing my younger cousin and his wife with me."
Mansoor stared puzzled at Jeevan who smiled.
"The Nagra clan spread everywhere. I was born here, but moved to Agharek when I was five. This is my cousin Jayanta, who grew up with Kumar and the Orphans. He spent six years in Arquon, prisoner of the Sect then the late King Neeraj set him free."
"After Prince Yash's death," Jayanta added.
"Did you see him die?" Mansoor asked, his heart beating faster. Ten years later he'd finally know how Yash had died. His father never received a straight answer from Arquon about it.
Jayanta nodded. "He was burned in the Goddess Pit, but his soul was already dead. Ramesh and Neeraj abused him until he could take it no more. And when Princess Meena died in childbirth, he saw the sacrifice as deliverance. I think your brother Karan met the same fate, but with Keiko as High Priestess, when Kumar had already killed Ramesh."
Mansoor wasn't expecting an answer to Karan's fate as well. So the former sword-teacher had exacted revenge on the Sect and the whole of Arquon before becoming prince heir of Rajendra.
"He had married Princess Indira after killing the High Priest King," Jayanta said. "But he ran away for a year, hoping to avoid facing Keiko."
"I really want to see Kumar again," Mansoor said. "When are you leaving for Argantael?"
"Tomorrow at dawn," Jeevan asked.
"I'll come with you. And we go tonight. I'll bring horses."
Jeevan and Bindya shared a saddle, while Jayanta and his wife shared theirs with their four children, the fifth and eldest having to ride with Mansoor who led the way, determined.
But when they reached the border river, Kunal was already there, waiting for them with his men.
"Your escape attempt is over," Kunal said. "Jeevan, you'll end up in a cell, unless you piss me off before we get back to Agharek. Bindya, you will marry me. And you, Mansoor..." Kunal stared at his younger brother ominously. "I had warned you. You lied to me and even worked against me."
"Kunal, I..."
Kunal unsheathed his scimitar, spurring his horse towards his brother.
"Kunal, you can't!" Mansoor panicked. "I was only trying to help!"
Kunal raised his arm, ready to hit.
"Kunal, I'm your brother!" Mansoor screamed.
The scimitar fell without mercy, giving Mansoor an instant death.
Bindya hid her face against Jeevan's chest. He held her tighter, staring at Kunal with contempt.
"You killed your own brother, Kunal," he said through clenched teeth.
"And I'll kill you as well if you don't take your hands off of my betrothed," Kunal replied, the bloody scimitar ready to hit again.
Bindya pulled away from Jeevan, but he didn't let her go.
"He must not hurt you," she whispered. "Let me go. I'll be back."
He let her go with a frown.
Bindya slid off the saddle and walked to Kunal, looking him boldly in the eyes. "Are you happy now that you caught me? Are you done with killing innocent people?"
"I'd kill your father and your brother as well if they tried to oppose me," he replied putting away the scimitar.
She glared at him speechless, and he grabbed her waist, pulling her in front of him on the saddle. "You're mine now," he said before kissing her.
Jeevan clenched his fists and his lips, then got off the saddle too.
Kunal pulled out his scimitar again, holding Bindya close to him. "Don't even think about it," he threatened. "Don't make me lose my patience. You should know by now I'll do anything to have Bindya."
"You shall never have her heart," Jeevan said.
"I'll have that too, eventually." Kunal scoffed. "But you won't be able to see it."
He raised his scimitar again.
"Wait." A woman's voice, and it wasn't Bindya.
Kanya stepped forward, staring at Jeevan but walking towards Kunal. "You still owe me, Kunal. I can't marry your brother, you better give me something for breaking our betrothal."
"What do you want?" Kunal snapped.
"That man." She pointed her finger at Jeevan.
Kunal's eyes went from Jeevan to Kanya and back, then he suddenly smiled.
"Well of course, Kanya. Jeevan is all yours. You can take him home to Gajendra for all I care."
He spurred his horse away, leaving Jeevan with the princess and her escort.
"I'm not ready to go home yet," she purred, reaching out for Jeevan. "Let's go back to Agharek for now."
"What should we do with the others?" the captain of her escort asked, pointing at Jayanta and his family, silently waiting for their fate.
"We don't need them, do we? Let them go," she shrugged.
Jeevan nodded at Jayanta who prepared to cross the river with a sigh.
"Help me, Father."
"I cannot help you, Bindya. Prince Kunal is our overlord. Besides, why do you complain? You were born a commoner and shall become a princess, maybe even a queen..."
"But I want Jeevan!"
"Enough tantrums," Ajay cut in sharply. "You were enough trouble already, for both us and Jeevan. You better obey and do what you're told now."
He had come back to Agharek as soon as he had heard the prince had left for a hunting expedition and had found a temporary job at the palace. He didn't look happy to see his sister again, nor the fact that Jeevan had disappeared into the royal palace.
"Calm down, Ajay. Come on, Bindya, Prince Kunal can't be that bad..."
"Can't be that bad? Father, he killed his own brother!" Bindya protested. "He destroyed our family, makes me fight my beloved brother, has given my man to a foreign princess, and you tell me he can't be that bad? He abused his power all the way to the Rajendra border and I still don't know why his father doesn't stop him!"
"I mean, you might learn to appreciate him. After all, he's very attractive."
"Oh, please! Beautiful but heartless, you'll see what happens when he becomes king! Besides, I want Jeevan!"
"Enough!" Ajay slapped her. "You're a woman, you should obey your male relatives!"
He calmed down, seeing her distress. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I'd do anything to make you happy. But we can't win against him, Bindya. You said so yourself, he killed his own brother. He's the prince heir. I tried to talk to the king, but he won't listen. We have no choice."
"I know," she whispered, dejected. "I'm sorry. I better get ready. Pray for me."
Ajay hugged her as she silently cried on his shoulder.
"I don't understand why you resist me," Kanya said pulling away from Jeevan with a frown.
He relaxed a little but didn't reply. He'd have preferred a prison cell to the company of the beautiful princess. In the cell he'd be free to think about Bindya and plan revenge on Kunal. Being locked up in Kanya's bedroom with the princess constantly trying to seduce him was much harder to bear. He loved Bindya, but he wasn't made of stone.
"You must love her very much," Kanya continued, disappointed.
"Yes." He turned to look at her. "Please help me to save her."
"I'd lose you."
"You will never have me. I don't belong to you."
"While you're here with me, I still have hope. If you leave with her, I'll never have you."
"You'll never have me anyway," he said averting his eyes. "And I don't understand how you can accept being discarded for a commoner."
"Well, I had a prize for that." She caressed his chest, coming closer again. "I think I'll take you with me when I go back to Gajendra."
"And what will your father say? You're a princess, I'm a commoner."
"Arquon and the Sect are gone, and there are no more princes available to marry," she shrugged. "Well, there's Anjaan of Lakeshi, but I don't like him and neither does my sister. I guess we can both marry whoever we want, which is perfect, because I want you." The last sentence was a sensual whisper.
She pulled him closer and kissed him hungrily. He stiffened, but a part of him was sick of fighting and wanted only to surrender and forget.
"My lady, Prince Kunal sends this for tonight," the young servant said, offering a silken embroidered sari for the official betrothal night.
"I'm so sick of obeying," Bindya sighed. "Leave it on the bed and come here."
The youth obeyed and joined her by the window, but remained standing instead of sitting next to her.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Hemal."
"Are you new?"
"Yes, my father sold me to pay a debt."
"So you've been sold too." She smiled ruefully. "How old are you?"
"Fifteen, my lady. If I were older, I'd have run away."
"You're your father's property until you start your own family," she shrugged. "And it's your father who chooses your bride."
"Yes, they think they're so much wiser than us and that we cannot choose..."
"Because they had no choice! Anyway, at least you don't have to marry someone you despise, like me. Would you help me, Hemal?"
"To do what?" he asked, puzzled.
"To see my beloved again. I'm sure he's still here somewhere."
"Jeevan is in Princess Kanya's apartments," he said, lowering his eyes. He knew her story, then. "They never come out. I think she's trying to seduce him, as sometimes we hear her laugh, sometimes she screams."
"Gods." Bindya closed her eyes as her heart sank. "Where are the princess's apartments?" she asked then, staring at him, determined.
"On the other side of the palace, my lady. And there are guards in front of the doors as the princess doesn't want to be disturbed. But today Prince Kunal visited her."
"Really? What for?"
"He told her to go back to her father and take Jeevan with her because while he's here you'll never surrender."
"I won't surrender anyway," she said through clenched teeth.
"If you want me to help you, you must surrender, my lady," the boy said. "So Prince Kunal won't send Jeevan away and you'll be able to see him again."
"I'm afraid you're right," she sighed. "Go now. If you manage to see Jeevan, tell him I still love him."
Hemal bowed and left. She stood up and went to the bed, touching the sari that had been made for a princess.
She scoffed. She was no princess. Kunal thought he could buy her with expensive gifts.
Two maids came in to help her prepare, skillfully draping the embroidered sari and combing her long lush hair in a complicated hairdo decorated with gold that matched the dress.
They were barely finished when Kunal's footsteps approached the room. I hate you so much, she thought as he entered while the maids bowed and backed away from her. She put on a mask of serenity to hide her true feelings before turning to look at him.
He smiled, satisfied, and kissed her bejeweled hand, adding another golden bangle to her already charged wrist.
"You're the most beautiful woman in the world," he said sweetly. Sometimes she wondered what he was really like, the haughty and cruel prince or the sweet lover.
"Thank you," she said hiding half of her face behind the veil of the sari like all good-mannered maidens should do.
"And in a few days you shall be my bride," he said pulling her to her feet and holding her close. "I look forward to it."
She nodded, unable to speak. He caressed her cheek, thoughtful.
"I told Kanya to go back to Gajendra but she asked to attend the wedding," he said. "Do you mind?"
She gulped down her first answer. "Of course not."
He looked puzzled by her obvious surrender – she hadn't given any venomous answer nor tried to get rid of his hands yet.
He grinned, letting her go. "Does the dress please you?"
"It's... the most beautiful I've ever worn," she answered, and it was true. Not that she cared.
"I'm sure we'll get along very well," he said. "And I promise not to touch you until you are my wife."
"You are too kind," she said thinking the exact opposite. She followed him to the great hall for the banquet, praying her mask would hold for the night.
Jeevan sighed one more time. At least he was alone. Beautiful Kanya had gone to a meeting with the king, his heir and her father's ambassadors, probably to settle her situation with her former betrothed.
Jeevan had tried to leave the room, but the guards at the door had stopped him. He could only sit and wait, trying to think. Except Kanya and Kunal were the strongest and there wasn't much he or Bindya could do against them. The servants' passage was locked – until Ajay came through it.
"Ajay! Have you found a way out?"
"No, my friend, but come with me, quick!"
Jeevan followed Ajay through the narrow passage. At a crossing with another corridor they met Bindya and Hemal with a torch.
"Jeevan!" She rushed into his arms and he held her tight. Ajay and the boy backed up a little, leaving them almost in the dark in the windowless passage.
"I can't believe it," he whispered caressing her hair and face.
"I needed to see you and hear how you're doing," she answered, looking at him adoringly.
"I'm doing great now that Kanya is busy and I'm with you. How about you?"
"I had to relent a little with Kunal so he wouldn't kick out the two of you."
"Yes, Hemal told me. He's a smart boy." He glanced at the young servant who was waiting with Ajay.
"If I have a son, I'll call him Hemal," she said, knowing her first choice would never be accepted by her future husband.
They stared at each other in spite of the scarce light in the passage.
"The wedding is near, huh?" he said.
She nodded. "In three days." Her voice was choked. She curled up against him, desperate. "I don't want any of it, Jeevan!"
"You must obey. I'll find a way to escape from Kanya's grip and will come back to save you."
"I'll wait, then." She shivered in his arms. "But I'm scared."
"Of what? You weren't scared in the jungle..."
"That was different. The man we're dealing with is worse than lions and tigers."
"True, but don't worry, everything will be all right."
"Even when he'll discover I'm not a virgin anymore?"
He gasped, taken by surprise. He had forgotten about that. It was so obvious to him that he and Bindya belonged to each other, he hadn't considered the haughty prince might want the same thing.
"I'm sorry." He squeezed her in his arms.
"I'm not sorry you were the first," she replied with a smile before kissing him.
They didn't have much more time together. Ajay and Hemal brought them back to their respective prisons. But Jeevan swore he'd eventually free both of them.
"The wedding was as sumptuous as expected, but the bride looked a little pale," Kanya said, slumping on the bed.
Jeevan didn't move from the window and pretended not to hear.
"Jeevan," she called, chiding.
He turned his head to look at her.
"Come here," she ordered.
He obeyed. She pulled him down and embraced him.
"Bindya is married," she said, satisfied. "Tomorrow we go back to Gajendra. And you will be my lover forever."
"Your father granted me you were still a virgin," Kunal said with a frown.
"I was," Bindya replied, looking him in the eyes. She pulled him closer to kiss him, but he freed himself, glaring at her.
"Who did it?" he demanded.
"What do you care? I'm your wife, now, will you discard me only because you weren't the first man between my legs?"
"No." He pursed his lips, still frowning. "No, I'm not letting you go. But I want to know who did it."
"Get some sleep," she said, soothing. "You had what you wanted, you need rest."
"No. I want you again." He assaulted her with rage and passion – his other side after the tender lover. But he felt wounded by her betrayal.
"Ouch! You're hurting me!" she protested.
"Tell me who did it," he ordered squeezing and biting instead of caressing and kissing.
"Let me go!" She squirmed, trying to get rid of him.
"Tell me!"
Bindya screamed with pain and he calmed down a little.
She started crying.
"Who was he?" he whispered threateningly in her ear.
"Jeevan," she sobbed.
He pulled back as if she had slapped him.
"Of course, who else," he muttered. The runaways had been alone for almost a month, albeit in an uncomfortable jungle. But they loved each other so much, they had probably done it anyway, without bothering to get married first.
His rival had beaten him to her body as well as her mind. Son of a bitch.
"Stop crying," he snorted at her. "And thank the Gods I don't divorce you right now!"
He had to do something about Jeevan, though. He got out of the bed and put on a caftan, grabbing his scimitar on the way out.
"Kunal, don't!" she screamed, running after him and desperately hugging him.
"Wait here." He easily got rid of her and pushed her away. "I'm going to kill your beloved Jeevan, I swear!"
He locked her in the room and stormed through the sleeping palace towards Kanya's apartments. The puzzled guards let him in and he found his former betrothed in bed with his rival, both of them well awake and scantly clothed.
"Kunal!" Kanya protested, covering herself with the bed-sheet. But he saw only Jeevan.
"She wasn't yours, she wasn't your wife, you shouldn't have touched her," he growled.
"She was mine, actually, because she loved me," Jeevan replied. "More mine than yours even if you married her."
"You son of a bitch..."
The scimitar swung again.
"Kunal!" Kanya protested. "He was mine!"
Kunal had enough even of her. The scimitar struck again and he stared at the bloodied bed with hatred before storming back to his bedroom.
Bindya screamed at the sight of the bloodied scimitar, but he threw it away, marching on her. She tried to escape, but couldn't.
She screamed her hatred and sorrow, but he didn't listen. He gave vent to his passion then finally relaxed, ignoring her sobs.