✓ Fearless - Book 1 of The Rajkumari Trilogy

Chapter 4

Revati swiftly climbed up not wanting to be late for her first session. Her sandals clapped against the sturdy steps as she hurried up. It was a long climb but soon she reached the end where there was a trapdoor above her, wide open. She climbed out of it and to her surprise, saw a huge training center with a temple at the end of it.

She looked back to see her palace in the distance below. This is an amazing getaway to train! I wonder where Suruchi is... she swept her gaze around the place. Nothing. She decided to go to the temple and offer her namaskaaras first. As Revati ran along the green grass, she tied her hair into a tight braid. The temple was small, but oddly rejuvenating just by sitting there.

She set her bag with her day clothes and jewelry down beside her.

"You're late," Suruchi stated as she appeared from behind the pillar.

Revati jumped. "You scared me. And no, I'm not late," she argued, staring at her friend who wore a dhoti and kurta and had tied her hair in a braid. They both were in the same dress code. But their attire with a slight change in color.

"You are ten minutes late."

"I have brought a tapestry that I can sew in between practices so that I have an excuse to tell my family,. Revati handed it over to Suruchi.

"Mhmm. Fill up all the pots with water."

"Wait, I thought we were going to train?" Revati asked.

Suruchi ignored her comment. "There is a lake behind the temple a little far from here. Take the big vessel with you, fill it up, and pour water into the rest of these pots." Her chin jutted out, gesturing towards the several large pots and two small copper pitchers.

"But the traini-"

"Hurry up, time isn't going to wait for you, and neither am I."

"Fine," she said, slightly grumpy as she lifted the vessel and headed to the back of the temple. Indeed she did spot a lake, but it was far down in the valley below!

A little far, Suruchi? she mentally scoffed.

Nevertheless, she headed down and reached the lake after quite a long time. Revati filled the vessel with water to the brim and started her long climb back. Climbing back up was one thing, and climbing the same way with a nearly three-pound vessel full of water was another. Thankfully, the sun hasn't risen yet and it was cool out.

She finally made it up, heaving slightly. She poured the water into the pots and sat down on the cool rock floor, exhausted.

"Now, go back to the same lake and if you walk a bit further, you'll find a field of flowers. Pick any yellow ones for today and offer it to Goddess Durga," Suruchi voiced from where she was sitting and doing the tapestry.

"Excuse me?" Revati questioned her incredulously. The climb was hard enough, and going back down and coming back up would be draining.

"Last I checked, you weren't deaf Revati. Now, do as I say."

"What will you do then?"

"Finish your excuse." She motioned towards the tapestry in her lap, a slight, supposedly amused grin on her face.

Without a word Revati huffed, her nostrils flaring, as she got up to begin her task.

My task.

My tiring task.

My long, tiring task.

My hard, long tiring task.

Ok, that's enough! Get on with your work Revati. She reminded herself, walking into the valley. Her eyes skimmed over the flowers and decided to pick some yellow Ketakis. A long while later, Revati arrived back at the temple with her arms full of the flowers.