The Enemy's Daughter

Chapter Sixteen

Unwillingly, she cast a look at her rival, folding her hands in greeting. "I have already done that, my lord. You were sleeping at the time when I came to visit you. Of course, no one from the palace informed me of the unfortunate accident." She glared at Priyadarshini, her words carrying a tinge of complaint. "I was totally devastated, my Prince, to know of the misfortune which befell this kingdom," she cried out with feeling, running the short distance to him and putting her arms around him, clinging like a limpet. Tears coursed down her alabaster cheeks, like pearls on a string.

"There...there....dear, don't be upset. I am fine now and will visit you when I find the time," the Prince consoled her, his words somewhat reassuring to her. With a victorious look at her rival, she walked away, planning a passionate night with him.

*****

"Here. Hold the sword like this," Harshvardhan demonstrated the technique, grasping Priyadarshini's hand and swinging it in a wide arc. "This way you would take the enemy by surprise and score over him."

She was a quick learner, having engaged in swordplay earlier, but he was a master, she realized. No wonder his adversaries trembled at his name. They had been practicing for a couple of days now and she could already feel the difference in her confidence. He was also going to teach her to throw the spear, something she had always wished to learn.

An hour later, wiping the sweat from her forehead, she sank down on the grassy bank of the stream in the woods. They had ridden their steeds from the arena to the woods after the practice session was over, and she had had enough. Exhausted, she lay on the mossy ground, enjoying the view of the wispy white clouds floating overhead, while he leaned against a gnarled tree trunk and chewed at a blade of grass.

"What are you thinking?" he remarked after an interval had elapsed without any words having been exchanged between them.

She gazed into his mesmerizing eyes. "I was wondering about our first meeting."

"In your father's grand hall? You seemed so shy and docile when you are anything but that," he laughed, his face animated at the memory.

She shook her head vehemently. "No....no....I am referring to our meeting in the woods....when you....you...." she was too self-conscious to utter the words.

"When I kissed you? It was a memorable kiss, Princess."

"Why did you do it?" she was perplexed.

He leaned forward to push aside the lock which had fallen on her face, his fingers lingering on her satiny skin. "There was no way I was going to marry you without seeing you first. What if you had been ugly with buck teeth?" he said, his tone humorous.

"Huh," she snorted in contempt, "As if you married me for my beauty! It was a purely political alliance. You would have had to honor the treaty even if I resembled a horse."

He guffawed in mirth, holding his sides. "Well, then it is clear that I struck gold, for you are neither. You are beautiful, Princess. Very beautiful."

She colored at that, her heart jumping with joy at the prospect that she was comely in his eyes. Why then did he favor Neelanjana over his wife, the thought crept stealthily into her mind, spoiling her mood.

*****

The audience hall was decorated to the rafters with flowers. Thousands of lamps lighted the room with a starry glow. The royal couple sat on their gilded thrones carved with delicate workmanship and embedded with precious stones. Priyadarshini sat nearby with the prince by her side, dressed as befitting her exalted station. The emerald green of her sheer veil covered her face partly while the gold embroidered skirt flared around her. Emeralds and diamonds glittered on her body, and her neck and arms were also adorned with heavy gold jewelry. She could feel her husband's glance dart to her face time and again, admiring the vision she presented in her finery.

The servant, dapper in his shining livery, called out the arrival of the dancers. A hushed silence fell on the crowded hall, filled with ministers and neighboring rulers. The troupe entered, led by the chief courtesan, the woman herself ethereal in her colorful attire. Priyadarshini drew in a sharp breath as Neelanjana knelt in front of the throne, then rose and made her way toward the Prince. After paying her respects and with a coquettish glance at her lover, she announced the performance she had prepared. The musical started with the dancers swaying in perfect rhythm, unfolding the story of Krishna's divine love for his beloved.

The audience sat spellbound through the performance, except Priyadarshini who could see what the other woman was hinting at. Were the others blind or was she mistaken? Why did it seem to her that the courtesan was hinting at her relationship with the Prince with every look and action? In between the moves, she would cast a sly glance at her, as if challenging her to deny the place, she, Neelanjana held in her husband's life. Priyadarshini gave a mental shrug. What did it matter to her that the woman displayed shamelessly her love for him? Why did it hurt so much when she did not love him herself?

The show drew to an end and the dancers departed one by one, bowing their heads before leaving, till only Neelanjana was left on the stage. Making her way to the forefront, she gave a bow with a flourish, beaming with pride as the hall reverberated with the sound of applause. She waited for the din to die down, then took a deep breath before speaking in her singsong voice. Addressing the gathering, she continued, with a slight taunting smile on her luscious lips, "We have gathered here to honor Princess Priyadarshini, a woman of great merit. She worked her magic on the Prince to bring him back to life, though many would have blamed her for bringing this misfortune on Jaigarh in the first place. Being from the enemy kingdom, it is natural to think that she would have wished ill luck on us, but let me assure you, I have seen her taking care of our Prince with my own eyes." The woman waited for a moment, her eyes gleaming with mischief, then pointed at her with great flair. "She even tried to prevent me from sitting by the lord's side there. So sincere was she in her duties as a nurse, that I doubted whether she had ever been a princess."

The hall resounded with laughter while some present clucked their tongues as if in regret. It was clear to Priyadarshini that she had been made to appear not only a laughing stock but also an evil witch who brought the calamity to the kingdom. Tears swam in her eyes as she hoped that someone would rise to her defense. Who would do that?