Behind the Scene

Nandini's Discovery

The air was thick with the mingling scents of jasmine and roasted nuts as Nandini stepped through the bustling marketplace near Mandore. The cries of merchants hawking spices and silks filled her ears, but her mind was elsewhere. She had left the fort quietly, her intentions shrouded in secrecy, and now walked purposefully toward the outskirts of the town.

A caravan had arrived from Jainagara Rao territory, its colorful canopies and intricately carved wooden carts drawing curious onlookers. Among the onlookers stood Rudra, a figure of calm authority, meticulously inspecting the goods. For a fleeting moment, Nandini considered stopping to greet him, but she had more pressing matters.

Her destination lay beyond the lively marketplace—a discreet pleasure house nestled near the town's edge, a place where secrets often flowed as freely as wine. The building was modest but well-kept, its carved wooden doors concealed behind a narrow alley. Nandini slipped in through the back entrance, her arrival unnoticed by the merchants and soldiers who frequented the establishment.

Inside, she was greeted by Mikha, a woman whose life had been reshaped by tragedy. Saved from bandits by the prince himself, Mikha had found a semblance of stability here. Though her family had cast her out, she had rebuilt her life, earning her place in the pleasure house while offering solace to others who shared her fate.

"Devi Nandini," Mikha said, bowing slightly. Her voice carried a mixture of respect and warmth. "You've come. What can I do for you?"

"Mikha, has Mohan arrived?" Nandini asked, her tone brisk but not unkind.

"Yes, Devi," Mikha replied, gesturing toward a private room at the far end of the corridor. "He's waiting for you."

Nandini nodded and moved toward the room, her sandals barely making a sound on the polished stone floor. As she entered, she found Mohan seated on a low wooden stool, his expression grim.

The Intel

"Mohan," Nandini began, closing the door behind her. "What news do you bring?"

He rose and bowed respectfully. "Devi, I've uncovered something troubling from Mathura."

Her brow furrowed as she took a seat, motioning for him to continue.

"In the past year, in some palace near the borderlands between Rajputana and Mathura, a group has been quietly training men. They recruit young, healthy boys—often just one or two from each village—and pay them a gold coin as salary."

Nandini's eyes narrowed. "How did you learn this?"

Mohan hesitated before answering. "One of our female agents overheard a drunk soldier in Mathura's pleasure house boasting about these recruits. He spoke of a shadowy operation with soldiers silently collecting boys from across the kingdom. We sent our own spies to confirm the claims, and the pattern became clear. Every village they visit, they leave with young recruits and leave behind gold."

The room fell silent as Nandini processed the information. The implications were staggering. "Did you identify who is behind this?"

Mohan shook his head. "No, Devi. The operation is too well-concealed. The recruiters carry no insignias, and their movements are erratic, designed to avoid detection."

Nandini leaned back, her mind racing. "The emperor has issued no such orders, and the royal court is unaware of any preparations for war. If this isn't sanctioned by the crown, then who has the resources to carry out such an operation?"

Her voice grew sharper. "And why? With no war on the horizon, what need is there for a secret army?"

Mohan hesitated again, as if reluctant to share his next thought. "Devi... I fear this could be connected to the crown prince. He's currently in Matsya, dangerously close to Mathura."

Nandini felt a chill run down her spine. Her instincts, honed over years of studying and navigating political intrigue, told her this was no coincidence. "The crown prince..." she whispered, her mind piecing together the fragments of information.

After a moment, she straightened in her seat, her resolve hardening. "Mohan, here is your reward for the news," she said, handing him a pouch of gold coins. "Use this to expand your network. I want every movement tracked, every whisper heard. We cannot afford to be blind."

Mohan bowed deeply. "As you command, Devi."

A Chilling Revelation

As Nandini left the room, her thoughts were a whirlwind. The pleasure house's dim corridors seemed to close in around her as the weight of her discovery settled. The idea of an unsanctioned force operating within Mathura's borders was troubling enough. But the proximity of the crown prince added a layer of danger she couldn't ignore.

The moon hung low in the sky as she exited the pleasure house and mounted her horse. Her mind raced as she rode back toward the fort.

If the crown prince is involved—or even in danger—this could plunge the empire into chaos, she thought. Whoever is orchestrating this knows how to cover their tracks. But no secret remains hidden forever.

The thought sent a shiver down her spine. For the first time in years, Nandini felt truly unsettled.

As the fort's gates loomed ahead, she made a silent vow: 

"Whatever game is being played in Mathura, I will uncover the truth before it's too late. "

Urgency at Mandore

The clang of steel against steel echoed through the training grounds as Veerendra watched his soldiers sparring. His arms were crossed, his posture relaxed, but his sharp eyes missed no movement. He had just returned from a grueling campaign, and although the battlefields were behind him, his mind remained sharp, focused on preparing his troops for the next challenge.

"Veer!"

The familiar voice turned his head. Nandini approached swiftly, her expression tense, her steps purposeful. Veerendra immediately straightened, sensing the gravity in her demeanor.

"Nandini, what's wrong?" he asked, meeting her halfway.

"Veer, I need you to arrange a meeting with the emperor. Immediately," Nandini said, her voice firm but laced with urgency.

He glanced at the sky, where the sun was already beginning its descent. "The day's almost over, Nandini. Can't this wait until tomorrow?"

"No, it can't," she snapped, her tone brooking no argument. "This is about the crown prince, Veerendra. I'll explain everything on the way, but first, we must go to Lord Sanjay and arrange this meeting."

Veerendra studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. If it's that important, let's not waste time."

He turned on his heel, barking quick orders to his second-in-command to oversee the grounds before motioning for Nandini to follow. Together, they strode toward the royal palace, urgency crackling in the air around them.

An Audience with the Emperor

The grand halls of the Mandore palace shimmered in the twilight, lit by oil lamps that cast flickering shadows across the intricately carved walls. Veerendra and Nandini were escorted into the emperor's chambers, where Harishchandra sat with his younger sons, Rajendra and Aryanendra.

As Nandini stepped forward, the emperor greeted her warmly, rising from his seat. "Nandini," he began, his tone gentle yet commanding, "I know you are a woman, and for this reason, the court often murmurs and spreads rumors about you. But you are like a daughter to me. I saw you grow into such a fine, intelligent woman. Harsha always praises you—he speaks of how quickly you and Mahadevi learned numbers, languages, politics, and everything else he and royal tutors taught. Even those numerical systems he developed seemed effortless for you."

The emperor's voice softened with pride. "I am proud of you, Nandini. You don't need to go through Veerendra for matters like this. You can always arrange a meeting with me directly through Sanjay. 

"But before we discuss further," he said, his tone lightening briefly, "I have been spending much of my time with Rajendra and Aryanendra. Harsha has grown so fast—too fast—but with these two, I still feel the joy of fatherhood. They remind me of the simpler, more innocent days of raising children." 

Now leave us alone Rajendra and Aryanendra.

Nandini's lips curved into a faint smile at his words, but she quickly returned to the matter at hand, relaying the details of the growing threat. 

"I'm sorry for the abruptness, Maharaj," Nandini replied, bowing deeply. "But this matter couldn't wait. It concerns the crown prince."

The emperor's expression softened momentarily, but his gaze grew serious. "Harsha... what has happened with Harsha?" Now, tell me everything.

Nandini bowed her head, her voice steady but urgent. "Maharaj, it concerns a potential threat near Mathura. There are secret movements in King Shurasena's kingdom—men being trained and recruited without the empire's sanction. It's a matter that requires immediate action."

Harishchandra nodded gravely, gesturing for her to continue.

Nandini recounted her findings, detailing the secret recruitment in Mathura, the unknown group training men in the borderlands, and the potential threat it posed to the empire. The emperor listened intently, his face darkening with each revelation.

When she finished, he stood abruptly, his expression unreadable. "Sanjay!" he called, his voice reverberating through the chamber. The royal butler appeared instantly.

"Summon Senapati Mahadev at once," the emperor commanded.

Sanjay bowed and hurried out of the room.

The Emperor's Reflection

As he waited for Mahadev's arrival, Harishchandra began pacing, his mind racing. 

his hands clasped behind his back. His face, usually calm and composed, was now a storm of concern and contemplation. "Mathura..." he murmured. "That is Shurasena's kingdom. Could he be behind this?"

Nandini frowned, her tone measured. "I doubt it, Maharaj. King Shurasena has always shown loyalty to you. You gave him Mathura and its regions as a gesture of trust and respect. He has no reason to plot against the empire."

Harishchandra paused, his eyes narrowing in thought. "No, I think not. I am the eldest son. I expanded our empire's territories and earned the crown when our father crowned me himself before his death. Shurasena has always respected me. I entrusted him with Mathura, including four main regions, and he has ruled faithfully. But this... this is happening in his territory, and he didn't even know about it."

His voice grew more pensive. "If it isn't him, then who? Could it be the Magadha Empire?"

Veerendra interjected, his expression grim. "It's possible, Maharaj. Magadha has always sought opportunities to weaken us."

But Harishchandra shook his head. "No. The Pala dynasty is pushing eastward, keeping Magadha too preoccupied to interfere this deeply in Suryavanshi lands. Whoever is behind this has resources and strategy, This is something else. Something closer to home, but their motives remain unclear." and targeting heir of sooryavanshi empire!

The room fell silent as the emperor continued to pace, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on him.

Before they could speculate further, Mahadev arrived, bowing deeply. "Long live the emperor!"

Harishchandra wasted no time. "Mahadev, I need you to personally lead a campaign to investigate and eliminate this threat. Take a selection of royal soldiers from the fort, and include Veerendra and Harsha's personal soldiers. They've seen action recently and will serve you well."

He turned to Veerendra. "This will be your first direct war with an army. Observe Mahadev and learn from him. Support him, but do not take unnecessary risks. We cannot afford to lose capable men like you."

"Yes, Maharaj," Veerendra said, bowing deeply.

Harishchandra continued, "Sanjay will ensure you have all the resources you need, including the newly improved weapons. You leave the day after tomorrow. Go with honor, and may victory be with you."

The Emperor and Bhimrao

Late that night, long after the palace had quieted, Harishchandra sat in his private chamber, the glow of the oil lamp illuminating his weary features. "Bhimrao," he called.

The head of the royal spy network entered, bowing low. "Maharaj."

Harishchandra's gaze was sharp and unforgiving. "What are you doing, Bhimrao? Why did I have to learn about this threat from Harsha's spies and Nandini's efforts? You're supposed to be the empire's eyes and ears, yet you failed to uncover something this significant."

Bhimrao knelt, his head bowed in shame. "I have no excuse, Maharaj. I failed you. I ask for your forgiveness."

The emperor leaned back in his chair, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "Nandini started this network only eighteen months ago, and yet she uncovered what you couldn't. I've been funding your operations from the royal treasury for years. You have failed me, Bhimrao, but I will give you one last chance to redeem yourself."

Bhimrao's head shot up, his eyes wide with determination. "Thank you, Maharaj. I will not fail you again."

Harishchandra's voice was cold. "You'll learn from Nandini's methods. Study her operations, refine your network, and bring me answers. You'll receive additional funds from the treasury, but this time, I expect results."

Bhimrao bowed deeply, his resolve renewed. "I will not let you down, Maharaj."

As Bhimrao left, Harishchandra leaned back, his thoughts troubled. The pieces of the puzzle were scattered, and the empire stood on the brink of something ominous. But one thing was clear: this was just the beginning of a far greater conflict. 

End of Chapter 

to be continued...