The Guardians of the Halahala by Shatrujeet Nath Page B

escorted the two guests into the shade. “I’m sure you have met Kshapanaka and the king’s nephew, Ghatakarpara.”
    At the sight of Kshapanaka, Chandravardhan stopped and placed a hand over his heart theatrically. “Oh, if this isn’t our answer to the heavenly apsaras! Had I been but twenty years younger, I would be on my knees right now, begging for your hand in marriage.”
    The king of Vatsa threw his head back and laughed uproariously to blunt his slight indiscretion, and the others joined him in good humor. Sobering down, Chandravardhan next turned his attention to Ghatakarpara and nodded with satisfaction.
    â€œIt’s nice to see my young nephew growing into a strong man,” he said, grabbing the prince by the shoulder and feeling the hardness of his muscles. “Train well under the Acharya,” he added, pointing to the raj-guru. “If you master half of what he teaches you, I promise no man will best you in battle.”
    â€œI will, sir,” the prince said respectfully.
    Harihara, who had been smiling benignly all this while, turned to Kshapanaka. “How is the firstborn Princess of the Nishada? Is she... better now?”
    For a matter of a second, an unsettling silence fell over the group. Vetala Bhatta coughed softly into his hand as he gave Kshapanaka a quick, sidelong glance. Ghatakarpara folded his hands and studied the floor, while Chandravardhan sought refuge in the goblet of wine. Kshapanaka, however, only smiled politely before replying.
    â€œI’m afraid the kingdom of Nishada exists only in memory, your honor,” she said cryptically. “We are now the daughters of Avanti.” After the slightest of pauses, she added, “No, my sister isn’t any better, but neither has her condition worsened.”
    The king of Heheya nodded abashedly, his eyes betraying that he knew he had broached a sensitive topic. Luckily, the situation was rescued by the appearance of a minor palace official.
    â€œRaj-guru, the samrat wishes all of you to join him inside the council chamber to discuss a matter of utmost urgency,” the minion bowed low and withdrew respectfully.
    As the Acharya exchanged mystified glances with Kshapanaka and Ghatakarpara, Harihara looked around in surprise. “What does Vikramaditya want with us now?” He appeared relieved that something had come up to break the awkwardness of the moment.
    â€œI’m not sure, your honor,” Vetala Bhatta shrugged.
    â€œThere’s only one way of finding out,” snorted Chandravardhan, leading the way back inside.
    ***
    The council chamber was large and lofty, ventilated by a long row of windows that ran along one side of the room, overlooking the lake. A northerly breeze ruffled the gossamer curtains on the windows, but failed to stir the brocade tapestries hung on the inside walls, framing battle weapons and other heirlooms of the Aditya dynasty.
    The chamber was dominated by an enormous bronze council table, its surface emblazoned with the heraldic sun-crest of Avanti. Crafted in gold and inlaid with coral and lapis lazuli, the crest represented a complex, eight-pointed solar motif that spanned the breadth of the broad table, around which were arranged a number of high chairs. Some two dozen of these were presently occupied, with Samrat Vikramaditya seated at the head of the table.
    The chamber was dominated by an enormous bronze council table, its surface emblazoned with the heraldic sun-crest of Avanti. Crafted in gold and inlaid with coral and lapis lazuli, the crest represented a complex, eight-pointed solar motif that spanned the breadth of the broad table, around which were arranged a number of high chairs. Some two dozen of these were presently occupied, with Samrat Vikramaditya seated at the head of the table.
    The king looked around at the assembly, taking in the air of mystery that hung over the table as he ascertained that everyone who mattered was in the