Maharaj Vihaan sends his greetings," the herald said, "If you, Maharaj Aagneya, accept your crime and surrender, this war will not commence."
Aagneya's face left colours. Not the thought of war but at the name of the boy whose father he ruthlessly murdered. The thought tensed up his nerves. Vikram saw his father's face go pale and knew it was something Chaya did. As far as he knew Aagneya did nothing that would pull strings to a war. His hope that his mother would change diminished by a moment after another. The herald still stood there waiting for his answer.
"Tell your king, we won't back down," Aagneya told to the messenger and sent him off on his hooves.
Vihaan's lips drew into a thin smirk. It's like he wanted Aagneya not to back down. It's like he wanted his sword bloody.
"Vihaan, give this a thought again, this is unnecessary." Rihit attempted to call Vihaan back but Vihaan had his head straight at the battlefield. He wanted revenge, for what?
. . . .
Aradhya begged, "let me go, please. I can face them off too."
Amar, however, cupped her face and looked into her eyes, which to Aradhya, seemed very caring. "Stay back Aradhya, I won't let you into the war. I can't risk getting you hurt"
Though all Amar did was underestimate Aradhya's potential, Aradhya blindly saw his words as care, affection. Amar dropped his hands and drew his sword out. He shot a last to look at Aradhya and hurried into the midst of the armies.
. . . .
Vihaan drew his sword out and raised it high.
"Jai Chandraghanta"
The whole army behind him shouted the same before charging off into the battlefield.
Vikram raised his sword on this side while his kin shouted, "Jai Govind"
The two armies raced and collided with unbelievable strength and shouts. Vihaan had his eyes fixed on Aagneya. He effectively turned his horse to the king he wanted to slay and lunged at him.
He swung his sword at Aagneya and just in time, Aagneya deflected the strike. The force made him hit the ground. Vihaan smirked at him and jumped off of his horse too.
"Let's have it fair, shall we?"
Vihaan swung at Aagneya again. Aagneya dodged the attack not comprehending what to do with his sharp assaults. He pulled his sword back and aimed at Vihaan's gut. Just when he was to make the stab, Vihaan flung out of the way and made a very significant cut on Aagneya's side.
Blood oozed out of the open wound while Aagneya winced. He got up again. A strike hit him again. Vihaan's foot met with Aagneya's chest and knocked him to the ground.
"So, Maharaj, shall we end this or would you like to continue?" Vihaan asked, grazing his sword closer to Aagneya's throat.
A quick movement from an able sword pushed Vihaan's away. Vihaan staggered back. Vikram stood there with his eyes having flames and his brows drew close together.
"I think, my father would like a substitution." Vikram groaned and jumped up at Vihaan.
The two clashed their swords with all their tacts and yet Vihaan found Vikram to be a really strong warrior. He could barely parry his strike. He could barely miss having his throat slit. He wondered how a person with lesser experience in war have such strength.
Vikram blew an attack on another implementing everything Aradhya ever taught him. Implementing the tricks he used to lose to.
Vihaan deflected a strike of Vikram but Vikram effectively carried that to slice Vihaan right under his collarbone. Vihaan grunt in pain and saw Vikram's smile grow. More evilly.
Vihaan saw his distraction and kneed Vikram in the gut while he staggered back.
"How much ever of a powerful warrior you are, learn one lesson. Never celebrate too early." Vihaan said as he licked the speck of blood off his lips.
"Well...I have had my fair share of experience with that line." Vikram smirked and lunged again.
Vihaan brought his sword up just in time before Vikram could behead him. Vikram put all his strength into pushing the sword closer. Vihaan fell to the ground with his kneed in the dirt.
"Who had you practice that, Rajkumar, because I sure didn't see such expertise in your father." Vihaan pushed back and stood strong in his feet again.
"Don't try," Vikram gasped for air, "to change the situation with your compliments. I won't budge for it."
Vihaan rolled his eyes, "you are already distracted, Rajkumar."
Vikram felt a strong strike at his back with a hilt of a sword. He turned around to see Rihit standing there with a sweaty forehead and beads of sweat falling down his jawline.
Rihit smiled at Vikram before engaging him with himself and shooting Vihaan a sign.
Aagneya is all yours.
. . . .
Aradhya grew restless in her chambers. She essentially was locked in her room. She had absolutely no calm in her mind and why would she? Vikram was out there and she believed his training wasn't complete yet. She thought Vikram would fall back but she didn't know how much of a problem Vikram had become to the army of Ashokdhar.
She worried a lot. Aradhya always used to take part in any battle it might be, undercover. She would mask her face and ride into the battle. But now, everyone knew who she was. Everyone partially hated her.
Aradhya looked around the room and spotted the same idol of Lord Krishna smiling at her. With a beautiful smile. Aradhya sauntered to him and sat by his feet.
"Please, don't let anything terribly bad happen to anyone. Have mercy, Lord, please." She begged. She never thought she would ask good for the opposition but she did. Why? She didn't know. She just wanted everyone to stay safe today. She perhaps felt that way because she knew Amar was in the battle.
. . . .
"Of course, I wouldn't go, father. I don't want any hand in this battle. I've tried my best to impress Vihaan and now if I step into that battle all that will go to vain." Amar blabbered to his father while looking at the chaos outside.
"You told Aradhya you will go." The king whispered.
"She believes everything I say. That is not my problem. She wouldn't even find out anyway." Amar spat out, running his hand through his hair.
. . . .
"You had your chance earlier, Maharaj. You should have just surrendered." Vihaan claimed as she rained down attacks in Aagneya. Barely attempting to get out of harm's way Aagneya's form looked weak.
Vihaan grunt in frustration as he wanted the war to end. The bloodthirst to fulfil. Vihaan pulled back with all the power he had left in him and struck again bringing Aagneya to his knees. Just before the fallen king could get back to, Vihaan rested the raw end of his sword right at Aagneya's heart.
A moment after he did the entire chaos before him tamed down. Everyone looked at what seemed to be the end of the war.
A second later, Vikram too knelt beside his father, hands bound by Rihit at his back. Vikram was seemingly furious at Vihaan. That is pretty obvious.
Vihaan stood there, his cutlass still at Aagneya's heart. "Now, that you've lost, tell me, Maharaj. What should I do? Should I just behead you right now?" Vihaan menacingly asked. He pushed the sword a bit deeper into Aagneya's chest.
The father and the son locked their tongues, not in a position to talk back to the king who had seemingly conquered them.
"What is this even about? Why did you charge in the first place?" Vikram spat out
Rihit opened his mouth to answer the question but Vihaan was way too quick in answering that question.
"I've had a strong desire, to attack this kingdom since I was nineteen. Since, you," Vihaan looked at Aagneya, "decided to kill my father and take his throne for yourself."
Rihit was taken aback by his words. He knew now that the attack on the villages was just a believable reason for Vihaan to set out to war against Shiladhika. It was just a reason, not the cause. Vihaan yearned for an opportunity to annihilate the kingdom he despised and he took the first chance he got. It seemed more selfish. More personal than a political matter.
"So you just ended up sacrificing a hefty sum of your army for your stupid personal vengeance?" Vikram asked.
"I do whatever I want, Rajkumar, and now please calm down since I have to ask your father how I should kill him," Vihaan stressed in his words.
Right knew Vihaan was not right in his head at the moment. He knew Vihaan never talked so bluntly about any matters.
"Please, forgive me. I promise to never take a step against your kingdom from now on. Let us be." Aagneya pleaded. Vihaan sighed.
"Now, you won't say anything, so..." Vihaan continued, "then I guess it's up to me. To kill you."
Vihaan shot a look at Vikram and it seemed almost as if an idea sparked in his mind. An evil one.
"Well, you took a father from his son, now I only think it's fair I take a son away from his father," Vihaan stated.
Aagneya's eyes went wide. Aagneya begged and begged for Vihaan to take his life but Vihaan and his eyes fixed on Vikram.
Just then, Vikram jabbed the back of his head into Rihit's nose and set himself free. He pulled out a dagger from the waistband on his armor and swung it. Just to hear it clash against Vihaan's sword. Vihaan looked aghasted by the strength in the man to only use a dagger and still make such a powerful blow. Vihaan parried his blow to a side but ended up earning a cut right above his jaw as Vikram turned back around at stuck again.
Rihit too pulled his sword and blew it as Vikram with delicious expertise deflected the attack. The King and the Senapati attacked the Rajkumar while still, he fought them off with great might.
Rihit was now frustrated. He pulled sword backs and pushed it with so much strength that the prince turned around and in a second, the world stopped.
Vihaan pierced his sword through Vikram's gut. Blood flowed from his wound as Vikram fell to his knees. A small trickle of blood flowed down the side of his lips as his face left colours.
All that was heard next was Aagneya's cries and the sorrow in the soldiers of Shiladhika.
The empire had just lost her best prince.
ð¡ï¸