Page 176 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

?? ? ? ?

? Rudra ?

Imounted my horse, ready to leave. Agastya accompanied me while I asked Ranvijay to oversee the kingdom’s management in my absence.

With a small convoy of soldiers, we set out towards Pratapgarh.

We rode in silence until we reached the edge of the territory, where small hills naturally bordered the land. I halted, pulling the reins tight, and dismounted.

Turning back, I raised my voice so everyone could hear.“We’ll stop here.”

The soldiers exchanged surprised glances, and Agastya frowned.“But Bhaisa, we’re still far from their outpost,”

“I know,” I said calmly.“But I’ll go alone from here,”

His expression twisted in a mix of worry and disbelief.“No, what are you saying?” he asked sharply.

I met his gaze and inhaled deeply.“You’ll stay here and wait for me,”

A beat of tense silence followed.

“YOU WILL ALL WAIT HERE UNTIL I RETURN. UNDERSTAND?” I said firmly.

Agastya’s eyes burned with frustration, but he nodded reluctantly.

“Say it,” I demanded.

“Yes, Bhaisa,” he replied in a strained voice.“We’ll wait here until you return.”

I gave a final nod and mounted my horse again. Give them a last glance, I rode ahead alone.

As the hills rose around me, the forest grew thicker, the pathmore treacherous, and the air turned colder and thinner. I urged my horse forward at full speed, my mind consumed by a storm of guilt and seething anger.

Facing Abhinandan again after all this time, the thought churned my insides. So much had changed between us since we last met.

The forest path was the fastest route, though far more dangerous than the roads. I pushed through, branches clawing at me, hooves pounding against the uneven ground. Then, without warning, the air shifted.

My horse reared up, neighing wildly, and kicking high with its front legs. I tried pulling the reins, but the motion was too sudden, and I lost my balance.

I hit the ground hard, and a sickening crack followed. Perhaps my arm broke, maybe more. The pain flooded in all at once.

“Aaahhh….” A guttural sound of pain slipped past my lips, my vision blurring.

The horse collapsed beside me, groaning. And before I could even gather my thoughts, shadows emerged from the trees—soldiers in deep maroon uniforms, swords gleaming, eyes full of hatred.

Breathing heavily, I raised my injured hand to surrender. I was unarmed, with only a knife at my waist, and outnumbered.

One of them stepped forward.

“Take him to the Prince.”

A tall, strongly built man with a dark complexion towered over me, barking orders at the soldiers behind him.

The word‘Prince’slipped from his mouth, and immediately, my mind snapped to Abhinandan.

Swords were pointed at me from all sides. My vision blurred briefly as I tried to grasp what was happening.

Despite the searing pain in my elbow, I forced myself to stand.“Who the hell are you?” I demanded.

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