Page 104 of The Burning Mountain
Billadev and Chandra tried to make a run for it, but the bandits soon surrounded them. Chandra realized too late that these bandits weren’t there to loot people.
But to kidnap someone.
“Why doyou keep staring at me, Princess? I know I’m handsome and all but…?” asked Surasen, his smile indicating it was a lighthearted question.
They had stopped at one of the bandit hideouts, which was a narrow cave with an entrance cleverly hidden in the rock—to eat a hasty meal before starting again. Chandra, who had ridden horses before but never at such a grueling pace, felt the scream of every muscle when she set her foot on the ground. Her hands were bound in front of her as she was led inside. She watchedbandits disappear into more of the cleverly hidden dwellings, while another led the horses out of sight.
“Why do you look so much like him?” she asked bluntly.
“Him?” asked Vali in confusion. He was Surasen’s second-in-command and was trying to eke a meal out of some local produce.
“She means my cousin, Vali. Yes, that one,” said Surasen. He turned to Chandra and explained. “I’m Prince Veer’s cousin, from his father’s side of the family. If you trace our genealogies for a couple of generations, you’d find some common ancestors.”
“Very distant cousins,” interjected Billadev, whose hands were also tied. “If you ask me, I don’t see much resemblance. They are as different as a prince and a pauper. Literally.”
“It’s not too late for me to bind your mouth as well as your hands,” growled Vali.
“Where are you taking us?” asked Chandra, trying to distract Vali’s attention from Billadev. Privately she wondered how many more of Veer’s relatives she was going to meet. He seemed to have a large family. Her mouth curled into a wry expression—she had no room to talk though, because hers was just as large, if not larger.
Surasen crouched in front of her and reached for the rope. She flinched, but he merely loosened her bonds.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll escape?” she asked, surprised, as she massaged her wrists.
“Escape where, Princess? It’s nothing butkosasof sand all around us. A perfect death trap for people not used to navigating the desert.”
Chandra had to concede he had point. She flicked a questioning brow at Billadev, who despite his bound hands, was able to make enough hand signals to say that he didn’t know his way around the desert sands either.
Her shoulders slumped, feeling as if they’d jumped from the frying pan into the fire. “Where are you taking us?” she asked again.
“Rajgarh, of course,” answered Surasen, who had been searching for something in his leather jacket and brought forth a bronze mirror, tarnished with age.
“Your husband wishes to talk to you.”
She got a jolt when she spotted Veer’s face in the reflective surface.
“Chandra.” His voice came through as if he were right beside her.
Longing struck her so badly that she couldn’t stop herself from touching the mirror.
Veer placed his hand to hers on the opposite side. Relief filled his eyes. “Don’t worry, Princess. You shall see me soon.” He glanced back over his shoulder, frowning at something. “I should go. But trust Surasen. He’s working with us,” he said, vanishing shortly after that.
Surasen, who had been watching their interaction with interest, safely tucked away the mirror.
“Hear that? You friend says you can trust us,” said Vali as he cut Billadev’s ropes, leaving his hands free. “Dinner will be done soon. Please pause your insinuations untilafterwe’ve eaten.” Billadev glowered at him in silence.
Vali soon had a fire going in a small earthen stove and set a utensil over it. Surasen fished out a short, curved knife and chopped some onions on a flat cutting board—which was nothing more than a flat rock cleaned with water—before then moving to potatoes and green chilies, his movements so synchronous, that she had no doubt he was used to this work. She supposed when you lived the life of a nomad, such tasks fell to you.
“Never thought I’d be helping my dear cousin,” spoke Surasen once again. His smile widened as if he thought of a private joke, his eyes meeting hers, while his hands continued chopping. She half expected him to slice off a finger. “Never thought Rajgarh and Vivismati would be at such odds.”
“We were doing fine on our own managing the journey until you captured us,” retorted Billadev, who came to sit near Chandra.
Surasen pointed his knife at Billadev in admonishment. “Don’t be too sure you would have made the journey unimpeded. News has already reached the sentry points on the road under Vivismati’s control about you both. It wouldn’t have taken long before you were captured again.”
“Better Vivismati than you brigands,” grumbled Billadev.
“Please tell me we can silence him.” Vali’s hand inched toward the sword that should have been on his cummerbund, which now leaned against the wall beside him. “It’s only her you need, anyway.”
“Now, now, Vali, let’s not be too hasty,” said Surasen. “I’m sure my cousin wouldn’t take it kindly if we misplaced his dear friend.”
